sethgray

Whichever one I'm wearing! BASE #958

I don't care if you post them... so long as you atleast show them to me BASE #958

I got an email from Cathy last week that said "Yes we’ll launch a new wingsuit, called S-FLY PROFLY, which will be larger wingarea and designed by Loïc JEAN-ALBERT. We’ll communicate soon on it. It’ll be probably available around april."

Clamps help me keep the bottomskin of the canopy and the nose cleaner, and fold the canopy into the container cleaner and quicker. BASE #958

I view it the same way I do body armor: its not necessary, but unless you can convince me there is added danger from utilizing them, why not? I CAN pack without them if needed, but why make things harder on myself when I don't have to? I have less than 200 base jumps, and have a zp topskin ace 240 if that helps find some defining similarities. Looking back, I initially learned to pack without clamps. As time went on, I began using more and more clamps, and eventually added the bungees when a good buddy from Canada (thanks steve) showed me the cool line tension aspects the bungy's added. I'm also curious about the average relation between experience and packing tools. BASE #958

I use clamps on every packjob I can. There are instances where this is not possible, but those situations are the exception rather than the rule. I pack wth 12 clamps, a weight and 2 bungee cords to keep line tension. Clamps are hardly necessary for a good packjob, but when the packjob comes out all perfect and clean it sure makes me feel better. oh, these numbers do not include my two built-in clamps (hands)... and I have both my arms too... The most moving argument I've ever heard for packing without clamps is that if you're used to packing with clamps and you ever have to pack without them, your packjob will take forever and will suck.... well, why not just keep your clamps with your rig? Tools might be forgotten or left behind, but they exist because they make things easier and sometimes better. BASE #958

personally, I think that anything under 250 should be done with a static line if possible, or a pca/buddy assist if necessary: I would not do, or suggest anybody else do a handheld or stowed jump from less than 250. I know that I'm ultra-conservative and even a little bit of a sally when it come to low shit, so that should also be considered when reading this. As for what rigging conditions I base my comment on: both pin and velcro containers (perigee pro, perigee 2, vision, and softcock), mojo 220, ace 240, fox unvented 260 or 280... don't remember, 42 f111, 42 zeroP-AV, 46 f111 and ZeroP-AV, 48 f111 and ZeroP-AV, and a 50" zeroP (nonav). This is what was taught to me, and what I have observed. However I admit that I've never specifically jumped with the goal of observing and testing this nugget my mentor gave me, or otherwise verified the numbers mathmatically. BASE #958

I have heard this defense before and I don't agree. If a dumbass dies off an object, regardless of that dumbass's number of jumps, experience, quality of gear, whatever... it isn't just the SITE that gets heat, its the local CREW, and ALL of their other less secret objects. just my two cents. the really messed up thing is that this is the way our sport is moving, away from personal responsibility and accountability. What ever happened to the supporters on the side of the fence saying "if we don't save this sport, who will?" instead of sitting on the other side of that fence, foolheartedly assuming that, "one dumb ass can't do anything that could seriously impact our ability to continue jumping" ok, maybe four cents worth... -SEth BASE #958

Delay What are the theoretical pros and cons to a Go & Throw versus taking 1 second? If it was a pin rig then I would think the extra speed would help with deployment but being velcro not sure it will make much difference. Thoughts? Doing a "go and throw" will present your pilot chute sooner, and require more time and distance for the entire process of extraction and inflation to occur. This creates an increased risk of something going wrong durring extraction/inflation such as environmental conditions like wind giving you line twists. waiting a second, then pitching at a higher velocity will result in a more abreviated extraction and inflation, minimizing environmental factors impact on your opening. It should also be noted that the overall distance from exit to an open, flying canopy between a go and thow and a 1 second delay is the same. The benefits of waiting the second aren't being open sooner, but rather minimizing the time the canopy is unpacked before you are flying it. BASE #958

I've jumped from a paraglider before, and know of many other jumpers who have also done this. Treat it much like a balloon jump: you can't really launch hard or the pilot will get swung all around and never take you up again. Also, if you are going up in a tandem paraglider harness, be very aware of your pilotcute and all of the little snag points on the paraglider harness... its REALLY easy to pull your pilotchute out accidentally when you are standing up in those tandem paraglider harnesses ;) I have heard of people rigging up 3ring cut-away systems for releasing from a NONtandem paraglider harness (connecting your base hiprings to connection points on the paraglider harness, putting the jumper in the same position in relation to the paraglider as a paraglider tandem passenger would have). But I have only heard about his, and did not see the setup, PM me if you need the name of the jumper who has done this. Lets see... I also talked to a paraglider base jumper about the possibility of using a basecontainer as mounting points for a paraglider wing. The idea was put on your base rig, hookup a paraglider wing, launch the paraglider wing, get up to altitude, cut away the paraglider wing, take a delay and deploy your base wing. The paraglider pilot seemed to think this would work, but that it would be uncomfortable, and not nearly as efficient of a body position as the true paraglider harness would offer. Other than that, I think it as a 5-7.5 pound weight that needed attachd to one of the two paraglider toggles before you separate to make sure the paraglider wing falls straight down. BASE #958

yep. full rockgardn flackjacket, landingzone knee/shin guards, FATE gloves, and a helmet... can't remember the make/model. oh, and my rig is a 240. BASE #958

Approximately 25" x 6" x 16". things to keep in mind: you want it to be collapseable, have wide shoulder straps, a waist strap if possible, and something to hold the shoulder straps together across the front of your chest. Do that and keep it light-weight and soft and you'll have a great product. BASE #958

"310footer" was taken of me (by Matt Wimer) before I wore body armor; I now reccomend wearing full body armor if possible. I took the pictures "freefall" and "Poised in the steel". BASE #958

Just wanted to bring up a concern of mine that I didn't see discussed yet: When I go handheld--which I admittadely do very rarely--I hold the pilotchute differently depending on the delay I plan on taking: 0-1.5 second delay: I choke off the bridle and mesh, leaving the ZeroP/F111 topskin on the top of my hand (NOT CHOKED). 1-2 second delay: I choke off the entire pilotchute exactly like it would be in the BOC (except the bridle routed ontop of my thumb ofcourse). My reasoning for the difference in what material is choked is this: any extra fabric in the air is more drag, drag on one extremity is nonsymmetrical, this unsymmetrical drag will make me need to change my center of gravity to keep nice and stable.... and I don't want to have to worry about all of this if I don't have to. I feel that this extra drag is minimal, and probably accounted for unconciously by many of us, but its still there. just my 2 cents. Also, while we're on the topic of handheld procedure could somebody chime in with all the reasons to route your bridle ontop of your thumb and NEVER out the bottom of your hand... there are a few jumpers up here that could use hearing these reasons again. BASE #958

I use downhill mountain bike armor from RockGardn. (www.rockgardn.com) The FLAK JACKET has removable elbow/forearm guards so you can pick and choose what peices to use, the FATE GLOVES work great once you cut the middle and index fingers off a knuckle or two back, and the CYA SHORTS work ok, but could really use some hard plates. The LANDING ZONE KNEE/SHIN GUARDS work good, but I plan on getting some motocross knee/shin guards in the near future. I use all of my armor on every jump, and its not too heavy or bulky to fit in my stashbag for hikes up. Also, Mark, the owner of ROCKGARDN would probably start making us BASE SPECIFIC armor if enough of us showed interest (I discussed this with him about a year ago, and his only reason not to was that he hadn't received any interest except from me at the time). BASE #958

I was always taught that in genereal, the longer your delay the better. The argument presented to me, and I agree with it, is that the higher your body's velocity, the faster the entire deployment procedure will be, thus minimizing the time the enviroment has to impact the deployment (ie, twists from the wind, etc). Other than that, I've found its a matter of your "tolerence". When I had fewer jumps, a go-and-throw was 100% fulfilling, but after a while, short delays didn't give me the rush I was after. I'm now finding this rush in longer delays, as I choose not to pursue it on high bust jumps as many of the people I started jumping with have done. BASE #958

My roommate used to jump and was telling me about a website he found one time that listed all the legal sites info (like over/under hung distance, distance to impact, tallus height). If anybody knows where this is, let me know on here, or send me an email at sethgray@hotmail.com. BASE #958

I use a Pryme Vario Helmet, it is intended for Snowboarding, and has removable Ear Covers (2 buttons each cover). I also jump with full body armor. I reccomend the RockGardn Flak Jacket, CYA Shorts, FATE Carbon Gloves (with index and middle fingers cut off at the middle knuckle), and the Landing Zone Knee/Shin Guards. http://www.rockgardn.com BASE #958