ROK

The DZ/LZ is at the far end of the runway, but it's always been my understanding that you can land anywhere you like, at any drop zone....ONCE

Here's a few pics for ya...

Wedding Crashers is one of my all time favorites. I also like the black and white video "reefer madness" that was created to show the woes of pot smoking.

The 45 degree rule is a good example. The first time I heard it I looked out the door and decided that it really didn't make good sense. Instructors should always be the conduit you filter what you "think" through before actually acting when you're a student, but to close one self off to the ideas of thousands would be pretty limiting. It comes down to each of us individually and our ability to take others ideas and break them down into useful information. Bad ideas, as well as good are a important learning tool. Besides...there are so many advice police on here that one doesn't have to wait long to be told just how far one's head is up one's own ass. I have learned a lot from postings on this forum. From the most idiotic, to the most intelligent.

I agree. I hooked my foot coming out the door and went into a serious spin. Ryan was watching and said that he got the hell away from me because he didn't know if I was going to deploy. It seemed that everything I did made me spin faster. Collapsing my wings, balling up, etc. I was belly to sky and went into as big an arch as I could with my legs together. I flipped over and stopped spinning. Looked at my altimeter and saw that I had eaten up right at 7000' in that spin...

That's great! I did my first jumps with Scott Burns at Summerfest and look forward to chasing another flock. Glad to hear I won't be alone. 34. James Lovaas That is awesome! We can chase the flock together Make that three of us. Hey, if we get more low experienced people, we'll have our own flock in the rear! Uh...you know what I mean

Just do it. Sit back and breath on the way up, exit with your chest to the relative wind, keep your eyes on the prop and wing, wave off and deploy. Quit thinking about it. Have faith in yourself and your equipment. Your canopy will pop open and you'll get a big smile on your face. Look down and the world will be at your feet.

As Slotperfect said...get some video of your landings. It helped me tremendously to recognize the errors in my technigue. I've paid close attention to what is published and what is shared with regard to flaring and landing properly. I've taken a canopy course with Brian and it was suprising to find that there are people with several hundred jumps that still have a difficult time with landing. You definitely are not alone. I believe that teaching a person to flare at the right moment is akin to telling someone how to apply the brakes properly while driving a car for the first time. You have to feel for it. Different cars have different pressure applications for different situations. You can probably jump in any vehicle now and don't have any problem at all. Why? You've probably heard the following several times from instructors. It worked well for me. After you open go through your usual air-space and canopy check. While you're above decision altitude, turn into the wind, close your eyes and flare. Feel the spot that you start to swing forward and finish your flare. Depending on your canopy, it may start to stall at the bottom, so be prepared. Do this with your eyes open and closed. Your mind and body should remember the transition point. It will change depending on various factors, but it will also help you to become more in tune with your canopy. The problem with thinking your way through every landing without feeling it too is that you can't always think fast enough. By the time your brain tells you to do something, it's time to do something different.

I went to the PX to pick up a few items and my girlfriend asked me to grab her a box of tampons. No problem, I'm secure in my "manliness". Went up to the counter and plopped down the tampons and a jar of vaseline that I bought for my new tattoo... This girl from Laos looked at me and broke out laughing. It took me a few seconds to realize what a dumb ass I was, and a few days to get over it!

You have to have balance in a relationship... My wife has no desire to skydive. She comes from a very traditional family and loves to cook and garden. She likes to shop, and beautify the home. She's also in to golf, travel, and the beach. I ride a Harley and skydive. She knows I love skydiving and she supports me, even though she hates it. I would rather sit at home and drive nails through my toes than "lay out" at the beach, but I do it. Skydiving has actually helped my marriage. I now take the time to show an interest in the things she does, and she reciprocates. Every few weeks she shows up at the DZ and hangs for a while, even though our sport is very specialized and we speak a language most grounders don't understand. When we go on vacation, I take my gear and we spend a day at the closest DZ, and then we do the things she likes to do. I get her rides in jump planes whenever it's permitted too. If someone ever makes you pick between them, or what you love, then it's time to move on. Love is about wanting to see your partner enjoy life and be happy, but it needs to be balanced both directions.

Actually, to me the ground portion of wingsuit instruction alone can provide many benefits. Here's an opinion from someone who just started jumping wingsuits: The first jump course is extremely important. I was really surprised at the structure and depth of what was taught. It wasn't two "good ole boys" who got together and shared some basic knowledge. It reminded me very much of my first AFF jump training. I've actually stood in the back ground and watched the instruction two more times after. What I learned was what to do to be safe, how to deploy properly, how to exit without becoming a bug on the tail wing, different positions to place my body in to counteract being unstable, how to stop a flat spin, how to flip back over if I end up on my back (which happens if you leave a half second late and Ryan Scarlett is following you out the door), and a host of other information. Chuck flew upside down and took video of my flight and debriefed me after. The problem with not having a standard instruction course is that people teach people different ways according to their own abilities. Bad habits are taught over and over again, as well as the good ones. Courses should be standardized, and courses need instructors who can teach the basics according to those standards. When someone is teaching me how to survive, it's nice to know they know what the fck they're talking about. An instructor rating should mean just that.

I also had a Tri 190 in a J3. As stated above, it was a carnival ride when packing, but it looked fine and I put about 150 jumps on it with no issues at all. Good canopy too...

1. Scott B. (Notsane) 2. Mike M. (Gray Mike) C. Sean H. (Monkycndo) 4. Scott Gray (The Brothers Gray) 5. Chris Gray (The Brothers Gray) 6. Justin Shorb (Flock U) 7. Ryan Desjardins (Soon to bee Canadian Flocker) 8. Bob Futrell (FlyinBob) 9. Mark M 10. Phil Peggs 11. Matt Hoover 12. Mike Rinehart (Missingparts) 13. Frank Boluk 14. Scotty Burns (scottygofast) 15. Robert Kelley (ROK)

The Sunshine Factory is at my home DZ. I've bought/sold canopies and all of my gear through Dave and have always received oustanding professional service.

At least 10 times. My Father and Uncle talked me in to planting five acres of Tifton #9. It's drought resistant, freeze resistant, bug resistant, and the roots grow 8' deep. I could easily mow twice a week. They sit back and laugh at me when I complain about spending four hours a week mowing....bastards

Safe sex??? Now that's f'ing funny

I go through the flaring process right after I open on each jump. I'll check my airspace, turn in to the wind for a few seconds, close my eyes, and flare. My body feels the point where it starts to swing forward from under the canopy. Doing this helps my timing when landing. The best advice that helped me was to fly my canopy all the way to the end. When I first started I watched people landing, read books, asked questions, and evaluated my landings on every jump. Nothing was as valuable as videos of my landings though. I would start through my flare and put my legs down for jarring impacts instead of finishing my flares properly.

I pray for safe flight, good openings, and soft landings...yes, I have a faith

"Bunch a slack-jawed faggots...this stuff will make ya a sexual tyranasaur..." "Captain, Captain, what do we do now"? ZZZZZT...."We Die"

I appreciate the responses. I believe that I have it dialed in, but I also like to hear from those with more experience. I learn a lot from what others do. Now hopefully I can change my Indian name from "falls like brick", to "Soars like hawk"!

Simple question... When threading the suit on to the rig, the manufacturer states to miss the third tab down on the body side, front and back. (it does give allowances for different fits too). Is the very small tab counted as #1 when counting down? Also, the way I was shown was to miss number three in the front, and number four in the back. I have a J3 container... How do those of you with Javelins thread yours? Thanks for the help!

Canopy flight is just as addictive as freefall for me. When I stopped being a passenger, and started being a pilot, an entire new world opened it's gates. When I punch into the beginning of my flare just above the ground and glide inches above wringing out every ounce of energy the fabric has left, I feel what the canopy is doing in my forearms. It's like my canopy becomes an extension of my body and not a separate entity... I just started on my wingsuit journey, so now I get to fly twice on the same jump!

I agree, and disagree... Unless the landing areas are WIDELY separated, there will continue to be a chance of collision. This answer will work if it's logistically and economically possible to have two well separated LZ's, but keep in mind that we all fly back in the same general cone if we spot ourselves correctly. Most of us enter the LZ from the same general direction, share the same airspace, and concentrate on our set-ups and landings. I watch for other canopies like a hawk, but I can't tell you how many times I've glanced away and looked back and lost that brightly colored other canopy in the sky. If you want to make it truly safe, use timing. Let those that want to perform high speed turns and landings with highly loaded canopies exit first. Just like we do on many night jumps. If you're flying back to back loads, put the highly loaded canopies in with every other load so we don't jump on top of each other. Communication was mentioned above. How many of these problems would go away if the BSR didn't call for separate landing areas, but instead called for an experienced canopy pilot to organize each load on the ground before stepping on the plane? Communication and timing are beautiful things. Saturday an instructor was doing a coach jump exiting after me. The instructor said, Robert do you mind if I swoop. I said no problem and flew in brakes until I saw him, and then followed him in at a good distance. Communication... When you come across those that insist on doing everthing their way without regard for others, remove them from the mix.

We often see what we look for. If I want, I can see old farts complaining of how it use to be, and kids ruining skydiving with their "entitlemnet" attitude. Is that all there is? Not unless that is all you want to see. You hit it right on the head. There will always be those who stand out and have the ability to get under your skin. What's interesting is that the older people get, the more they seem to notice everyting that is wrong with the world. Negativity becomes a mantra. I'm 44. I'm at the stage where I believe I can do everything just as good or better than the younger ones. (it can be painful too)

The attitude is prevalent in all areas, not just skydiving. Interestingly enough, I see it less at the DZ than I do most other places. Maybe I've just been fortunate enough to be at a really well ran DZ with some of the best people I have ever met. I've been to several others, but only one day at a time, so I can't give you an experienced opinion on others.