Douva

Been there, done that. Have you seen that pond lately? After the last seven months of rain, it's been officially dubbed Lake Fentress. I don't mind giving it a try, but I'd like to have a rigger pull my cypress first (and I might like to track down a lifejacket, also). --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Yes, the whole "board might bounce back and hit you in the head" thing is kind of silly. If the board is bouncing much at all, you're dropping it from too high. If you just let it slide off your feet as you're flaring, it should just skip across the ground below you. If you're landing with a lot of speed, the board might take a nasty skip off some uneven ground, but it's still not going to bounce up and hit you because you'll be well past it by then. Instead of worrying about some bizarre anomaly where the board might bounce back up and hit him, a beginning skysurfer should concern himself with not hitting anybody else. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I don't care how I die, just so long as the headline reads something along the lines of "95 Year Old Goes Down in a Blaze of Glory!" --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I am considered quite cool among the 8-12 demographic. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

My American Airlines flight from LAX to Austin, TX, takes off in two hours and forty-five minutes. I'll post a follow-up to let you all know what I encounter. --Douva Here's the follow-up: At LAX, they x-rayed the carry-on bag containing my rig twice. They then asked me to step to the side for a bag inspection. The inspector swabbed the outside of the carry-on bag for explosives--It was clean. He then opened the side pockets. He noticed the TSA logo on the documents in the side pocket and asked if I'm with the TSA--I'm not. He then opened the bag and looked at the rig. INSPECTOR What's inside? ME It's a parachute. INSPECTOR A parachute? ME Yes. INSPECTOR I don't think that's allowed. ME That's what the TSA documentation is about. INSPECTOR Let me get my supervisor. I take out the documentation and hand it to him while we wait for his supervisor. He thumbs through it. His supervisor arrives. SUPERVISOR What's up? INSPECTOR (reading from the documentation) "Skydiving rigs with and without Automatic Activation Devices (AAD) are permitted as a carry-on or as checked luggage." SUPERVISOR Let me check with my supervisor. The supervisor walks away. INSPECTOR This is a new one on me. The supervisor returns. SUPERVISOR It's okay. INSPECTOR It's okay? SUPERVISOR It's okay. INSPECTOR Okay. The inspector swabs the flaps of my rig for explosives. It comes up clean. He then helps me pack up my bag. He points to the documentation. INSPECTOR It's a good thing you had this. ME Yes, we skydivers have learned to travel prepared. End of story. All in all, it took me maybe fifteen minutes to get through security, and now two more airport security officials know the rules pertaining to traveling with skydiving rigs. I considered it a pretty productive venture and patted myself on the back for being so thorough in documenting my case. Blue skies, Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

My American Airlines flight from LAX to Austin, TX, takes off in two hours and forty-five minutes. I'll post a follow-up to let you all know what I encounter. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I'm pretty sure I found it on the USPA website. I believe it was a PDF file. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

From the reqs on the link: To enter the Perris Valley Skysurfing School, you must have a minimum of 100 freefall skydives and hold at least a C License. You must also have at least 30 sitfly, freefly, or freestyle skydives. Are the requirements really that low? Two things I want to try are wingsuits and skysurfing. Skysurfing by far seems the more dangerous to me between the two. That's the lowest minimum number of jumps I've seen recommended for someone who wants to take up skysurfing, but it doesn't really surprise me. I don't think the minimum requirements for skysurfing have changed much in the last ten years, since skysurfing first came on the scene. Someone with 100 jumps was considered to be quite a bit more experienced ten years ago than they are now. Like I said, I only had about 150 jumps when I made my first skysurfing jump. I seem to recall 150 being a pretty standard minimum for skysurfing back then. I think that rather than get too focused on jump numbers, the best qualifying factor should be how well the jumper in question can pull off certain freefly/freestyle moves, like holding a stable sit, holding a stable stand, doing front and back standing layouts, etc. In my non-expert opinion, if you can do all of that pretty easily, you can probably handle skysurfing. I'm not experienced enough to coach anybody, yet, but if I were, I'd probably like to see someone have at least 200 skydives, as a general rule, before taking up skysurfing. But depending on that person's skill level at freeflying and freestyle, I might raise or lower that number on an individual basis. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

QuoteI'm planning on strapping on a board soon, and would just like some feedback before I do. 1) How many jumps did you have when you first strapped on a board? 2) How much more difficult is pull time? 3) When you cutaway the board right before landing, doesn't that mess up your flare? Not to sound ignorant, but I'm a bit confused about this part. Yes, I'll be getting some coaching before I take the leap, but I'd like to get a jump start. Thanks!

I flew on American Airlines from Austin, TX to LAX on July 9. The rig passed through the terminal x-ray machine (in my carry-on bag) and past the inspectors without a second glance. I'll let you all know how the return trip grows. Just to be safe, I'm traveling with a Cypres card, a copy of the TSA letter to Ed Scott at the USPA, a copy of the TSA webpage on traveling with a skydiving rig, a copy of the USPA web page on traveling with a rig that points out which chapter section (17.2 in version 4.0) of the Screening Checkpoint Standard Operating Procedure manual details the rules about skydiving rigs, and a copy of FAR 105.43 which states who many pack a reserve. I also have it writtten down that "the rules for parachutes on American Airlines are in their Sabre Reservations Computer under the heading "N*Prohibited Articles." It's on line 76N--"Parachutes without CO2 cartridges are allowed." If anybody can think of anything I'm forgetting, please let me know. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Josh, once TSL is over, Scott and Lynn and their team will be there and jump with different folks, same goes for Conway i think. I prefer to be a skydiver, not a freeflier, or an RW guy. I feel that i can get on most dives at the dz regardless of the orientation. I would not however expect to be included in the TX state record attempts of either discipline, i am not that proficient in any one area. However i have a ton of fun at the dz regardless of what i am doing and that is why i skydive anyway.

You're talking about two different songs--both about Rob Harris. He's also mentioned in several Kottonmouth Kings songs. The music industry loved Rob Harris. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

WE'RE MAKING A COMEBACK, BABY!!! I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Why? Those kids are going to have a much better chance at a good life than some broke 30 something couple. And a much better chance than some 20 something single parent. ' That's really all being a parent about isn't it--being a constant source of income for your children? Spending time with your children and being there for them throughout their lives is really overrated. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

If all goes according to plan, I should be out at Perris Valley this weekend, so if you're at Perris, and you see a skinny skysurfer in a red and blue jumpsuit with a blue and white Javelin, please say "hi." --Douva www.lastskysurfingteam.com I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I am 6' 1" tall and weigh about 150 lbs. (exit weight of about 175.) When I started skydiving, I was the same height and about 135 lbs. (exit weight of about 165 lbs.) Picture me with someone who's under 6' and has an exit weight of 200+ lbs. There are some jumps (especially certain AFF jumps) that I absolutely cannot do without weights. In my experience, the people who give the "nobody really needs weights" talk don't do serious RW (I don't do a whole lot of RW, anymore, but I do AFF) or they simply don't have a body type that requires weights, so they don't understand the proper and necessary use of weights. Weights are not a substitute for arching. If you can obtain the same range with a simple arch, you don't need weights. Weights are necessary when no reduction of drag (tighter jumpsuit) and no amount of arching will bring your range into line with a shorter/heavier jumper's. I can get down to any formation without weights, if all I want to do is get down to the formation. But if I try to turn a second point or fly a tight slot, I have to give up all of my control surfaces to stay down, and I wash around too much to be able to perform. I sometimes jump with as much as 23 lbs. of weight (13 in a weight belt and 10 in a weight vest). Not having to fight to stay down with the other jumpers makes a world of difference in my flying ability. --Douva PS. Jskydiver22, what is your height and exit weight? You left some pertinent information out of your argument. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I believe it's been in development for a while. I remember first seeing it listed in the Hollywood Reporter a while back. Here is the current listing (under "Projects In Production"): Touchstone Pictures 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521 - 818-560-1000 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Comedy) Walt Disney Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521 - 818-560-1000 Shooting in London, England (Start April 19, 2004) Cast: Sam Rockwell, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, Martin Freeman, Bill Nighy, Warwick Davis, Anna Chancellor, John Malkovich ExPrd., Douglas Adams, Robbie Stamp, Derek Evans; Prd., Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Nick Goldsmith, Jonathan Glickman, Jay Roach; CoPrd., Todd Arnow, Caroline Hewitt; Dir., Garth Jennings; Scr., Douglas Adams, Karey Kirkpatrick; DP, Igor Jadue-Lillo; Ed., Niven Howie; UPM, Peter Heslop; AD, Richard Whelan; PrdDsgn., Joel Collins; Art, Frank Walsh, Daniel Loren May; Set, Kate Beckly; Cstm., Sammy Howarth-Sheldon; PrdCoord., Deryn Stafford; SFX, Paul Dunn; Snd., Mark Holding; Cstg., Susie Figgis, Marcia Ross; Publ., Deborah Simmrin; U.S. Dstrb, Buena Vista --Douva PS. I'm currently reading the books--Lots of fun, great sattire. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

All of my kiss passes have been with Bryan Moffett, so my whole perception of kiss passes is kind of tainted. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I call bullshit on this one...

At my home DZ, there is an absolute maximum weight limit of 14 stone for any jump (although that's more governed by the wingloading on our student main and reserve canopies). That's in addition to advising students of the higher risk posed by a higher than average body mass index. The BMI standard is a good idea. Often, I think too much emphasis is put on weight, for first jump students. I know one female skydiver who is about 180 lbs. and in pretty good shape. I've seen others who were about 150 lbs. and in horrible shape. It all depends on body type. I think the group jog is a GREAT idea. Kelpdiver mentioned earlier that he thought a 1/4 mile run would be a better alternative to a 50 yard dash. I agree, but I'm not sure many DZ's would be willing to commit to spending that much time on physical screening. I figured the 50 yard dash wouldn't really even have to be a sprint--Just show that you can move at a pace faster than a walk for a short distance. As Kelpdiver said, the screening for an Open Water diving certification is a piece of cake for anyone in any reasonable physical condition. That's all a screening for new skydivers would have to be--just something to backup jumpers' assertion on the release form that they are in reasonable physical condition. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I was beginning to think I was the only person bothered by this. If you are in such poor physical condition that you can barely walk up or down a flight of stairs, you have no business jumping out of an airplane. A lot of non-skydivers seem to equate skydiving with a roller coaster ride; they don't recognize it as a sport. I see this mostly with tandems, which isn't quite as serious as with AFF or static line; however, I have seen some tandem ankle injuries in which the only real problem I could see was the student's physical condition. When it comes to AFF or static line, physical condition can be a major factor. Many caving outfits and white water rafting outfits require you to perform a basic physical test before they will let you participate. There is a basic physical test required to get a SCUBA certification. I think drop zones should consider implementing a similar program. Simply requiring AFF and static line students to suspend their own body weight for thirty-seconds (not a pull-up, just hanging) and run 50yds in a time that any person of adequate health should be able to do would help confirm that the students will probably be able to hang onto the plane and run out landings. If your DZ has any physical requirements, other than those put in place by the USPA, I'd be interested in hearing about them. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Has anybody approached you about purchasing the film rights to your dream? Maybe we should talk. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Good articles. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

How exactly did they make that? Did they take characters from the game and program the dance moves into them? I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Yes, Skydive San Marcos has a permanent NOTAM (little parachute symbol on all the sectionals). I've heard jumpers talk about how they wouldn't like to jump at a DZ like Deland, with all the air traffic, but what those jumpers forget is that all of that traffic is CONTROLLED. I guess that's a disadvantage of a private air strip in the middle of nowhere--You can have a NOTAM filed and report to ATC like you're supposed to, and another pilot can come along who just isn't paying attention to any of that. --Douva I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.