LawnDart21

I'm an Atair customer, (Cobalt 135) and have talked with a few of the people that work there on and off over the summer about different aspects of the Cobalt and canopies in general. All I can say is that my experience with Atair and Dan and everyone else there is that they are the most professional people in our industry, and the quality of their canopies and service definitely shows it. Aside from having (in my opinion) the best canopy on the market, they are down to earth and "real" as anyone in our sport. If there was a delivery time frame issue, (which I'm sure can happen with any canopy company), I'd be hard pressed to believe that Atair was not doing everything they could to get you the canopy as fast as possible. Just my .02 -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

LOL!!! I've heard full time tandem masters say (jokingly) that they are usually 2 inches shorter at the end of each season from walking around with a 50 pound container all summer. Thanks everyone! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

"The Lonely Skysurfer" by - Lawndart21 (aka Tom) It's true the life of a skysurfer can be a lonely one in the air, so you'd better get used to jumping by yourself. :-) Sure, it's possible to jump with others, even dock, etc, but there are so few of us jumping boards, that it's very foreign to fun jumpers, and most, rightly so, elect to stay as far away from us in the air as possible. It's dangerous too "There are alot of dead skysufers" was the comment of my S&TA when I ask about skysurfing at 100 jumps, "Are you sure this is something you want to do?" Well, ever since seeing Patrick's Reebok commercial for the first time, my answer has always been "YES." Is it the most dangerous discipline out there in the sport? Probably. But like anything else, if you think things through, get great (just adequate won't do) instruction, and prepare yourself mentally and physically for the unexpected, you can miminize (not remove) the risks involved. Why skysurf? For all the dangers and preparation that skysurfing involves, it is arguably (in my mind anyways) teh greatest singular accomplishment that a skydiver can experience. The feeling of being on a skyboard is unlike anything else I have ever expeirenced in the sport. Catching a 14,000ft "Air Wave" is the most exhilerating experience one can ask for in this sport on a singular level. While big ways and 4 way teams all provide excitement and accomplishment, this is really the most singular of our disciplines, and what you can and cannot do on a board rests solely with your own ability. Is skysurfing worth all that risk? In my mind, yes. You need to have that same conviction if you choose to pursue this, without question, you need to believe it is worth the risk. There are too many other fun things to do in skydiving without as high a risk, if your gonna skysurf, be %100 committed to it. It has been said/recommended that a beginning skysurfer should have 200-500 jumps before jumping a board. (It's not a finite answer, and everyones opinions differ.) I made my 1st board jump at jump 129. Should I or could I have waited? Probably, but my flying was solid (as solid as it can be for 128 jumps I suppose) and I researched as much as I could, before making that first jump. I took to skysurfing quickly and was very successful in my progression, thanks in no small part to having a former X-Games skysurfer as a friend and personal coach, day in and day out. In retrospect, could I have waited a few hundred more jumps? Sure. Knowing what I know now, I would have waited till 500 jumps to start. The extra experience would have benefitted my training, in stead, I had to learn alot of things about my flying in a much shorter "on the fly" (literally) time frame. Take the time to get 100s of jumps, (in a Yoda voice) "The experience will serve you well young Jedi." And finally, I am by no means an authority on skysurfing, these opinions are just my personal observation over the last year and a half or so. It may be expensive, but pay for the best coaching available. Go to Keith or any of the other (few) world champion caliber skysufers out there, they are the ones to learn from. It will keep you safer in the long run. Best of luck with your progression in the sport. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Thanks Howard! It was a busy weekend, getting all 10 evaluation jumps in, but I finished up on Sunday's sunset load with #10, so I'm done with Phase 2. I couldn't have asked for a better instructor than in Keith LaRivierre. What an experience the course was. (And thanks Goose for riding shot gun on both those Level 3s!) I'm now officially cleared to take students! I owe so much beer for this weekend that I am buying a keg for our Casa Boogie at Skydive Pepperell on Saturday night. All I can say it that this whole tandem expeirence has reaffirmed my belief that we, as skydivers, are the luckiest people on and above the earth. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Hi Howard, C'mon now, we both KNOW that the pull up cord on the belt is Charlie's trademark. I could just hear him......."Hey, what the f--k are you f--king doing, wearing a f--king pull up cord on your f--king belt, you haven't been f--king jumping long enough to f--king wear one of those f--king things. Besides, that's my f--king gig." LOL See you next weekend HW! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

I'll be there (with video) all weekend, so be sure to find me. Blue ones! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Anyone within a days drive (heck, even two days drive, it'll be worth it!!) of Massachusetts should plan on coming out to Skydive Pepperell's Annual Casa Boogie Weekend! August 21st through 25th! The DZ has gone out of thier way to make this the best party of the year, we'll have a Casa, our Otter, even our Cessna if your agrophobic, plus, their will be a helicopter for jumping and a Stearman and hot air balloon (tentative on the balloon) for rides. (they are working on jumping the balloon, but you know the FAA.....lol and Stearman is not jump equipped, but a great ride none the less. There is plenty of room to pack for everyone, there will be bands, bond fires, kegs, (I'm donating one Saturday night!) live bands playing each night of the boogie, and camping is encouraged, as our Casa Boogie bonfires are not to be missed! Great jumps and great vibes from a great dropzone. Plus, Skip's Drop in Cafe has barbeques and great food planned all weekend! Mirage is coming too, so you better be there too!!! So, come on up to Skydive Pepperell, bring yor friends, bring your gear and get set to have a great weekend!!!!! See you in the sky!! www.skyjump.com for more details or call us at (978) 433-9222. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

I travel alot for work, and as such am in airports, restaurants and bars all over the country. I have been identified by numerous people over the years as a skydiver by my closing pin necklace. And many of my trips that would have been spent in my hotel room watching HBO were spent hangingout with other skydivers that recognized the closing pin. For me personally, my necklace represents my connection to something larger than myself. Unless you know what it is like to fly 3000 miles across the country and not know anyone, only to walk on to a dropzone and instantly have 50 new friends that will go out of their way to make you feel at home, from jumping with you to letting you sleep on their couch, then, no, wearinga closing pin would not make sense to you, and yes, it may even seem pointless. To me though, it represents all that is good about our sport and more specifically all that is good with the felllow jumpers around the world that I consider to be my legitamite extended family. Blue Skies, -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

After just finishing TICC ground school and watching a 90 minute "Bad Day at the Office" tandem video, I'd have to agree that that jump, despite being visually appealing becuase it went well, was a very poor decision to proceed with. Yikes. It's not always whether we "could", sometimes we have to ask whether we "should". Blue ones! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

"The GROUND and GRAVITY; neither one gives a shit." "My other ride is a reserve." "If our gonna be stupid, you'd better be tough." "If your cypress fires while your still conscious, you won't be after you land........" "Stay high, pull low, sleep with your rigger's girlfriend" -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Just a side note, if I get out of any plane below 3,000ft, I ask/tell the pilot that I want to get out without a cut, so the extra ground speed increases the relative wind and makes for a quicker deployment. Cheers. Stay safe up there! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Just checking...... -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Re: "Intentional reserve rides can be fun but they are not highly recommended." Call me a "Safety Nazi", but anyone that intentionally cuts away a perfectly good main for an intentional reserve ride without a third canopy (2nd reserve), should stop jumping for awhile and go bowling. I believe the SIMS, and there by USPA, completely disapproves of intentional cutaways without a 3rd canopy (2nd reserve). Just my .02 -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

If you live anywhere near Plum Island, Massachusetts, you need to get yourself to the Plum Island Airport on JULY 27th!!! It's the one day a year that beach jumps are happening. Land on the sand!! Barbeque and be merry with New England's oldest, er, um, I meant most fun, skydivers!!! Come on out and jump over the ocean and land in front of your friends on the beach. (B-License required). -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Well I showed up at the DZ to pick up my rigs for beach jumps this Saturday at Plum Island airport, and ended up staying for night jumps. First jump was a 2 way so the other jumper could fullfill his D license requirement night rw jump. Great jump, except for the fact that once in freefall my wristmount altimeter decided to read 12,000ft for the rest of the skydive......Second jump (with a new altimeter.........) was a 5 way "dancing spider", not as many points this time though.......These were night jumps 3 & 4 for me, what a great experience it is jumping out of a plane into the darkness of night. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

As far as relationships in skydiving goes.... AFF = Accerated Freedom Finder -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Same issue here, my "Cobalt" logo on the stabilizers is cracked throught the word "Cobalt" and chunks of it have peeled off, the canopy probably has 50 jumps on it. No water touched it, and it's never laying in the sun. I tell you though, the way it flies, the double diamonds could peel off, and I wouldn't care, it's the best flying canopy I have ever owned. As long as it opens and swoops the way it does, I'll keep flying it, and flying it, and flying it..... -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Just got an email from the DZ, in addition to the Casa that flys every year at our annual Casa boogie weekend, this year a Bell Ranger Helicopter will also be there that weekend! Our full time Otter, a Casa and a HELICOPTER will be flying that weekend at Skydive Pepperell!! Anyone within a days drive of Pepperell, Massachusetts that wants to jump a Casa or a 'Copter, come on out to Skydive Pepperell for our annual Casa Boogie!!!!!! Plenty of room to camp and kick ass bonfires both nights!! Come GET SOME!!!! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

After hearing about the 2 most recent fatalities in our sport, I've found myself reflecting more and more about the harsh reality of what we choose to do. That reality is that from time to time we are going to lose members of our skydiving family. I've been in the sport 2 years this Saturday, and to date, 4 people that I have met and or jumped with, are no longer here. With all four incidents, I found myself regretting each time not having taken more time to get to know these people. Obviously, we can never trully know enough about anyone to prevent this type of regret in losing someone close to us. What we can do however, is take the time get to know the jumpers we might not jump with, to cherish every moment and every detail of the people around us that we might not normally spend time with. I know I'm not saying anything here that everyone doesn't already know, this is just my way of dealing with my feelings at the moment, and my feelings are telling me to make the most of every relationship that I have in this sport and outside of it as well, as I'll never know when it'll be the last time I say goodbye to someone. Godspeed to us all. - Tom

"We have the power to rebuild him" Godspeed on a fast recovery Andrew. You'll be back in the air in no time. Your in all of our thoughts and prayers. See you in the sky! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

I agree, as long as you can track far and straight, I'll jump a big way with you anytime! Congrats on your tracking. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Was the protrack set at SAS (Skydiver's Airspeed) or TAS (True Airspeed)? Might that make a difference? -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Okay, so I waited until just about the absolute last minute to decide to go to Rantoul for a few days this year and wanted to find out what the deal was for the DZ.COM tent at Quncy. Are you guys camping under it, or packing in it? Or both? Just curious. I remember last year our tent "Mass MAdhouse" ran us $500 for the ten days, who is in charhe of the cash? If there is room, I'd like to be a part of it. Just let meknow who to talk to and who to give the $$ to. (I'm bringing my still/video set up this year, so if anyone wants jumps captured, like say balloon or what not, let me know) Any info mucho appreciated. If the tent is full, that's cool too, I'll look you all up when I get there! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Thank you Chris, that means alot to me. My thoughts & prayers are with you. - Tom

My apologies, I had posted a happy-go-lucky account of my pond swooping experience this past weekend, prior to hearing about what happened at SDC, and I just thought it would be in bad taste for me to leave it up on the board after reading about the pond fatality yesterday. So, I decided to delete it. My prayers are with his family/friends and SDC. - Tom