NWFlyer

This is an excellent habit to get into. I'm surprised your DZ doesn't have you do this - when I was a student I had to estimate where I would open based on the day's winds and draw out my planned pattern on a little piece of paper for every single jump. That said... even pre-planning is not always going to keep you from landing downwind. The rule at the DZ might be "first person down sets the pattern" and that person might set a downwind pattern. You can yell at him or her after you're down, but you still need to follow the rules and respect the pattern. On Saturday I landed my second jump of the day in about a 5-6 mph downwind because that's what the pattern was, and I could see the sock as I was setting up so I knew I was in for a quick landing and planned my pattern accordingly to allow plenty of space and landed in the middle of the landing area. No problem.

http://www.otbeach.com/news/contact.html There's the link to the contact page. Perhaps we should all send the author a link to this page: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=514 "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

OH MY GOD.... it's TOTALLY INSANE. They linked to a video where they had to USE THE RESERVE!!!!! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I am getting REALLY excited about this boogie. In just the past week or so I've heard about a bunch of folks from California who have committed to come up to Kapowsin to play with us for the boogie for the POPS record, for freeflying, for RW, for wingsuiting, thus proving to me that it's true, commercial aircraft DO go both ways!!!!! C'mon, now, east coasters and midwesterners, it's time for you to step up, too! Start checking those airline schedules and booking your flights - there's nowhere more beautiful in August than the Pacific Northwest. While your half of the country is sweltering and humid, we'll be dry and sunny with gorgeous views of (still) snow-capped mountains. There's camping right next to the dropzone at the Mason County Fairgrounds for a small fee, with hot showers available. Hotels are just a mile away in the town of Shelton. Lots of info on Kapowsin's web site. Sponsors are lining up to support the fundraising side of the boogie (and those that aren't lining up just don't know about the boogie yet, so they're getting bugged by me very soon if they haven't been already). Here's the list of cool stuff we have for the fundraising raffle already: **50% off Infinity Rig (courtesy of Velocity Sports Equipment) **2 - 50% off Wings Rig (courtesy of Sunrise Manufacturing) **50% off a complete Aerodyne System - Icon Container, Smart Reserve, ANY Aerodyne Main (courtesy of Aerodyne Research) **Cookie Composites Helmet pimped out PD Style (courtesy of Performance Designs) **PD Hydration pack (courtesy of Performance Designs) **Eyes in the Sky photo book (courtesy of Wendy Smith) You don't have to attend the boogie to participate in the raffle* or to donate, but it will be a lot more fun if you do!!! *The web site will be updated shortly to reflect all of the prizes available. Purchasing a raffle ticket enters you into the drawing for all major prizes - you need not be present to win. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Lori, I think you've been drinking too much of the Lang I brought you. I bet you meant to link to this article instead. I have not tried #4. That seems like a waste of perfectly fine beer!!! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I saw him perform in Memphis at a big outdoor festival back 1994. Really glad I got the chance. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Yes, DZs have a minimum, though that number might vary depending on whether they are starting the plane from shutdown, or turning the plane (turning = landing, reloading and taking off again without shutting the plane down). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Last summer I'd be more likely to drive down and back two days on a single weekend. This year, hells no. I'll plan ahead (leave the cats enough food and bring a change of clothes) and stay with friends who live much closer to the DZ (and we'll leave one car at the DZ and carpool). It's 180 miles round trip to the DZ. In my car at highway speeds that's about $25-28, just over the cost of a jump ticket (which is holding steady at $23 for now). I don't need to do that twice in one weekend. I also have the option of taking a ferry for part of my commute to the DZ. Taking the ferry shaves off half the one-way mileage, but adds in $14.45 for the ferry. Winds up costing me more and taking more time, but the overall environmental impact is less (and if I'm coming back on Sunday nights I avoid the hassle factor of sitting in traffic with everyone else coming back from their weekends on the coast) and can instead enjoy a nice, relaxing boat ride. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

He's only 60? Sorry, Fred, I was watching him in reruns when I was a freckle-faced kid, long after he was a freckle-faced kid, so to hear that he's only a little over 20 years older than me seems strange. Charlie Watts, on the other hand, will probably never die. He's preserved in something (formaldehyde, perhaps) that will keep him rocking forever. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I'll be there. That'll be my first boogie. See you soon.

I'd talk to the S&TA as a first option... maybe he or she could have a chat with the jumper as a beginning step. It could just be that he hadn't had much (any?) guidance at his old dropzone and doesn't realize how risky his behavior is. Describe what happened and why you're concerned (he's putting you at risk so you can put it in terms of being concerned for your own safety) and see what the S&TA says. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Funny thing is one quick look at each photo and I know exactly where it was taken and then there's a flood of memories from the weekend... and Shannon's role in it. Yeah, me too. I was in San Francisco about a month ago and KFOG was promoting the hell out of the Kaboom fireworks show for this year and it took me right back to 2005 when I was on my road trip and Shannon invited me to stay at her apartment when I was passing through NorCal. She calls me up a couple days before and says "Hey, you remember Cornholio? He's got some tickets to go on this boat for Kaboom that night - do you want to go?" As if I might say no. Beth and Sean and Matt's then-girlfriend (now wife) and a friend of hers rounded out the group ... I still have great memories of that night, and later on just hanging out in jammies at Shannon's apartment shooting the shit with her. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

YOU NEED TO TALK REALLY LOUD TO MAKE SURE HE HEARS YOU!!!!! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

*golfclap* "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Excellent article and beautiful photos! Love the family wedding photo.

The reason could be the DZO says no - skydivers seem to forget that we always jump at the discretion of the DZO. He or she could decide you need a D license or red hair or 300 jumps on a purple canopy to jump the beach. Some DZs are okay with water training only, some want B license qualified, some want the actual B license. It's their call. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Say "It's not for everyone" and change the subject. And if you don't ever want the topic to come up at work, take the photos off your work computer. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I'm of the mind that people who have demonstrated unsafe in-air skills AND don't respond to constructive feedback with improvements in the next skydive have just earned their ticket OFF of larger skydives till they can demonstrate improved skills. I'm still a relative newbie, and welcome feedback. I got called out in front of a 15-ish way last summer for a lazy track because I scared someone else on the jump. I had about 300 jumps then. I didn't particularly appreciate the feedback style, but I definitely deserved the feedback, and it was a wake-up call that I'd been getting complacent on my track. Next jump and every subsequent jump my tracks have been focused and solid. The difference was that I already knew how to track well enough to be in the air with 15 people, I was just getting lazy. In his case, he may not have the skills to be with such a big group - he may actually need to dial it back a notch to jump with smaller groups for a while till he has the skills. If you can talk to someone and they are willing to learn and improve - no need to sit them down/kick them off/punish them/whatever. But if you give them an opportunity to improve/learn and they don't take it, well quit giving them the reward of the cool jumps. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Now we know what he's been doing with his time. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

So if many people share this opinion, who is inviting him on larger ways? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sleepdisorders.html See Parasomnias. Sleep disorders are pretty common, in both children and adults, and also very under-diagnosed. Could have been a one-time thing, but if you start to feel like you're always tired or you sleep 7-9 hours a night but never feel rested, it might be worth talking to your doctor about a sleep study. Those things can uncover some fascinating stuff. (I used to work for a sleep medicine company ... I'm hardly an expert, but I did learn a little about it when I worked there, and got to go through a test myself). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Nicely done... that N looked HARD!!!! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Bonfire says yes. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Yes, and women killed it. We need to get you one of these. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Pun intended? Damn, I hope so, because it was a beautiful one. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke