SkymonkeyONE

Yes, we can talk to each other in close proximity. Also, no, that's either a Crossbow or an S-fly. Either way, it looks like Loic in the picture.

Snowboarding is absolutely NOT hard if you have ever ridden any other type of board in your life. It's VERY similar to wakeboarding in that if you catch a toe or heel edge you will pile in, but it's also very similar to skateboarding and surfing. I do them all and have done so since I was a child, so the transition back and forth from one sport to the next is seamless. So there. If you can ride a slalon ski or a trick ski or a wakeboard, then you will find it easier to ride a snowboard. If you have only ever ridden planks (two water skis), then you will probably want to start on standard skis. As you are just starting out, ask for some of the newer deep-sidecut skis. They make for much more waterski-like carving and much less sliding around. Chuck

I feel your pain. I have not been able to jump a camera on my head in over a decade. Several years of jumping original Sabres and Monarchs did that to me. Thank god that there are now decent opening parachutes. I am 40 now and still have occasional very-hard times with my neck and lower back, but generally I am fine. Take care of neck and back by jumping "smarter", better opening parachutes. chuck

Agreed. Two completely separate animals.

Why would I pay any more for anything? I would think, though, that any sponsored athlete who is getting one would have the symbol on bottom. It draws attention to the parachute, much the way the logo on the bottom of my Sabre2 does. It's all about selling parachutes (which I am very happy to assist with).

I will just concur with everyone else on here who has told you that you have downsized too rapidly and are jumping too much of a parachute for your experience level. But hey, what do I know; I have only been jumping 23 years and swooping since the term was coined. Chuck

You are talking about "00B" Hardhat diving. That, engineer diving, is entirely different than "infiltration" diving. Hardhat divers from both the army and navy go to the same school to learn their trade and wear the same insignia. The infiltration diving community is entirely separate. We are trained in it as an additional skill and awarded an "ASI" after graduation from the courses. All of our Special Forces training is conducted at our facility in Key West, FL. We run three courses there: the Combat Dive Qualification Course (CDQC), the SF Combat Dive Supervisor Course (CDSC), and the SF Combat Dive Medical Technician Course (CDMT). For CDQC, we get students from all branches (with a specops mission) minus the navy (with exceptions). We train Dive Sups from all branches (even SEALS who can't get a class date at Coronado or Little Creek), and we train all the DMT's in the military. The navy trains their SEALS at BUD/S in Coronado and the Marines train their recon/force recon guys at the Marine Corps Combative Dive Course in Panama City. We do not do any decompression dives in our field as there is no reason. I have as many closed-circuit dives on a Draeger Lar V as I do on OC twin 80's.

Clay, you were far from high speed, fool.

I fold nearly all of it into the pilot chute, leaving just enough left over to stick the damn thing in my BOC. The longer bridle length makes no difference at all.

Did you take a nap during the flight? Was there an in-flight meal?

-Never be intimidated by your passenger. YOU must control the skydive. What that means to me is that I trust my own skills to fly me out of less-than-perfect exits. I am pretty small (5'7", 155 pounds) but I don't hesitate to take the taller, larger students. If the exit is not perfect, I simply fly out of it until I am face to earth. In my experience, the people that get into side spins are the ones too fixated on throwing the damn drogue right out the door. You need to take a bit to sort out the exit before you consider taking a flying surface (your right arm) out of the picture in an effort to get your drogue out. Personally, I rather like it when I get taken head down for a few seconds when a passenger ducks his head on me. As tall as the original poster is, she ought not have any problem with surface area. That said, I don't use a floppy jumpsuit. I do all my tandems in a RW bootie suit. I steer with my feet/legs and really only use my hands to nail the exit and pull, or slow down the fallrate if needed to help the cameraman. If the vidiot is sinking on me, I simply fly with my hands behind my back and yell "arch" to my student. If you are tall and light and you have a similarly light passenger, then you have no business jumping a big jumpsuit. your increased appendage length more than makes up for the drag a "normal" sized person has with a larger suit. Chuck

everything at Perris is expensive.

I guess it depends on what the skill/confidence level of your group is. I am one of those people that would be MORE than happy with plan "B" beause I don't really need to waste my time talking a lot about a less-than-extremely-technical skydive. Show me my slot and I will be there....period. Still, everyone on your skydive is not going to have my 23 years experience, so you can really only advance as fast as your slowest learner. If you are working around a slower learner, then option "A" is your best bet. Rushing someone in a plan "B" scenario is just begging for a brainlock-infested zoo dive. That said, if I prefer to start out with a new group at the beginning of the day in mode "A", then, if the talent is there and people are getting pissed at un-needed delays, simply switch to mode "B". Chuck

500 jumps

I have a better answer.

Arbys! America's Roast Beef, Yes Sir! Who remembers those commercials?

West of Cleveland? Lorain county?

Absolutely! And I laugh outloud at the poor "freeflyers" who take well over 1000 jumps just to get a 12-hour award.

Adding me: SkymonkeyONE

Huh??? 5 10" is short? bummer.. lol You ain't five foot ten, fool! Who are you kidding? I don't remember you (yes, you exist too ) being any taller than me. Chuck

Westwind. The coolest ones I ever saw (and jumped) were the ones that the El Salvador Airforce had. Flat black with big fucking tires

Including waivers and the video, I take about 30 minutes to get someone ready to manifest for a jump.

Military? US Army Combat Dive Supervisor Civilian? Padi Dive Master, Advanced Open Water. Both obtained by virtue of my military ratings. I like diving, but having done if for 16 years of my career in some very, very nice spots (Cozumel, Roatan, all over the Keys, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Barbados, Cuba, Spain, Panama), I just don't feel the need to lug any gear around anymore. For every super-scenic recreation dive I ever did, I have a story about some ship-bottom search in incredibly murky water, some body recovery in the Chagris River, or some circle-line search looking for an M-16 that some idiot dropped on an infil dive. I just don't get a lot of satisfaction from it anymore. Chuck

You didn't have a "most people in my family skydive" option. I jump My dad has 10,000 jumps My mom has two tandems Both sisters have about 100 jumps apiece One sister's husband has around 100 jumps Nephew has one tandem (he's YOUNG)

I will be at everything in the US this year (Mexico too). Perhaps we should pitch a tent and invite Tony? See ya, Ranger! Chuck