K763

Hi Jaap- For those times you are concerned about pin tension, you can also change your closing loop to the Spectra material. It provides much less friction for an easier pin pull. Of course, with less friction and easier pin pull you have the obvious potential problem of premature container opening, so care and good judgement should be used when reconfiguring your gear in this manner...(as always). Peace, K

If you think of an egg as your head what would you rather have around it... When I was in grade school we had an "egg-drop" competition. We each wrapped a whole, uncooked egg in some type of protective packaging and then in a box. The boxes were all dropped from a Cessna from probably 1000 feet. After we'd searched and found as many boxes as we could, we opened them to see the results. The winner was the egg wrapped in bubble wrap. The egg was perfect (but I don't know if the yolk was broken inside or not). It was simple, effective, and easy. Since that person only used one material and still had a whole egg, she was judged the winner. So I guess I should line my Bonehead RatHat with Bubble wrap???? I never did find my egg-in-the-box... Peace, K

Hi Tom...HI y'all... (Shotgun has rubbed off on me!) Yes, good point Tom. I'm amazed at how few people look at the pilot chute reference chart; not only new jumpers looking for education, but also current jumpers that have purchased new gear. Recently a student and customer of ours called from Twin Falls for instructions on the Multi. I mentioned to him that the details were in his Owner's Manual, and he laughingly admitted he had never even opened his Owner's Manual. Funny, haha, like a pilot chute in tow or a broken friggin' leg. READ VORACIOUSLY! EVEN DRY, TECHNICAL STUFF LIKE OWNER'S MANUALS AND REFERENCE CHARTS! As Tom said, it's all there if you'll only look for it. Peace, y'alll... K

Hey Y'all... Just a note here... Unfortunately, we do not retrofit Dynamic corners into any of our rigs. If you want the Dynamic corner design on a rig, you must select that option when ordering your new container. The only exception is if you buy a Prism 2. That rig is designed with the Dynamic corners and is incorporated into the price. We offer Dynamic corners on Prism 2, and it is optional on the Vertex 2 and the new Apex DP. If you plan to make any major modifications to your BR/Apex/Vertigo gear, as manufacturers we would recommend sending your proposed changes to ToddATapexbase.com. He can take a look and see if what you plan to do is going to be safe and workable. Tom Aiello did this, and Todd saw nothing wrong with his idea, so Tom had the mods done. He ended up not liking the result and changed it back, but at least he got to try it out and see how it worked. As always, be safe, have fun, and soft landings! Peace, K

Hey Hecy... Yeah, I'm missing the HeliBoogie too this year. I'll be there the last 2 weeks of July, sounds like I'll miss seeing you, too, dammit! That's worse than missing the heli rides! I'll check with Todd tomorrow on the tech question in this thread again...and make sure it gets posted here. Peace, K

I agree with Yuri and Tom, and yes, we have always shown students a "bloopers" tape near the end of the ground school and before their first BASE jumps. What I noticed in watching Anne teach is that when she would show a malfunction, she would explain completely what was happening, then stop the tape and discuss procedures to rectify the problem. Then she would have the students practice these procedures. It was amazing to see how the reality of what they were doing would suddenly hit them; some would pause in mid-action and go blank...then come back to reality and make some kind of comment about how they just realized what it was they were encountering...it was in that moment for many of the students that it "got real". Then Anne would discuss what to do to avoid that particular malfunction in the first place. I especially liked the "misrouted bridle" lesson; the one where the bridle was wrapped around the leg strap. She would give the same correction as for a pilot chute in tow: sit up, swing your arms up and around behind your head to snag the bridle and pull on it. "It won't clear the mis-routed bridle, but it will give you something to do before you die". I always did enjoy her wry/twisted sense of humor, the same black humor shared by so many BASE jumpers... After a couple of hours of video, discussion, practice, and avoidance techniques, the students would be very much in touch with what it was they were getting themselves into. When finished, Anne would ask "so does everyone still want to jump tomorrow?" A couple of students actually said they weren't sure, that they'd sleep on it and see how they felt the next day. It was good to see that they weren't taking BASE so lightly anymore, and had a much better awareness of what the outcome could be for different situations. As far as I am aware, all of the students did choose to jump. Oh, I think we've gotten off topic, but it's still a good discussion. The List should stay up. Peace, K

I gotta say, this is probably one of my favorite jumps. Half the hike, most of the freefall time, and the most beautiful canopy ride ever! Not to mention landing right next to the beer! Peace, K

Hey Russel! Wow, what a story! I haven't looked at the photos yet, but will do...and you're right, X-rays are cool! I'm so glad you seem to be ok! I can't believe all you have gone through, and how great you sound about it. I guess you do have a benefit of not feeling it, except that you don't even know you've got broken bones... So this metal skeleton is getting pretty interesting...and I won't say one more word....(biting tongue VERY hard to stop myself). Maybe you could give us a call here when you feel like chatting...I'll call you back on our dime. Love ya lots, take care and heal fast! K

Hey Hecy! I'll send this thread with your question to Todd, the designer of the Multi. He'll be glad to work out the dynamics and give you the low-down. Y'all, for technical questions like this, e-mailing to us is a quicker way to get an answer. We don't check the boards every day, and sometimes a week or two will go by before we have a chance to browse for things like this. We really want to address your questions however, so we'd love to hear from any of you with questions like Hecy's goodie posted here. thanks, Hecy...how long will you be in Norway this summer? peace, K

"Only in America, we stamp our God 'In God We Trust'... Scott Stapp, Creed "Beautiful Planet, rotten world..." Good one, Avery. Peace, K

Hi all- I just got a call from Bernie... He's doing fine, happy that there is no spinal cord damage, and sorry to have caused such a stir. I read him most of this thread, and he wanted me to express his complete understanding at the error in judgement he made in making that jump at his experience level. For the record, as the four of them sat at the top of T...., the winds were gusty at times with the occasional lull. The 28-38 mph winds at the dz were not what they were experiencing on T..... Bernie realizes the worst part of the whole episode is that he really felt that he could do it; that it was ok. The reports of the deployment, flight and landing are accurate with one exception; when Bernie flared with his rear risers he flared too hard and stalled backward onto his butt, the force of which broke his back. He agrees with the comments in this thread, and also reiterated that "this sucks". He's very grateful to his girlfriend and mother for flying to be with him; I can relate with him how lonely and awful it can be lying broken up in a hospital bed. Bernie appreciates the good wishes for his fast recovery, and says that he does plan to jump again, but next time taking things in the proper order. You guys, let's make sure to keep looking out for each other. It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye, and then the guy with the pencil in his hand feels like crap for ever. Peace, GET WELL SOON, BERNIE! K

Hi Tom- Thanks, I didn't know that. I'll use that format in the future. I just tried to see if I could edit my post, but didn't find the key. If you think my addresses would be harvested from my post, would you mind editing them for me? I'd certainly appreciate it. Thanks again... "love your work, Mate!" K

PS: And if you're not a paying guest of the Shilo, we won't be seeing you for breakfast unless we meet you at McDonalds. K

PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT CREATE QUICK LINKS ON THESE ADDRESSES! We have been plagued by SPAM and have learned that the "clicky's" can be harvested and then spammed. We are avoiding this to the best of our ability.. Thanks. K

Hi All- We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our basicresearch.com email addresses. If you are trying to contact us, please use the following email addresses: Orders and support : perrisATapexbase.com FBJC's and events: moabATapexbase.com Technical help: toddATapexbase.com Any mail sent to us through the links on the BR website is not getting through, so please re-address your messages to us at the above addresses for prompt replies. THANK YOU! Karen Thomas Apex BASE LLC Perris Facility

Hi Benni! That was me... I've been using a small mesh slider with a tailgate for a while now, mainly to prevent a line over. I would wrap the tailgate band as tight as I could get it for the terminal jumps. I think maybe the downside would be that during deployment the tailgate would hold the tail down even further than the brake setting, which actually could INCREASE the speed of the opening as less air can vent out through the tail. This is an effect we've noticed on the canopies with 5 upper control lines on terminal jumps. This year I'll be taking the 5th upper off, using a double layer small mesh slider, still using the tailgate, and downsizing the p/c to a 34 or a 32, either F-111 or vented zp (no straight zp for me!) This is the configuration I plan for TERMINAL JUMPS ONLY. I don't recommend this to anyone. I'm test jumping it personally because I'm like that. Say Benni, have you been pushed off any boats by sexy young women lately? Peace, K

Spellcheck! Dwain

Yo Yuri! Good job, mate! I had Lasik done in March 2000 and it certainly was the best $1700 I ever spent! I have had 20/15 vision ever since, and after having been blind as a bat since 6th grade, I have been so stoked about my vision I can't even tell you! Some of you may be wondering how I got Lasik 5 years ago at such a low price. Well, I was probably even more scared than Yuri, but 3 other people from my dz had been to this doctor and had superb results. When I went to the clinic for the preliminary tests, there on the wall was an 8x10 photo of Stevie Nicks, signed "To Dr. Mendez; thank you for fixing my eyes!" Yep, Dr. Mendez clinic in Tijuana, Mexico! I didn't have the 4 grand to spend, and Dr. Mendez doesn't have to pay a million dollars in malpractice insurance, and his overhead is much lower being located in Mexico. Not only that, but he told me when he decided to do this ten years prior to my visit, he wanted to help people. By keeping his prices low, he could help a LOT more people than if he did it for tons of money. So far I think 5 of us from Perris have been to Dr. Mendez, and we all have excellent vision. Zarky is next! :) Peace, K

Yeah, it's me. When my man tickles me hard enough I laugh just like Mutley. It's my fourth nickname. K

I think I've got you beat... My husband (at the time) and I were on Balboa Island watching the Christmas Boat Parade with his dad and step mom. We were happily standing near some palm trees, watching the pretty boats, when all of a sudden I felt this HUGE wet goo strike me on the head, then slowly start running down my scalp under my hair. At first I thought someone at the balcony bar behind us had thrown something, so I looked that way, only to see the balcony was deserted. Then we heard the rustling over our heads and carefully looked up.... Greg tried to wipe as much off my shoulder, arm, and back that he could, but he couldn't do too much about all the shit in my hair. We left the parade early and I stuck my head into the bathtub at the folk's house. Pelicans can sure shit a lot! Peace, K

Crazy, Jaap! I'm so glad you're ok! That must have been one hairball experience... Glad to hear about the calm you felt in that moment. That's a good thing to know. Peace, K

Damn Brits, it's too bad you were 1000 miles away from here when you started. Me and Anne would have LOVED to jump with you! Good on you for keeping on with it even against the obstacles...but we're women and are used to dealing with hard-headed mules...oh wait, I think they are commonly known as men. (OK guys, go ahead, the reply to MULE would be NAG!) Peace everyone, just having some fun... K

Yep...I probably wouldn't even be attracted to a guy or girl that didn't jump...ok, or climb, or something "risky'. It takes a certain type of character to get off on that stuff, and those are the kind of people that captivate me. BASE will get you laid, even if it's a sponge bath by a pretty nurse. By the way girls, have you met Russel? He's a hottie! Peace, K

I made my first skydive at 35 and my first BASE jump at 38. And now I've come to realize that life truly begins at 40. Maybe that's just blowing smoke up my own skirt, but honestly, I've never felt more alive, in touch, and excited with life! Peace, K

Yeah, what Brits said! And what I want to know is what 100 people did they interview? It obviously wasn't any of us! Dork whuffos anyway, pretty stupid story but really cool thread. C'ya! K