okalb

I think that statement is the key right there. If you ask that question of most highly experienced jumpers, the answer would be yes, I'll ship it to them. Experience and time in the sport has shown us that MOST people with a thousand jumps and 5 years in the sport are realistic about their own abilities and have seen enough people get hurt to not jump something they can't handle. The problem is less experienced jumpers who drastically over-estimate their abilities. There are exceptions to every rule on both sides of the equation, but rules are not written for the exceptions. There are plenty of drivers who can safely handle their cars at speeds that far exceed the speed limits. The speed limits are designed for the masses not the few. The fact that we are proposing a test out option for the exceptions makes it fair for all. It always seems odd to me that whenever this debate comes up it is the people with the least experience that argue the loudest against regulation. The same people that we are trying to protect from themselves. I know a person who has recently bought a velocity that everyone on the DZ agrees he is nowhere near ready for. A bunch of us who jump velocities have all tried to talk to him about why he shouldn't jump it. We are all experienced on this canopy and have gotten into specifics about the flight characteristics and why he isn't ready. His response was that all of the other velo jumpers just don't want anyone else in their club. We just don't want him to compete with us using the same tools we use. Unfortunately, that is the mentality of a lot off the lower experienced jumpers. By the way, the person that I am talking about already jumps a stiletto loaded at around 1.6 to 1 and want to switch to the velo at over 2 to 1. His landing on the stiletto are far from stellar. Did I mention that he has under 400 jumps total and has been jumping for over 3 years. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

The problem with a recommendation is the people who want to drastically exceed the chart are usually the ones who "know better" and don't want to listen to anyone. If it is just a recommendation all we can do is tell them that it is not a good idea. We already do that now but they don't listen. If it is BSR we can tell them that it is a bad idea and you can't do it. That is the only way most of the "know it alls" will listen. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Laarsen and Brusgaard (sp?) has just announced the release of several new products. I would wait to see what they have before buying anything. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Hey you gotta give credit where it is due. I am the one that told you it makes a great bottle opener

This isn't my story but check out Tony's story. http://dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=576175;#576175 Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

You haven't been to z-hills. We have the dz el camino used to pick up people who land off. The keys are always in it! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Thats great.Man most places you go they forget about you the minute you settle up with manifest. Robert takes finding canopies very seriously. Each one is a personal challenge to him. I have seen him spend days on end searching the swamp for a lost main. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Told you Robert would find it. He always does. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Kaz Rocks! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Here is part of why the boogie kicked ass. I just got the official numbers. 660 New Jumpers Registered (does not include locals) 7600 Jumps made including 4 weather days 284 Otter Loads flown in 7 days I know the wait for loads was a bit long at times, but we had no idea what a huge turnout we would have. Next year we will make sure we have enough aircraft to handle the people. The parties were out of control and the skydives rocked. What more could we ask for. Not to mention the fact that we KICKED ELOY'S ASS! -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

It also confused the hell out of us. We were 1 person short on the lead plane and couldn't figure out why. Special thanks go to Danornan for being able to switch from the trail plane to the lead plane during the boarding process and still managing to get into his slot! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Sorry I made a boo boo. Here is the final list! Okalb Scotty Carbone Gimp Starkmtn Jerm Anvil Rick HeatherB Mwolfe Ron Towerrat Tammy Carbone happythoughts bluebarron52 Foggy Sebastian55 Gosia chopchop rabbit kai3fly filmcarrie brothermuff65 snivelo leslieann mikepilert danornan Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Oh yeah, Stacy and Galen should be added to the moral support list. Thanks! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Ok, this is the confirmation! We did a 2 point 26 way yesterday at z-hills. Everyone did a great job and we nailed it on the first try. All in all it was an awesome boogie and I think everyone had a great time. Here is the list of participants: Okalb Scotty Carbone Gimp Starkmtn Mgerra28 Anvil Rick HeatherB Mwolfe Ron Towerrat Tammy Carbone happythoughts bluebarron52 Foggy Sebastian55 Gosia chopchop rabbit kai3fly filmcarrie brothermuff65 snivelo leslieann mikepilert danornan Thanks guys. I also want to thank all the people lending moral support that couldn't come on the jump with us. That includes kelel01 and RoysPlayThing. There were some others as well, but unfortunately I don't know their names. Here is a link to the pic on Tony's site. http://www.tonyhathaway.com/fotoserv/preview_large.php4?event=1302005/100January&image=010105-01.jpg -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Should be no problem at all. Just ask at manifest. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I wear the surgical gloves under my regular gloves when I skydive in the cold, but it isn't all it is cracked up to be. They work well for jumping because the effect doesn't last long. I actually don't put them on until jump run. If you sweat in them then it traps the sweat inside. The cold sweat can be worse then the wind and cold. Give it a try, but I have a feeling you will discover that for a long bike ride it won't do what you are hoping for. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Back when I lived up north, I used to have a pair of heated gloves that didn't attach to the bike at all. There was a C battery in each glove that sat down near the gauntlet. They worked great and they looked and felt like regular gloves. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

We discovered this a few years ago at z-hills and just played it all day long over the speakers at manifest. We just laughed all day. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Them there is fightin words. I just turned 35! Or as I like to call it the sixth anniversary of my 29th birthday Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Santa Clause is coming to town by Bruce Springstein is without a doubt the most annoying song ever!!!!!!! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I knew there was a reason why I USED to like you! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Sorry, I am waaaay too young to have anything to do with that record. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Your name was already on the list! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Seems reasonable. If the people are there on 12/26, and they are jumping with Oren anyway... why not? Then, another try on 1/2 also. Worst case? We all just jump together on two days and have loads of fun. Works for me! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Alright, alright...how about we do it on the 1/2 then! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana