Kris

Rowr! Nice pics, Renee. From the pics and the phone calls from you & Bo lat night, it sounds like an event I'll definitely have to try to make next year....if I'm not already in FL by then. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Glad you were able to un-fuck yourself, Jim! We've still gotta' flock together one of these days. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

It's one of those things (like collapsing the slider and stowing it behind your head to reduce drag) done to increase the performance of one's canopy. By loosening the chest strap, you allow the risers to spread further apart and the canopy to flatten out a bit. For those of us with zippier canopies and/or higher wing-loading it makes a more noticable difference. Under a larger, less-loaded canopy you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference. As an instructor, I would advise that you not mess with your chest strap right now. In the event of line-twists, canopy collision, etc....the chest strap is still there and will still hold one in after a cutaway. It's not completely undone, just loosened to the stop or until there's slack in it (for those with really long chest straps). Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Welcome to the world of skydiving tattoo's. PM'd Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Sweet!!! I'm watching it now. Great stuff.

We have some pretty exceptional pilots at my DZ and I do trust them if the shit were to ever hit the fan. As for maintenance, our two jump planes are well looked after.

After I open the chest strap on my Mirage G3 is right where I left it before the jump. Once I have a good canopy over my head I loosen it all the way to the stop after I have collapsed & stowed my slider. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

If you're talking about the cheap orange 'Zak' knife, you're right. If you're talking about a 'Jack the Ripper' knife, you're wrong. I carry two knives on me but only one is accessible at a time. I have the nice metal knife with the finger-holes on the legstrap of my Mirage, and I carry a 'Jack the Ripper' on the right thigh of my BirdMan GTi. I'm going to add another small knife to my chest strap so that I'll have one high, one low...with one always accessible by either hand. Knock on wood, I haven't had to use one yet. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Fear them. Run away at all costs!!! http://www.cajunchickens.com/ Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Stashed on my rig I have: A hook knife, a $20 bill, $1 in quarters, two pull-up cords, a 5' length of gutted 550 cord, and my late fiance's St. Christopher medal is tacked on the inside wall of the back-pad on my rig. In my jumpsuit I carry a tin of Altoid's cinnamon strips for my student's and a pack of cleaning cloths for my Oakleys. If I'm doing CRW or a high hop n pop I'll take my cell phone too. In my gear bag I keep: My Mindwarp helmet My FF suit and my BirdMan suit A Leatherman Wave A small Swiss Army knife (the scissors are a godsend for removing broken rubber bands) My logbook A pair of goggles in case it's dark or something happens to my Oakleys. My old kill-line PC with FF handle. Tacky gloves (and some latex gloves for liners when it's really cold) Some Shout Wipes (Why did I get white trim tape on my rig?) Extra pens A Scott's Grip for packing Strobe light in case we decide to do a night jump Spare Tube Stoes Assorted non-drowsy sinus meds & some Alleve A lighter Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

My Mirage G3 with a UNISYN harness has never squeaked in either the hip or chest rings. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

HEY!!! Just because you went with those wussy colors is no reason to take it out on me. It's all about looking good on video. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Wow...imagine a Beowulf cluster of thos.....umm, sorry. Thought I was on Slashdot.org for a moment. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Actually, I see Derek's point. Truth be told, I'm thinking about giving up my rating as well. I can see myself heading down the road he's on and I don't like it. So, it makes me think a little more seriously about weighing the benefits of either decision. Thinking is a good thing. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

ROFLMAOPIMP!!! Are we talking about the same Clay Fowler here? Quiet? Not outgoing? Nah....can't be our loud, boisterous, sheep lovin' lil' monkey. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I think Jess will be okay. She's the only person I know who can put the fear of the almighty in Torquemada himself. It's the rehab specialists who are going to need therapy after Jess is done with them. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Tsk, tsk, tsk...silly monkey. Haven't you ever beheld the wonder that is known as putting baby powder in someone's canopy? It's the perfect solution. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Ummm....KellyF just happens to be Kelly Farrington, the designer of your rig. You may want to listen to the man's input. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

When an IAD or S/L student reaches the freefall portion of their training they are taught the same air skills as an AFF student. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Awwwww dammit! I was wondering where you had gotten off to lately, hon. I hope you heal fast, Icka! Make sure the 'rents are supplying you with plenty of Shiner and pain killers. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Pat it on the head, give it an 'attaboy', and buy it a thick filet mignon. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

The advantage of being a little further south of you in OKC means I just have to drive a short while and I'm sitting in Houston with warmer weather in the winter. Not to rub it in or anything. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

'Better' is a rather subjective term. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

No....on top of Sluggo. If it's done right, Bill will have his legs dangling in front of Sluggo. However, for that to work you need wide risers and slider bumpers that won't let the slider come down past the links. You can also sit on the other person's shoulders if you don't have the right kind of slider. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Not at my DZ and not with one of my students. Only an S&TA can waiver the wind limit. Even then, I think they are only allowed to go so far. BSR's specify that the winds must be no greater than 14mph for a ram-air parachute without a waiver filed for the DZ. And no greater than 10mph if the rig has a round reserve. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™