DSE

It does not have to be updated every 6 months. More like every year. Unless you use an Apple system, then it's every 2 weeks. I think the "found this on Youtube" stuff is great training material if there is context. For example, the kid that borrowed a helmet with a GoPro on it when he had 40 jumps, lost alti awareness from his first heli jump and his new rig, you can hear the audible beeping on the GoPro recording...as he deploys so low he can't make it back to a massive landing area... A newbie watching it might think "WOW! That was COOL!". An experienced skydiver thinks "what an idiot." But it is a great training tool. I regularly use YouTube to collect videos to share with students but without a voice to direct the context of information, it's somewhat useless and potentially dangerous. Look at all the dumbasses out there now not pulling reserve handles "because I knew the Skyhook would beat me" or "That's what the RSL is for." Compounding that are the dumbasses that film themselves being dumbasses. However, newer jumpers don't comprehend what they're seeing without that contextual voice.

Just triple checked what I thought was right; Stall is just below beltline now with the shortened steering. Flare starts at shoulder height, finishes nicely at bellybutton height. And yeah...I got hairy knuckles. Wanna make something of it?

The thread in Photography was locked because you'd already posted here. Cross-posting is not permitted. Since this was the original discussion, it can remain here. You'll get more eyeballs here too.

Y'know...I HATE spam as much as the next guy. But for the once-every-two-year election...I'll put up with spammed mail from anyone that is election-related. It tells me who to fight for and who to oppose. I'll gladly take your spam, Jan. Seriously...a YouTube video, a Facebook page, a website telling me who you are, what you believe is right and what you believe is wrong with USPA would go a LONG way to helping the USPA community understand more about who they're voting for. These bozos that don't use the internet...the same ones that want to build a new destination site when there is already a good one in place, or the ones that still think the internet is a "passing fad" need to go. It's a brave new world folks (actually quite old). To the BOD member that PM'd me earlier today about how online video doesn't make a difference... Tell that to the PIA people that have enjoyed over 500,000 (yes, a half million collective) views of the PIA convention in Reno in 07 and 09. Y'think anyone sold or better understood products out of those streams? Of course they did. You are one of the ones that needs to be booted (the current BOD member, not Jan).

FWIW, I've jumped a few times at SkyKnights and haven't yet experienced the "Go" idiots. Overall a very nice DZ, one that is well worth the travel to get to. Congrats to the OP for a successful emergency procedure. My first cutaway inspired a novel too.

I didn't realize this is a cross-post. Please keep the discussion going where it originated. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3984571#3984571

I see you edited your post. To clarify, I'm saying the same thing Dave is (Dave used to host the largest repository of skydiving videos in the world, so he kinda knows his stuff), getting qualified instruction should come from qualified people. You say you'll "peer review." Whose peers? Are you ready to take on the legal responsibility if someone watches a video you've peer reviewed and you get sued for bad information?Or, who determines the context of the information given, since you're looking for unedited, unprocessed footage? Good luck with it, I'm happy to let you link to the 50 or so videos we've put up for free training.

You don't?

Some of it is. On both of my Storm canopies, I found that the steering line length that PD recommends is too conservative, so I shortened them by 2" and found it just right. There is too much slack in the factory length. At two inches shorter, I have to put the toggles to mid-thigh before it stalls out.

So....those of us that have invested 8-10K in building training media are being asked to donate our work (income and experience) for free? Who pays for the editing, jumps, camera work, knowledge, talent? How do we recover our investment? It's a great idea to put together a library, but if you can't provide a means of recouping investments while you build a gateway and content site on our efforts...I'm not clear on "where's the beef?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUJEFEPSLxA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FoC2Dw3o_M&feature=channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73KeMIQYRDs&feature=channel are all free resources that point to purchased content. These are expensive to produce.

Craig, you're not in my region, but I'm happy to help out. I've sent you a PM. If an RD or national candidate wants to sit down in front of a card-based camera and shoot an introduction, platform, statement of plan/direction...I'll edit and host it online for no cost unless it's an epic blag of long-worded spew. 5 mins or less is ideal. "I'm Craig, and I'm running for ________. I believe in Mickey Mouse and am tired of Jerry Springer. If I'm elected I'll do my best to remove cornwarts from the fingers of greedy squatmongers in the USPA, etc. Thank you for your consideration" (fade to cue and black)

I would submit the candidates could do a better job letting us know who they are. There were a few candidates given the opportunity to shoot and deliver on-line media to help promote their platform, and while every one of them said "great, I'm all over that" not one of them did it. A couple did Facebook pages and nothing more. IMO, if you want people to vote for you, it's YOUR responsiblity to get out and stump. USPA provides links to a bio and statement, that's enough. As voters, it's our responsibility to find out who is running in our area and learn more about whether they'd represent our best interests. I feel *most* of the BOD has what (they believe) is best for the skydiving community at heart. A couple of them are their to protect their best interests. As a volunteer slot with minimal travel expenses paid...many of them go in the financial hole due to the time invested in constituent issues, signing off awards, etc. Most of em' deserve a hearty "thank you" and a beer from the skydiving world. A couple deserve a boot in the ass.

VASST offers training DVDs for canopy control. Available from any skydiving supplier such as ChutingStar, ParaGear, Square One, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FoC2Dw3o_M&feature=player_embedded

Sweet to see you having fun, Dale!! Sorry I missed you in Oz this year.

Strangely enough...most of the tricks I've learned, I've learned while teaching. Students do the darndest things, which is why FFC's are easily my favorite thing to do. So, put on that out-dated, out-of-business, lame-o Birdman suit and come learn me a thing or two.

I can understand wanting to focus on some specific training task, but this is hardly an example of humility. What's the problem with that? On several occasions I've purchased the entire load, or half the load, for multiple reasons. The greatest reason was that I wanted the air free of canopies during a shot I'd wanted to get. I'm sure there are other reasons. A reasonably well-known jumper came to get wingsuit training from me, but insisted it be on a Mon-Thurs. He didn't want the attention (and distraction) that a weekend might bring. There could be other reasons to be insulated. How do any of the above translate to "lacking humility?" Humility -noun 'the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's importance, rank, etc.' You can re-read my post if you didn't understand. You're right, I fail to understand your point. The intimation is that the guy should be humble and not have the experience he's paying to have, for whatever reason. If you feel it is an example of pride, perhaps you can explain exactly how so. It may be an example of practicality.

I can understand wanting to focus on some specific training task, but this is hardly an example of humility. What's the problem with that? On several occasions I've purchased the entire load, or half the load, for multiple reasons. The greatest reason was that I wanted the air free of canopies during a shot I'd wanted to get. I'm sure there are other reasons. A reasonably well-known jumper came to get wingsuit training from me, but insisted it be on a Mon-Thurs. He didn't want the attention (and distraction) that a weekend might bring. There could be other reasons to be insulated. How do any of the above translate to "lacking humility?"

http://www.comedycentral.com/dcrallylive/ uncensored.

http://www.phoenix-fly.com/products/wingsuits/phoenix-fly_tracking_suit should answer your last question. Tracking suits *can* aid in wingsuit-prep, but you'll be best off for now with jumping RW as much as you can. Learn to track when leaving the group. This will aid in wingsuit prep. Tracking suits are good for those that want to track a lot and get distance without the hassles of a wingsuit. They're great for training for BASE, they're just a lot of fun overall.

if you're in the USA, you might consider having Parachutist/Chris build you a tricked out set of machines with Vegas and PA pre-installed. He has done those for several DZ's out there.

I use DVD Architect and Encore (depends on which machine I"m working. I don't know TMPGenc anymore. been years. The format you're using should work properly. It will in Architect, but you can also use the Blu-ray templates to assure compatibility.

There are a few people approaching the 4 min mark with a regular altitude jump in a wingsuit, too. 4 mins from 18K isn't a big deal anymore.

it's a safety notice :) and a fairly useless one. Anyone who has a rigging ticket or just a tiny bit of common sense should not need it. but no, I don't dislike it, I just find it redundant - those who don't pay attention to detail - will not pay attention to the notice. And those who will read it are not the intended target audience. Plus when closing a container I find it hard to miss a cutter staring at you with that open hole :) please tie your shoes, or you risk tripping over them. While I see and somewhat agree with your point; reminders don't hurt anyone and maybe will spark a thought. Before an "instructor" failed to give his student the standard 3 safety checks, no one ever worried about wingsuits and legstraps, either. Now...people joke at least once a week "got your legstraps on" when they see me or a student in a WX. It used to annoy me. Now I appreciate it because it tells me people are thinking and even if it takes macabre humor to prevent another fatality; so be it. True, a lot of skydivers don't know (and don't care about) the art and mechanics of rigging, but this notice might inspire someone to ask a question.

some food for thought... The big DZ likely already has staff, and for many DZ's the December month is a lean month anyway. In other words the staff is going to want to work as much as they can. I don't know about Europe, but fun jumpers are a pretty cheap crowd here in the US. They'll occasionally buy stills, but I'd say it's optimistic to expect enough income to live on (maybe your living costs are low enuff that it is). Having a printer accessible is a good idea, no doubt. There is one operation that merely photographs landings, he prints the photos out and lets the customer see them before trying to sell them. I'd wager he wastes 4 in 10 prints but they do sell.

Misha shot the record jump, I had the wingsuit skills camp crew to take care of on Saturday. He's sending a copy to Parachutist, so I don't know it'll get published online til after that. I did post several shots of the jumps from Friday on my FB page