SkymonkeyONE

You can bet your ass that a weekend on the DZ around me and my friends would top it.

first on my list is "vibe". I don't care how many people are there, so long as they are cool and don't un-ass the area as soon as they are done jumping. Second is a tie between aircraft and facilities. Generally, if a place has a nice airplane (or several), they are going to have decent facilities. My favorite places are the ones with turbines, bars, and RV hookups. Some of my very favorite dropzones in the world lack one or more of those things, but make up for it with the outstanding vibe. As far as DZO's go, you will not interface with them at larger dropzones; only manifestors and L.O.'s. You will see DZO's running the whole show at many smaller dropzones, so that's when they can make a difference in your personal experience. Chuck

First of all, whether a certain type of canopy is "better" is a matter of personal preference. People buy parachutes to do different things, so what may be perfect for you might completely suck for my application. I have owned both airlocked (Vengeance 97) and crossbraced canopies (VX-74). Out of the two, for maximum swoop performance, my choice is the crossbraced canopy. While I think airlocked canopies have their place in the market, I saw absolutely no reason to keep mine because it just didn't swoop like I wanted it to. It was also a pain in the ass to pack. True, you will probably get better openings out of some airlocked canopies as compared to most crossbraces, but the added performance tradeoff is worth it to most swoopers. There are a few people competing under airlocked canopies with some success, but generally, they seem to be most popular in windy, desert climes. Does this mean that crossbraced canopies are for everyone? Absolutely not. Some people are just not interested in having to stay so "turned on" during their entire canopy flight. I like crossbraces, but wasn't happy with the freaky openings on my VX so I sold it. Anyway, in my opinion it's easier to get a great swoop with much less effort under a Cobalt or Crossfire derivative. They are both very forgiving, swoop fantastically, and open like butter. I haven't jumped any airlocked canopy (Vengeance, Jedei, Samurai) that landed as good as either of those canopies. Just my opinion, but that is what you asked for; reviews on those two canopy types by someone who has actually owned both. The bottom line here is that YOU must choose a canopy based on your specific needs. Chuck

BWAHAHAHA!!! Seriously, though. While it may be a bit disconcerting walking onto a new dropzone for the first time, should you do the right thing and introduce yourself all around and make a point of having a good time, then the next time you go there you will have an "in". Likewise, as Bill stated, after a while (especially at boogies) you are SURE to run into people you have met elsewhere. I would have a very hard time nowadays finding a DZ that I couldn't find people I already knew and had jumped with. Travelling to other dropzones is cool, but where you REALLY make your connections is at national-level boogies where people come from all around. Go to a boogie, get with an organizer, then party with the people you skydive with; that's the ticket! Chuck

Who is running it? Troy Ketsdever?

I can't say that I haven't been a part of a clique, because anyone who jumps mostly with certain people will be labled as such. Still, groups of jumpers are not where I see the most trouble. Generally, it's the DZ school that creates the most "as the prop turns" action. Lots of schools have a bad habit of taking advantage of female students. Others have a bad problem of only hiring their buddies, and not the other more-qualified Instructors who are milling around the DZ on any given day. Other places have terrible problems when the DZO grants an individual or group of individuals sole rights over certain types of training, then harrassing those who would give it freely. All very unfortunate circumstances, but I have seen every example at one dropzone or another in my travels. As with any "family", those who are around the most are going to be given the most attention and have the most friends to jump with without really searching. While paid and voluntary load organizers do a great job of making visitors more comfortable, in reality most dropzones don't use them or can't afford them. Most places will try and hook you up with others, but they might not be on your level. The answer to that, in my opinion, is to just barge in and start talking to people. The sooner they know who you are and what you want to get into, the better your chances of getting on a load, plus the sooner you will have folks to drink with at the end of the day. Chuck

Not sure if any of you are having problems getting them made, but for those of you who just can't find them, Eddie Spears (Auger Inn Paraloft) did mine. He is the guy that makes "MonkeyFist" collapsible pilot chutes. The handles on these are the woven nylon twine that is available in a ton of colors. Anyway, he makes the nine-footers BirdMan recommends with any color PC and any color combination handle he has (about 15 choices) for $80. He will make the PC pretty much any size you like also. Jimmy Cazer (Cazer Paraloft) will make you one also, as I am sure several other manufacturers will. Cazer and Auger Inn are nearly identical, minus the PC handle. I like the MonkeyFist handles alot, but still have two Cazers laying around. I, personally, never had a "real" problem with a standard length bridle, but I did have a few PC hesitations that led me to believe a longer bridle might have helped. It was for that reason that I went ahead and had him sew me a new one. I am very good friends with both Jimmy Cazer in Alabama (one of my dad's best friends) and Eddie Spears (who's loft is at Raeford), so holler at me if you are wanting one, but can't find the contact info. Chuck

Yep, I can't remember the last time I saw so many rides in a weekend. Lots of spinners. Chuck

Jumbo, since you listed no location in your profile, I am not sure which direction to point you. There are actually plenty of dropzones around the country that train "large" students. My dad owns a dropzone in Alabama and he uses retired MT1-XX Military Freefall rigs for large students. They are more than large enough for guys your size and are rated to over 350 pounds. As for SL or AFF, it's all up to the dropzone. Also, concerning tandem: I have jumped a guy six foot eight and 265 pounds with no problem and I know a guy at ASC who has jumped two people over 300 pounds. Yes, we are both "smallish" guys, but a competent TM will not give a shit how big or small the passenger on front is, so long as the rig is not overloaded. Bottom line here is that you ought not give up your search; somebody will train you. Chuck

Kevin made a good point. You need to do two things: Get an experienced jumper with good canopy skills to observe some of your landings and critique you, and you need to work on your landings at altitude. There are plenty of threads on this subject buried in this forum. Every parachute lands differently, that is the reason we do practices at altitude. If after being observed several times and making the recommended changes to your style, nothing changes, then let an experienced jumper try your main to see if he or she thinks there is a problem with it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a Triathalon, so you ought not be having problems with it at this point in your jumping carreer. Chuck Blue D-12501

You lost the main? Unfortunate.

Yep, it's been very up and down for me. I have made between 400 and 450 a year for the past three years, but have had several years where I had other priorities and only made maybe 50 or 60 a year. It is reasons like that why it took me 21 years to reach 3000. I was laughing about it yesterday with two of my contemporaries, Geno Suarez and Paul Rafferty. They have both been jumping as long as me, but have 8000 and 14000 jumps respectively. Oh well, they haven't owned three Corvettes, two Harleys, and a ten foot tall truck either. Happily, I have gotten all that out out of my system, and have buckled back down into full-time skydiving. It amazes me that I get paid to do this shit. Chuckie

Yes, you can get the mod on a Mirage. Bobby Pritchard's is done that way.

All of you eight who originally said you were coming missed a good time. I made my 3000th jump on the 4th of July, got pied with SAURKRAUT pies (yuck!), then got plenty drunk. The only out of town dropzone.commer who made it was F1Freak from Suffolk, VA. He is now known as "spastic monkey". The boy is an absolute mess and was a riot once we got him blistered. I have no idea whether or not he made any jumps after the Thursday night fiasco because I had to haul ass to another party for the rest of the weekend. Anyway, it was fun and shame on yall for missing it; I was looking forward to meeting some of you. Pam and Merrick: yall need to come down and fetch the present that came in the mail for you. Hell, you need to bring me my necklace anyway, so come on down! Hooty Hoo! Later, Chuckie

What is your experience level?

I have done a bunch of flocks with three sets of grips and one seven way with three sets of grips in a wedge.

With no blades to aim for, I count as swoop distance the time from when you come around the corner and into ground effect up until you either step down or stop sliding. When swooping blades for distance, the entry height is five feet. Chuck

As previously mentioned much higher in this thread: when travelling or living abroad (which I have done extensively in my 20 years in the service), one MUST try and assimilate into society if he or she hopes to succeed. Can you make it on pantomime and gutteral grunts? Maybe, but why not just do the right thing and learn the damn language. I learned Spanish well enough to get paid to do so in less than six months. Russian and most other Eastern European immigrants to the united states take great pains to learn proper, even un-accented English in as short a time as possible. The people who do so in this manner have a MUCH easier time securing gainful employment. True, there will always be low-level less-than-minimum wage jobs available to those who choose to cop out, but why would one do so? I have seen this lackadaisic attitude all over the world (actually, primarily in Central and South America and the Carribean basin), but that has nothing to do with the language barrier. Anyway, I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with immigration, but DO think that we should set up a mandatory Head Start language like the ones american servicemembers are required to attend upon arrival to foreign duty stations. When I arrived in Germany in 1982, I spent two weeks in such a program. I left there with at least the ability to get directions, order food, and read and understand signs. Unfortunately, in the rural regions of the United States I am constantly running into crowds of primarily Spanish speaking workers who absolutely cannot communicate with a store clerk without an interpreter; unfortunate. A bit of levity in this quite-interesting, but fairly dry thread: "Mexican Americans go to night shool, take Spanish and get a B" -Cheech Marin

Raeford has been my home DZ since 1984. It is a fantastic place to skydive and just hang out. Full service restaurant and bar, very busy rigger loft, very professional school, SkyKat, three turbines on the premesis, and the flattest, greenest grass landing area you will ever find. Tons of shade, 30 amp RV hookups, and lastly: Skymonkey Kingdom. Holler at me or John when you get to town. Everyone there will know exactly where I am at any given time. Chuck

I will be on the DZ all day on the 4th and most of Friday the 5th, so come on out. Chuck

I like my brakes very loose. I can, with my toggles in my hands, haul both dive loops all the way down to my tit level and not deflect the tail at all. With my toggles all the way up, my brake lines arc back a good deal. Not important to me at all, since flare with my hands out and back. Chuck

Well, I am sure this will be a fine weekend. Pammi, if you would like, I will let your family just use my RV since I will not be able to stay out there due to another commitment. I would say that is a safer bet than having them come out of Scott's house in the middle of the night and seeing all the adult nig-noggery in the pool. Still, if you want to pitch tents, you can do it right out next to the RV's or over behind SkyKat in the "real" camping area. Chuck

1(first watermellon milkshake):0:0 I am still in Savannah working. I will be back at Raeford late Thursday afternoon for anyone coming early. PM me if you need my number. Chuck

Kevin, what possessed you to purchase a new police car?

Well, I currently own two Javs (a 98 XRS and a 2001 Odyssey RS) and love them both. If it were not for the cut-ins on the Odyssey, I would have bought another Vector (I had owned five previously). I like Microns, but they are just a bit stiff for my liking. It's totally personal preference nowadays. I don't believe that any one rig is "better" than another, so it all comes down to aesthetics. Personally, I don't like the "blocky" look of the Mirage, but I know it is a fine rig. As for Javellin pin flaps coming open, that doesn't ever happen to me on my Odyssey. Actually, it has never happened on my older XRS either, but I have seen others with older javs a flappin. Chuck