druspork

We're looking forward to it. Someone's got to keep you guys honest Also I'm really looking forward to watching Airkix. And I think "A" is going to be intense. Dru

4 days left. What's everybody been up to? Who are the new teams to watch out for (teams we haven't yet seen at the GPs)? Will the weather hold? Will it be bigger than last year? Will the new A and AA categories work? Will our novice division out point all the others (again)? Can the girls a) win AAA and b) beat their 19? See you all in Hib on Friday. Dru

Seems that the girls are happy to multi task. Keep rocking girls! Might even catch up at Weston. Dru

Nick, you have to update your info. Even a Meeker exit can be amusing in an Islander. With most exits point is out the plane, hand on the engine cowling (yes you have to reach), IC sits like a RAPS exit, OC needs to think distance from the door (anyone who says you cant hit the engine cowling is wrong, but I would never brief OC like that), tail needs to be down and dirty (as usual). Camera depends on the step but not too bad. The key issue is, what are you comparing the Islander with? Not only is an Otter way better for 4w, but so is a Caravan. Or lots of things really. But not every DZ has these choices. In my experience an Islander is a two team plane (you CAN do 8w) it's competitors in the UK are Beaver (door is the wrong side for 4-w) and Porter (wrong side door and probably much more expensive). I regret our DZ sold our Islander. But then it doesnt compete with a Dornier. btw, you want a turbine Islander, the pistons are climb like a smaller Cessna on the climb to height. They work well, but dont expect more than 10,000' or fast turn arounds. Dru

It did get a little funky. I loved French 8w round 1 and was so excited tried to show everyone at work - and it didnt go. Seems OK tonight though, and the 8 lrgged Frogs are HOT. French girls need to be on their toes. Dru

yeah, but if an all woman's team did break 20 it would certainly diffuse a lot of discussions we've had lately Let's not get too carried away. Womens 4-w sure has taken a leap this year. I'm just looking forward to watching. (and our girls are hot!) Dru

Time has come to "run what you brung". French girls have been superb... But go Airkix! Dru

The jump numbers were cumulative between three members and counted from AFTER you achieved FS1 (BPA approval to jump with others tested by a min 4 point 4-w with experienced guys). Jump numbers as a limit dont work for all sorts of reasons, so they were ditched when we shifted to match the ESL (NSL) categories. We still have an obvious misfit, but just realise that this has been earned by the team. In fact by all the UK junior teams. Hey, someone had to shake the system, and way to go 100%, what a way to shake it. Why do something by halves. Dru

Yep There will be some challenges to the UK system now. BUT - your view of what the divisions are for is US-centric. The UK categories possibly need further thought but our background is different. In effect the US "juniors" was A. The UK juniors was Novice, but with 12 randoms only and including all exits. To pull things together, US now does all the exits and we do all the randoms. The difference in attitude is the US novice was "pre-juniors". For us: firstly entry into a division was based solely on jump numbers (Juniors had a max 900 jumps after A license for three slots); Secondly PCs were encouraged in all divisions (hence unlimited jump numbers for one slot). PCs tended not to happen after juniors and anyway a UK PC was not the same as a US PC. We never had the politics on PCs that you did - Pcs were encouraged. Also any decent team in juniors would want to break that 10 point ave barrier before going up to intermediate (halfway between A and AA). Nothing wrong with this. But as we have merged with the NSL system, and we ditched jump numbers (which became irrelevant with local tunnels), and we have teams that are seriously training even in novice class... it's fair to say it's out of step with NSL. Dont blame the team. And no doubt at the season end their will be some consideration of our system. Be patient, we are changing to match you guys, there's a mis-match to be talked through. The team performance was outstanding - way to go guys! Dru

No doubt the category system in the UK is under challenge from these performances. Here's a little explanation though - [now I could have this all wrong, it's from dz/comp scuttlebut and without testing of facts but] 100% are in the first full season together on the back of something like a 5 point average last year. Their performance is solely due to lots of training and commitment. But certainly if there was a random only comp, I would not fancy our chances. Traditionally in UK juniors good teams would want a 10 point ave before going up. Going up was based solely on total jump numbers. Tunnel time sort of changes the rules, and jump numbers have been ditched. The performance of our juniors was just awesome. I'm just going to admire it. For us [Damn Zebra] our choice of category was mainly a matter of available training. We were in UK inters last year - about a midpoint between A and AA. (our new AA blocks are 1; 15; 18; 20; 22) Our choice was based on the jump numbers we expected to have available for training. In the UK we have managed less than 20 training jumps, add a 50 jump camp in Perris. Add the three GP comps so far. It's just not enough to learn the extra blocks AND the engineering in AAA. As it is last weekend round 2 was only the third time we have executed block 20. In terms of experience, at the start of the season we had something like 500; 600; 700; 750. Would that be considered high in the US? As a team though, this is our third season together in this format - I think that helps. Anyway, those junior scores still leave me wincing. Tunnels are sure changing UK FS. Dru

Two tunnels are making a major impact on the UK FS scene. We are seeing UK based AAA teams break the 15 point barrier. AA and A scores are competitive internationally. Bodyflight tunnel teams mopped up every category they entered. But what about our juniors! Pity 100% round 5 isnt working on NSL at the moment. But note that the 24 score by 100% is backed up by 20's from the Frenzy and Phobia. Great comp by Hibaldstow yet again, great pre-run to the nationals. See everyone there in a couple of weeks - and dont forget to put Spa ESL finals in your dairy. Thanks must go to the NSL site and for persevering with the international scene - definitely adds value to the world of FS. Thanks guys. Dru a Damned Zebra

Hey guys - honestly well done. Keep pushing - it is really great to see Europe making a claim in international 4-w. We be watching with fingers crossed. Dru

I value my video guy because he's NEVER that far away. There are 5 guys in a 4-w team (everyone needs to be able accept valid criticism) Our camera doesnt want my slot and I dont want his. Lets hope we both perform in our tasks. Haya are great blokes, it'll be great to see them shake up the international scene. Italy are not the only serious Euro contenders this year. Dru

I could never work out how the three way thing focussed. I guess the "long axis" focuses on the center? Also I was never sure about the APF including piece moves with the 3-w/novice/junior category. It's a fun dive pool all the same. What are you up to this year Chris? We could use an alternate. Dru

And a non-PC response. At 11 ish stone and 70 ish jumps I bought my first rig. The decission was agonising. Ultimately I opted for a 170 and left the 150 behind. It served me well, and did give me the safety margin a newbie craves. But on the next downsize I had a real quandry, at 350 jumps a 150 wasnt really what I was after but the down size to a 135 was a big step. [I did take it with about 25 jumps on borrowed 150s.] In retrospect, I should have started on the 150. Here's the drum though, it's not simply about wing sizing, it's about you. What is you're comfort zone. If you are a yahoo, then be conservative. If you're calm and conservative, you can cope with more. Who knows you and how you fly? What do they think. Be carefull with dodgy advice like mine. Do get yourself a decent canopy though. Something a little slippery, and (more dodgy non-PC advice) with 9 cells. Another suggestion - buy second hand (but quality) it'll make the next canopy that much easier to move into. Dru

Stairstep would work, but I think I recall "side shot monopole" in the Aussie B Rels book (sort of Aussie version of WARP). Dru

Anton is right about donuts and 360's - but you guys seem to want to play, so what the hey. Have fun. It might seem daft but try your 360s in stages. 90 STOP eyeball your clone, give a nod, 180 STOP eyeball your clone, give a nod, 90 to close STOP STOP STOP (I mean it this time), grin like a maniac at your clone, when you have his eyes... pick up grips. Dirt dive it like that too. Then when everyone is starting to be ready to pick up grips at the same time, try to make the turn a bit more fluid. For your donuts, try 180 STOP, eyeball your clone, be confident where you are, do not chase the grip, let the other guy come to you. Fly your own space. If everything still seems chaotic try... forget about the grip you have to take - forget it completely, be concerned about where you will put your knee. Turn 180 STOP, eyeball your clone. Do not take a grip. Feed your knee into the hand that needs it. Grin at your clone when you get your grip in his hand. Then and only then pick up your grip. Whoever is floating - dont despair pretty much everyone is contributing. you are floating, but your clone is dropping, and the other guys are going to him (as they should). Must feel like a loooong way down when you finish your turn. Actually it isnt. But think about a bit of lead. Dru

OK, with it now. Dru

Yay Ron! A calming point. Dru

Nope You'll have to do better. One pair head down and the other looking scared doesnt explain the block. What's going on? Dru

And for the rest of us coming through the ranks... Who does the mirror annoy (always all slots? Mostly the centres, mostly the long axis? The only mirror in our pool is 17, with our engineering 17 seems to mess with everyone. At least it's fast.) And where do you swap - front end? Some other thought? Or spread it around? Not a can of worms Dom, a bit of interest. Dru

Not doing the vert removes the fun in Stardian Stardian! So it'll be faster (at first) doing it 2D but you miss the vert training. I would not call it easy though - just check out new teams attempting Stardian in the tunnel. Guaranteed 4W pancacke on the mesh. If you want to play with Stardian dont take the easy route. But if you want easy blocks try something else. Zig Mar is the world standard everyone's first block (keep this one 2D). I also like sidebody donut - sideflake donut as an early block. And sidebuddies and bipole-bipole. They look so easy untill you try it. Dru

Interestingly, I've gone the other way - used to support 4 classes but now I'm not convinced. I would go with the flow though. Would Helix tackle AA next year? Anyway congrats again Doogie - UK and European A Class Champion. Dru

Some corrections: 1. Dutch won the spirit (refer Nick's post) 2. I dont know exactly when the decission was made to exclude Novice class from the Spirit - may have been before the comp - as such my implication that it was a deliberate ploy is unfair. [Doesnt change the effect but javascript: addTag('crazy') ] Four categories at the BPA? That's not going to be easy. Insufficient teams at the GPs means the DZ owners dont want it. Several Senior/AAA team reps I spoke with dont want it either - they see it watering down the talent from AAA. Last year when AA was muted it needed Optic and SouthParc to work - they went for the greater challenge of AAA. Next year would need this year's top inter teams - chances are (if they keep going) they will also take the bigger challenge. Anyway, great comp, great DZ. I'd love an invite back next year too! Dru

Hey Chris What happened - lots of politics. We [UK - formally dubbed Team GB] were too dominant in rookie and A for many. Complaints that the top two A teams should be in AA [no such class in ESL] or even AAA. Crumbs, can you imagine Damn Zebra doing AAA right now? There was a complaint, and rookie class were removed from the Spirit points count, otherwise, we would have blitzed it. The Spirit went to Belgium, and actually they are a great bunch. It's a good home for the Spirit if the UK is to be denied. We particularly gelled with Tiramassu. Check out Helix score in "A" - hooley dooley what a performance. And Evolution finally clicked into gear - from recollection they were 10 points in front of us after 3 rounds? And our Novices, First and second Escondido, D4, what a bunch of Brit reprobates. Drink as good as they fly. Despite the politics, only 8 non UK jumpers turned up to the ESL feed back session on Sunday. So much for courage of conviction. Rumour has it that France and the Scandinavians join next year. AFAIK we dont yet have Portugal, Spain, Italy. Give it time though. We South park there next year though! Dru Damn Zebra