SkySlut

Well, judging from the gear that my buddy jumped on the CRW record...its quite a bit different. There are two 4 to 5 inch (guesstimating) rigid locking "stowes" that are part of the bag and then on the front of the bag is a flat "stiffener" flap that holds the figure-8 line stows in. On the side of this flap are a couple of other tuck tabs that hold the flap in place. That is the best way that I can describe it.

Yep, I have seen it...the guys from XL are jumping it. It is like stowing your lines like a freebag...no rubber bands needed. Its extremely quick to pack. They dont seem to have any problems with it although I am not personally sure how many times you would want to downsize a main in this bag. Its quite brilliant, but we will see how this bag wears over time. They havent had any problems with linedump, twists, etc. Everything is held in by tabs basically. Its pretty tough to explain, you kinda have to see it to understand...I had to look at it a couple of times to really understand whats going on with this d-bag. It is made by Sunpath...Javelin rigs.

For what its worth, I have seen some places put booties on AFF students. I dont know if I would put booties on my students, but it has been done...with quite a bit of success, actually. But I have been jumping with booties since I got off AFF and I love em...way more power!

I wear em. I have started to notice that I put the TV volume up a bit more than I used to, especially after a long day of jumping. I read a great article in an old parachutist about the decibel levels of regular otters...and it said that prolonged exposure to regular otters (dont think that there were too many super otters around at the time it was written) was bad for you.

I would recommend that you stay at the Sandrift Inn. Its the closest to the DZ and by far the cheapest. Its not the best accomodation in the world, but you are only going to be sleeping there. Tell them that you are a skydiver and they will give you a discount. It is usually $35 a night, no more than $45...depending on the season. That would be your best bet!!! If you can find someone who will share it...even better!!!

Merlin is where its at. I have had the Pro Comp Suit for about a year and have put about 600 jumps on it and it still looks and fits great. I have recently had the opportunity to get a FREE TonySuit and I am BUYING another ProComp suit for work from Merlin. Kick ass suits-3 week delivery time and they have my measurements on file...so the only thing I had to tell them to do was make it.

My apologies bill...I was a bit too caught up in the holiday spirit(s) that night. I think that we are on the same page...no worries. I owe you a beer sometime!!! Hooking up with students is a big no-no...

you know what...with your comment...which basically said "I need money over my students learning process"...get out of the sport...I do this for a living...dont make people afraid to jump with a crappy factory process atittude. You are a moderator too...good example.

Yeah, I need to eat too...but I dont take tips from students...I find it absurd that I get paid to skyive! I get paid to get blowjobs!!! for Godsakes!!!If you are going to consider whether you eat take out food vs. delivery over a students safety...you have a serious problem. Check yourself. You know how shitty it feels that I cant get my girlfriend what I want to get her for X-mas??? It feels pretty f'n shitty, but at least I can look myself in the mirror in the morning and feel good about it. I dont care how much money that N'Synch makes...If I was them, I would still have to wake up and kick my own ass everymorning. I have whored myself out selling technology to fortune 5 banks...I know what its like to sell yourself out and be a douchebag...no thanks...I didnt start jumping to deal with assholes. If you are in it to make money...go find a real job!

I met him in Deland a couple of times...nice guy!

The GK are essentially recruiters...they are PR guys for the Army. I had the opportunity to do a 4-way with them, which was amazing by the way, and they were totally onto me to join the army, blah, blah, blah. I actually considered it for a while. They do have a pretty kick ass life in the army, as far as army guys go, but I didnt feel like enlisting for however many years just for the OPPORTUNITY to become a GK. No Gaurantees with the Army. With my luck I would have been stuck digging latrines on the front lines somewhere.

I like Brian's method, its what I do...for a couple of reasons. Pulling the bridle attatchment down and putting it in the BOC that way makes for an easy pull and it also is good for the mesh because the bridle doesnt rub on it at pulltime. It rubs on the ZP instead. Its just what I prefer.

Thanks for the support and Rick, yep, its me...hope all is well in the frozen tundra that you call New England. Anyways, it absolutely baffles me some of the thinking that goes on in this sport by some people. Even from a business perspective, which I couldnt care less about, its just doesnt make any sense. Oh well, the battle continues!!! Happy Holidays everyone!!!

I think that there are a few slots left for the Search, so if anyone is interested give them a call and see if you can still get in.

As a relatively new AFF instructor (400 AFF jumps) I have seen some disturbing mindsets with more "experienced" instructors (I use that term loosely). I would like to attribute this crappy way of thinking to burnout and not to a warped sense of self or what made them get into skydiving in the first place. First of let me say that these statements are not directed at one person or DZ in particular. These people seem to be found on DZs around the country. Let me also say that I have worked with some exceptional instructors...some truely amazing skydivers and more importantly, amazing individuals. It seems as though there are people in this sport that have a warped sense of values when it comes to teaching their students. When I coach/instruct my priorities are as follows (in order) 1) to my student, including safety, quality of service, learning & fun, etc. 2)My employers-professional image, working efficiently & safely, punctuality, etc. 3) Myself... I see quite a few people that reverse the order. They are more concerned about making money (which I find funny, because there really isnt much money to make in this sport for the most part) for themselves or their business than providing exceptional service to their customers. This type of thinking is so narrow minded. If you are thinking in the short term on how to pack as many students on the plane as possible rather than giving them the experience that they are putting their hard earned money down to get...your long term return isnt going to be very good, nevermind producing a student that may not be up to par with skills or safety. I feel for the student that is about to make an AFF/Tandem jump that has been rushed through the process. I would like to urge instructors to take a bit of extra time and give their students proper attention. I didnt get into skydiving for the money, if I start looking at my students as dollar signs...somebody please shoot me. Its time for me to go, maybe step back and re-evaluate what I am doing here. Next time it rains...grab some students AFF or Tandem and show them somethings...how does the gear work, go over exits, body position, packing, anything!!! Make them feel as though they are learning something even though it is pissing down rain. They could be spending their weekend somewhere else, but they are at the DZ just waiting to learn something. It feels pretty damn good to give back to something that has given me so much!!! It also feels good to know that you have turned out some safe & talented skydivers. Just some thoughts...sorry for the rant!!! We have the best jobs in the world...quit your bitching!!! Skydiving is fun, remember???

I had a PC in tow once and I put my hands on both handles and then started beating the hell out of my container with my elbows. It worked and I could also keep stable, keep a visual reference on my altitude, and avoid the bridle wrapping around my arm by attempting to grab it & pull it out. If that method didnt work, I would have chopped and gone for the reserve. Anyways, its important to realize not to mess with this one too long...you are at terminal for the whole time! This mal will wake you up really quick on the first load on a sunday morning!!!

Deland doesnt use the proficiency cards. They still give the A license exam.

I have taught a few wind tunnel AFF students and they are typically problem students for some reason, although not always. The tunnel can do some funny things for people. If you have never made a skydive and you have some natural talent and not too many mental hangups...the tunnel can get you graduated off AFF very easily and quickly. There are typically two types of troubled students. The ones that have a physical issue (asymetry in the legs, causing an uncontrolled spin) can be fairly easily fixed in the tunnel. The student doesnt freak out and the instructor doesnt have to go into emergency "save-life" mode because they are not in the sky. This problem can be easily seen and sorted out with SDUs muscle memory techniques to get it right. However, there are some students that have mental blocks...the anxiety of jumping out of a plane cannot be recreated in the tunnel. That is a much bigger issue to tackle. Although, SDUs mental excercises can be extremely beneficial in solving this issue. The level 1 SDU AFF jump is a 2 JM release dive...basically a level 4 or Cat D dive...which can be a lot for a student to get through on their first one. In a troubled student scenario, the Level 1 is usually the hardest. So that one may be repeated. Overall success is good. If you have your whits about you...you will blow right through it and be done, if you have a physical issue (i.e. legs are offset a bit, which is not uncommon due to one leg being a bit more dominant over the other) than that can be fixed easily, if its all in your head than the patience of the SDU guys/girls will be helpful as well. The price is $1595, which if pretty good for a FJC, you get the ground school, 20 minutes of tunnel time, 4 AFF jumps, one solo jump, and 3 SDU coaching jumps. Up north it is about the same price, but you dont get the 20 minutes of tunnel time!!! I hope that helps...

Yep, I am about 5'4" and I have been using 18" risers as well from the time I was jumping a Sabre 150 till now (Velocity 84). I have never had any problems finishing a flare. Joey Jones from Deland Majik uses 18" inch risers and is one of the sickest swoopers around. Personally, I dont think that it makes a difference at all. I think that its pretty important to stow your slider easily...rather than f'ing with it when you may have some potential traffic issues. Plus if the risers are too long and you start to jump smaller, more high performance canopies...shifting your weight in the harness to try to grab a slider is going to give you a serious turn under canopy.

from what the germans said it was going to be between the price of a Z1 which is around $250 and a Oxygn which is around $320.

Yeah, that stuff didnt mean much to me either. Thought somebody may be interested though.

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It has internal audible pockets, which is nice! I dont know about the cost of another lens.

I saw this helmet while I was in Deland, it was really nice!!! I gues that it is made by a company that makes motorcycle helmets. The inside was really comfortable and had the cool-max lining. The air vents on the front circulated through the actual helmet and vented out the back. The outer shell was made of kevlar. The lens was solid, pretty much bulletproof from what they told me. They offered me to through it on the ground and kick it, which I politely declined. It had 2 snaps to keep the lens down, kinda like the Z1. It was really easy to replace a lens...just pop off the side covers and put on a new one...no tools required. It was really light but looked a bit big, but not much bigger than an Oxygn. They said that the price would be somewhere between a Z1 and an Oxygn. I guess Paratec is going to debut this thing at the PIA symposium in January. Does anyone speak German that can translate this page??? http://www.paratec.de/Seiten/News3.html Anyways, its a sweet helmet...I am definately going to get one of these as long as the price isnt ridiculous.

I use a cypress because I have heard stories from the "best" RW skydivers in the world that have been knocked unconcious in freefall...and these are world champions. I also am an AFF instructor. When I jump with students...I jump with a full face helmet and an AAD. I have seen too many scary AFF jumps to do otherwise. Its not that I question my abilities to use my emergency handles...I have seen the "best" in the world whistle in because of circumstances that were out of their control. It doesnt make a difference how good you are or how many jumps you have...it can happen to anyone at anytime for reasons that you couldnt even imagine. Thats why I jump with a cypress.