Tonto

Yup. It's a fuck-up for everyone. t It's the year of the Pig.

Yeah... and the Saturday Star produced figures showing South Africa to be in the longest sustained ecconomic growth phase since WW2 with inflation down to 3.2% and ecconomic growth at 4% and climbing to 6%. My house has nearly doubled in value in 3 years, and the bank is prepaired to give me that money. Someone is bullshitting - and someone else is putting cash down to bet on that future. Who would you beleive? t It's the year of the Pig.

I havn't felt forearm strain at all - but then I've had no need to use the wing tip grippers. Should I be using them? t It's the year of the Pig.

Yes. It's the year of the Pig.

There were a few T-shirts out here a few years back featuring "Dick." 1st went.... See Dick hook! (Cartoon of dude cranking into turn.) See dick hammer! (Cartoon of broken dude.) Don't be a Dick! (Cartoon of ambulance loading dude.) 2nd went.... See Dick hook! (same cartoon) See Dick swoop! (Cartoon of major swoop.) Chicks dig Dick! (Cartoon of women swooning over swooper dude.) t It's the year of the Pig.

OK. This I agree with perfectly! It's the year of the Pig.

I fly an S3. I don't know how I'm doing. I enjoy my flights, I wear no pro track, have no GPS. Our exit altitude is 11 000ft and I'm pulling at 3500 - 3000ft, probably getting MAXIMUM 90 - 100 seconds and flying with GTi's. I'll be in Eloy next month and will be able to get some kind of "calibration" to this "arm strain" I was expecting to tear my arms out by the roots... and see how badly I suck at this. I know I'm no expert. Fewer than 100 wingsuit dives, maybe 50 on the S3. Sure, I feel my body works on an S3, but it's not like 4 way Rotation training! t It's the year of the Pig.

Agreed. About a kg (That's 2.2lbs) held out to the sides. If that's arm strain worth considering, what's climbing a power 27, (our grades are different) or arm wrestling, or doing and equivalent time worth of 2 second press-ups or martial arts block and counter punch applications or even just standing with your arms outstretched flicking your fingers for 3 min? Is my scale of reference just out? I'm no athlete, but c'mon. It's 2 min, maybe 3. Is it so hard to suck that up? t It's the year of the Pig.

Your hope is not in vain. We're primates - regardless of what those who believe in creation vs. evolution think. Any and all our athletic abilities are tuned to a short range 2 dimentional environment governed by gravity with consequence, and no relative wind as a powersource. I think "neutral" students fair better than "athletes" unless those "athletes" come from lower body awareness diciplines such as climbing, football (that's "soccer" to you Americans. ) gymnastics, martial arts, ballroom dancing etc. Being a runner, a cyclist, a swimmer - will help you run, cycle and swim out the door until you realise that good basic skydiving is best learned just lying there and feeling what the air is doing to you - and understanding consequence of airflow over reaction to regain balance. Athletes try too hard. They really do. Sure, being more aerobically fit, having higher endurance etc may help, but nothing helps more than finding that quiet place in your soul where nothing happens, time lasts forever and posibilities are endless. That's where we really learn, and it usually happens when we're smiling, not concentrating on the move. The swimmer? This guy was superman. Dale Carnege grad, own succesful business, fit, strong, co-ordinated, motivated, confident, aware, knew his dive. He swam. All the way. No COA, no practice touches, no alti checks. Just swimming, right down to turning his head sideways every 3rd stroke to breathe. Athlete? Yes. Swimmer? Undoubtably. Skydiver? No. t It's the year of the Pig.

I call bullshit on this. Either I'm doing it all wrong - or everyone's a wuss. What's up with "Arm strain." What is it, where is it and what does it feel like? t It's the year of the Pig.

Is it really? They're offering you $100 000 dollars if you can do what the investigators said happened. That a single gunman did the job. Sounds to me like it can't be done. t It's the year of the Pig.

Remember that the Safire (1) is sized about 7% smaller than stated, so your Safire 209 is really a 194. I can't see any reason for you to go to a Crossfire2 from your description of what you require from a canopy or what you do under canopy. A Safire 2 or Pilot around 160 sq ft is a moderate jump for someone with your number of jumps. Going smaller than that, and changing planform may be increasing your risk profile more than your airframe is prepaired to flex. Either way, you'll need to live (or not) with the choice you make, so demo, demo, demo. t It's the year of the Pig.

Because relationships end - but pictures still travel around on the internet... That kind of exposure takes either a lot of courage, or a lot of trust. Since the relationship has not even started - I'd be betting on the former, rather than the latter. t It's the year of the Pig.

Wow. I never expected this kind of response. I guess the issue of smoking polarises us. You either are a smoker, or not. Are there any people out there who are GLAD they are smokers? t It's the year of the Pig.

I'm getting more militant by the day with people fighting for their right to polute my lungs. t It's the year of the Pig.

So. I'm a non smoker. While at the DZ I've had a hole burned in a canopy. ("Oh. Sorry.") and I've been burned by a cigarette. (Ooops! Sorry.") Are you a smoking skydiver or not? t It's the year of the Pig.

Toggle turns CAN be done safely. I have over 2000 toggle induced swoops with only one smashed femur to show for it. Many old school swoopers started on toggles. As canopies got smaller, so we could hook higher, and that gave us a considerable margin over those who are starting out on today's smaller and faster wings. I made the change to riser swoops quite recently, after much discussion with those who had only 25% of my jumps at my DZ, and with online input from experienced swoopers on this site, like Chuck and Tim. So: "Why not toggles?" You'd be learning a technique which is redundant. Good riser swoops are easier to perform and offer better swoops for less exposure and less commitment. One risk I do see with riser swoops is the risk of losing a toggle. Nail your technique for getting off the risers and retaining the toggle up high, and practice rear riser flares for the day the toggle does escape. (while being aware of the risk of high speed stalls induced by over exuberant rear riser input.) t It's the year of the Pig.

So, what last name would you then use for your kids?

I think changing names is a bit old fashioned - especially if one or both of you has spent considerable time and effort "making a name" for themselves in a career, etc. I wouldn't change my name for someone - and I wouldn't expect them to change their name for me. t It's the year of the Pig.

Agreed... Don't blow it now... t It's the year of the Pig.

Ahh. Thank you. t It's the year of the Pig.

What are the goodies on their helmets? t It's the year of the Pig.

And that's it in a nutshell. If you're white, and old, and a former member of the master race - the new South Africa must suck. Imagine just being a regular human, like all the other regular humans, with human rights. That's got a nice ring to it. I think I'll stick with it for a while. Ten years ago I was wearing kevlar and carrying at least 2 guns - every day - all day. And I was a "consultant" for JPD. Today, I carry no weapon other than who I am. Sure, I keep my eyes open and I stay sharp, but that's wise wherever you are. Why, if things were worse, would I choose to disarm myself and take my chances? t It's the year of the Pig.

I'm DOOMED! (Which all South Africans will know as an insect killer...) t It's the year of the Pig.

Whoa! I have an AFF student who's his exact double, but cooler under pressure. Goes by the name of Rozzo... t It's the year of the Pig.