webracer

Not possible he WASN'T current. I jumped with him a week prior and after. he also has me sign his logbook Maybe he had the short straw... Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

I'm sure that in the near future, some dzs will also be including wingloading/canopy choice. While this will suck for some, it will not affect the majority. I may/may not pass any scrutiny. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

He also said he had to get video'd reading a statement (absolving of liability). Perris' lawyer must have stock in BASF Being that he's a minister, they may have taken extra precautions to protect from the big guy. hehe Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Ok, this sounds normal (and acceptable). It sounded unreasonable, but the source is a minister (really), and I had to check it out. Hopefully a Perris officeperson will post reply and clear it up further. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

I haven't jumped at Perris, but a friend recently went there and said he had to jump through hoops to get waivered and such. He said he had to watch an hour of videos and speeches to be able to jump. Is this true? Granted, he has slightly less than 500 jumps, and no instructional ratings. He said they wanted his protrack, logbook, USPA card, rig, etc. to check it all out. If it's this much hassle, I'd like to know so I don't plan on visiting there. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

I use RWS trulocks on all my rigs/canopies. I have trouble with my Xaos and Velocity, but it only adds a couple seconds to the opening sequence. I have dealt with it. I like the risers, and I don't need bigger grommets just to resolve this inconvenience. It also helps stop it from slamming down a bit. (the bulk starts just below the guide ring). Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Haven't we shared a gust or two? Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

NewClearSports: Your post showing motorcycle experience does nothing to strengthen your argument, but does indicate something of your personality. You want more before you can handle what you've got. I guarantee you didn't get even half the performance out of the VR500 that it is capable of. If you were that much of a natural, you'd have made a good living at it. It isn't wrong to want more before you're ready, but don't flaunt the idea. I raced bikes starting with motocross as a kid, and finishing with many seasons in GP250. I know bikes. Your progression is not reasonable, and is fueled by your checkbook, not your experience. I mean this in the most friendly way. The fact you never got hurt on bikes is another indicator that you never really pushed it. We cannot support your plea that downsizing for excitement keeps you sharp. It actually forces more attention out of you, and what happens when that attention is expended.... BANG, BIFF, BOOM!!! You're messed up, or worse. The fact that you have gotten away with it does not mean that you are safe, or getting more than 10% out of the canopy. You are behind the curve my friend, It will hurt you if you persist. Noone wants to see that, especially your kid(s). Please rethink your position. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

The Jedei is an advanced canopy, and Brian suggests at least 300 jumps for the Samurai, which is a de-tuned Jedei (as far as diving performance). You want to wingload it at 1.34, which is a bit high for your experience, but acceptable for a more docile canopy if those at your dz who watch you think so. The Jedei is not docile. It is one of the most extreme ellipticals out there. I don't recommend it. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Keep on fishing Canuck. You're trying too hard to make an argument. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Goodstuff is mostly content. Crosswind has great content, but is a bit more Warren Miller-esque (artsy and narrative). Both are great in their own right. I own both. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

I'd like to go to the bridge in March (on my way to the cave), but I think even then unless you get a break, the weather will be harsh. You'll definitely want to climb out to keep warm, but Don may work for you. Maybe Tom will still be out there doing his 4-a-day routine, you could hook up with him. Has he got 1000 off the bridge yet? Good luck Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Layne, As far as I can see, no one is bashing you. I can understand it may seem that way from your POV though. The point being made here is that your 100 jumps (testing it) have not (NOT) tested anything except how well it holds the slider down unless you have tested cutaways. We all make mistakes, and sometimes what seems like a good idea turns out to be a bad one. This idea is one of those... may seem good on the surface, but you have gotten nothing but advice to get away from it from some very experienced folks (myself not included in "very experienced"). I promise you that zipper will break before the break cord, this is the first hicup (since you intend for the breakcord to break). Then the zipper can catch lines (the part that is left, or both halves if it doesn't break all the way). I was nervous about my velcro system until I got it ironed out, but your system I wouldn't even consider jumping. The chances of a cutaway after you stow your slider are small, especially if you fly responsibly (so as not to induce line-twists), but if you had too, you could be in serious trouble. There are 3 very accepted methods of securing your slider, one is velcro (either on your suit or on the rig), the second is the tarp elastic tie&ball, the third is tabs on the risers. The only other commonly accepted method is stowing without securing it (If I don't secure it, after I open my chest strap it never goes over the top of my head). It's great you're trying to think of new things, but this idea is not a keeper. If you brought me the idea, I would not have built it for you. Also, I'll again repeat that I am happy you gave up stowing it infront of your head (either in your teeth or under your chin). Now , think of a different idea, or do it like everyone else is. You'll find plenty of open minds here, but even open minded folks don't generally drive 100mph into brick walls. Open minded doesn't always mean oblivious. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

I like them on the topflap best. I put Mirage d-bags in all my rigs, I think they are superior in construction and design. I have used Mirage d-bags in Wings, Javelins, Mirage (duh), Talon2, and soon my new Micron. But please be carefull when mixing d-bags and containers, measure and accept the consequences if you f-up. BTW, I use G3 bags, not the asymetrical G4 bags. Good luck, and may no slammers come your way Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

you really need both, but the belly suit will be more useful early on. Get solid belly-flying before spending too much time freeflying. Hell, I just did a head-down jump yesterday in my comp bellysuit with the booties on. Being solid on your belly may save your life someday. Get that first. Freeflying will always be there. Used freefly suits are more friendly than used belly suits too, since they generally fit looser, and need a little less tailoring. You can also get a belly suit and then just throw on shorts and a longsleeve to start sitflying. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Well, after looking at the pics. I'd say the zipper will break long before the break cord. You need a better system. It looks clunky and troublesome. Look around and see the stuff others are doing. You can even have tabs sewn on your risers if you don't want to tie it down behind your head. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

80 lb break cord? I don't know if that'd break or not when you unloaded the canopy by cutting away. I don't think it would. I use velcro and elastic sewn to each jumpsuit. I also have one made up on tape to slide over the reserve flap if I want to go "suitless." I had to experiment with the amount of velcro and such, but when I come in, I just throw down the canopy, reach behind my head for the slider and pull it up and the velcro releases. The velcro also holds 95% of the time under canopy (and probably the other 5% is when I don't mate it well). I know in my heart it will release if I induced linetwists or had some other issue requiring a cutaway after stowing the slider. 80lb break cord takes alot to break (80lbs). I've seen it used for static line on base jumps, it takes alot of force to break it. Think it through. Glad you gave up on the teeth thing, having the slider infront of your head is a bad idea, which has been well discussed here. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Hey, I was the reserve side!!! All a part of the game. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Hey friend, If you're wearing out the leather sole of your booties, you should do less walking and more jumping. All kidding aside, I have over 200 jumps on each of two RW suits, and there is no significant sign of wear on the leather sole of the booties. My suits are Merlin, and aside from the logistical problems of dealing with them, the suits are tops. Troy Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

I think we all would like some info on the Vigil, but that company has not been very forthcoming with any information. I can understand not discussing legal issues, but they seem to be shrouding this device in vagueness. I have not heard anything specific, nor heard of the company responding efficiently with the public. A bad start in my book. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Miranda, If you'd come over to the men's shower with us, you'd see the best showers, the womens' must be worse. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Another very solid post from billvon. You hit the nail on the head again. This post should be included in a sticky. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Chrisky illustrates my point perhaps more effectively. Unfortunately, when we banter via written word, things get misunderstood. I read your inital post as a question you did not need an answer to, but that you thought others would like to know. That is apparently not the case. I apologize for any wrong I may have done you with regards to this. A point I feel strongly about is teaching avoidance first, recovery last. I would rather someone prevent a malfunction rather than spend hours practicing to deal with it. Low turns are always avoidable, although the consequences may be argued. I mention how to flare effectively and how to act if you flare too high, too low, or in a turn. I do this in the fjc, and it was done in mine. At my dz, students jump Sabre2 canopies loaded at 1:1. It is quite different than most student gear. Ultimately, my response is still: DO NOT TURN LOW! If you find yourself in that situation, you should instinctively FLARE! If it isn't instinct yet, keep practicing in your mind. Visualize the situation, and react. Also, If you find yourself in a low-turn situation, reacting as soon as possible will be the biggest factor in how well you walk away (if you do). Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

The original poster did not request information on how to recover from a failed swoop. Specifically he stated: I do teach low turn recovery in my FJC, not failed swoop recovery. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

Could be political, but there is alot at stake when doing big-ways. Just because you are doing pretty well under good conditions, doesn't mean you will under less-than-ideal conditions. Experience means more than just jump numbers. Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.