SkydiveNFlorida

I love stuffing, too. I am going to make it with sausage for extra flavor this year as well, we'll see how it comes out:D I made lotsa cranberry sauce and I usually incorporate a little of everything in each bite -A

Anyone know what happened to Skybytch's post about buying gear? It used to be a sticky and it had some good info! Good luck with your search! Do a lot of research, then do more, then demo and demo more, then buy. -A

I always check my alti before making my turn. A lot of very experienced pilots do not do that because they have a good picture in their minds of how the ground should look before they turn. This is something we must develop with time. I have a neptune digital. I am pretty use to the sight picture and I can definitely see too low now, but when I started that was not as much the case and I am glad I bought this early on. And, like I said, I still use it every time, it is a great tool. I can't say I did much different than that. But, learning the sight picture is so important. I had to stab a few times when I started, but it sounds like your object fixation prevented you from taking necessary measures. I have never experienced this, but I am glad you are going to take it slow and get some good all-around canopy coaching. Maybe if you better understand what happened to you with this object fixation, you can avoid it happening again. Sorry to hear of your possible problems with your back. I hope that you are ok and can get back out there soon and have some nice landings:) Take care. Angela.

Hey, that's neat, I just did it and it shifted with my right eye. I already knew I had much better vision in my left eye, though. Even though I am right eye dominant, I don't believe this has played a part in my approach so much as the set pattern at the dzs I jump at has (left hand patterns). -A

It can make a HUGE difference, it changes everything about the flare and it can effect the openings if the shrinkage is above the setting. High performance or not your canopy still needs to fly properly to have proper performance to land well. It would obviously make a difference in where your flare point was, but I wasn't thinking about openings good point. -A

Just to add a note, don't think they have to replace the whole brake lines, either, you may not even have to replace the lower lines if there is enough in the fingertrap. Have a rigger take a look, it could be just a 10 minute project:) Unless you are doing hp landings, a little shrinkage probably won't matter too much I wouldn't think, unless of course in full flight there is no slack. -A

Hi there. Sorry you're hurting and hope you feel well soon! I have a couple of questions... Do you look at your alti before making your turn? Do you have an accurate alti (digital)? Did you start your progression with double fronts or 45 degree turn, or did you go straight to 90 degree turns? Did you initiate a stab with your toggles at all, or did you smack in without a flare? Do you think this outcome might have been different if you'd gotten more used to the sight picture and speed of a high performance turn starting with double fronts or a smaller turn? How about the altimeter, if you were indeed not referencing one do you feel you would have smacked in either way due to target fixation, or that the major problem here was a low turn? Take care and heal fast! You're lucky this isn't worse. Get some coaching before proceeding with hp landings. -A

Wow you're hot.....I mean, your rig is hot.....I mean can i touch your pull-out handle. Wait was that out loud? Man, it's sad that a girl can't post a pic of her rig on her without being harrassed. -A

Ahh, holidays.... I love cooking, and I love eating. As far as decorating, I wouldn't go through the trouble unless I had kids, but I do enjoy seeing xmas lights around town:) I also love to buy/wrap/give presents, but the past few years we haven't done much of a gift exchange. Most of all, I like to spend time with my crazy family, I hope they do something for xmas because many of them left for T-giving:( -A

Good points, guys. If I make it out this weekend i'll let you know how I do with right turns, lol! I'm right handed, but feel so much more normal pulling left turns now. -A

I know it isn't on your list, but the Samurai is a great canopy that probably has what you're looking for in terms of a long recovery arc. It also has light riser pressure and imo is just an all around nice canopy. I haven't flown the Katana, but I have read that it is even more divey and hp than the Sam. I think you should try the Sam out. If you're low on cash, a used Jedei might be something to consider as well. I have not swooped a Sabre II, but I have been told they have a longer recovery arc than the Stiletto as well, but since you're already on an elliptical you might want to consider others that are out there. jmo:) Good luck, if you do get on the Sabre II i'd be curious to hear if it dives well for you. -A

Good man! --- non-smoker here. Although I did smoke occassionally when I got into the sport, I ended up quitting because I met a great guy who I didn't want to pollute. I already had reasons for quitting before then, though, it was just the final reason. After several months I went out and had a smoke, it was awful! Cigarettes taste icky. -A

There's no way that there are 68 years between 2004 and 2063 My dod was 2060, that's so upsetting, I want to live to be like 90. -A

My thoughts exactly. Now you've dirtied the area with piss, a very unpleseant smelling fluid that is sure to seep into the carpet, grout of tile, whatnot... not to mention that peeing all over yourself is just ech. -A

Opposite here. I think i'd like to know when I was going to die if I had the choice. Because it might be next year, and in that case... fU** work and school!! But, I would not want to know when my relatives or those close to me would die, I think it would upset me too much. I didn't vote because i'm not sure if yes and no apply to just the first question or both. angela.

I am sure that is the case. But, I will hear shit for sure if I start doing right hand 180s or 90s in a left hand pattern. I will work with right riser turns up high and bring down a 270 when I feel comfortable with it. See ya soon! :) -A

Maybe you're right about my covering a lot more ground and possibly trying to compensate... or, maybe I did make a sharp movement causing an increase in forward speed before I pulled the turn. I suppose I can't be certain at this point, I can only take in what might have been and be sure to apply that next time i'm flying in wind. Yes, I hear ya on the 180s. I will probably start working on 270s soon. I do think 180s were a very important step, though, because I would have been extremely thrown off going from 90s to 270s as far as the sight picture is concerned. I'll start throwing 270s up high and see how they feel and how much alti I lose. I know that the setup is much easier in wind, but i'd have to throw right 270s to keep with the left hand pattern.... and now I feel right hand deficient as i've only worked on left 180s because of the req'd left hand pattern. Thanks to all for their input, and i'll see you all at the competition soon! Angela.

Cute Love you, too. We will probably be out on Sunday this weekend, probably going to slack on Saturday, or do some bike riding then beach slacking. Think you'll be out Sunday? Mike is bugging me about bringing you a cd or something. And, hell, i'm with Ian, I would like an order of no-wind, too!! :D Angela.

I will not discount that as a possibility, although I will note that I frequently make minor changes in heading during my setup and as I recall these have not caused the type of resistance that I felt this time. -A

True, when playing with the canopy at altitude, I can still pull off very strong riser turns. Is it possible that turbulant conditions may have presented themselves momentarily causing this issue? -A

You have a much better way with words. Thing is, I really COULD NOT hold the dive. The best I can explain it is that I started the turn, and about 100 degrees into it the riser started to resist, to actually pull back... I was FORCED to let up on it because I lacked the strength to fight back. First jump of the day, so shouldn't have been tired. I understand people say this is perception, but irregardless of how fast or slow I felt I was turning I was not able to complete that turn due to riser pressure. No other explanations? Thanks for the discussion. Angela.

Congrats on your freedom! I am happy that you're happy. Take the time to yourself before jumping into something else because you will be MUCH HAPPIER in the long run for it:D All endings lead to new beginnings, and we come out of every relationship a better person for it, imo. Angela.

I agree, Mar. For me, I am not decided one way or the other. I am not fond of my father to be honest, so I don't have a desire to keep my last name in order to show that i'm part of that family. Although, I am used to my last name and as far as names go, I kinda like it. But, I might change my name if I were to marry just because I don't feel real ties to my name because of my father, and it might make things easier anyhow. ... OTOH, changing names does make history of your lineage on paper. If I were to make history under my current name, people might remark about my name being French, and wonder who my father was. But, if I were to marry my current boyfriend and become a famous scientist under his name, people might think me German, and that would be incorrect. Now, if I DID think fondly of my father I might lean more toward keeping my name, and I respect anyone who goes this route equally for it. Also, like has been said, if you have made a name for yourself in the business world, I think that it would be a good idea to keep your last name. So, for me, i'm undecided. Angela

I have had a couple of times that i've jumped in wind (20mph+) where riser pressure has been extreme. I'll start my dive, but can't hold the riser for more than a 90 degree turn, or whatnot. I jump a Samurai and I usually have NO problem with riser pressure at all, and playing around i've even been able to take it around a fully 360 on a riser carve. So, I would like to know if high riser pressure in high wind is a common problem, and why (explanations with light physics are completely welcome!). Thanks. Angela.

Try not to make it sound so spread out. I have 300 jumps in little over a year... but i'd sound hellabunch more uncurrent if I said I have 300 jumps in the last 5 years. I think that someone who doesn't swoop and has no interest in it should keep their advice out of a conversation about swooping. You have not done it, have no training in it, and since you feel that a certain # of jumps = ability to swoop you obviously know very little at all about it. Everything is risky. Getting good advice and taking it slow will lessen that risk signifigantly. jmo. Angela.