SkymonkeyONE

I removed all the mudslinging from this thread and locked it instead of simply deleting it. Jim related a good lesson learned in this thread. Chuck

I have painted several helmets myself with great results.

I was at the first event that Xaos canopies participated in. All had continuous HMA, but some of the guys changed their linesets to cascades_during_ the event. Both have been tried on that canopy line.

December 25th (PM) until 6 January Mostly BirdMan flocking and instruction, but I am going to do quite a bit of big-way RW as well. Two balloon jumps: one BM and one with Katie and a couple of good friends. Chuck

Yep, our boy Jake took one for the team just to stay at the convention a bit longer. NOICE!

Cascaded HMA, but they change linesets very frequently.

Quite the opposite in fact. We did a little experiment at Rantoul and, of course, I was correct. We paraded right through the Dropzone.com tent and not a single person recognized him or said anything. Brilliant. Chuck

Ask around. Most dropzones have folks with the background to have that kind of stuff laying around. I am sure someone will PM you with info.

I used to own a VX and I loved the way it flew, but hated the openings; very "surgey". I have jumped Xaos 27's in a couple of sizes and think they are just a nicer opening canopy. I also appreciate the lighter front riser pressure. Still, everyone likes different things out of their canopies, so I would absolutely, positively demo both canopies in the same size before I spent my money. Chuck

Personally, I think the article was great. More to the point, I think it's greatest in that it got published in Parachutist. It will absolutely open doors for us as a whole and will definitley pique interest in our discipline from the masses. Like was just stated: if you can do a better job, write the article and get it published. I believe my only gripe might be that my name is not on the by-line, and that the article didn't do a good enough job of pointing people to dropzone.com. Peace, Chuck

In that instance, Eric, one would hope that you at leat enforce what BM (and now the new SIM) state as minimums. You have the qualifications to attend the BM-I course and I would recommend you attend the course. In the absence of available instruction, we "do the best we can" to help others along in whatever discipline. When there finally evolves a decent program of instruction, then we would all do well to adopt that POI, less we come up with a better, more all-encompassing program. The skysurfing analogy was pretty good, as I was one of the first people in the US doing it (1990, here at Raeford. I have plenty of photos and video). The few of us that were doing it had nothing to go by back then. Some people were piecing together boards from plywood, snowboards (too flexy) and trick skis (my choice). It was very balsy shit, but we all, with very few notable exceptions, got through it OK. Wingsuit jumping today is WAY past that halcyon stage. We have safe suits and a safe program of instruction. The experience requirements are not draconian by any means, so there is no reason that anyone needs to be rushing aimlessly into this discipline. Chuck

Whoever. I just want to do some more good bigway shit at this boogie, like we did last year. I love big stuff, yet get very little opportunity nowadays to do so. Chuck

I think it's still Philip, like last year. I plan on doing alot of that again. The only zoo I was on with him was a 60 way that the base funneled. Tequila Girl and I were pod partners.

To be backing up, in gusty winds up to 20 mph on your 3rd jump is unacceptable. No student should be put in that position. Derek Exactly. No student, which is defined as anyone not possessing at least a USPA A-license, my jump when ground winds are more than 14mph. Yes, that includes gusts. Chuck

I heard Tom Balzer was spinning? Truth?

I wear a helmet on my flights for a number of reasons. First, I have been knocked completely out in freefall before by an errant diver swooping head-down to a formation that I was filming. He never saw me and I certainly didn't see him coming from above. It dislocated my left shoulder, broke my helmet, and knocked me across the sky. Lucky for me, as I had no AAD in that rig), I woke up around 8k (the jump was from 18k), pulled with my good right hand, and landed the canopy with both toggles in my right hand. It broke the entire left side off of my ProTec-based camera helmet, but it didn't fly off, so yes, I still have the video. That was back in 1990. There are occasions where I will skydive without a helmet, but they are fairly few and far between nowadays. Besides, my pimp mindward is so light that it's not a nuisance at all. Plus, that particular helmet is an icon and it defines me. There are not a lot of people that get around who see that helmet and don't immediately recognize it as mine. A plus is that it's where I keep my audible. I own one of those funky straps that hold your audible to your goggle strap, but didn't like it much so it just sits in my gearbag. I have been on many a flock where there was some serious "combat" flying going on, so I would be really hesitant to go lid-less in all but the most accomplished company. Chuck

Too much RedBull, or any other energy drink for that matter, simply makes me shake and makes me antsy.

There is some extremely funny shit on that guy's website. I was howling.

A very valid point, Mike.

This thread is going downhill fast! SunCheHole is going to kill you fuckers!

That's a much better outlook, Chris.

That would be another thread topic, Dave.

Oh, we split the responsibility here as well, but the main-side guy is the one that does the writing in the logbook. Same pay either side. When we are not busy, it's normally the reserve side guy who packs the student main (assuming he wants the extra five bucks.)

Generally, Sharon, the main-side JM has the duty of running the student debrief. He or she also has the most responsibility, in most peoples opinion, on the earlier dives.

I get paid enough for the work I do, but wish I had more of it . As a full-time instructor, unless you are working at a warm-weather dropzone, chase the sun and are in with some travelling dropzone gypsy clan, or have a pension (like I do), then you might be sucking. The workload at most "other than Florida/Southern California/Arizona" dropzones is simply not enough to support a full compliment of instructors in the winter.