okalb

Just remeber Rick...cheaters always prosper and quitters always win...or something like that. See you then! -Oren Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

This would be great and goes along with the education part of things but once again it DOESN'T WORK. People have been mentoring other jumpers for years. The problem as I stated before is that most of the people who kill themselves under highly loaded canopies have already been spoken to on numerous occasions by more experienced jumpers. There is no way to make someone listen when they think that they can handle it and the old timers are just too conservative or trying to keep them down. We have seen this attitude time and time again and right now all we can do is TRY to talk to them. If there was a regulation in place we could force them to listen at least until they have enough experience that they HOPEFULLY realize that they don't know everything and the people that are trying to talk to them might have been around a bit longer and seen what happens. Some people have the attitude that we should just talk to them and if they don't listen than screw them and let them kill themselves, but I am more selfish than that. If I were only worried about them killing themselves, that would be fine. The problem is that I am worried about them killing ME! Not to mention every death hurts us all no matter why they were killed. Once again, there is lots of potential good that can come from regulating this and NOBODY as of yet has been able to show any potential negatives. I'm sorry, but the argument about regulation opening a can of worms is bullshit. We have lots of regulations that we have accepted for years. Most of them we accept because they have been around since before a lot of us were jumping. This is no different other than the fact that we are around for it. I would rather see us regulate it ourselves with the help of the USPA than have the FAA get involved and tell us what to do. Your other argument about people quitting the sport if we tell them what canopy they can jump also holds no water. If they think so little of the sport that they would quit over that, then we don't need them in our sport. Besides, that new jumpers coming into the sport would not have a problem with it since the reg would be in place before they got here. It would be just like the pull altitude BSR. Do you complain about pulling at whatever altitude you are supposed to pull at? No, because it has always been that way for you. I am sure that when they were deciding on those BSRs, there were plenty of people complaining about it just like people are now about this. The people that seem to be making the most noise against a WL BSR are the ones with the lowest jump numbers. No offense to you Nathaniel, but with 88 jumps, I very highly doubt that you have been around long enough to see what some of us have seen. I am not saying that I have been around forever or seen it all. I only have 1400 jumps which is nothing, but I have seen a lot of people hurt or killed under wingloadings that they should not have been under. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Hiya Cora, If everyone thought like you, we wouldn't have a problem, but they don't and we do. Once again the exception not the rule. We have to create regulations for the lowest common denominator not the exceptions. That is why I do believe in a "test out" process where you could get that rocket that you want if you prove that you can handle it. Here is where I strongly disagree. The system that we have in place clearly doesn't work. I have only been skydiving for 5 years and the number of people that I have seen hurt or killed under canopies that they were not ready for is absurd. Most of those people had been spoken to by the "old timers", but every one of them thought that they were the exception not the rule. They were all wrong. Sydiving is a dangerous sport, but if there is a simple way to make it substantially safer, why would anyone be opposed to it? And everytime someone dies doing something stupid and unnecessary, it hurts all of us. Not that I consider myself an "old timer" by any means, but I spend a lot of time working with lower experienced jumpers and the majority that I see don't want to hear it. They know better. The problem is most of the people who hurt themselves under higher wingloads have not been around long enough to understand why they are being stupid. Forcing them to either wait or prove their skills will only make them safer one way or the other. What is the harm in that. I can say first hand that this DOES NOT WORK. I take newbies under my wing all the time and they all want to know about freefall skills, but few want to hear about canopy skills. They all have this "I can land it fine" or "I stand up all my landings" attitude. They don't understand that being able to land it and being safe under it are not the same thing. If there is a regulation in place it makes it easier for the rest of us to stop you from doing it. Telling people "You know it is a really bad idea and here is why" hasn't worked so far. I don't want to, but this is a simple thing and there is no denying it will at least help the situation I am not trying to take away your right to jump or even your right to jump something stupid. All I am saying is that we can postpone your jumping something that you are not ready for at least until hopefully you understand why you are being stupid. Those that think they are the exception should have no problem proving their skills. If they are as good as they think they are, they can prove it and buy what they want. I bet you will find that most are NOT as good as they think they are. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Has anyone noticed that the majority of the people opposed to the proposed BSR are the people with lower jump numbers. I am not saying that there aren't any higher experienced people that are opposed, but it just seems odd that the "older" jumpers that have seen it all happen over and over again are for regulation while the newbies all fight against it. Interesting.... 1400 jumps 2.0 (100% for regulation) Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I can name several, but that is not the discussion we are having here and I don't think it is appropriate in a public forum. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I think that a lot has changed in the last few years. There are several major canopy manufacturers out there that are pushing people very hard into jumping canopies that are too small for them. That is a more recent phenomenon, so the most recent numbers are the ones we need to be looking at. I think as long as those manufacturers keep doing it, the numbers will only increase. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I just have a small one on my back. Most of the people from z-hills have seen it. It is a dragon. It didn't take very long . So far I think we have spent 98 hours on it. Someday it might actually be finished. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I recently heard of a rigger that changes the loop every third pack job and was curious what everyone else does. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

The U.S. Women's 4-way team, Synchronicity, is going to the World Meet in Gap, France to defend their title against the best women's teams from all over the world. Check out their web site at http://www.teamsynchronicity.com and if you can swing it, pick up one of their t-shirts shown on the "shirts" page to help support them in their quest for gold. CROSS-POSTED FROM TALK BACK WITH PERMISSION FROM SKYMAMA! Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Now Galen, I know you haven't been around here very long, but you should know that Z-hills has a strictly enforced no speedo policy. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

You, a sweetheart? That is what you would have the rest of the world believe Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

She ordered a new batch. They will be in tomorrow. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Last I heard there was some dispute about the team membership. Has that now been resolved? Actually, there is no dispute about the team membership. The only dispute is over whether or not they are required to bring their alternate with them to France. Because one of the members was moved from a primary spot to an alternate spot, the USPA is saying that the alternate MUST come to France with them or else they will not endorse them as the US team. Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Have you tried buying a t-shirt. Maybe that will help Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

The U.S. Women's 4-way team, Synchronicity, is going to the World Meet in Gap, France to defend their title against the best women's teams from all over the world. Check out their web site at www.teamsynchronicity.com and if you can swing it, pick up one of their t-shirts shown on the "shirts" page to help support them in their quest for gold. POSTED WITH PERMISSION FROM SANGIRO!

I assume that out of Wisconsin, Texas or California you did the smart thing and chose Florida. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I wasn't just talking about the # of jumps requirement. The people I am talking about actually end up with dead batteries about once a year because they jump so much. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Just curious, with this new battery that they are using in the Cypress II, anyone know what happens if your battery dies before the 4 years is up. Are you going to have to send it back to Airtec or will any rigger be able to replace the batteries? Also, are the batteries going to cost a fortune since they are 4 year batteries now? I know of several professional jumpers that only get about a year out of the current 2 year batteries because of the number of jumps they do a year. I was just wondering what this is going to mean for them. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

That Jumper is not "OUT". He is in a Room and there is another opposite hime at 8 o'clock. That was the plan. Just cuz you have no grips doesn't mean you aren't in. Those were actually the coveted glory slots of the skydive. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

They got a new record. 2 Points completed with 120 in. Congrats to all! -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

Check out www.anilgupta.com He has done some full body work and lots of other awesome stuff. -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

I don't know who does it in Deland, but if you can't find him JC at Z-hills is a Strong examiner and he does 1 on 1 courses for people all the time. Here is his web site. http://www.tandeminstructors.com/ -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/25/travel/escapes/25BASE.html?8hpib Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

on Thursday the 5th. We're flying stand-by and should arrive sometime between 9:00 - 10:30am. Two women, no luggage (other than day packs). If you can help out, please contact either Sally Hathaway or Laura Song via email: skydiv12@gte.net singsong1@yahoo.com Or, call Manifest @ Skydive City 1-813-783-9399 and leave a msg for either one of us. Thanks!

Arlo is a bout a shy as they come. She is also as pure an innocent as anyone I have ever met. Just ask the 2 different reps from DELL that said M'am coould you please refrain from using that language ;-) -OK Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana