SkymonkeyONE

Talk to Eric Butts and see if they are running anything this year.

You have several options, the most structured being the PST series. In modern PST there are two levels of competitors and one must qualify to compete. Once qualified, one must attain a certain amount of points in competition in order to attain the opportunity to qualify for the top level. Once qualified at a certain level, a competitor must obtain a minimum number of points in a season in order to retain his/her "current" standing in the organization. If you don't make at least one meet a season, then you must "recertify" in order to compete at the same level. If not, then you are relegated to competing in the lower level. Check the "pilots" page on the PST site to see just how many people failed to meet the minimum qualifications last year. The Redbull series meets are two-fold. They have an open preliminary meet on the first day, then after the initial cut the remaining people compete at large public forums. Placing high in those regional meets qualifies you to compete in the "finals;" another competition. Some people have the money (or sponsorship) to be able to make all the meets; others either split their time and money between the two to have a chance to experience a little of both. Still others devote their energy to one series in hopes of finishing high in that league's standings. Lately, there have been more and more local "un-sanctioned" meets where people can show up and get a taste of competition. The original (to my knowledge) and still biggest, has been The Ranch Pond Swoop Nationals. Up until last year, this had been the one meet that we just had to make. It's incredibly fun and tons of people show up who, otherwise, wouldn't be seen on tour. Chuck

Perry's suit looks cool, especially when he is next to you with his geeky camera helmet on and filming you. See you in Moss Point, Perry. Chuck

Bring the pain.

I can attest to Don's existence. I have been incredibly wasted with him.

I can confirm that Omri exists, just as I can attest that PhillyKev exists. Both were at Rantoul last year.

If I were you I would PM RiggerRob.

WHY does not a single Instructor at your dropzone have the A-license stamp which has been available since October 2001 when the ISP and the A-card was implemented? They cost SEVEN dollars through USPA. Jesus Christ! Hell I have had two of them "walk off" on me, because others were too lazy to buy their own, but each DZ school needs at least one. I finally ended up writing my name on the one I have now so it wouldn't disappear. Chuck

Two rides in a wingsuit. Once under an H-mod Cobalt that experienced a brake fire and a malfunctioned arm zipper. I had about 150 wingsuit flights then. The second was a very bad spinner under the same main (it was very out of trim) when I had about 250 flights. Keep the coy comments to yourself in this thread, please. This will be a good reference thread in the future. If you haven't chopped in your suit, then don't post. Chuck

I don't get what you are asking here. Are you saying that you are planning on building a suit with no leg wing? If so, then I can assure you that you are not going to do anything other than fall basically straight down, albiet slower than a regular jumper. Think inflatable camera-wing suit. Chuck

You may regret putting your name on that list....Some people have no mercy.

Me and a buddy passing through town walked the 200 feet from my new apartment to the Waffle House. I know my "waffle-ese" so I promptly spouted out: "tripple scramble cheese plate..Scattered, covered, topped" and got a polite nod from the waitress. That was at 10:00 am. Ten minutes ago I finished a Cup O Noodles in the Salsa Picante Chicken flavor. Yummy. Did I mention that I live 200 feet from a Waffle House?

You can dance if you want to, you can leave your fears behind. And if your friends don't dance, and if they don't dance, then they're no friends of mine. We can dance, we can sing... I am one dancing motherfucker.

Another perfect example of schools not following students all the way through to their base level of proficiency: the A-license. Listen, if all the tasks on your card are filled out, including the A-license check dive, then all you need is the verbal exam in order to recieve your A-stamp on your card. That stamp (on your fully-completed card) isyour license. Go to your instructors at your school and get this fixed. If they give you a dumb look, PM me and I will call them and talk to them. Chuck Blue D-12501 AFF/SL/TM-I, BMCI, PRO, S&TA

"man of silly putty"

When did Linda go to work for BoneHead? After Jeanie left?

Ask Mouth. She is 39 and dating a 28-year old guy. Conversely, I am 40 and date a 28 year old girl, so I guess I can't say shit, can I?

Sharon (MochaSkyChick) was tits up last Saturday night after she got thrown off the mechanical bull. Katie, on the other hand, performed a fairly stylish dismount.

I will agree that the door is a pain in the ass on a Skyvan, especially for shorter jumpers. It's super shitty if you have to open that thing with a wingsuit on. That said, wingsuits are generally out last, thus negating that problem. It sucked completely at Rantoul, though.... Chuck

That is a very good analogy. While they are not really "necessary", they give you a LOT more power for turns, vertical movement, and tracking. Chuck

Say what? $15 to 15 at Sebastian? I'm there, biotch!

You can absolutely freefly in the one that they had at Rantoul, which is a nearly exact copy, only better executed. Dirty air, but plenty fast. Chuck

Silly, silly boy...Everyone knows that I have the best looking suit.

Dude, it's a job, not a charity. - Jim In my opinion, Jim is right on track with his response. If I have time to dick around and do half the packjob for you, then I might as well finish it myself. Now generally, in the infrequent times that I do use a packer, I will unstow the slider on the dropzone. I will also stow my brakes just so the packer does not fuck it up, but that's it. I can pack my main in under five minutes and most packers I would trust are capable of the same. That means you are making a dollar a MINUTE to pack a damn parachute. NOBODY on a busy dropzone makes as much money as packers. Not the manager, the instructors, the video editors, NOBODY. I know that because I WAS the manager/instructor that shook my head everytime I saw what I was making as compared to my lead packer. Sure, packing is very hard on your body, but it's a profession you chose. If you are saying that you are too busy then I am simply going to laugh at you because that means you are clearly being greedy. I don't buy your gripe at all. You know, I have been jumping 23 years now and I am fascinated by the sheer amount of cottage industries that have sprouted up in the past decade. While I applaud the fact that you and your kind have found a way to make money off of lazy skydivers, over-worked instructors, and sponsored teams, don't expect any sympathy from me because you "waste" maybe one minute uncocking a slider and setting brakes for that person who really DOES need to sprint to the plane to make that next AFF dive. Chuck Blue D-12501 AFF/SL/TM-I, BMCI, PRO, S&TA (and still making less than my packer)

Oops, I thought you got the memo. Keith, these young guys just slay me! Lou has a good point about the Racer tandem: it's VERY lightweight. That said, I think any modern tandem rig would be a decent choice for hefty boy with some cash in his pocket. Modern tandem rigs are all rated to at least 500 pounds and there are some incredibly cool mains that are available for them. I am particularly fond of the Sigma 370 main, but I like Icarus (precision) tandem mains almost equally. The new Parachute Labs (Racer) Firebolt tandem is very cool as well. Chuck MFFJM 8557 and skydiving when Lou was shitting green!