scrublink

For me to be comfortable with a wingsuit I would have to significantly upsize my current canopy size. I presently load my canopy at 1.7:1 and can't fit a larger one inside. Although I might be able to wrap it in bungies and strap it to the outside.

Took the guys test. 10%. Took the girls test for chuckles. 90%.

Bored yes. Complacent no. I am one anal bastard and considered by my peers to be safety conscious. This is a "different" kind of bored. Almost defies description even to myself.

I have thought that maybe adding a rating would help spice things up. Maybe even get a rigging ticket. I have done just about every hobby that has interested me at one time or another and this is the one that lasted the longest. It is hard to explain, but I still enjoy it. I am beginning to think that I am going through an early mid-life crisis or something. Not looking for danger so much as something different.

And they still jump with you?

Thank you to everyone that has sent me messages with info.

I don't think anyone could corrupt me into having fun. I am rather straight laced uptight kind of guy. Jumped at the Ranch off and on for a couple of years 96-97? I think and I left the way I came. Flat is good, change is bad and head down is a poor student exit.

No areas suitable for ground launching around me that I know of but the concept is interesting to me.

I don't have enough body piercings to freefly. That is why they fall head down isn't it?

Thats ongoing for most of us that have been around for awhile. There are always people that need some good advice. Its not just the cute little girls that can benefit from our wisdom. New England is a small enough area that newbies stick out and you can still keep track of them pretty easily and most of them welcome the help and the jumps. Ed

I know where Castaic is on the map but can anyone provide me with some info on the character or "flavor" or the area. How far to (and name of) the nearest DZ? How far to a ski area? What is the cost of living like? Other recreational oppurtunities. Feel free to PM me if you like. Thank you in advance. Ed

After you jump for a few more years you might not log your jumps either. Logging has never been a big prioity for me, I usually only log enough to prove I am current and if I am not instructing I don't usually get around to logging "fun" jumps. But thanks for the input. Most people do the same math you did and have the same comments and/or questions.

I actually am an active and current instructor. This is probably the most enjoyable part of this sport for me.

I have never really thought about the risk/benefit ratio. Skydiving has just sort of become something that I do. Just a habit I guess. I usually take four to six months off a year. I ski during the winter so its not like I don't do anything else. This is more of a naggging feeling, like I should be doing something more interesting or stimulating with my time, but at the same time I feel like I just "have to do it".

Thought about a wingsuit. Have some friends who flock. One of them tried to talk me into one the other day. I don't think I can swing it financially. New suit and rig would set me back quite a bit of money. I can't fit a docile enough canopy (from my perspective) into my current gear to make it safe.

This is a feeling that has been growing and nibbling at me for quite a while. I am bored. This year I will pass my twentieth year in the sport and while I find it to be mildly amusing I also find that I look toward a weekend at the dropzone as a necessary evil or chore. I have been going to the DZ every weekend in season for most of my adult life. I just do it because I alway have. Has anyone else gone through this. How can I make this interesting again? Just for the record I don't want people to tell me to take up freeflying or crw. Not interested in either. Your thoughts either privately or on forum are appreciated. Ed

Current for what purposes? Current for me and current for you are also very different. It is all about being honest with yourself with your abilities, your comfort level and how much your "layoff" has affected your ability to perform safely. I know some people that are always "current" making jumps on a regular basis with no signifigant periods of inactivity that scare me in the air. I also know several people that take two or more months off at a time and come right back without any problems. Only you can really know if you are current. There are some things (especially in skydiving) that can't be written in a book and taken as gospel.

I own a Pa-28/180, same as yours but with the larger engine. I have seen a three way succesfully taken off the wing more than once and have never had a problem tossing people out with out the door on. I wouldn't let just any idiot do it, but most experienced jumpers shouldn't have a problem as long as they use their head. (And I don't mean to use their head as a contact point with the tail either.)

They let women jump? The world is ending. Next thing you know they'll let them vote.

We are tentatively scheduling for LW. Depends on work etc. I can land on anything that is 1000 feet or longer and not icy. It is also only a two hour drive up there. Sometimes I think my humor is lost to people on these forums that don't know me. Maybe it doesn't come off that well on screen or maybe people don't take me serious because I have such low jump numbers for an instructor. Someday I will start logging jumps again and then I can really get going with my skygod act. Ed

There is a full time dz about fifteen minutes from the site of the tunnel. Twin Otter usually flying in season.

Missed the whole point of the last sentence. Was also a response to the thread generally as opposed to you personally. I should have made that clear. The point of the last sentence by the way was to verify that I am one crusty and miserable bastard. And proud of it.

Before I had any ratings I would "go up with nebies for free". Now since I have ratings I let the DZ charge the going rate ($65?) and they pass my share on to me in the form of a paycheck. It may be different at club DZ's than at fully commercial ones but I never recieved anything for free when I was a student nor did I ask for anything. It takes a boat load of money to run even a small DZ so I don't have a problem with them making money. I also don't have a problem charging people for my professional services. If they want video to go with that jump they have to pony up the money for the video guy. He has to eat to. I am not here to further anyone's life's interests at my own expense (even if it just the expense of my time). If I was that kind of person I would have joined the Peace Corps. My gear wasn't free and requires maintenance and upkeep and the airplane ride isn't free. I don't fun jump much, if at all because I don't think skydiving is worth spending money on. Thats my choice. I you want to skydive then you have to pay your money. If you want coaching or any other kind of instruction you have to pay your money. Sense a theme? I have pursued many different hobbies and have yet to find one that offered free instrution, why should skydiving be different. Oh yeah. Stop your whining, give me your money and get on the damn airplane.

Don't be afraid of a little cold weather. Keep jumping. (get a repack first) You are a little further north than some of us but in the states a lot of people jump in the winter. The view is usually much better and if you crash in the snow it makes it funny for the rest of us.

Do bugs count?