MotherGoose

maybe I'll boot down to Florida and check you guys out this winter. I have some friiends from SKydive Toronto that went down last year and may go again this year. Nothing like a hot chick in a wind tunnel . . . I think its worth the 19 hour drive . . . You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

If I could just add my "opinion". Skydiving has risks, like crossing a busy street has risks. Skydiving, on the other hand, has precautions and a level of safety awareness "available" to its participants, that rivals almost every other sport or activity out there. If we all followed the rules and did everything by the book like we are supposed to, skydiving fatalities would be a fraction of what they are . Skydivers make skydiving dangerous. Does this sound familiar . . . jump from a plane, land, run to the packing mats, pack as fast as you can, don't inspect your rig, throw it on, run to the plane, go up, jump. land, repeat . . . and repeat . . . etc. This is only a generalization, but a lot of skydivers become complacent as they gain experience. Its a natural human reaction, to become a little self-righteous when you've become proficient in a certain activity, only with skydiving . . . mistake = death (most of the time) You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

And HOW??, might one ask did this little girl break the poor man's tunnel ?? You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

thanks Mark, I think a wind tunnel in our neck of the woods would be awesome, even if its one of the mobile ones like they have in Michigan. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

I should have expected something like this from a Brit. I just checked your website and you have a photo of multiple bar shots being poured (unknown brand) right on the main page of your skydiving website. You guys do things a little differently I guess . . . You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Now that's funny . . . what do you think the freefall speed will get up to ?? You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

There's a comedian in every thread . . . thanks for the 4-1-1 . . . I'll check it out You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Is there a wind tunnel in Canada, specifically Ontario?? If not where is the nearest tunnel to Toronto ?? Can anyone help ?? I want to get my ass into one of these things ASAP !! You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

So what you do you propose specifically? A comp. where anyone can pack however they like in the fastest time possible, but to complete the contest, the packer must jump it ?? This is an interesting concept and I don't totally disagree with it, but you have to admit that it will get crazy with some people just jamming canopies into d-bags. I hope you have faith in your riggers. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

you know, originally I was thinking about a packing competition between actual DZ packers who do student gear all day. If someone out there is trash-packing tandems, I think they need a talking to. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

bigway . . . now we're getting somewhere . . . good to see someone stepping up to the plate with a real cash prize. I think you can get a lot of participation for 1000GBP. Unfortunately, I won't make it out there so this whole thing better be videotaped . . . You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Thats why in real packing contests you need to jump the thing. Opening it up again and judging it is wussy talk! of course . . . wussy talk . . . spoken by the fearless one . . . I suppose you enjoy increasing the element of risk in a sport that is full of it?? If people start trash packing and becoming complacent enough to rely on their reserve, then we obviously have a problem. I wanted to keep this clean and competitive. There you all go again, making it more dangerous. I'm reading about blindfolds, beers, 2 minute packs, etc. ???? NO THANKS . . . I get enough adrenaline from jumping "normal" packs. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Yes phoenixlpr, there would have to be a set of master riggers as judges that could identify ( to the best of their abilities ) if there was a potential mal. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

My bad . . . I weigh in between 190lbs. and 200lbs. with gear on so I see what you mean. Also, I started on static line gear jumping 260-280's, but when I got to BOC's I was jumping a Falcon 215. Now I jump a Sabre 190 (ZP) and it's actually a pretty fun canopy. It's just that I got some advice recently from an excellent canopy pilot and he mentioned that people downsize way too fast for their own good without actually learning how to "fly the shit out of" their current canopy. I wasn't taking body weight into account. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

I'm still thinking on a grander scale . . . like at least Nationals, and an actual serious competition with real prize money, no beers or screwing around. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

This is a sinister little twist to the plot . . . that'll keep the packers honest . . . no doubt !! You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

thanks pres . . . I think this could really take off . . . You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

10 seconds for a partial mal - fixable 20 seconds for a spinner - fixable 30 seconds for a partial mal - chop required 40 seconds for a spinner - chop required* 50 seconds for a horseshoe 60 seconds for a total 60 seconds for a slammer *Extra 20 seconds added for sub-100 sqft cross braced canopies This is good . . . we should definitely pursue this seriously. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

You're a brave man . . . carry on You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

I'm not very knowledgeable here but aren't 190's and especially 170's a bit smal for students to be jumping ?? I don't know how other dropzones function on this topic, but don't most DZ's put students on 260's ?? You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Well the rules would have to be defined in detail, but basically I'm thinking that the packers would each get an equivelant rig with same size canopy. The packing style will be entirely up to the competitor (side, flat, pro, etc). With brakes already stowed, canopies would be laid out in similar heaps and at the onset, the packer would have to lay it out and pack it, howver they please in the fastest time possible, right up until the pin is inserted. Then, the judge(s) would carefully open each rig and deduct a set amount of seconds from the packers time for mistakes. There would obviously be different categories for entry (tandem, sport, student). The rules would be pretty straight forward. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Oh c'mon . . . packing WITH speed does not mean packing WITHOUT safety. Besides . . . these rigs would not be jumped after they would be opened on the ground and inspected by judges for potential mal's and mistakes and points would be deducted. I think it's a hell of an idea. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

So after some discussion about packing times on my last thread, it occurred to me that packing is a largely unrecognized and unappreciated art form. Are there any event organizers for local, national or even world meets that would consider a packing competition to be part of their festivities ?? Honestly . . . why the hell not . . . there are obviously some truly skilled people out there and we should allow them to shine and be recognized and maybe even make a little bit of prize money !! Let me know what you think. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Fickle little bunch of jumpers . . . aren't we . . . You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

But let's not mistake fear for adrenaline . . . the two are similar sensations. I usually do a mental rehearsal in flight, eyes closed, fully relaxed, sometimes almost napping. When the door opens . . . I don't have any fear, its strictly adrenaline pumping through the veins at MACH 2 . . . then you take the plunge and you concentrate on what you are doing, style, RW, freefly, etc. There's no real room for fear there either. But when I break off and its time to deploy . . . I reach for my BOC and that is where the fear kicks in. That very moment, a thousand different things go through my head and as I pull there's a moment of anticipation as I wait for the silence. That is FEAR. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.