Tonto

You're evil. My big sister turns 50 this year and her income is subsidised by at least 60% by my parents, who are both in their 70's. She's never really "made it" WRT having and keeping a job, but does try to live within her means. I think you should give them another 30 years - and then if they're not up to speed, support them fully again. We're only children for a short time in our lives, and that time should be cherished by those who made the desision to bring us into this harsh, cruel, world. t It's the year of the Pig.

Great. I'll go and get fitted for that funny hat then. t It's the year of the Pig.

All my AFF students who need to repeat a level pay slot plus packjob only. As others have mentioned, they still need to pay for their packjob, and their own rig hire. Since I'm making no money the DZ usually waives their fee too. I'm also a BMI and have yet to charge for the ground school or a fee for the dives. Slot plus a packjob is what it costs. t It's the year of the Pig.

Agreed. Unfortunately though, it's not usually the case, and Bill Booth has mentioned this several times. When the throw-out allowed for more consistant openings, people went lower. When the 3 ring allowed for a faster release, people went lower. When the cypres provided a reliable deployment in the event of the jumper failing to do so - many pushed harder than their skills allowed. When better materials allowed for more efficient aerofoils, people went smaller on both main and reserve - even though their reserves were made out of the older materials. When audiables became prevelent, many left their visuals on the ground or "waited for the alarm" (Dispite what they may say) Someone should tell the ground how safe all this new gear has made us... cos looking at the incidents forum, I don't think it got the Memo. t It's the year of the Pig.

Wow! Everything really is bigger in Texas. In Southern Africa the San People (Bushman) recorded events in a similar way, by painting them on the rocks of their caves. In contrast to your picture, however, the pictures are small, with humans being dipicted as about the size of one's hand, usually hunting down and killing something. In the attached pic the Eland are clear. The San are visible as 4 thin, stick like figures, running at the top of the pic. t It's the year of the Pig.

Well... At least we agree it was an awesome film! t It's the year of the Pig.

I guess you have a point, but somewhere relativity creeps in. Here I am, a retired Tandem Instructor with 750 Tandems, 750 CRW dives, 1700 AFF's, a BMI, done demo's into 60 000 seat stadiums, 100's of camera dives, stunt work for ads, multiple medals from nationals, been to the world meet, 3000+ swoops, a couple of biggish (40 way plus) sequencial dives having jumped all over the world and currently doing 400+ dives a year, weekends only - and I seriously doubt I would refer to myself as "accomplished." I have so much to learn, and being in my 40's means I have less time to do it that someone in their 20's. I'm racing the clock on every dive I do, on every day at the DZ in the hope that one day I'll be "acomplished." t It's the year of the Pig.

If Patrick Swayze is "an accomplished skydiver" then I stand a good chance of being elected as the next Pope. t It's the year of the Pig.

I agree with you. Some people are just going to do what they do - and will benefit more from coaching than from being ignored. In fact, their education will probably benefit those around them too. For a very long time I'd wanted to help people, but I was stuck in the "toggle whipping time warp." I toggle spanked 1000's of safe and relatively impressive swoops, but knew enough not to teach others what I did. I couldn't teach safe landings. Even though my landings were safe for me - those whom I would need to teach had not gone through the 1500 jump progression from 220 sq ft F-111 7 cells to 100 sq ft ZP elipticals. I had learned the same way you had learned. I was taught nothing - and had broken my own femur in learning my limits at 150 jumps. The collision you mentioned was the catalyst to get me to continue to learn. I quizzed SkymonkeyOne and Hookitt on front riser swoops, and sought guidence from Chris, a former AFF student of mine, on how to do front riser turns. I bought newer gear, better suited to front riser input, and now 2 years and 800+ riser turns later, I'm feeling I'm getting over the increased risk of learning something new and have been rewarded with much better swoops. Placing Gates at the DZ has also helped indicate potential shortcommings in set-up and technique and has allowed me to be more critical of my performance. It's also allowed others to comment more accurately on my performance as my objectives are more clearly defined. Half the desire to teach comes from believing you know. I never got my instructors rating till 1800+ dives because I was too busy learning. There comes a time though, when you realise that you'll never be "ready" and it's prudent to look behind you and help those on the curve you've already travelled to do so safely... even if others tend to place some of the blame for an incident at the feet of the coach, and not at the feet of all those other jumpers who were so quiet prior to the incidents, and so vocal in their "I told you so!" after it. I think you and I have learned a lot in the past few years. It would be great if we could spread some of that knowledge around a bit more, but I think that process has already begun. t It's the year of the Pig.

Could be worse... Could be ME! t It's the year of the Pig.

Heathen! Time on the DZ = jumps. I've never been to a DZ I didn't jump at, even when I had no money. Magic stuff happens on DZ's. Also, people who are not at the DZ... don't jump. t It's the year of the Pig.

Nah. That's probably photoshop... although it could be CorelDraw... Or a Kangaroo rat. Look at the size of the leaves, the texture of the dirt. It's tiny. t It's the year of the Pig.

The feminists are the freedom fighters, and the chauvanists are the despotic dictators. Long live the resistance! t It's the year of the Pig.

The seychelles are to South Africans what the Caribbean is to Americans. They're anything but obscure. Thought about the Maldives? t It's the year of the Pig.

Humm... Don't go clubbing... Bwhahahaha It's the year of the Pig.

Ahh! More months! t It's the year of the Pig.

Umm. Isn't it kinda late in the year for a Calender sale? t It's the year of the Pig.

Go to gym, or climb, or find some other activity the allows you to pull a few KG's down a few times a day. t It's the year of the Pig.

And in SA, PASA mandates 300 in 2 years with instruction or 500 jumps total. t It's the year of the Pig.

Clicky http://www.bird-man.com/?n=dealer&a=category&v=North%20America Cost is $200, excluding options, shipping etc t It's the year of the Pig.

Well - look at Ireland. They're all Christians. Doesn't stop the bombs though, does it? t It's the year of the Pig.

I did. Of course, there was no other way back then, at least in South Africa. Had AFF been available, I would certainly not have been able to afford it. Seems to have worked out OK though. It's been a while since someone asked whether I repeated any steps on my progression.. t It's the year of the Pig.

Good desision. When you get to that closer, busier DZ, please tell Mark, Pete and Anton that "Tonto says "Hi" and asks that you please take good care of me." Generally a few SL jumps are not a bad thing. They help with confidence under canopy, and that in turn frees up brain space to focus on the skydive. Let me know how it works out for you - and enjoy the view. t It's the year of the Pig.

After posting in the incidents forum - again - I'm wondering when it's OK for people to start learning to swoop, figuring relative currency, maybe 100 a year, weekends only. Do you ignore them and let them "teach themselves" below a certain number, or is it better to give them some skills to work on, even though this may lead them to experiment earlier. I guess if this were speakers corner, we'd be discussing sex ed. Teach them young, or tell them to abstain? What are your views, and why? It's the year of the Pig.

This is such a white, male thread. Give a firm handshake in Africa and you'll be thought rude and arrogant. Here meetings are a gentle blend, not a competition. Do a bone cracker and you'd likely be attacked. Self defence, of course. I've broken the jaw of a "competition handshaker" in public, at a restaurant. Don't attack me - regardless of the means. The world is a big place. Learn how not to be considered an asshole by the locals. t It's the year of the Pig.