mattjw916

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Everything posted by mattjw916

  1. mattjw916
    Finally a voice of reason from within the din of the masses... When I get home I will whip out my ground school guide and see what exactly he contributed to re: the AFF program or ISP since it was listed in his bio. It is possible I misread or misinterpreted what he said. In any case he certainly is a great guy with a great personality even when he chews you out for making a n00b mistake. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  2. mattjw916
    I was really freaked out on my level 6 jump for some reason, so much so that I wish I had video of it for posterity. FWIW, I just sucked it up and jumped... of course if you are paralyzed with fear I wouldn't recommend my course of action. Being ex-military I have a great understanding of how I react under pressure, hence my passing the level with no problem whatsoever. Everyone is different, so find an instructor you trust and talk to him/her. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  3. mattjw916
    I'm pretty much at the same point you are... I was leaning towards a G4, but I might be retreating to the G3 since it really has everything I need and I don't think the extras the G4 have are necessary (or worth the extra price). I think a G3 w/Unisys, stainless, FF PUD, mini-risers, soft res handle, etc will be more than enough AND have a great resale value down the road. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  4. mattjw916
    I was reminded by the folks at Eloy once for landing the opposite direction but it was a wierd situation to begin with: Otter loaded with ~15 people... all but three of us get out early... the three of us left head to ~14500ft. I was going to solo track and the other two were freestyle+camera, so needless to say, they were going to have a higher fall-rate, flew much smaller canopies, and pulled lower than me hence they beat me down by a huge margin. Well, they landed so much earlier than me that they were walking into the hanger by the time I was collapsing my slider... there was no wind so I just landed at the edge of the grass and went to drop my gear off. The S&TA finds me later and asked me why I landed the wrong way, etc... I said I had no idea which way the pattern was because I was the only one in the air, but I assured him I don't usually land in the main landing area when it is occupied since, like Betsy said, it is usually a x-wind landing. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  5. mattjw916
    yes... Al Gramando... perhaps you have heard of him. It is a shame that a lot of the experienced people here are incapable making their points without resulting to personal attacks... or the "your opinion is different than mine so you are a crater waiting to happen." comment that people with X*1000 jumps here make. Generally it is my experience that if you line up 10 people with over 5 years in sport and ask them a question, you will get 10 different answers. (The poll results above more than prove my point.) I also feel sorry for people that think DZ.com is a good gauge for how relative newcomers are treated at the drop zone. And some people wonder why USPA membership is down as of late... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  6. mattjw916
    I have jumped at several different DZs... just suck it up and do it!!! Aerial photos help... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  7. mattjw916
    That could probably be debated... but it is beyond th scope of this thread. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  8. mattjw916
    Divorce... move on... there are plenty of playthings to exploit out there... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  9. mattjw916
    uh oh... I can already sense another heated debate coming... Here is a couple of questions for people to ponder since I am bored and have done a few hybrids: Is a bigish way with a couple of hangers on the base or scattered throughout really a record-worthy "hybrid"? How many hangers/stingers does it take to make it a meaningful record... should there be a ratio like 3:1 RW:FF-ers? Since we have started turning points on hybrids is anyone going to keep track of what the record is? Does anyone care? In any case, I really don't care since I only participate for fun and not to get my pic in Parachutist or whatever... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  10. mattjw916
    If you read the whole section it goes on to state the two acceptable procedures for dealing with a PC-in-tow which IS ALSO a form of a total mal (although people like to argue this point often as well)... according to the SIM a PC-in-tow is NOT a partial mal. I personally could care less which handle anyone else chooses to pull... if you are feeling saucy why don't you go argue with "Big Al" about his teaching methods or style. Considering he authored the AFF program I am sure he will have thought of some scenarios that escape the people here, myself included. edit: spelling NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  11. mattjw916
    I'm not even going to start the PC-in-tow debate... Sounds like everyone is basically in agreement here anyway. I was just trying to relate something I was taught that even I, with my minimal experience, don't necessarily agree with (e.g. chopping something like a total due to stuck BOC handle). NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  12. mattjw916
    Like I said... that was what I was taught... student rigs were mainly RI Telesis IIs w/RSL not SOS. I was just trying to illustrate the fact that at some places people are taught different ways. If I had a total I will probably go to reserve immediately since I don't really see the benefit of chopping something that is basically stuck where it is already. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  13. mattjw916
    I agree, my instructor for ground school, who has a lower D license number and more time in sport than anyone who replied in this thread, said red then silver for a total... it is also left up to the jumper to decide since both have drawbacks as evidenced in the SIM here: http://www.uspa.org/publications/SIM/2005SIM/section5.htm#51e NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  14. mattjw916
    don't stress... you still have to do 25 jumps to get your license anyway... so you have 7 more tries. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  15. mattjw916
    it depends... probably just go to reserve... I was taught to chop a total then go to reserve but opinions vary on this based on discussions I have had. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  16. mattjw916
    How about, renew your USPA membership which will reactivate your license, go to a local DZ, explain situation to S&TA who will probably require you to do a refresher ground school to make sure you still know what you are doing and then do a level IV check out dive with an AFF/I... Then fun jump your brains out and work on all those skills you forgot... read here for more info: http://www.uspa.org/publications/SIM/2005SIM/section5.htm#52 NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  17. mattjw916
    how about doing it without lights and just play a game of high-altitude marco polo... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  18. mattjw916
    uh, go jump... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  19. mattjw916
    Soooo, I guess I should cancel my order for the Vengeance 120 huh? No matter how many people beat this concept to death, the ones that really need to hear it probably aren't here in the first place... that said, I will be pretty happy with my slightly sub~1.1 loading for the moment... at least until I get ~50 more jumps + some formal canopy training. Some people jump sub 1:1 w/l canopies for years... some don't and try to progress naturally and carefully... and some people lack sense and femur in for one reason or another... such is life... you can't save people from themselves in the long run. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  20. mattjw916
    http://www.relativeworkshop.com/pdt_skyhook.html enjoy... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  21. mattjw916
    a creator of relatively worthless threads that belong on the bonfire.... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  22. mattjw916
    enjoy... section 5-2 Recurrency Training http://www.uspa.org/publications/SIM/2005SIM/section5.htm#52 NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  23. mattjw916
    try the classifieds here or ask around your local DZs... there are always a few broke people that want to part with theirs for a decent price. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  24. mattjw916
    I did 12 coach jumps, 9 one weekend and 3 the next, with AZTC at Skydive AZ... more than worth the money and time! The coaches there, to include Will, Dusty and Steffan, are all top notch, extremely knowledgeable, and professional. NSCR-2376, SCR-15080
  25. mattjw916
    I'm willing to bet that your ability to get through level 6 has less to do with being able to figure out how to do a backflip properly and more to do with being a little overwhelmed and tense still. I doubt, other than giving you more confidence in your own abilities, that the tunnel is the real answer. For me, my "level 6" jump was the most stressful... and it really had nothing to do with any of the skills I had to demonstrate in freefall. The more you jump... the more confident you get... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080