Tonto

I don't like big boobies. I see what terminal openings do to spectra, kevlar, nylon. I don't like to think about much more than that. Big boobies are uncool and probably have a shorter shelf life that a European reserve pack job. t It's the year of the Pig.

I learned that a Birdman GTi can really spin VERY VERY fast. Fortunately I learned this while watching someone else with over 50 Birdman dives exit! t It's the year of the Pig.

No Way! I just use the force. I figure when I start hooking it in - I need glasses. t It's the year of the Pig.

I think PJ looks cool. He's got that late teenager 24 year old thing going for him. Me? It's all about fall rate range. I do AFF in a long sleeved T and a pair of Birdman Pantz. 105lb girls this load, 220lb guys next load, no one wears lead. 4 way suits were designed to limit range to help reduce one more variable. To use them for anything but 4 way is silly. Full face helmets suck when the student starts talking in the door. What the freeflyer wears works from 200mph down to about 80 something if you wear and use it right. That's the range I want between the door and the floor. Oh. And anyone who thinks a Birdman suit is cool looking on the ground? Worry about them. Ever hear any ornithologist ever say "See how cool that bird is when it WALKS?" Cool is as cool does. Rolling around on the DZ using your lower femur as a plow is uncool. t It's the year of the Pig.

Interesting point of view - even though we know it's incorrect. Funny how since the advent of modern medicine, we all die later than we used to. Do you think that if GWB fired the secret service - everyone who shot at him would suddenly miss? If everyone stopped using airbags, seatbelts, helmets, AAD's that the road and skydiving death tolls would not climb? If troops were poorly trained or not trained at all the same number would die in combat against a trained enemy? The "when it's your time, it's your time" theory is foolishly comforting. It means we never have to change our lifestyle. In truth, we should be aware of what we eat and how much we exercise - or we risk cardiac arrest. We should have protected sex or stick with one HIV neg monogamous partner, we should practice our reserve drills, be ready for aircraft emergencies and fly disiplined traffic paterns. But sadly, many of us don't because "that's how we're SUPPOSED to die. There are no accidents" The only fate is the fate we make for ourselves. If destiny then hands us a curve ball - well, that's life. Everything else is Darwin. t It's the year of the Pig.

hehe that's the first thing that came to mind when i saw this thread since i'm still doing student jumps and moving slowwwwwww. Most of us move slowly in the begining. I think I did 20 jumps in my 1st year, dispite being desperately keen, perhaps even obsessed. I get scared. Those who know me would doubt this, but if I skip 2 weekends in a row, my head is full of gear fear/malfunction/collision/entanglement nightmares. I won't do an instructional jump 1st after that kind of layoff, even though I know I'd (probably) do fine. It's the word in brackets that gets me. I want my students to get 100% of the best I can be when I work with them. I've dealt with my fears by being quite current. 200 dives a year isn't a lot, but weekends only, including time out for injury, weather, broken planes, over 20 years, it does indicate some commitment to the drive out to the DZ. In the end, it doesn't matter. Most skydivers feel much safer than they really are. I see we havn't had a "Skydiving is safer than crossing the road" thread in quite a while. The Reaper isn't working harder. Last year was a "good" year for us. This site has brought our comminity closer together and increased it's reach. We hear about death often, and from everywhere. That's a good thing. Lets use it to learn the lessons that have cost others their lives. t It's the year of the Pig.

That - and at your current pace it will take you over 114 years to get to 1000 dives or 518 years to get to where I am. Kinda stacks the odds in your favour in a numbers game, doesn't it? t It's the year of the Pig.

Well, you'll never really know that you're going to die skydiving until just before it happens - and since I've been quite close a couple of times - I never knew anything of the sort as I was too busy working at NOT dying. The question I ask myself is if it happens, was it worth it? At this point, looking back over 20 years, incredible friendships, continents travelled etc - I think it has been. That's certainly what I've told both my parents and my kids - that if it happens - that's OK. For those that are newer at the game... You may not have reached the level of benefit that 20 years gives you. I think dying at 100 dives is a fucking raw deal, and you should work hard to have that not happen. Of course, when I was at that level I also experienced death in the sport, and reacted with a mix of arrogance (Stupid. Won't happen to me!) and denial. (Bummer. Won't happen to me!) Ironically, those early dives were the most dangerous for me, in a pre AAD era, with gutter gear and an attitude from hell that resulted in several pauses in the sport due to major injury. Somehow though, at about 25 years old and about 500 jumps, my desision making changed, and the worst I've had since then is a nose bleed or a skinned knee. I get to work on Monday after another weekend skydiving, and some whuffo got beaten up by bouncers, or rolled their car, etc. My life seems constant, stable, mild by comparison. No one who knows they will die skydiving will continue to skydive unless they want to die. Those answering "Yes" to your poll are either suicidal, have a death wish, or are simply liars. Your "could be 1000 from now." gives many skydivers less time than those diagnosed with terminal illness. Could be 10 000 from now? Well, at my current pace - that's "Natural causes" for me. The truth is, for all of us, it could be the next jump. Knowing that, we go anyway. Why? Because it's worth it for the way it makes us feel when it matters. When we're alive. t It's the year of the Pig.

You know... Someone once said of love.. "Love can go anyware with ease. It can go places even a Land Rover cannot go." I think it's amazing that your love for this sport hangs in through those long breaks. I hope you get the chance one day to jump as much as you want to. t It's the year of the Pig.

Congratulations! It looks awesome! t It's the year of the Pig.

And there are snakes in your back yard. And canned food can kill. And look both ways when you cross the road. And skydiving could result in serious injury or death. And falling in love could break your heart. And you could be layed off from work. And you could be mugged on the way to the movies. And you shouldn't drink and operate machinery. And guns don't kill people. People kill people. Have you seen some of the things your government issues warnings for? t It's the year of the Pig.

Is your profile up to date? Your post was really profound. How do you survive on fewer than 100 dives a year? t It's the year of the Pig.

Fantastic post. Skydiving is not worth dying for. Life is not worth living without doing what you want with it. Absolutely everything. Absolutely everything. t It's the year of the Pig.

Landing a wingsuit is just silly. Just look in the incidents forum. We can't even land canopies yet. t It's the year of the Pig.

Has anyone looked at the rules? Are we going to build something that just fucks up those poor anorexic bastards who've trained their lives away?

And the jump price by 12... I'd buy a tent. A NICE tent.. and a ticket to Eloy. And PJ - Where's the shady pines retirement home at JSC for us crotchety old bastards! (Yes, I said "us") t It's the year of the Pig.

Yeah. Good for all ages - and is considered "socially acceptable" for either sex. So... if you were 60 (just around the corner for you, really..) then 37 would be it. t It's the year of the Pig.

24? Well, you know the rule, right? Take your own age, divide by 2 (12) and add 7. So. No 19 year olds for you - you crotchety old cradle snatching bastard! t It's the year of the Pig.

Tick, tock, tick, tock... You're not getting any younger, you know. Some of my AFF students think you're nice - but you're too old for them... See you on Easter? t It's the year of the Pig.

Yeah. I think the drag induced down the slope would cost more than any flight benift after the launch. This would be true for Wing suits also. t It's the year of the Pig.

Not in Africa! t It's the year of the Pig.

So... How many jumps do you have now? t It's the year of the Pig.

Told ya so... It's the year of the Pig.

Our DZ recently purchased 2 Student Icons. After about 3 months, I'm not impressed and take my AFF students out on the older PISA "Naro" harness. A few things I've noticed - and don't like. 1. The ICON flaps, both main and reserve, seldom stay closed, even on the ground. 2. The AFF left side main deployment device should be removed. It's a simple time trap that will eat time when you don't have it. 3. The cypres cannot be checked when the rig is being worn by the student. 4. I don't like the adjustable lift webs. We operate in dry, dusty conditions and the harness cannot be checked for wear without disassembly. 5. There are no handles on the legstraps for AFF. This was an option I enjoyed on the Naro. What I do like. The inspection window on the reserve flap. If you do get it to close - it's an awefull shame having to open it again. Anyone else have any thoughts? Any suggestions on other companies student harnesses, what you've used, what you're happy with, features you enjoyed, etc? t It's the year of the Pig.