Dean358

+1 www.wci.nyc

I’ve jumped every winter at The Ranch since I started and I really love it, but I think it requires the right attitude. If you approach it – or any other winter sport – thinking about “how much you hate the cold” you’re not going to enjoy being there. Instead I believe you really have to embrace the cold weather and all the great things that go with it. To that end, here are some specific suggestions: 1. If you have access to an outdoor hot tub use it first thing in the AM. For some reason 20 minutes in 100 degree F water in crisp morning air helps you acclimate to cold temperatures all day. 2. Beyond merely not having exposed skin, invest in a set of high tech thermal underwear. The engineering of these products is remarkable. I like the La Montana series from these folks: www.hotchillys.com/cm/Home.html 3. Do you drive a convertible? If so, go to the DZ with the top down, heater on and the tunes cranked. Acclimate and enjoy. 4. Appreciate the winter vibe at the DZ. Instead of a hanger full of manic adrenaline junkies all getting their fix – not that there isn’t a certain charm to that – on a winter day there’s often only 10 people in the hanger. The feel is more intimate and low key, with everyone really appreciating each jump. 5. Appreciate the winter air. The air is denser in the winter, which means your body and your canopy will fly better. On cold, low humidity days the visibility can be incredible. As an added bonus, trees that have lost their leaves present less surface area to disturb the winds. 6. Appreciate winter light. Really beautiful, particularly when you’re facing north. 7. Appreciate the snow. Landing in snow, especially powder, is great! (Look at the pics PilotDave posted!) You can slide and it doesn’t get your jump suit dirty. Before load one I like to trample a pattern in the snow, e.g., a 40-foot diameter peace sign. Great to look at from altitude. 8. When you’re done for the day add some Bourbon to your safety meeting. Viola! Cheers, Dean www.wci.nyc

kinda takes me back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JAFppD_cGY www.wci.nyc

Not sure it’s 100% applicable, but every time I’ve had to deal with emergency situations as a pilot or as a skydiver the first thing that goes through my mind is “shit, this isn’t really happening.” A few milliseconds (I’d like to think :-) after that I just start dealing with the problem. Nothing else. Thinking about dying and all the related emotional reactions happens afterward. I‘m guessing, therefore, that 50 seconds of freefall without a rig would generate a state of complete mental detachment from the situation. Be safe in Iraq so you can come skydive with us! Dean www.wci.nyc

I must disagree with you, BDashe. I think speuci’s posts have been excellent. While taking great care to not judge the specifics of this incident he is raising the issue that taking responsibility for oneself does not abrogate our responsibility as a community to keep this sport as safe as possible. And before someone jumps down my throat with the “if you really want to be safe, don’t jump” argument, what speuci is saying is that this issue is not black and white, and therefore deserves to be discussed. Seems right to me. www.wci.nyc

Hi Bill, I freefly all the time in my G4 and most certainly do not have this problem. See attached photo (please forgive the bad form – it’s an old shot :-) I have Mirage’s so-called “fancy pants” elastic leg strap retainers option installed – something I don’t see on the rigs in the pics posted demonstrating the problem. I suspect this is why. Please check with your rigger, but if they agree than it’s very easy to add this option onto an existing rig. I can say without hesitation this a great rig for freeflying! Cheers, Dean

For what it's worth, if you're NOT scared on your first skydive you're psychotic and I don't want to ride on the plane with you :-) www.wci.nyc

My Version of A Tale of Two Jumpers (with apologies): Once upon a time two jumpers started at about the same time at a small Cessna DZ. I'll call them Ann and Betty. Both were far from ugly, were fun to hang out with, and got through AFF without much trouble. Ann decided to try a larger DZ with more opportunities, so she went to Perris Valley in California. Blown away by the facilities, she was at first taken back by the sheer scale of the place. Compared to where she came from the jumpers had a bit of a So Cal jock vibe but after a few drinks at the Bomb Shelter (poured by this wonderful bartendress with an unintelligible Chicago accent) she met some people to jump with. The reserve handles in the fountain reminded her of how seriously this sport must be taken, and she soon developed a love for the discipline and focus of four way relative work. Ann decided to move to Southern California to pursue her love of jumping. To support her jump habit she took a job in the purchasing department of a large defense contractor. Ann ended up jumping less than she expected, as staff cuts kept her cubicle overrun with an endless amount of paperwork. Betty decided to try a larger DZ with more opportunities, so she went to The Blue Sky Ranch in New York. Surprised by the Vietnam era style of the facilities and the disheveled look of some jumpers, she was at first taken back by the scene. However, upon entering the hanger she was greeted warmly by manifest, introduced around and when she bought a case of beer from the local Mobile station she was (literally) embraced by everyone. Betty learned that while safety is taken very seriously, not much else is serious at The Ranch. After logging 200 more jumps she began learning how to free fly, and realized that those same jumpers she thought of as disheveled were actually some of the best free fliers in the world. She loved the freedom of vertical relative work, much like she loved snowboarding instead of skiing. Betty started expanding her horizons around the fire. Rediscovering the Grateful Dead, she moved on to Ornette Coleman and other things that opened the doors of perception to her. She took a break from jumping to study Terence McKenna and on a trip exploring Mayan shamanism she discovered a plant that cured Alzheimer's. This allowed her to retire, so she moved to the beautiful Hudson Valley to skydive full time. While Betty never lost her love for skydiving she ended up jumping less than she expected as she realized that life is all about balance. Notice that both Ann and Betty found many friends to jump with – just don’t give up :-) www.wci.nyc

I live three blocks from ground zero and was home the morning of September 11, 2001. Very sadly, one of the people I saw jump from the towers went into a stable arch and held it all the way down. I’m sure he’d be very proud these folks are doing this jump. Good luck tomorrow. Dean www.wci.nyc

Hey Nick, Thanks for your thoughtful and – as always – well written post. As has been mentioned in this thread, everything changes for better and the worse. More examples: It sucks that Times Square has been turned into Disneyland, but it’s great that the streets of Manhattan have become so safe. It sucks that we’ve replaced listening to vinyl records with listening to evil little MP-3 files, but they sure are convenient. It’s amazing being able to Goggle all of human knowledge but sucks that this has produced a massive on-line culture that considers smarminess a virtue. Skydiving is no different. I’m glad I never had to jump a round – I’m not tough enough -- but understand your point about the natural “filter” they provided. I believe the answer is to look at where we are and try to put as much positive energy into helping it evolve into something better. That might be starting a club for you or just making the tandem student sitting next to me smile and be a little less nervous. Not always easy – but far better than bitching about the old days, as that truly does make one old. Cheers, Dean www.wci.nyc

Hey SPAWNmaster: While I’m no expert on Porter exits (or those from any other airplane for that matter) we were jumping one this weekend at The Blue Sky Ranch, and I definitely have a love-hate relationship with that plane (mostly love). For me, the exits are way more difficult compared with an Otter. My favorite solo exit is to stand outside on the step, hold the wing spar, smile at the pilot and do a few back flips. Alternately, if I’m jumping with friends we just grasp hands, check for traffic and the spot, and then just fall out however we can, going into a head down formation to start the dive. (NOTE: at 50 jumps I would not recommend this exit for you yet!) Although aspects of jumping a Porter are a pain-in-the-ass, the intimate nature of Porter jumps makes them very worthwhile. Don’t be bummed about “not exiting stable” every time – just be safe and enjoy the ride! Cheers, Dean www.wci.nyc

Great to see a polar posted on this forum – thanks Kallend! Please correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that a big difference between a sailplane wing and a canopy however is that unlike a sailplane’s wing the shape of a canopy changes with different control inputs. Specifically, brakes distort the shape of a canopy where as rear risers change the overall angle of attack of the canopy but leave the shape more alone, i.e., flat. I assume that’s why in no wind conditions I can get a better L/D out of my Saber-2 170 with rear risers than with toggles. Of course, as has been pointed out, with a good tail wind it’s much more important to go for minimum sink which I seem to get by using full brakes. P.S. – Perhaps just a tall tale, but I’ve been told that the “yaw string” was invented by one of the Wright brothers – the first airplane instrument. www.wci.nyc

According to LET, the manufacturer of my model L-33 Solo sailplane, the paint contributes 16 pounds to it's 514 pound empty weight. Generic photos here: http://www.nwi.net/~blanikam/ba/prod02.htm Not sure how that compares to the weight gain you'd have on a C-182, but its definitley worth it's weight in, um....paint, for my L-33. Cheers, Dean www.wci.nyc

Hey Ryan! Please come on down -- the air is great! Yes, if you ask any of the folks at manifest they'll make sure you get an orientation briefing. You could also call the school and book a coach jump -- nice way to get the feel of a new DZ. And did you mention beer?? Dude, you're so in. If the weather clears up this weekend look for a guy in a red and white striped jump suit that kinda looks like a candy cane. I'd be delighted to show you around and make a jump with you -- no slot required! (But did you mention beer?) :-) Cheers, Dean

Hey Ashkit, You’re right – calling you out on a grammar mistake was a cheap shot and I apologize. Ironic, really, as I’m not exactly a spelling meister myself. Didn’t have time to post a long response this morning, but that doesn’t excuse my taking a cheap shot so again, my apologies. What I was reacting to was how offensive I find “The Secret,” particularly the way it is marketed. Can anyone argue with living an ethical life, the power of positive thinking, getting back what you put out, or any of the other platitudes supposedly at the base of “The Secret,” “The Forum,” “EST,” Scientology” or any of the other quasi-religious movements? Of course not. But the packaging of The Secret, and what it’s ultimately used to promote, ah, that’s a different story. The secret uses a “teaser” campaign with religious overtones to promote itself. To quote your first post: “Blessings. Do you get it?” I get that by promoting “The Secret” you’re wittingly or un-wittingly putting a shitload of money in Rhoda Byrne’s pocket. Beyond that, no, it’s presumptuous to assume I want to get “it” – although I pride myself on my ethics – nor do I want your “blessings,” dear. If you found “The Secret” has helped you, far out, more power to you. I don’t know you, but in general, these programs are designed to appeal to people going through difficult times. If that’s true for you I hope you get through them well, and have many wonderful skydives ahead of you. But please, don’t try to co-opt other readers into the marketing scheme of “The Secret” or, for that matter, Amway. Best, Dean www.wci.nyc

>Whether you think you can or you think you can't either way your right!< Apparently “the secret” doesn’t work all that well on grammar. www.wci.nyc

>I've been to the Ranch once and hope to make it back to another larger US DZ before the end of the season, but can't guarantee it. < And it was fun jumping with you there -- something I may not get to do in the future if you don't chill out a bit with your canopy selection. Remester is correct: not a brilliant plan downsizing and changing canopies at the same time. A Stiletto?!? If you really must trade in your Spectre please talk to Sonic at the Pro Shop about appropriate canopy options. Cheers, Dean www.wci.nyc

Very well said tdog, thanks.

You get back what you put out. www.wci.nyc

Just FYI, a typical medium performance fixed wing glider, or "sailplane," has a glide ratio of 34 to 1. Some high performance sailplanes actually have a 50 to 1 glide ratio. What makes these feel like flying -- at least to me -- is not the gliding but the "soaring," i.e., riding thermals, staying aloft and going cross country. I highly recommend you try a glider flight. Besides being beautiful you'll get a whole new perspective on flying your canopy. (Freefall? Maybe not.) Cheers, Dean

Nice pics all. Very sorry about all the ones that aren't here any more -- really sucks losing a dog. Attached is a shot of Norman, our beagle. It's Norman's world, we just live in it. Cheers, Dean

Quick aside regarding our Bounce Bingo pool at The Ranch: it’s spatial, not temporal. I.e., we have an overhead view of the DZ and surrounding areas divided up with a grid. Boxes on the grid sell for $10. If the person goes in in your box you win the pool. Now, before you post about how “sick and disgusting” this is, let me explain: Bounce Bingo is a last resort to try and reach people who are behaving really dangerously simply not listening to everyone’s feedback. (Doesn’t always work, but it has generated one of the all time most amusing threads on Dropzone.com – search “Is Death Game Legal.”) On the off chance your post is for real, the fact that people want to place Bingo bets on you suggests the need for you to reevaluate your attitude towards the sport and your fellow jumpers. Please? Dean www.wci.nyc

Thanks for the link – was great to see The Ranch on TV. But Rachel Ray? Yikes! WTF is up with that? Am I the only one that thinks she’s a bad parody of a talk show host with too much speed in her system? Crush on her – are you kidding? You couldn’t pay me enough to sit through dinner with her.

New one looks more like a Klingon weapon -- old one looks more like a bug splat. Very nice!

Hi Chris, Billy's (the owner's) helicopter is a really cool black Twinstar, which is the dual engine version of an A-star. His primary use for the ship is ariel photography, so jumping from it isn't usually an option. Regardless, as the weather forecast for this weekend is 54 degrees F, clear skies and light wind it will be HAPPY TIMES !!!!!! If you've never jumped at The Ranch you're in for a treat, so please come jump with us. If you're looking for someone to jump with I'll be the one wearing the goofy white and red striped freefly suit -- let's jump! Cheers, Dean www.wci.nyc