djmarvin

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Everything posted by djmarvin

  1. djmarvin
    One of an I/E's responsibilities is to ensure that all evals are fair. If he can't do that he shouldn't be an I/E. Advice to candidates: get outside video on every eval jump at a course, even the practices. If a jump or a grade seems unfair in any way, have the I/E review it. Good Evaluators and I/Es will put fairness ahead of ego and correct an unfair grade. I agree, and in every case I have seen this, the break in evaluator was not able to do "live" evals and were limited in what practice jumps they could (were allowed) do. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  2. djmarvin
    I agree with Gary on the AFF-I stand in. It could be better than nothing, but I have seen more than one experienced AFF-I break in as an evaluator and not give the candidates realistic work. Some are just too hard from the beginning. (work up from good to bad like Gary mentioned) and some are just way too absurd. There are plenty of experienced evaluators out there. Not only can they help you with your air skills, but they also tend to more intimately understand the scoring process for air and ground skills. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  3. djmarvin
    4way size jumps. They really sharpen your slot flying skills. Too big and you end up spending time waiting. If you have any evaluators in your area, ask them to do some practice jumps to see where you are and build from there. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  4. djmarvin
    LMAO!! DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  5. djmarvin
    You can also download the IRM Essentials for free. It includes the requirements to challenge any rating. The page number Jan mentions is the same number from the Essentials DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  6. djmarvin
    Bart does not jump with students, he shoots rw video, so I am pretty sure he is not to much of a distraction (although his team does like to end on their backs on exits :) ) As far as communicating I had no problems hearing him in the plane with his helmet on. (edited to add everything, posted the quote without my response) DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  7. djmarvin
    Killer job Bart!! One of the most unique pieces of skydiving gear I have ever seen! Well thought out and executed. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  8. djmarvin
    Check out Skydive Spaceland in Houston. Swing on by sometime and talk to some of the instructors and other students, I am sure you will quickly make up your mind. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  9. djmarvin
    Infinity!! I have three and have never had a problem with any of them. The main flap stays close with no problems. I can even pick the rig up by the main flap with it closed and it stays that way. Riser protection is awesome. The double riser cover has a clean contour to it that allows smooth and even extraction of the risers through deployment. The riser hard housing is swagged in place (proper use of word?) so it does not move relative to where it needs to be. The double wide leg straps are wider than most on the market (excluding tandem gear) giving a huge footprint and a very comfortable ride under canopy. Customer service is awesome. Price is one of the most affordable of the ones listed. There are several of the reasons I love my Infinity Rigs. There are several other rigs on the market that are strong choices, but I personally will continue to choose VSE. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  10. djmarvin
    Congrats!!! DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  11. djmarvin
    Depends where you jump on the tipping habits. A lot of instructors receive tips, many don't. If you feel that your instructors do a great job tip the accordingly, it is a service based industry afterall. Yes you are paying big bucks to have the time of your life, unfortunately skydiving is an expensive sport with very expensive aircraft and equipment. Most of that money goes to the owner, your instructor receives only a small portion of that. Normal tips for me range from $5-$20 DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  12. djmarvin
    Thanks for the response, will you please update us here if you find anything out. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  13. djmarvin
    Where on their site? I did not see any boxes. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  14. djmarvin
    Write the question on the top of your next flight plan, you wont forget to ask. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  15. djmarvin
    Not for a tandem rating. The 500 jump requirement is for 500 ram air canopy jumps. Tunnel time does nothing to develop canopy skills. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  16. djmarvin
    No, but I also feel a minimum time in sport should be required. Tunnel time may give you some flying skill, but it gives you no "sport" experience. Part of being an AFF-I is not only being able to fly with students, but hand off information about the sport that will keep them safe, information that is only truly acquired and understood with time and exposure to the sport of skydiving. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  17. djmarvin
    If we didn't continue to question why and how we do things we may still be jumping rounds. The best way to keep our sport evoloving is to question the status quo. (not rock the boat, but have intelligent conversations) Over the years that I have done tandems these types of questions have made me a better instructor and hearing "new" thoughts on "old" questions have been the core of that growth. Whether these questions bring about a new way of doing our job or just a reminder of things we don't think about often enough, revisiting them is valuable learning opportunity for those who were not around for the last version of this conversation and a reminder for those of us who were. Thanks to the original poster for pushing us to think about how we do our job in keeping ourselves and new jumpers safe. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  18. djmarvin
    You are correct, however we have all seen many students who can not figure out how to get out of the harness after a skydive. With adrenaline high it is not uncommon that some people can not settle their minds and think straight. It is just easier for them to release their seatbelt and move on. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  19. djmarvin
    I agree with Dave. Just don't tell him. Also in case of a crash would the student be in a position to reach any of the hookups. (TI pinned on side so student can not reach the lower, as an example) DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  20. djmarvin
    As several people have said. It would be a great idea to mount the still a little cleaner. That being said, I have a very similar setup, different video camera. I have had no issues with riser strikes etc. with the still. I have been jumping this setup since 05. My personal preference would be get a different helmet for two cameras (Bonehead Mantle would be my current choice) and center mount my video on my Illusion. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  21. djmarvin
    The more jumps you make the better you will be able to "feel" what's going on.....congrats on #10! See you back out soon. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  22. djmarvin
    Paul, Bring in your jumpsuit and your rig to the DZ next time you are there and ask one of us to look at with you. It sounds like you have a decent bit of advice going on here, but I would be happy to help you figure this out in person. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  23. djmarvin
    Based on your statements I am guessing you are doing a single instructor jump. If that is the case then the legs on your butt are causing you to backslide around the instructor (your pivot point). Students with legs on their butt and not a lot of issues probably have either two instructors holding on or no instructors holding on. Positive leg pressure may help your case, but obviously your instructors can best help you there since they are seeing what is going on and we are a bunch of tools with no life on the interwebs. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  24. djmarvin
    Just curious to how far along this matter would have made it if the OP would have put as much energy into going about things "politically" instead of through rants and tantrums. I really do not know, just thinking...... DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com
  25. djmarvin
    So the man made a mistake or the plan was for the main side to ride through. (looks like the mainside stays for bag lift off based on the video) We all have made mistakes. Well most of us. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com