altichick

How about something like this from Storm I love my my Storm watch - it's 10+ years old and still going! Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

The company is in SA can be hard to get a reply from some times but I went through Louis a US based dealer and he was really helpful when I needed lines, handles freebag and all that stuff. I've got 800 jumps on my 135 and like the canopy, i use it on winguit and camera jumps - and since I got the new lineset openings and performance have been great. Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

One thing not to do is use your full face helmet to carry your weights, dytter, alti and assorted underwear (to pack it all so it won't move about too much) and then take it as carry on... Apparently lead weights and dytters look very suspicious on the xray machine... and they will make you unpack it, underwear included, there in front of everyone and you will get strange looks as they wonder why you have a black full face helmet full of thongs!!! (I thought it was a good way to avoid XS baggage on 10 pounds of lead weight!) Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Quite true... remenber... not all americans have guns... Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

ditto freefalle If you leave without the jumps you'll just eat into any cash you have whilst getting your jumps nos. up and then doing the courses. And if you don't have enough cash to do it you'll get sucked into the dz bum / packing thing - working all hours but rarely being able to afford a jump (let alone a beer!) Why not stick at your day job and get general dz experience, riggers ticket or something in the mean time - the more you can do the easier getting a job will be when you do cutaway from real life! I left the UK 18 months ago with 300 jumps and I spent a *lot* before I started working in the sport even since getting my ratings I have yet to break even! I don't regret it though

Excellent thread

There's no minimum time between coach and AFFI ratings so long as you have all the required jumps etc. I did my coach and AFF ratings in the same week. Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Don't worry about who's going to be there. Eloy is a really friendly DZ - I turned up on my own and ended up staying 4 months!! You'll meet sooo many people at the boogie from all over the place! Have fun!!

Thanks everyone for your input. I totally agree that outside vid is the way to go if the student wants good video of their jump! In my experience students will rarely get video except for maybe the first jump so an AFFI wearing video wouldn't reduce the work available for the camera guys. However lots of students would benefit from seeing their jump on video. If I go for it it seems that an enclosed, side mount with super wide lens is the way to go. Understand the concerns that it may be a distraction but I'm not a video flyer and trying to get a good shot/angle wouldn't even enter my head, it would definately be a case of switch it on and forget it! Thanks again for the input Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Just wondering how many AFFIs wear video on AFF dives and if so how is it mounted (side/top/bullet cam) and any thoughts you have on the various pros/cons?? Also how wide a lens do you use to get useful video on non-release dives? Thanks

Fastest... 4 hours (one great student) Longest... 12 and a half (one ***** student!!) Normal is about 5 hours with one student and add 30 mins or so per students after that (we only have one hanging harness) Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

I did a similar trip last summer but with more emphasis on jumping. I picked the boogies that sounded fun and filled in the gaps with some sightseeing, travelling and visiting smaller DZs. I took my own gear... yes it was a pain in the butt at times but so much easier than renting! Just pack less clothing Borrow / rent helmet, alti, etc but it's nice, especially at a strange DZ to have familiar gear. Get an FAI license before you go and make sure you log book is up to date and signed. Email DZs ahead of time to check they'll be open, have gear to rent etc... sucks to make a trip to a DZ to find it's everyones day off! If you are going to Prague (you should do even if you don't jump there) check out if the Pink Skyvan will be in Klatovy. Klatovy is a couple of hours by bus to Klatovy and a great place / cool people. Slovenia and Slovakia have some cool things to jump (glider, balloon etc) and are cheap. Have fun! Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Where are you? Look up your nearest DZ's and check out their websites or give them a call. How long will depend on how much spare time and money you have, how busy the DZ is and how good the weather is where you live! If weather, time and money weren't an issue and you didn't have any major problems you could do 3 to 4 jumps a day, finish AFF in 3 days and you could do your A license (minimum 25 jumps) in a week to 10 days. Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Herc boogie 2004 rocked!!! people, plane, atmosphere - all fantastic. Due in no small part to Adrian and all his hard work with the end of day videos and speeches. He'll be missed There were people from all over the world and everyone was great. Lots of different languages being spoken at the bar (!) but all the written info and organising/debriefing etc were in English. Really sad it's not going to be happening next year - I would have been back for sure. Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Had one just a few weeks ago... (first cutaway)... and I cutaway before I pulled the reserve and was glad I did. The main pilot chute had managed to get wrapped in the bridle and tied itself in a perfect knot and didn't pull the pin (I didn't try to reach back and clear it) but once the reserve was deployed the main came out too. Not really relevant to this thread....but the rest of the story.... the main pilot chute got lodged in the reserve risers but the main stayed in the bag (thanks to the packer who had switched my rubber bands and double stowed them) and I was able to get the pilot chute out of the risers and drop the main (still in it's bag) over the DZ. Can't think of any reason why it would be better NOT to cutaway. (Someone feel free to correct me here) If the pin isn't going to move (misrouted bridle etc) then cutting away wont really affect the reserve deployment or reserve risers but if there's a chance the pin *could* come out once the reserve is deployed then cutting away is probably a better option? Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

I've been jumping one for the past 700+ jumps and I really like it. I'm from the UK and there are a lot of Vortex IIs around at home. Now I'm in the US and getting replacement stuff after a recent cutaway wasn't a problem, one of their US dealers (Lou Tommaso in New Jersey) was excellent. Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Skydive New England you'll love it there :) Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Not common but it *can* happen... that's why you spend all that time in class learning what to do if things don't go to plan! Sounds like you were taught the correct way to handle the situation and reacted the right way - well done

...And how's that real job treating you Ian?? Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Opened at termnal and wasn't too bad (my first so I have nothing to compre it to!) To fly it straight there was a 12+ inch difference in toggle heights!! Stalled easily and landed hard. Overall glad it worked and saved my ass but I'm looking at test jumping some other reserves because I'm not sure I want to fly and land that again! Also having problems contacting the manufacturer :(

Logged on today and had this message on my email... Warning: You have used 455.2% of your account's size limit. Please delete some messages to make room or you will not be able to receive new messages. Has the email account limit changed?? I haven't got anything more in there than I did yesterday when I was at about 20-something % Has premier membership stopped automatically collecting $ every 3 months... eeek - anyone help?? Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Hey there Seem to be on a really long weather hold here right now!! So I'm in the process of tidying up our AFF classroom and I'm looking for a picture of a open inflated canopy that I can use to label the various parts of the canopy.... lines, risers etc. along with a brief description. Ideally I want a line drawing rather than a photograph so it'll print better. Anyone got one they can email to me as a .gif or .jpg file?? Any help would be appreciated, I've tried a google images search and didn't come up with anything I liked! My drawing skills aren't up to doing one myself!!

Go to Kolomna Ernie :) I spent 3 weeks there last summer....cheap (helicopter) jumps, cheap vodka... free camping .... what more could you need! Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

Lat time I looked into it there were no options for jumping in Egypt

Skydive New England http://www.dropzone.com/dropzone/Detailed/37.shtml ...and I'm going to be there this summer :) Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!