Tonto

Aviation Casualty. t It's the year of the Pig.

There is no shortage of sayings. t It's the year of the Pig.

Pointless. In a sport where speeds in freefall have reached 500kmph and speeds under canopy can be 100kmph, helmets are great for mounting audiable alti's and cameras. Wearing one is a nice thought that may lessen serious injury, but we see lots of swoopers dying in good headgear. Using them for protection is just stupid. Wear one if you wish, just don't use it. t It's the year of the Pig.

Don't agree. I know lots of dead skydivers (14 in the Perris crash, and many other solo's) who had no hand in their own demise. Yes, I know that plane crashes are not skydiving fatalities - but we wouldn't be on the kite if it were not for our sport, no? t It's the year of the Pig.

One dude tried to land on it, fell off (or down the slide) and died. One dude climbed it. I don't think it was suction cups. May have been a drill and self tappers, as there was also a "damage to property" charge laid. Cops spotted him but he was 12 feet up and climbing, they called the fire brigade that had an 80 foot ladder but he was at 80+ feet, and they all waited for a few hours till he did the hop and was arrested. It's the year of the Pig.

and applies the "crawl, walk, run, sprint, run, walk, walk slowly, walk with a zimmer frame, crawl" theory.. you start to ask your harness manufacturer about posibilities for "upsizing" the canopies in your container. Fortunatly, crossbraced rags pack big, so you can go bigger later! I'm not done either! t It's the year of the Pig.

Spot on with "Kak" = "Shit" which is why it's use is suitable only for informal speech or writing. Come to think of it - The only other word in Afrikaans I can think of describing "Shit" is "Mis" which generally refers to some floor construction techniques, as in "Mis vloer" t It's the year of the Pig.

More an urge to be more productive. "To fertilise one's corn." Kind of colloquial for "you reap what you sow" t It's the year of the Pig.

Dad? Is that you? t It's the year of the Pig.

That's the trick. I jump without a helmet, and have for 17 years. Choose your loads, choose your conditions. Don't expect any helmet to help. Motorcycle helmets (far more capable of absorbing impact than a pro tec) do squat at 40kmph (25mph) and even if they help - your neck is next in the energy disipation chain. Don't hit your head on anything. t It's the year of the Pig.

I'll answer the subject. Again. I got more picky. 3 weekends a month for 3 months. t It's the year of the Pig.

Mmm. Between 300 and 400, weekends only. At least your poll indicates I'm getting more fun than 85% of other skydivers out there! t It's the year of the Pig.

Well, that makes two of us. I still don't want to meet GWB though. t It's the year of the Pig.

Done! Happy New Year! t It's the year of the Pig.

Thanks for the info. It's made, and sitting at my GF's parents house while she's away at Eloy. I'll be getting it on the 18th of January..

This is a former ally of the USA, which supplied him with not only millions of dollars, but also weaponry, including stinger missiles. It would have been nice if they got his name first. Just a thought, t It's the year of the Pig.

The same... Happy new year! t It's the year of the Pig.

It's a quote, dude. I didn't write it, I can't edit it. t It's the year of the Pig.

Lets see if you feel the same way after 19 years answering the same questions - not from your AFF students - but from other skydivers with a few 100 dives. t It's the year of the Pig.

Most relationships don't work. I wouldn't even try if my SO wasn't a skydiver. It's a MASSIVE part of my life, and I need the woman I love to share it with me. (Which she does!) t It's the year of the Pig.

Not die. Be better with my students. Do more than 211 dives. (My annual average over the last 19 years) t It's the year of the Pig.

Just a matter of time before a plane gets taken out by a skymarshal gone "postal." Just a matter of time. t It's the year of the Pig.

Hi SD, The rotator cuff helps the shoulder manage rotation. Generally issues are wear related, (Microtrauma) usually starting at around 35 for women, and 40 for men who have not been prone to shoulder injuries in their youth. Previous dislocations, tears, ligament damage etc may bring this forward by several years. Non operative treatment usually includes steroid injections and physio to help develop supporting muscle structure. Surgery is usually indicated if there is no positive response after 6 weeks of physio. The subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles are collectively referred to as the rotator cuff. Together with the deltoid, they place the arm in the overhead position. Bear in mind that you're always prone to dislocation, regardless of prior injury, whenever the hand is above the shoulder, thumb facing in towards the head. (as any good martial artist will confirm..) On the positive side, this condition has existed for a while now. You should have an idea of how hard you can push, and when it's time to take a break. In the event of an in air dislocation of your right arm - pull the reserve with your left hand without attempting to deploy the main due to the risks involved with possibly losing stability, alti awareness, etc. If you're unable to use the right arm for steering input, fly an aproach using your left hand only. You may be able to bring the right arm in to help with the flare. Practice left hand only reserve drills, and practice flying an aproach and flare (up high) using both toggles in your left hand only. (Pull right to go left, left to go right, and down to flare. Speak to an old CReW dog about how they steer a side by side without death straps. Same way. REMEMBER to pick both toggles up from the front of the risers, or you will not be able to complete the flare. Injury prevention boils down to pre season conditioning. I think you've had a busy year, and have piled in the dives. I'm not sure what your athletic background was prior to skydiving, but doing 300 plus dives in your 1st year is serious hard work, especially with the weight of student gear, and gear while on the downsize path. Hope you manage some good dives at the boogie. Rotator cuff injuries don't go away. You'll need physio, and probably surgery, but surgery solves the problem really well, with about a 92% patient satisfaction rate. (Leaves some cool scars, too!) Blue Skies, t It's the year of the Pig.

Mmm. Memories. In the military, basic training. Run into the surf in full gear, then through some buildings filled with CS, followed by a 2.4km (About 1.5 miles) run in under 10 min. Wow. Salt water and CS. Eyes are fine. They wash themselves out, but after that run, we were all standing, legs apart, leaning forward, arms out... in pain. t It's the year of the Pig.

Cool rig! NICE colours! My GF should have her new Mirage in time for the DZ.com boogie - all red, but for a bit here and there.. I'll only be getting mine next year... when she brings it home to me!