piahenzi

I had two choices.... go directly to Velo or take another baby step and use the Katana before the Velo to get used to some of the same characteristics ( ground hungry, steeper dives, etc.). Depending on who I listened to, I was ready for the Velo and then in some people's opinion I wasnt quite ready ( including my own - which in the end is what matters ) . So, based on my understanding and information received about the Katana, it seemed another step closer to the Velo which is the ultimate goal...Now maybe I should have gone for the Katana 89 instead of the 97, but I figure I can always downsize the Katana again before the Velo. I like to believe that when I finally do get the Velo, it will be such a natural progression that I will be a safe and accurate pilot with it. That said, I do see some jumpers that go MUCH faster in progression than I do with less jumps per year, and are under Velos at much lower jump numbers and sometimses I wonder whether I am just being a sissy. That said, canopy piloting isnt just about being under the fastest machine, it requires other skills that I am learning, you can acquire under any size canopy. Nothing like seeing someone under a canopy that flies them instead of the other way around to remind me that slow and steady is the way to go for me... I'l be under the Katana this weekend for the first time so we'll see if my thought process holds up

ooooooooohhh, I so hear that... I swore I'd never get out from under my Sabre 150 or the 135 and I was gonna keep the Sabre2 120 cuz I loved it so, and marry my Stilletto 107 'cuz that was a speedy ride... and totally forever committed to my Crossfire 2, 99 which was soooooooo cooool.... and yet, here I am 8 years later, divorced from many previous loves, another $1500 lighter and a Katana 97 just about to slapped on risers. Point is, I KNOW I will be under a Velo someday...:)

Dave - got my 97 Katana this week. Going up on Sunday as this looks to be the better day. See you there.

My Carbon FOOTPRINT is probably a 15 or better....does that count??

Awesome to hear that you are good to go.

Would't miss it for the world .. I am committed to all 5 SE CPC's.. and at your DZ, it's a must...Hah, can't wait to hear what they say about you THERE! :) However, to be a safe grasshoppette, I'll be competing with the XF for this year and come and kick your ass in 2009 on the Katana wearing 30 lbs of weight and have really cool capris like all you guys have...maybe even a removable slider... OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH dare to dream ...

Okay, so who's definitely coming to this shindig at Sebastian?? We got a few of the "regulars" (can't wait till I am one of them ...) posted on this thread but where are the rest?? Can't wait BTW - Ian, I did make the leap and got a Katana 97.. won't compete with it (yet) so dont worry

exactly....why else do 4-way video if not for the free canopy ride?? I am all about it

Im guessing, the last one..... As if skydiving wasn't bad enough to be addicted to, swooping takes it to a whole different level of "need for speed"... I totally agree and I get it. Nice to know there are others out there feeling the same and having a place to share that bond. As I stated earlier, I wish I'd started earlier ( my first JUMP was at 33 yrs old) and after 9 years, that wish just gets amplified, but better late than never. I am sooooo immensely happy that I made that first tandem.. and here I am, ordering a Katana 97.. Yeah baby, that's LIVING!!!

I believe Al Berchtold (in charge of FL CPC) would have that information and also recently posted it in response to a post by MORRIS. We at the Ranch set up the gates on the far side of the DZ where it's generally out of the traffic pattern. Our landing area is relatively narrow and we managed to find an area so I am sure you can too ! Good luck!

NY invasion??? Anyone working Thursdays in May?? Dave - let's carpool! You coffee, I drive. Pete - let your buddy know he'll be needing an extra 5 Sq Ft floor space for your CPC pal

I wish I had started swooping as a discipline earlier... ie at your number of jumps.. and chosen a better canopy progression. I went from a Saber II 120 to a Stiletto 107 to a XF 99. Skewed and backwards as it seems now, it was the "conventional wisdom" at my DZ that I listened to. Let it be said that the Stiletto, I now feel, definitely cost me some time and a lot of re-learning on the XF99. Nevertheless, get some coaching if you can afford it and use gates/lanes (if you can set them up at your DZ) whenever possible/safe to land. Every jump will therefore help you dial in, and you will learn to hit the gates clean, which is half/more than half the battle.. SabreII or Velo... The awesome thing about wanting to swoop well ( ie not scaring people, smooth, relaxed and safe in traffic) as well as accurately, is that the bottom half of the skydive ( as I call it) is as much or more fun than the top half (freefall). Instead of just saving your life and landing, you get another chance under canopy to refine a skill. Makes the most of the jump $$'s and is amazing fun (equally frustrating) to learn and refine. Start NOW!!!!

Re Fl CPC - it has been an amazing experience participating along with the FL CPC so far and I am very happy to be a part of the experience. The pilots are amazing to watch and have been absolutely awesome to me in terms of offering advice and suggestions after every jump. It might have been a little easier for me to join a CPC with a less "intimidating" skill-set of swoopers but when you come right down to it.. it really feels like the place to be. That said, I am really excited about competing in the IL CPC as well and to see what the 8 month season regions put up.

..... better than a battery?? shiny objects???

See you there, Pumkin'

C'mon up Dan!! I need my buddy there, too! Make the May 10th in IL as a warm up for May 17th in FL.. that's my plan anyway....what the weather does, I regrettably cannot control but I won't stop trying

Sergei, Shatalov and I are arriving Th nite and will be load 1 ready Friday. Some staying at Davis House and some at the DZ bunkhouse ( not I mind you) Shld we bring extra Neptune buttons??

Great news!!! The more experience for everyone, the better. Never been to any of these DZ's so hope to hit at least 2 of these comps. Looking forward to being at least a little bit more current for these CPC's than the FL ones. The weather here (and in FL!!) just not cooperating with my schedule lately.

ditto.....and special thanks to Brian McN for being so positive when my performance wasn't ... I guess I will try it again in Sebastian. Hopefully we'll get better weather and another great turnout. Already looking forward to the chance to get in the air with my newfound friends.

I think you made the decision here... why not roll with it and get it off the ground. Better to have it this way than to have it fall apart completely with lack of attendance and time to prepare. I am so far away, I cannot possibly do much but try to help Friday AM's with set up. If you need some excel work done, I can bring a laptop and at least get some of the spreadsheet mock ups ready.

Aw..... I just had to get another one myself... chin up! You'll be happy you did! If you milked that last one all the way to "button-loss", then you got your $$ worth

I singularly handicapped the amateurs. My bad, my bad.... will try for 150 pts in Palatka and offset a little the last showing. See you there, rockstar!

Agreed but competition in one place only is better than no practice at all, especially for low timers like me.

Oh geez.... shld've thoughta THAT

Ian, there are New Yorkers making the trip here...risking jobs and family serenity to compete in CPC....c'mon now...