Craig

Last I heard Joe Jennings was working on getting DVD's made up of his "Good Stuff" video. He said he was also going to add some additional footage to it. I heard this a few months ago so doubt if he as them out yet. You could always check his web site HERE and keep an eye out for it's release. Blue skies, Craig

I don't live in Britain but this is the way I understand it. They have lots of farms with livestock in the country and around lots of the DZ's there. The dropzones are asked to close incase of the event of an off landing. This disease is airborne and so easily spread that if a jumper has the virus on him and lands in a field, any livestock that enter the field can get it. Even without direct contact. Even cats and dogs wondering the countryside can spread it, even though it does not effect them, or humans. Craig

I agree here. There are times when I have not asked for a gear check. On the other hand, if I am offered a check, I will allow them to do so if I trust them. I do a good check on the ground when gearing up, and check my straps and handles a few times before it is time to exit. It can also be hard to gear check when you are on a cramped plane as well. I am one who would not like anyone to come up and start opening flaps on my rig without asking, I would never dare to do this to someone else either. My main concern is being confident in knowing what the checker is doing and trusting that they will properly re-secure anything they have opened. Craig

The way I see it is it's bad enough to collide with another jumper, or a spectator for that matter. Demo jumps are set up to be an example of our sport. What kind of example has this set for those who have been witness to it? Jumpers are always saying they don't want the government to step in any further into skydiving, but in my opinion this is the kind stuff that threatens with more regulation, bad press, and lawsuits. Craig

Thanks for hunting that down. I couldn't find it anywhere. As funny as this may seem, this jumper is in for some real trouble. By the looks of it he was in way over his head with the demo jump, and the lady he collided with has serious head trauma to boot! Craig

Frank, you know anyone that is carrying the stream online? I check NBCi but no luck. Craig

Have you purchased it yet? If not you can get brand new one pin expert CYPRES from Ed Cummings for 925.00 USD shipping included. Just thought I would let you know, and no I don't work for him

I heard it might be aired later in the evening from someone. Maybe they will cancel it altogther, I missed that on Troy's page. Why? Cause the whuffo's like to try some of the stunts they see on TV themselves and get injured. (not necessarily the skydiving ones I don't think) Then they get lawsuit happy. At least that is what I gather from what I have heard. It is sad that the a$$holes can't take responsibility for their actions, even more sad that the judges fall for it. Like the disclaimer at the beginning of the program don't mean squat! Craig

Damn, their catching on! Blues, Craig

Just came in this evenings mail.

The Cave of the Swallows. Yes, that would be truly awesome. I seen some jumps there on TV. The opening is like 165 feet X 200 Feet around and about 1,234 feet deep. It is much wider once you get inside a bit. There is little info on line, I wish I could find more about it. I'm like you though, not close to ready for that yet! Craig

You will have to upload it to a server, and then link to it in you profile. There are some sites that host free space if you do not have a web page, or server space through your ISP. Craig

Actually, I passed out (sort of) on my second tandem. My first tandem was when I was on vacation in Florida and everything was great. A year later (this past summer) I made a second tandem in Florida on another vacation and that is when I became all nasty feeling. The opening shock was Hell first off. Then about 2 or 3 minutes later I started to feel dizzy and lightheaded and thought I was going to puke. Made it down OK, but by the time we landed I could not see 10 feet in front of myself with my blurred and snowy vision, and could not stand very well. After talking with some expierenced jumpers and the TM (who was probibally glad I DIDN'T puke on him) it was all caused by a lack of circulation because of the geometry of a tandem harness. Went to the DZ back where I live about 2 months later to see about the student program, which is Tandem/IAF. Told them what happened in the past and made two more tandems there with no problems. The last two tandems I moved the leg straps down under my legs more under canopy so it was more like a chair. Moved on to IAF stage which is like AFF but with 1 jumpmaster and progressed just fine. Also never had the least bit of problem wearing a solo rig. Relative Workshop has changed their tandem harness to hopefully prevent the loss of circulation, so it must be more common than you would think? I have heard other jumpers comment that they have done tandems for a special occasion, or to help a TM get their rating and have flet like crap by time they land. Craig

We had this discussion back on the old forums. You can check out the archive for the discussion HERE. You cannot respond on those boards but you can bring any questions/comments back to here. As you will see, there are a few different views on the PC in tow situation. Craig

Relax! Potato chipping happens because when you are tense and fighting the air it does not spill around you evenly. Thus, when the air is spilling around the tense body, if spills at different places at different times. That is why there is the rocking motion. At least this is always what I was told. I had a chipping problem for about 3 jumps off of student status. When I quit thinking about it, and let the air "mold" myself into a relaxed arch, it stopped. Craig

Sounds pretty bad. I would suspect that the reserve would have to have been used. I was kinda wondering when someone said the student pulled the drogue release, since this would have likely made the horseshoe worse. Seemed like if the main was able to deploy with the drogue wrapped around the TM neck it would not have been pretty at all. I would have liked to see this. I'm with Trent, if it is online anywhere let me know. Craig

You can select the text you wish to quote (highlight and select copy) and paste it to the reply window. Now, at the beginning of the text add the word quote. Then at the end of the text you are quoting add /quote. Add the brackets around each word as you do with the smileys. ie. where "X" is quote... [xxxxx] (text you wish to include quoted) [/xxxxx] Hope I was clear. Craig

Not to change the subject but did anyone get their March Parachutist yet? I am wondering if mine was lost in the mail. Craig

Also not to be overlooked is the age and jumps on a canopy. The canopies that students usually use have a signifigant amount of jumps. Take in to consideration also that F-111 fabric degrades in performance quicker, and this is generally what students start out on. This could very well account for landing problems. Some jumpers, male or female, may also have problems when they transition over to ZP since they may have to un-learn the techniques they used to use. Craig Craig

Ya, did you see when the bungee broke and hit the "faller" and knocked him silly? He managed to get his main out and when the camera flyer seen it happen he spiraled down to see if he was alright. He told the camera guy he was gonna need some help, so he docked on the guy and guided him in for landing. Pretty amazing. He managed to stay "awake" until he could get a canopy out and once he knew he would be OK when the camera dude arrived, he let himself go unconscious. Craig

Here is a little to add to what Dutchboy said. I have heard this said often, and I was told the same thing before my release dives "If you can start a turn, you can stop a turn". If you are feeling yourself starting to spin, you may be getting more tense and in effect "locking" your body position in that spin and just trying to arch to get out of it. Instead, you could try to relax and lets say you are turning to the right, lower your left arm and shoulder to counter it. If you are not sure which direction you are turning, just pick a shoulder and lower it....if you speed up it was the wrong one, try again. My first release dive I started into a brisk left turn as soon as the JM let go. After about two or three times around I dropped my right shoulder and it stopped. The rest of the dive, which was just a right and left 360 degree turn be alt. aware. It was kinda like balancing a ball and trying to counter any movements the rest of the dive. Once you get it it will come more natural, the more jumps you make, the mory you will probibally find that you are no longer thinking about what you are doing ie. turn left, turn right, body position, etc., it all starts to come natural and less thinking takes place to get a desired result IMHO. Craig

Did you try the FAQ? You just type the smiley you want, like "cool", "frown", "mad" etc. except you inclose it in [ ] instead of the quotes I put. The FAQ lists all the smileys and other cool stuff you can do also. Just click on the link above in my post. Craig

Okay, you started it...been meaning to try something. Test need to see how this thing works couldn't get the "pre" tags to work, what do they do? Edited by Craig on 3/6/01 08:26 AM.

Uh, I would not ask them if they are a tandem factory, they would probibally take offence, and they might not be. I would think it would be quite obvious to find out by just hanging out and watch and see how things happen. I think the other posts clue in to what a tandem factory operation would be like. Sometimes you might get bumped for a student or tandems. I would not say that this is making the DZ a tandem factory though. The DZ has to pay their bills, aircraft maintenance, fuel, wages, etc. to keep running and students and tandems bring more money in than the fun jumpers. This all has to be balanced. Craig

Yes, I would figure about 20 to 25 pounds with all gear. I know what you mean about the choices. I think I changed my mind more times than I can count on both hands, over about a months time before I finally decided on what to get. Much better than getting something and changing your mind AFTER you have already purchased it. Craig