PLFXpert

But, it was pulled this morning. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Mine is in a bun right now. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I could; but I won't. And it's obvious at least one person in this thread knew of one of the DZs I was referring to that has since changed its restriction from a "90-degree turn or less" policy to a policy of separate time & space--which again, the latter I support. Ask someone else who doesn't mind throwing down a gauntlet on someone they like. We don't have to agree to like one another. Oy vey. I was about to get bitchy. Instead, I'll just say it again: Separation of space & time is obviously necessarily for many reasons. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Agreed; the theme here is safety, prevention and how we can all live happily ever after. But, some HAVE banned it. Not necessarily many, but some view limiting a swooper to a specific turn ratio or less as a ban. All that does is lower the turn altitude for someone who still desires speed. I believe why some are upset is NOT due to the suggestion of separation of landing areas or space, but due to...well, a "ban" so-to-speak. And at the risk of being the broken record here, it IS the DZO's ultimate decision either way. What some are saying is, "banning" or "restricting to a specific degree turn" is NOT the answer. I know you are not saying it IS the answer.

Um, I said separate landing areas is a good thing.

This has been my repeated point to make as well. Better education is desperately needed! I mentioned in the "What should we do" thread I would opt for a canopy course be required before graduating student status--or maybe before getting an A or B license. Such a canopy course should focus not only on canopy control, but landing patterns, awareness, etc. I felt the same way after AFF. I still feel the same way. I'm not scared of much, but I'm scared of not seeing someone else or them not seeing me despite "keeping my head on a swivel" which is what Billy always tells me. I freefly, and am only at a 1:1 ratio on my canopy so, I'm usually last out of the plane before the tandems and then under my big-ass canopy, I'm the last to land before the tandems--so I'll land in the peas. But, ANY OTHER TIME I land well away from the main landing area for the sole reason that I just don't mind walking, and I'd rather walk than be sorry. Education is desperately needed, in addition to separate landing areas. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I think that was his point. Visibility and name recognition sells--no matter which product of the brand it's selling. I can't think of a better niche to better brand a parachute company. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I wanted to learn to skysurf. Seriously.

Maybe there should be a requirement to have a canopy course before graduating student status. I just don't think students are given enough education about s-turns, approaches, landing patterns, different canopies, etc. Wouldn't solve the problem that exists with already licensed jumpers but...a great "in addition to" whatever the solution.

Well, I certainly don't agree with a ban or restriction on turns more than 90 degrees, but we agree on one point--ultimately either way it is absolutely the DZO's decision. On this point, it doesn't matter whether you or anyone else agrees with me. The issue at hand is safety, not interest or non-interest in our sport. I stand by my thoughts, but in retrospect feel they are best-suited for a different thread/different topic. I don't doubt the many tandem students that don't wish to land that way on their tandem. Of course, me--I'd have wanted the total experience if was given the opportunity. It seems however, the media attention to swooping, sports-programming attention to swooping, etc. has gone unnoticed to some. Shame. B/c for me, finally I am seeing our sport represented in a way other than an injury, death or plane crash. And these programmers keep coming back for more--seems there's a decent & profitable viewership for it. Interesting. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

You're misunderstanding or haven't read my previous posts. I absolutely agree is it the DZO's decision either way. I think it's a shame if their decision is to ban swooping or place a restriction on turn ratio. I fully support & applaud any DZO who notices there is a problem and regardless if the s-turner or swooper are at fault, makes a decision to adapt to how the sport has progressed and implement change. The best changes, imo, are education, education, education, landing area restrictions, and perhaps jump altitude restrictions where landing restrictions are not possible. Your example was exactly what I support! The "new rules" you referred to are not a ban or turn-ratio restriction, which is what I've seen previously. It sounds like you agree with me, but for some reason I don't think that was your intention. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

No-one here has suggested a ban. It has been banned or restricted to 90-degree turns on at least a couple DZs. I can only personally speak for two we visited and neither were recent visits, more like two to three years ago. I don't feel it necessary to point fingers at any particular DZ or its owner b/c--well, I like the owners. And I understand their intentions were well-meaning. And though I don't know either way for the other, I know that the one which had banned it has since reversed their policy and implemented landing restrictions instead. It doesn't sound to me those upset are upset b/c they have to land someplace differently. I'm all for a separation of landing patterns, and even jump altitude restrictions where such separation is not plausible. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Oh my gosh, I wake up STARVING all the time. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. It's also my favorite time of day. I love a veggie omelet for dinner, though. Bagels are always for breakfast. I love bagels. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Couple weeks after my 20th B-day signed up for AFF. Ended up doing a tandem that day due to time constraints. Started AFF the next weekend.

Hey, vancy pants--do NOT mess with the smileys! Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I thought that was a foot? No? Damn that Julia Roberts! Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

And now you beat me. Best two outta three? Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

FINALLY! Someone w/ style!!!

Oh dear. Actually, he should have used a semicolon. A comma is just WRONG. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Are you speaking only of Harleys? If I were to buy my own bike (We have a Dyna Super Glide but obviously Billy's not going to ride bitch.) I'd not spend my money on a Harley. I LOVE Harley and have grown up with both Harleys and Goldwings. But unless motorcycles are your only hobby then spending the money on one, rather than another brand & comparable bike doesn't make much sense to me unless you're Joe Billionaire, of course. I haven't looked into them in detail, but Honda seems to make a comparable & affordable cruiser.

I LOVE gardening.

Scuba comes up in threads ALL the time. Having said that, my vote would be for ground-launching and the like as it is more directly related. It's a nice idea to have a scuba forum, but I certainly don't see any obligation to have a scuba or any other non-directly related sport forum. Skydivers are generally active people. You can find at least a few that participate in all the sports listed in the poll. What unites us most here is skydiving.

Absolutely and excellent point! I said it before: Why is it some of the best canopy-control instructors are swoopers? Why is their advice & instruction so sought after by both newbies and more experienced jumpers for their own safety? Why have I never heard anyone complaining about not getting much out of the two fore-mentioned canopy instructor's courses? It takes a lot more teaching than is given on student status to really understand how a canopy works, its possibilities, its limitations, how to control it, how/where to land in a landing pattern. I almost think it should be a requirement to take a canopy course before graduating student status. I certainly would have benefited greatly from one early on. I've said it before, as I listened to many skydivers give me canopy advice early on due to my lack of ever being able to land in the peas, let alone land on my feet. Billy, and the other local swoopers offered much more than advice--explaining how the canopy works and why doing various things controlled it better than others. I'm not saying it takes a swooper to teach canopy-control; only they seem to be more passionate about it, willing & capable. Regardless, education is definitely important.

It's both, though the former can not be said absolutely. I'm not-so-bad at business, and am only giving my professional opinion. I completely agree with Billvon's most recent two posts.

I knew you were kidding, silly. And with all else said, Billy is yelling at me to get off the damn DZ.com already and come outside to play with him. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.