johnny1488

it doesnt necessarily have to be front riser or harness turns that are focused on. Rear riser and flat brakes turns are more important to a newer jumper. The dynamics of a flare is something that everyone needs to know but most students just think its some sort of magic. Why drastic toggle turns close to the ground can put you in a world of trouble. Not just that they do, but why they do and what you can do to avoid them but still be in control of your canopy. I know students have it tough with bigger canopies, but we can lay a much better foundation than we currently do. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I think canopy control is more of a part of skydiving than freefall is. The fact that the current instructors cant teach it or even dont know anything about it is pathetic. Again we are talking about putting band aids on a severed limb instead of fixing the problem at it's source. That being said I dont have an answer yet on how to fix it, but am working on it. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Thats the way Bill Booth wants it so you have to look at your reserve pin before you start jumping. And I don't own a Vector but most rigs loosen up after some jumps. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Have you ever tried to talk to the S&TA at yor dz? Not an accuzation, just a question. I don't think I am in favor of a cc rating. Just more Things for uspa to get involved in that I dont think will work. Also there are several articles on PD's website that can give you a good bit of knowledge. The info in there would have tought you how to guage the proper length of your brake lines without someones out side opinion. And I am almost certain on what the advice you received sounded like. I have heard it all too many times from people who should know better. "If you cant flare then you need to take a wrap or shorten your steering lines." Thats why I am a fan of people educating themselves. Or at least starting with the motivation to. To many people who are already in a teaching position have zero knowledge of canopy control. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I would never knock anyone (except my good friends ) about jumping a bigger canopy. It's all about risk assessmment. I take a big risk with my canopy choices right now and they are not for everyone. (VX 104 loaded at 2.3) No one says the goal of skydiving is getting to a smaller canopy. You need to jump what is best suited for your goals and flying style. when I get a bit older I am sure I am going to slow down and upsize. I don't want to be an old coot yelling to keep the skydiving nursing home from taking my cross braced canopy away. I would like to jump with dignity with a nice big Crossfire or Safire with some "back in my day" bumber stickers on them. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

All guys. All young. I know that is a big chuck of the people who skydive, but it's also the people I believe take risks. The girls I spoke with were mostly conservative. While most guys I spoke with wanted a Crossfire2 at between 200 and 600 jumps, The girls that wanted Crossfires2s had between 800 and 1200. And most girls didn't want to downsize while the guys wanted to without trying the same size first. I talk with one girl for quite a while before she wanted to trade the 169 demo for a 159. She came back after a few jumps and was able to explain to me how underloading the last demo made it a lot harder to fly. (she was probably about 120lbs with about 75 or so jumps.) I was able to watch some of the landings of some guys who wanted to go to Crossfire2s and downsize and give them pointers on some things to work on before they considered the move. That also gave them some busy work as they aquired the jump numbers to try one. I kept on repeating the phrase "there is no replacement for expierience and time under canopy." Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Absoutly. Lack of knowledge on how a ram air canopy flies (I think) is the number one reason people get hurt under canopies. Skill will come from knowledge and practice, I totally believe professional coaching has it's place. But I think by USPA putting this as the #1 priority, they are keeping jumpers from trying to aquire knowledge on their own. This is just my opinion from looking at the ads. I think the space and time could be used a lot more wisely. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Good things are in the works this year. I think you will be very happy with whats happening next. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

No problem. Just take it easy on your shoulders in those jeeps. And enjoy that canopy! Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

John (me) all of them 10 jumps or so but slung a lot of demos! Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

That's only cause I told you the 79 would be so much better for you. Lets drop the training wheels, OK? Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

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ohh, and another one I forgot to put up there. "Don't worry man, I'll be fine. I dont want to craetor myslef" me"well who does? who goes out thinking "Im gonna fuck myself up today!"" them.... stupid look. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

As I spent my time at Eloy slinging out demo canopies for Icarus, I found myself listening to some interesting things. Here are a few. -I have 150 jumps and want to demo a Crossfire2 (this person knew the Crossfire2 was elliptical and high performance.) -I have 94 jumps and want a Safire2 149 (loaded at 1.35). This jumper had been demoing this size in another canopy from a gear store and was said to have been downsizing slowly. -I went to a FX loaded at 1.9 because my 132 just wasn't doing enough for my swoops. This jumper had between 200-300 jumps. -I have 100 jumps on my canopy and 200 total and am just really bored with it and want to go a lot faster. I got this multiple times and the loadings were never that light. -I jump a 150 now and have 200 jumps, but have 20 ground launches on a 120 so I know I will be fine on it. I can't remember all of them but you get the point. I tried to stress the ideas of gaining knowledge and expierience on their current canopy (and canopy control in general). I told everyone that I am a fan of conservative downsizing and really exploring canopy control on your first canopy before working on downsizing. I did my best to try to keep people from downsizing on their first demo. Some people were more interested in the downsize than what they were flying. Some people I said no to went straight to Dom at Aerodyne and vice versa. We exchanged notes daily. I would like to see people take an intrest in furthering canopy control. I just want people to do things at their own pace, not the fastest pace possible. Besides these things I had a great time at the boogie. I talk way to much about canopies so I guess this is a job I can do well. Anyway, thats it for now. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Whipping and folding baby!!! And a few ancient egyptian secrets passed down from father to son for generations. And tell me if Dave says its the highlight of his rigging career to look at your packjob, cause if it is I'm gonna off myself! Ohh yeah, a lot of awesome information too. ps look out for slamming packing paddles during the rounds. pps watch out for Blakey, and dont take a piss without asking someone to watch your packjob. Have Fun. ppps If there are 10 instructors standing around you while you are packing, you probably made a mistake. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

We are actually not open this weekend sorry. Check the website for new years and later though www.theblueskyranch.com Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

yes there are other ways to slow down openings, but I dont think stows are one of them. Same canopy same pilot chute same bag no stows same opening. If there is that much of a difference in your openings there is something else going on with your gear. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Make no mistake I am all for better canopy pilots. I admire your determination in this matter. I think the biggest roadblock is the DZO's. I dont think many are willing to look at the problem. They think nothing is wrong. Most DZOs I have seen are old school and think there is no reason for additional training if they got there with none. Also USPA sees CC as the major cause of injuries in the sport. If they take action to fix it and it doesnt work/isnt inplemented properly or at all, I believe they think they are putting themselves in a more liable position. And also getting DZOs to pay instructors for classroom time seems hard now. Do I think it's USPAs job to figure out something. Yes. I will have to think about this for a while but I will post my ideas as I have them. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Stows arent relaxed I double stow ever stow. I just dont think it makes enough difference to ever be noticed. Making tighter stows are not a way to slow down openings. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I dont know what happens at other DZ's but the annual Scott Miller camps here at the Ranch are usually sold out before they are even announced. And Most new jumpers are very keen to speak with our swoopers and coaches about furthering their knowledge. Maybe we are different than everyone else. And what if someone doesnt want a license. They just keep their A and skydive for the rest of their career. Does this license restrict the canopy they can fly? This is a lot of babysitting we are asking DZs to do. Sounds great on paper, I just think it is totally unrealistic. Sorry. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Than why do the openings feel the same with or without linestows? Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

We flew turbines all weekend at the ranch. Otters to altitude on saturday and $10 hopnpops from the porter all sunday. Come check out the meyhem. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Thats true, but look at the freefall requirements for licenses now. They are bullshit. The same will become canopy requirements. I believe if the initial training is actually training, then a jumper will want to continue learning about canopy control. Look at freeflying now. Most new jumpers I see now look at it with respect and ask knowledgable skydivers about it before trying it. I think the same can be done with CC. I think if more DZ's organize canopy control events into their schedules, (which some are) it will become more popular to try to gain more skill and knowledge. You can almost make it mandatory without having to make it mandatory at all. I just dont see American skydivers or DZ's ever putting restrictions into place that actually mean anything. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I would actually make the A license training sufficient. There is no reason the material included in almost every one day canopy training program couldn't be made part of the student training program. Again why try to focus on another training program for unexperienced canopy pilots when I believe we need the first one to actually work? Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I love Carnage. And I have to ask a question: Why? Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome