SkydiveNFlorida

I did a coach jump that I was unhappy with. The reason is that the coach didn't seem to take much time with me. Went up on 3 jumps after mine before debriefing me. Then, instead of giving me tips, suggested I do 10(!) or more jumps with him. I think that a good coach would spend more time before the dive, preparing, talking about what your concerns are, where you have problems, etc. Debrief immediately after the dive, give advice and suggest a plan of attack. Such as "you need to work on this, try this, etc, do a couple jumps and then we'll do another coach jump". Something to that effect. Not many people have the $$ to spend on 20+ coach jumps, so I think a good coach should understand that and form a plan of attack that will meet the needs of the jumper both skill-wise and $$-wise. I would NEVER do a coach jump with this person again. Nice guy, and an excellent freeflyer, but not worth it for me. Although i'm definitely considering getting headdown coaching with someone else once I get the $$ together. Angela.

It's not fun, but you learn to keep it under control and I bet if you tried, you'd get it after 5 or so pack jobs. I don't enjoy packing, myself, but I do it because a) I prefer to spend the $ on jumps, and b) I like on heading openings, and I know how my canopy likes to be packed. I admit, i'd like to get a packer at a boogie, but it'd have to be someone I trust, and I'd have to watch them pack it the first time at least. -A

Hi, Phree! I admit, it has appeal to really challenge oneself with a swoop course. I think Rory might be into it, but i'm really not as consistant at this point as i'd like to be, still coming out a little high at times, sometimes not perfectly on target (all unacceptable for competing). I'm jumping a lot right now, so who knows, maybe i'll feel on it by then. But, i'm only doing 180s, am loading a lot less than most who will probably do 270s, and I don't yet land on rears..., so I probably couldn't get near the distance of most of the people who will compete. It would be cool for fun, tho, even if I didn't place. Tell ya what,.. i'll get some video this wknd and send it to ya to check out. I am all for constructive criticism, i'm just not sure i'm quite ready to be ripped into by the big dogs yet -A

That's the method I use, too. I have used it since I had about 30some jumps and was extremely frusterated with packing (i'm not very patient). I never bothered to learn the other way, this works for me with no problems and it certainly helps with a new parachute. http://www.packingparachutes.com/techniques_tips/greed.htm -A

I think it's great that you're opening this up to those who can't meet 5 ft gates, or have never swooped a course! I hope I can make it to watch the competitions.

Lighten up Frances. I caught hell like a lot of other people. It was what it was. Hot wheel tracks, hair brushes, belts, wooden sppons and all the rest. Not saying it was right but it certainally wasn't uncommon. Being a Parent is tough and most of them did they best they could. Sometimes they fell short. I don't think my parents loved me any less than a parent that didn't hit their child. I don't think he's saying it is uncommon, it sounded like he was saying it was wrong. And, I agree. I am sure your parents didn't love you any less, nor did mine. It is just unfortunate that parents often resort to violence because that makes them feel in control. A slap on the butt is one thing, but lashings are a whole different ballpark, sounds like some here got it pretty bad. Their parent's parents probably did, too... it's a cycle, unfortunately. -A

I wouldn't say it's worthless... you do indeed get to do a skydive with it. They just don't realize they'd probably pay the same or less and go to a closer dz if they just did a little more looking. Shame. -A

I don't think it helps. I got the belt and it just made me lie more often. I was a complete hellion until I hit 15, then I started to grow up, got a job, etc. -A

I thought ff handle = pud, no? -- I voted ff handle because my new rig that will be here in 2 wks will be pullout. But, my current rig has a hackey, bought it used, came with the system. Angela.

If you're going to be landing on the runway, or scraping thru the grass and dirt a lot, it is my understanding that Cordura is the better pick. I have a Parapak Javelin (95' or 96') right now, and it is in excellent shape (although, I don't think it had very many jumps when I got it, looked brand new). I love the look of Parapak with compare to cordura. But, I ordered my new container with cordura for no real good reason, really, just like to try out different stuff. :) -A

I LOVED that show! But, it doesn't come on anymore, and i'm REALLLY bad at movie quotes (and remembering things I don't use in general, really). :) -A

Hot herbal tea, low lighting, quiet or soft sounds, and massage of temples and eyebrows (you can do this yourself, but it's also nice if someone else does it). Angela.

I know I don't neeed it, but, if I do have a freefall collision and end up unconscious, it is nice to know that I may only break a few bones rather than die. I don't have any doubt that i'll pull if i'm conscoius, it's the "what if" that made me purchase a cypres. Well, I haven't spent any time in the BASE community, but i'd venture to say that you'll find "perfect people" everywhere... though there do seem to be an awful lot of them in the skydiving community. I think some people just like to hear themselves speak, and others just like to give themselves constant pats on the back for being all-knowing. I just try to avoid the know-it-alls in this sport. I would much rather ask advice of those who do have a lot of knowledge, but don't think it makes them better than me. :) Angela.

LMAO!! -A

Cool! I ordered my Voodoo with Stainless, but it wasn't standard... but, that's ok because all other options I chose were included in the price:D Mine should be in in 2 weeks! Seeing your new rig gets me all excited about mine! You're probably on the right track not jumping it in Perris for the first time, that place is dirty! My old canopy was green and after a few jumps in perris it was rusty green. *eew*. I would personally prefer to only do solos or hop n pops w/o a cypres at this point. Funny because I didn't use to have one at all, but now I think it's good insurance.

Congrats, Val! Be sure to get a pic of it on you once it's all packed up, k?! What options did you get? Icon comes standard with stainless, right? Angela.

Last night I dreamt that I I went on a jump, pulled low (low enough to be in possible cypres territory), and when I got down it turned out that I didn't have my cypres on. I got yelled at, not about the low pull, but about not having the cypres on, as if it were a rule that it be on. I explained that I didn't have a cypres for my first 150 jumps on the rig, and I must have simply forgotten (even though i've not forgotten yet). Then, my boyfriend moved and I woke up. All this induced by the Perris Cypres thread. Helllp, this forum has taken over my brain!! Shit! Now i'm all freaked out that i'll forget to turn the damned thing on, even though my boyfriend always asks me if i've turned it on anyhow. Anyone else ever have dreams related to threads on here? Or, am I the only one? Angela.

Hell is exothermic. Just thought I'd add a data point Wendy W. That's can't be proven... hell could actually be endothermic. In fact, that would seem more hell-like to me (and probably others from subtropics or tropics). I can take the heat, baby, but I would probably freeze to death in Ontario. Angela.

After how many months of bad weather thou? 2 , and that wasn't bad weather, that was horrific hurricanes. It is gorgeous now, tho:D Angela.

Stainless steel thread I started not even a month ago... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1252495;search_string=stainless%20steel%20;#1252495 fwiw, I ended up ordering it. -A

If you say so... I haven't done the chemical research to agree or disagree. I do know that the process of hydrogenation of oil creates trans-fat, which is just as bad if not worse than saturated fat. Angela.

74 in a 35. (that was stupid). -A

There are butter-like spreads that do not have trans-fats (non-hydrogenated). Such as Smart Blance and Earth Balance. I do not include hydrogenated oil foods in my diet. In order to accomplish this, I have had to pretty much stop shopping at publix (except for paper goods), and switch to Whole Foods (health food/organic) market. Hydrogenated oils are used in many many products in order to extend their shelf life. So, they make this indestructable stuff out of oil (see crisco and other shortenings) and put it in your food so they don't have to worry about replacing products for years at a time (see any of your supermarket "healthy" granola bars, instant oatmeal, cookies, snack foods). Trans fat is WORSE than Sat fat because while Sat fat increases LDL (bad cholesterol), Trans fat does the same thing PLUS lowers HDL (good cholesterol). So, although replacing margarine with butter is definitely a good start, most of the products that many people consume have this crap in them (hamburger helper, etc, pretty much anything that sits on a shelf at Publix). -A

Gold and Silver look like shit together (white gold would probably look ok, but the charm stands out more if not outshined by the necklace, imo). Well, you could just wear it anyway you like and wear a shirt that says "i'm a ____flier who is not gay!". Yep, that should do the trick. -A

Any ideas where can one buy these?!? Check e-bay