DSE

Base flyers tend to fly slower so that everyone can get there. It takes effort and skill to gradually build the speed, and if the goal is for everyone to "get there" then it takes some strategy in laying out the flock. If the base starts at near full speed, it's difficult for the rest of the load to get there, so it has to start slower and then build. The tendency to put large guys in large suits isn't always a good choice, even tho it's easy because you know they'll "stay down." Get a base like Dave Patterson who understands how to start slow and gradually build it to almost full speed. This is where some guys get the feeling of "rocking it out and speeding like mad" on breakoff, because they're only flying 20% of wha they can actually do. Try flying a flock at 75%, and you won't see the "mad performance" at breakoff. Some of it is that the really fat guys are put in as base, and theycan't sustain altitude without more speed. Build flocks to build skill vs making them slow/easy, you'll see faster flocks and better wingsuiters. Or...because others in the formation wear weights? Cuz the organizers can't spot? Come west, you'll see we tend to fly a little faster and less steep.

More blah blah blah non-answers from you. I do think you've lost it.[/crazy] If you can't backfly, don't know how to climb up, have to wear weights to fly with a group....maybe you never had it to begin with? Tyranny of the glib sure works for ya tho!

Re-read this when you're sober and you'll maybe understand how truly silly it is. I'm saving our FB chat for the future, just like you did with Sangi. I'm glad you saved yourself n' all, and I hope I never have to post the conversation we had this evening. You've hit that 200-300 jump Skygod status that a lot of us (including me) went through at some point. I hope you survive it. Congrats on saving yourself, congrats on finding the main/freebag/keeping handles. Always nice when the training kicks in and you do what needs to be done!

Elsinore, of course Or on UStream if you can't get that orange bike down here.

November 4-6 is the US Performance Cup wingsuit competition in Speed/Distance. We're expecting at least two of our competitors to break the 300kph barrier at this event. Those that can't attend can watch the event live on UStream You'll want to "Join the Crowd" to be notified when the event goes live. Competitors from Japan, Russia, Israel, Brazil, Holland, Croatia, Venezuela, Canada, and of course all across the US have registered for this first wingsuit event in the USA.

Sometimes the scars kinda act as a reminder tho, right?

I covered my webbing, not because I needed to but didn't want it flaking. Sandy Reid at RI indicated that it's a good idea to hit the container; I didn't think to ask about webbing. Metal, it just flakes right off. All 75+ of my wingsuits get scotch-guarded after washing. RI will scotchguard it if you pay em' to do it, I think. It's worthwhile, IMO, and makes it easier for a rigger to clean/wash the rig later on. Check with your manufacturer as I did.

It's unfortunate that it's amusing vs productive. Could have been a useful thread, talking about flight techniques instead of brandwars, ducks, dicks, Birds, physics, ponies....

If you have not registered, I highly recommend you do so. Not only do you save 10.00, but it assures you'll get a Tshirt and other good stuff. Call the Manifest ladies @ Skydive Elsinore, (951) 245 9939 and get registered. Several registered so far, Tshirt order goes in Monday Morning.

They give you the bigger image so it captures more of the centered action, plus it matches the aspect of the imager, so it's a cleaner image (no transsizing) In post, you have to crop or scale, and motion track if you're doing wide delivery. In Vegas, I have a preset that applies to all of thesekinds of clips

If this is your criteria for assuming how much one knows about wingsuiting...I've coached several people with major awards, world and national championships, blahblahblah. Several of them absolutely sucked in a wingsuit. Some of them gave up after a bit because it's so alien to them. The question of "how many wingsuit jumps does Jerry Bird have?" is a very relevant one. That aside, I found a CPR instruction sheet in my teamroom. It was behind the couch. John, the ridiculousness you've brought to this thread is so far past absurd, I have to wonder if you've lost it. A simple question, a specific question, to which you answer "follow Jerry Bird's advice." Insipid, childish, useless, condescending response, even from you. You swear you've never been low, but it's kinda funny you have to wear weights to get down to a formation. Come fly with me. I'll bet money you go low.

For those that aren't attending, we've just tested the live stream for this event. Working great! It will be hosted at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/9616555 or http://ustre.am/ElHJ You'll be able to see folks as they compete, get live score results, and hear Lurch cracking jokes from time to time.

please quit referring to "hugging balls." I realize you're all alone in Iraqistan, but...

The highway at Lodi and the road at Picton are very dissimilar. The vineyards at Lodi are next to the DZ, not farther away like at Nagambie. Lodi is a good dropzone if you're experienced; it's not a place where a newbie will find great experiences without a friend in place, IMO. If you're wanting different DZ's and are going as far as Perris, drive another 10 minutes to Elsinore.

Only because Jarno doesn't repair carburetors. But he does have a license in swimming.

Correct to a degree, though that is a different debate. But the very fact that you are comparing them means you recognize that they are different. As such, you should also recognize that when someone asks you for the best cure (which makes it clear they are in a position where they need it i.e. past the point of prevention), responding with a description of a preventative method is inapplicable, unhelpful, and also quite smug. For a more clear example, if a newbie asks you how to respond to a lineover that won't clear, and you tell him that "better packing prevents malfunctions," you haven't helped him at all. I guess Jerry Bird just doesn't know as much as you about skydiving. I saw another duck. This one was pink instead of yellow.

http://adventures4charity.com/

Meh....I can't count the number of people (myself included) that got into speedy corkscrews or cartwheels and thought they were OMG!! FLATSPINS!! In hundreds of coached jumps, never have seen an unintentional flatspin generated from a belly position. Seen a few when people are starting barrel rolls and backflying.

Right....and the Xbird is appropriate for someone with less than 100 jumps. Not to mention the Sbird that seems to show up on people with 10 jumps. One guy at Couch Freaks had an Sbird with ZERO jumps because he was told "that's the suit for big guys to fly. He wanted an FFC in that suit (because he'd been sold on it and paid for it) You didn't buy the "wrong" suit. You just received it too soon. Get at least a couple coached jumps on the Firebird to get some body position feedback, get it from someone that actually is a coach and not a twink that can merely fly a camera. You *can* grow into the Rbird, but it's gonna take some time, coaching, and experience. Screw the "relax." Just inhale/exhale. Consciously. Exhale creates "relax." focus on keeping your jaw loose. It'll make a big difference, money-back guarantee.

from an earlier post today: " I am boot-FREE now!!!!! Yay!!!! I have to take it easy on my foot still though. Fracture is healing well." It's probably best to hide the injury from the tunnel coaches. If you backslide or spin into a wall and damage the ankle, they won't need to feel guilty for something they didn't know in advance (and probably wouldn't allow) Do you genuinely want to put an instructor into that position again? In some ways, you remind me very much of Sangi a few months ago.

http://www.omniskore.com/comp/2011/usnats/index.asp

Guys, I've received a few PM's here and Facebook about leashing Contour/GoPros to a helmet, and felt it needs to be addressed. Please DON'T! If the camera/helmet become an entanglement point, the last thing you want is something holding the camera to your head/helmet. *Most* of the helmets using these small cameras do not have cutaways, so you want the camera to "cut away" by being broken/torn/sheared off the helmet. If you think you can release a Fastex buckle when it's under pressure, try it sometime. Have a friend pull up your helmet so the Fastex is tight to the throat/chin as though it was hung up on a main. Try to unsnap it. It's not as easy as you'd think. This is a Public Service Announcement.

This too...bears repeating.

I would suggest a couple of things. -you've probably learnt some bad habits that don't translate well to the R-bird. -it ain't the zips..... see above. -even money says it wasn't a flat spin. Corkscrewing, perhaps, flat spin...almost certainly not. Turn with only your head as you become familiar with the suit. keep your 'fuselage' straight (your torso/body) keep the pressure zips undone for a while until you learn to manage the more rigid wing. Be aware of your legs. because of the root, legs have a bigger impact on movement. Work on slightly arched or even flat flying until you can fly the suit with stability. Consider doing more jumps on the Firebird, but learn to fly it smoothly. Practice proximity with someone else so you can get a better idea of how your movements affect your flight (relative to a stable object) The Rbird is a fine suit, but it's not the "go to" suit (IMO) for newbies. This constant BS I hear about "I'm heavy and so&so said I needed a big suit to compensate" is a scary thing. Bigger suit+bigger ass = lazy fliers at best, and faster, more unstable meat-missles at worst.

The number of folks coming in is staggering; That this is the first wingsuit comp in the US is generating more interest than originally anticipated. Flysight is providing their units for each competitor, Paralog for the competition judging, L&B/PF/Skydive Elsinore providing trophies, medals, and prizes. Robi coaching, Jarno coaching, plus multiple aircraft, mountain runs in the sunset....really looking forward to meeting many new faces. At least one (maybe two) new manufacturers have said they'll be there to compete with their new goods, there is rumor that some new PF wings will be there too. If you're on the fence about coming out...ONT, LAX, LBA, PSP, SDA, and SNA are all close airports. The Casino has special rates for the event.