Zennie

This is exactly the reason why 460 favors velcro over pin rigs on towers. Velcro will give you some audible feedback if you hit a snag. That said, I've never had problems with my Warlock and I've squeezed through some fairly tight spaces. But my main matches my container so the pins are always secure. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

The "halfway-point" method is in DBS document in CR's library. I might have to dig around a bit but I thought I saw something similar in a thread on Blinc. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

You see lots of discuission about configuring DBS... the one that seems to be the most common being the halfway point between stall and shallow. The problem is, proper DBS thus depends on a correct shallow setting, and I haven't seen much discussion of that. What's the standard for setting a shallow brake setting? - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Regarding BASE gear being visible in a vehicle, again it depends on the situation. Yes, having BASE gear visible while pulling into Yosemete National Park would be sheer stupidity. However, given the site we frequent, 460 & I are convinced that having BASE gear in plain view... heck even telling anybody we encounter there what we are going to do... is the preferable route. Our sites are large television towers. The owners of these towers are INCREDIBLY paranoid of terrorism/vandalism post-911. When folks find out that we're "only" BASE jumpers they tend to be relieved. I know this from personal experience on two occasions. One worker was amused by the idea and let us jump. The other just gave me the "bad BASE jumper" lecture and that was the end of it. I'm not advocating being up front like this on every occasion. Just pointing out that in some circumstaces, just fessing up is probably the smarter way to go. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Everything you've said I agree with but this line... ...kind of throws me. I don't wear 100% camo but I do like my camo pants.

Not knowing the personalities involved, it's sort of hard to say whether the direct approach vs/ the indirect approach was better. In any event, your concerns about site preservation and attitude are valid. Take only pictures, leave only footprints... and try not to leave footprints if you can help it. Anyone who's been to our site knows that it's huge, remote & has an elevator. I've been there on a couple of occasions where there were two groups and upwards of 10 people. 75% jumpers at least. We joke about putting speakers & a lazy-boy in the elevator and having a nice open-pit BBQ and keg at the bottom. But it's just that, a joke. Everybody (so far) takes care to make sure that the site is cleaned up & closed up properly. The closest thing we have to a "boogie" atmosphere is when I bring my tarp out for doing multiple jumps in an evening. But again, this site is incredibly remote, so hanging out packing at the base of the tower is no big deal. I probably wouldn't try it anywhere else around here. We know what we have and we all have a vested interest in preserving it. In your case I think you can be straight without being confrontational. Just express your concern about preserving the site and ask folks to be better about cleaning up & not making noise. If they don't listen, you can find good goose down pillows at Ikea... - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Hardest opening I've ever had, bar-none, was a brutal slammer under an FX-109. I literally saw stars. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Oh and the other thing y'all don't see is about 5 seconds after Hookitt gets under his reserve, Ramon comes swooping in and grabs the freebag with his feet. It was a beautiful save. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Really good job editing guys! You should have included some of the clips of Hookitt trying to fish his canopy out of that tree. LOL - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

This sounds so familiar it's scary. Congrats on your fist jump Leroy! - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

OK this just sounds really, really bad. Just so there are no misunderstandings, he's talking about the elevator folks. Thanks hookitt & bps for the kind words. We honestly do enjoy trying to be good hosts & show folks around & it was great seeing both of you. Next time in town we may have a few other goodies in store for ya. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Doesn't seem like the most objective of sites. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Actually, it does. A true Atheist has faith that there is no deity (or deities). Which is why I'm Agnostic. I can neither rule it in nor out because I have proof of neither. It makes me wonder how many people who call themselves Atheists are in actuality Agnostic. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Howdy all, thanks for the input thus far. The last thing I want is to be, or be seen as being, some sort of elitist snob... because anyone that knows me knows that I'm not. I'm a relatively new jumper and these are new issues that I'm grappling with. I'm just trying to be as frank as I can, without saying too much that might embarass people. I've taken what a lot of you have said to heart and I think being direct with them, voicing my concerns, may be the best approach. Then take them out and as they gain my trust I can show them more. As with most things, the carrot-and-stick approach is generally more effective and civilized than shunning or criticizing. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

If I came across as sounding like I think the object belongs to me, that is most definitely not my feeling on the subject. This site (yes greeny, it is the one you're thinking of) belongs to everyone. If it gets burned, everyone loses. And there is some history and specifics that I'm leaving out, but this is a very real concern of mine. I also hope I'm not coming across as elitist or cliquish (a common complaint levelled at us) because I am very open and giving. There are two issues I'm trying to resolve here. 1. How to deal with people who for a variety of reasons I do not trust to be good stewards of the site. 2. How to manage the growing number of jumpers in our community so that our objects don't become circuses and get burned. Maybe I'm over-concerned and being slightly arrogant in my lack of confidence that the site will still be properly cared for as more people start jumping it, but it is a concern. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Yo Nick!

Hence my concern. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

True, and I do educate those that want to be educated (with what little knowledge I have). The problem is that there are some who don't seem to feel any need to be educated. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Today is Zennie question day. First of all, bad Zennie for letting his rig get in this state, but my rig, especially the lines, is beginning to smell musty. I believe that the lines have some mildew from getting wet all the time and me then leaving it my stash bag. What sort of recommendations do people have for cleaning a musty rig? - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I'd like to hear people's thoughts on an issue I see growing in my area... one that I'm sure is not uncommon to other locales as well. The problem, in a nutshell, is how are other BASE communities managing the size of their numbers and protecting their sites from being burned? A couple months ago, you could count the number of active BASE jumpers in my area on one hand. We have one site in particular that is especially precious to us (one that I love to take out of town visitors to). In the past couple of months I have a couple of personal friends who are also learning. No problem there. And another who is wanting to learn. Don't have a problem with this girl either because she dates and out-of-town BASE buddy. The problem that I'm seeing is a disturbing number of skydivers who are going out, buying equipment, getting only minimal instruction (if any) and then deciding that they know enough to huck themselves off any object. So they then start trying to go along on BASE expeditions with the regulars to learn where the objects are, and then decide to start jumping it themselves. We have a couple of jumpers who seem to be displaying this sort of behavior. Unfortunately, they know where this prized site is (because another crew took them out there), and are now wanting to come along on excusions with me and my friends. I'm very concerned that the Houston BASE community will soon lose this site because: a. I don't trust their judgment; b. They don't seem to be concerned with learning anything more about the sport other than how to get onto these objects; and c. They don't seem to care much about BASE as a sport, it's community or traditions. If I help them, I'm afraid they'll go off half-cocked on their own and screw up their site. If I don't help them, I'm afraid they'll go off half-cocked on their own and screw up the site. Beyond this specific problem, how do people deal with a sudden explosion of knowledgable, competent, BASE jumpers in a small area? Not a pleasant subject, but it's become a very real concern of mine and I'd like to hear other's thoughts on how they would or do handle this sortof thing. Thanks! - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Yeah Berkana is great. Another helpful tool is the area sectional and terminal air charts. I still don't trust them completely so I take a laser rangefinder with me to every noew object I scout out. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Congrats! - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

If my numbers from last year are any indication, I average about 1-2 per week. As crummy as the weather has been lately I made maybe 2 last month. Made up for it last week with 3. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Johnny showed me this techniquein Moab last year and I still use it. I had trouble from day 1 with the folds so I modified the technique to do what you described in steps 1 & 2. I then lay the ripstop on the ground and dress the mesh to get the same result as Johnny's. I do like your suggestion to pull out on the ripstop to extend the centerline. I'll play around with that tonight. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Dude sorry to hear about your losses in the fire. I'm sure that when it does finally come out it will first rate and well worth the (unintended) wait. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon