Tonto

You're correct... Jeff Boddiger ran Skydive El Dorado. I learned about Smitty from him, but never got to meet him as I was only there in 1992. Sounds like an inspiration to us all. Hope I'm still skydiving at that age! t It's the year of the Pig.

Maybe, learn to pack. Then when people are talking about stuff, you may have already dealt with it and have some experience. When you do start to buy stuff, get goggles, then maybe a helmet or altimeter. Think about what kind of skydiving you want to do. Your Dad is an RW'er... but what if you want to freefly? Your choice of disipline will also affect aspects of your rig, such as velcro and tuck tabs. Spend as much time at the DZ as possible. Listen, but talk too. When people are really enthusiastic - it tends to rub off a bit, and you may find a mentor that way. As for the dudes who think you're too young... they're just comparing themselves to you. I started at 22... and I wish I could have got going at 16! t It's the year of the Pig.

Damn right your CI will be on your ass! The dude is everywhere! Mine? 1st warning - start of a sequence. Maybe breakoff, an AFF student's pull altitude etc. Anything from 5500 to 4000 2nd warning, Your Pull, or AFF student deployment hard deck. Anything from 4000 to 3000. 3rd warning. Immediate initiation of reserve procedures. Mine is 1500, but I have 17 chops, and have never had Cypress interference. I think most people who have not yet had a chop would be better off setting this at 1800 ft, but that's the realm of the Pro Track - not the Pro Dytter. t It's the year of the Pig.

Mistake. You are making a mistake. There are millions of women you could share your life with, or parts of your life with. (some of these will be at a DZ near you soon!) There is only one atmosphere. Only one life. Many people. Find someone who loves you for who you are and for what you live for. Give up skydiving now? Next year it'll be something else you love to proove your commitment, until all you're left with is bitterness and resentment for the person who cost you all you loved in life. You're right. You need to stop something, and it will be hard, but it's not skydiving. t It's the year of the Pig.

Collin Beard. Did about 1000 dives with 1 eye before I lost touch with him. May require prudent choice of gear and landing techniques - but I think peripheral vision is more of an issue than depth perception. t It's the year of the Pig.

My wife supported my skydiving right up to the divorce - which was for "ireconcilable differences" cos I was always at the DZ. Maybe you know your wife better. t It's the year of the Pig.

"its much better to spend a year learning to fly than spending a year wishing you had. Either way be safe." - Quote - RippedCord. Excellent Quote. Mind if I use it at my DZ? t It's the year of the Pig.

Hey there, I think you did the right thing. People know themselves. Better than you or I do - anyway. I get people asking me to push them out the door if they refuse - but how would I feel if they went in on that dive? It's a numbers game. I've been a JM for 15 years, and most of that had a lot of SL dispatching out of Cessna'a. (182's, 185's, 206's, 207's 210's) I do what I need to as a JM these days, but when someone says they can't do it, I ask if they're sure, and ride down with them. Contrary to what some believe, it takes guts to say no, and face everyone who thinks you're chicken. If I'd had the balls to say no some 18 years ago, I may have had a life - instead of a logbook, loads of friends and memories, both good, bad, and incredibly sad. I guess when I was younger I always "boosted" them, and they climbed out and did their thing - but in those days I believed the sport was safe. These days I think it's fuc*ing dangerous - not cos it's any worse, but simply because I'm painfully aware of our chronological proxcimity to mayhem and instant death or lifetime maiming. This sport doesn't like people who fuck up - or those that share airspace with them. t It's the year of the Pig.

One rule in life. Be happy. Without that, you can pass no happiness to others. Stay in Oz. Your family will love you nomatter where you are. t It's the year of the Pig.

I'm in SA. We don't run a USPA sim. t It's the year of the Pig.

"Perris Valley Skydiving Center December 15th, 1985 where he made a tandem jump joined by the Mirror Image World Champion 8 way team " Wow. And he died in 1979. That's hard core. No wonder he's a legend. t It's the year of the Pig.

tounge. t It's the year of the Pig.

I heard a bunch about him when jumping in El Dorado, Kansas in the early 90's. Do you know what year he died? t It's the year of the Pig.

I don't automatically fail an AFF L1 for not pulling. they are tasked with the pull at 5500ft. My hard deck is 4000 to ensure the pull. A bunch of stuff can happen between those 2 points to compromise someone on their 1st ever dive. Sure - I'd make more money by failing them... t It's the year of the Pig.

Flat trax here are closer to the crusifix config than the max track. Max track can compromise lateral stability in newbies - so the go fast, but usually in a circle or zig zag. The purpose of a track is to get good horizontal seperation. That's different for different people. I've seen newbies overjoyed with 50 - 60 feet. Thats fuckall, and can kill you down the line with a canopy collision. Get video. get critiqued, get practicing. The track is a survival skill. t It's the year of the Pig.

"What could happen " Death. It happened to 2 members of the Coors team in the late 80's as the pair of world champs spent their lives trying to figure out how the gear worked. t It's the year of the Pig.

Whether it's a piece of grey pipe, a hacky or a monkey fist - the job of the user doesn't change. t It's the year of the Pig.

They don't count here. Operational jumps with kit at night from 400 ft have little bearing on sport skydiving. t It's the year of the Pig.

We have much in common. Ever hear of "The Magic One?" I've had a couple around 700 ft, and over 1000 in the 1200 to 1600 range. These days I'm closer to 4000. Lowest I've had a reserve open has been 1200, and I've had a few of those. t It's the year of the Pig.

Chill Man. I'm considered quite a "progresive" AFF I, and I've had 2 students (out of 1200 AFF dives) go upward of 25 jumps. The penny will drop. t It's the year of the Pig.

You don't have pre high school. t It's the year of the Pig.

And that happens one step after going crazy... Ivan. It's the year of the Pig.

[In reply to] Ah. My home country reduced to a single blurb word. [/In reply to] Just an opinion - and not your home country - just skydiving in your country. You can't possibly expect a weather dependant sport to come up favourably against countries like Oz, the US and SA. Can you? Plus crotchety CI's with 35 years in the sport and fewer than 1000 dives? t It's the year of the Pig.

That ain't luck... t It's the year of the Pig.

1.80 - 73kg. t It's the year of the Pig.