lifewithoutanet

Organizational probs? Nah...they're just Auzzies. PM Liv. -C.

Why not go to the ABA's site (http://www.basejump.org) and order the 2003 Compilation video instead? -C.

I think that's on the ABA 2003 compilation video. -C.

That is some classic shit: "this was not a cliff strike, it was a perfectly executed tree landing". Apparently they used but a fraction of Dwain's video in that compilation. I heard he went on like that for hours. -C.

Aside from the off-humor comment here or there, I don't think there's anyone wishing for his death. But you do have a number of pissed-off jumpers. Here's my analysis of why (read into it my own opinions, as well...they're certainly in here). What you have is a jumper with a history of poor judgement and few alies. Back up to a year ago, he has an accident in Vegas, of which I'm not certain of the specifics, but from what I've heard, it leaves him with two rods in his spine and a couple other severe injuries. This is a horrible accident indeed and in and of itself, makes me feel for the guy, just like I would for any jumper. Without the specifics, I'll just mention it as a part of history. Flash forward a year later and he's burning objects in Colorado Springs without calling any of the locals (as it's been told to me). Get up, go to the bathroom and come back and in that time he's managed to 'recover' enough to climb a well-known and oft-jumped tower, under-delay and wind up on a guy wire. Again...in this much, I do feel for the guy a little. I don't wish this shit on anyone. But when it's time to leave well enough alone and just go on his merry way, he gets in front of a camera and starts talking, and not well at that. I'm not into the publicity of BASE anymore than the rest of us who are using it to get laid (joke), but following a major rescue on a prominent and historical object is not the time to spout calls for "legalizing" BASE. Nor is it the time to make yourself the self-proclaimed spokesman for a cadre of brothers and sisters who on the whole, shun media attention for the simple fact that the media most always GETS IT WRONG. Grandstanding for a camera before the man who rescued you the night before has even had time to wake up and have his morning cup of coffee is just asinine; equally so the lack of reference and thanks to the people who worked to save your ass. My opinion, show a bit of humility and turn away from the cameras. I'd wager a guess that's what's got most of us pissed-off, but really, I can only speak for myself. Regarding the "half wit phone operator"... You're expecting her to be familiar w/ BASE when JA's spouting all manner of shit that's indecipherable to a whuffo. -C.

Enter bag o' dog food, stage right. It takes serious kibbles to test gear. -C.

Well, that would factor into the telling of the story. Again, it's the combination of the two media "appearances". As for his choice to get the tattoos...whatever, that's up to him. -C.

Here it is from another post: 911 Call. Realize that I'm not criticizing his reaction to hanging 200 feet up on a wire in itself alone. It's the combination of this tape and his retelling of the accident in front of the camera. -C.

I think the 911 tape is what really did it for me. I didn't hear it until after I'd seen him on the news, but when I did, it really put me over the edge. The stark contrast between the bravado he showed to the camera and the snivelling, whimpering mess he was on the 911 call... This guy doesn't have a humble bone in his body. I wonder how he would have reacted if, before he could say anything about his previous injuries, the reporter had asked, "Weren't you the guy who in Vegas, a year ago... And weren't you just rescued two weeks ago in Colorado Springs?" I guess it's a good thing the media didn't pick up on his history. Or maybe they did, but didn't make a big deal out of it. I'm sad to say this because I don't know what it will mean for the rest of our objects, but he's an attention whore and he was revelling in the media's focus, if only for his 15 minutes this time around. You're right. We haven't seen the last of him. -C.

Yeah...I'd kind of forgotten about that. Too bad they don't carry Crispi at all anymore...did someone say "Pro Deal"? -C.

Internet!?!? Dude...you've got the Mothership of REI's in town! Go down there, check 'em out first-hand and then order if you find 'em cheaper online. Edit: Doh! A quick search on rei.com shows that they no longer carry Crispis. -C.

Well, I was quoting WillH, but again, for the emphasis on 'fit'. I can't be sure of the actual difference between Hanwags and Crispis. I can say that my Crispis fit quite nicely, and I don't have wide feet. As for fitting, have you ever been to a specialized running store? They'll ask you a series of questions, put you on a treadmill to video and analyze your stride and like magic, come up with the pair that's best for you. You might find that in some very specialized hiking shops, but even if you don't...it's the approach to choosing the right pair of boots that could decide how well you like that next new pair of boots. The only way to be sure how well they fit you is to see how well they fit you. -C. Edit: spelling

This is worth repeating...not so much because it's a comparison between Crispi or Hanwags, but because the underlying message is 'fit'. I jump La Sportiva Glaciers. They're essentially the Makalus without Gore-Tex and without the crampon compatible outsole. I got them because they provide the protection I'm looking for and because of how well they fit my feet. I've owned a few pair of La Sportivas, Scarpas and Crispis over the years, so I know each of these will work. I had a pair of Asolos, on the other hand, which were a great boot, but didn't really fit my feet as well as these others. The only thing I'd change about my Glaciers is the hardware at the top of the ankle. They're standard hooks. I've just been covering them up for now, but I'd like to replace them with eyelets like on Hanwags for a much lower snag potential. -C.

Whatever. You were already cold and wet, anyway. -C.

Whatever, dude. This chap made it to the hospital the same day of the injury. This 'one friend' of mine... Guy breaks his right ankle, left femur just above the knee and breaks the ball joint off the top of the same femur. He makes it all the way home, goes to work for a few days and doesn't bother seeing a doctor until the SIXTH day after the injury. Now THAT'S tough. -C.

There are a select few people I will let pack for me...and an equally select few whom I will pack for. Almost killing a friend with a packing error due to inexperience will do something to both your confidence in packing and your approach to BASE. -C.

Just did a search. Apparently we're not the only ones...but there is a little bit of back and forth debate. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=447256#447256 -C.

I think the only reason to use these would be on a smuggler rig, in the case that you're worried about metal detectors. Otherwise, I don't see the point, with changing configs from S/U or S/D, as well as the risk of the slider dislodging a toggle because it doesn't have the rapide link/bumper to stop it. Just my $.02. -C.

Well, nothing but another stow for the toggle stub. I'm not saying that this design is foolproof, but I do think it has its merits and that the force on the toggle, if the pin does go, will be much less than the initial force on the pin. In the case of the ones you've seen blow, do you know if human error played a factor? Were the brake lines pre-tensioned? Were the stowes intact prior to the jump or did they show signs of wear? -C.

That typically involves a test jump by me first, Nick, so with self-preservation in mind, I can't support your suggestion. Thanks for the info on the load placed upon a toggle in the event of a line-over. I missed this when I was writing my post about toggles w/ pins. -C.

Two of my rigs are Bombproof Neos and use what I've been calling LRPTs (see attached pic). Knowing your opinion of these (and considering it held more weight and experience than my own), I brought this up to Martin of Asylum over Labor Day weekend. When properly stowed, with the brake lines pre-tensioned, a hard opening has the potential to blow the pin and release the brakes, but as there are basically two points to stow (pin and toggle), the likelihood of having the toggle come unstowed and release from the riser are very slim. The pin will take the brunt of the force, lessening the impact on the stowed toggle. These were my thoughts and Martin seemed to agree. Martin, If you're on here and need to clarify anything I've missed, please do. I didn't get a chance to discuss this w/ Kevin McGuire, so Kevin, if you're around, what are your thoughts on this style of risers? -C.

I think one of the great differentiators between the two--especially with vented canopies--is opening speed. That was one area Jimmy talked to me about before he agreed to make the canopy. He (and he wasn't the only one) cautioned me that vented w/ a full ZP topskin would be overkill on opening speed. I was somewhat counting on that for lower objects. That's true for CR/Asylum (and my new BlackJack 260 ZP shipped today!), but Apex (BR/Vertigo) does a full topskin. I'm not sure if they have a nose to B-line ("foreskin") option. Totally agree with you here, however I've found that the ZP canopies will maintain more speed coming out of a dive (or possibly gain more from a dive). How much more? Substantial enough to easily take notice. Other jumpers I've talked to have mentioned that ZP top/foreskins help maintain better pressurization and therefore better performance, especially when sinking it in. I'm not sure where I stand on that. Not enough experience to confirm or deny. -C.

Don't forget her equally seductive sister: Matertera Urbanus

Congrats on your first and second. Regarding your head-low issue... Where are you looking as you exit? Out towards the horizon? Or are you looking for the ground and/or the antenna? Focus on the horizon, hop off as Nick suggested. -C.

I'm with Jaap on this one. Try Manship or Zennie (Ted Biggs), or go straight to the source, JimmyP. The three of them (I believe) are all doing test jumps with a new, larger slider which Jimmy designed to help speed up the openings on S/U jumps. I'm jumping a Rock Dragon 244 w/ full ZP topskin (it's the only ZP one I'm aware of, at this point). Jimmy jumped it and told me that he didn't think it needed the new slider. I don't, either. I've been happy with its openings on S/U and S/D jumps. I still have relatively fewer jumps on it compared to my Fox245 ZP (and this is only w/ 90 total BASE jumps), so I'm still analyzing its flight characteristics and I don't want to give you an inaccurate analysis, (edit) but I am willing to answer specific questions. I do love the way I can sink it in, though. That saved me in some turbulence and winds that pushed me off my mark on short-final on a recent jump. -C.