humbled1

John Hamilton, (one of the DZOs at Elsinore), Laurent "Lob" Lobjoit, (the school manager), Pat Newman (Videographer/AFF/Tandem), and Mikhail Mineev (Coach/AFF/Tandem/Videographer) all have over 10K jumps. 2 or 3 of them have over 15k (John & Mikhail for sure, maybe Pat too) Also there is Matt who has been jumping since 1979 and hasnt counted his jumps in years.....many others working at Elsinore with over 5K jumps. That's weird that peeps lie about jumps, lol and I feel guilty counting the 1 tandem I did...I know its a skydive but, well ya know.... "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

I use: Alti-Track on wrist: Love the analog look plus loads of jump data that I still not sure what to do with...(and yes I have jump-track and still wondering why..lol) Optima in helmet: works great in freefall/under canopy, very easy to configure beep altitudes using numbered profiles Visio on mudflap using bonehead mount: Great accurate digital display, ez to see while tracking and under canopy. good luck "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

Dave, yeah your right. I had just looked in the part where I saw it on the Rawa, where the strap goes into the chin cup. After looking more closely I saw the metal hook but at least it is set in a recessed notch and even sits flush with the metal. Thanks for the heads up dave edit: pchapman, actually my ff3 looks alot like your pic as far as the "little hook" goes "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

actually since I had an idea what to look for, I saw it right away looking at that photo. I just checked my FF3 and nothing like that exists. Yesterday I just watched the 1st DVD from VAAST Aerial Camera with Norman Kent and he emphasized that ANY alteration or addition to our equipment has unintended consequences, even safety features. This is a perfect example of that, though I think this risk could be mitigated by the manfacturer, it doesnt take much to cause a big problem in the air. Good to hear it was noticed before it became a real problem! "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

HELL YES BROTHER!!!!! Welcome back to the sky...!!! "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

Think about what she said, obviously your intention is to get a helmet you can later mount a box on with a camera in it, but what about later on when you want to jump with out a camera? Remove the box? What about the cameye/hypeeye? Maybe you will want a ringsight someday..you gonna jump with that without the camera? Do yourself a favor, and wait till you will actually use a camera helmet. I have been in the sport a very short time and I now own an Aviator (open faced), a Mamba (full face) and a FF3 (camera). I use them all at different times. And the only one with a cutaway is the FF3. And as mentioned by the time you are ready to do video new stuff will come out, buy for what you need for jumping today, not in 6 months. "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

I have a mamba with a optima in it and can not really tell its there, nice little pocket for it. That is opposed to my Aviator open face helmet, which almost hurts my ear with the optima in it. Both the protrack and optima are audibles but if you want a freefall logbook you need the protrack. I like to log my jumps as well, but I use an altitrack for the logging portion. I like my mamba alot, very comfortable, and good customer service from Bonehead as well. Good luck... "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

Check out the Pro-Track from L&B http://www.l-and-b.dk/protrack.html Also Alti-2 has the neptune 2 http://www.alti-2.com/sport/neptune/index.php But that is to be replaced by the neptune 3 http://www.alti-2.com/sport/N3/index.php IF it ever actually makes it to the market Also there is the Skytronic GFX http://www.unfeathered.com/skytronicgfx.html but I am less familar with that unit. Personally I am an L & B fan...but Alti-2 is cool too!! I would think most (all?) full face helmet would work with glasses, but I am not sure. "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

What Dragon means is there is no "cutaway system" on a standard full-face helmet. On most real camera helmets there is the option (tho its becoming a standard from what I have seen) to have a cutaway system where you pull on a ring or cord (like a mini handle) that completely releases one side of the helmet chin strap from the helmet. One thing I noticed on my FF3 from 2kcomposites is they mounted the actual cutaway system on the side opposite the camera (its a side mount video camera helmet/top mount for still) which make sense to me since it would most likely get tangled on the side with the video camera. I believe alot of time and thought goes into designing today's camera helmets, which is why I suggest using the correct tool for each job! If a jumper gets his canopy/lines/risers tangled on his camera/helmet the tension would be quite high, it would be very difficult to use a hook knife or such to cut the chin strap. It is possible to "modify" a mamba to put a cutaway on it, but again I would get a real camera helmet when the time comes. "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

I actually own an Icon because I got a good deal on it and it fit good...used of course. Lately I have been reading up on containers and after comparing features/prices I would defintely get a V3/Micron But for what its worth I like my Icon alot but its the only rig I have actually owned so that may play a part "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

Its no problem to get a helmet u can mount a cam on but the sidewinder is a sidemount camera helmet. With some camera helmets that would also be ok but this one the box is built in so in some respects it would be like jumping a camera (less snag hazards of course) all the time. I would imagine riser slaps may be an issue till you get your openings worked out. Its possible you can remove the clamshell that covers the camera until you actually get one, I am not sure. But you need to pick the HC or PC style when you buy it, who knows if the camera will be available when you are ready to jump it so I would buy it now, but then it will be outdated by the time you jump it...uh...uh Since it may be a bit before actually mount a camera I would just get a normal full face like the Mamba by Bonehead or the Gas by Cookie. I have already seen a very nice setup with a Sony CX100 top mounted on a Cookie Gas, not in a box just mounted on a plate they bolted on. Personally, I already own 3 helmets, an Aviator, a Mamba, and I just got a FF3 for video. I would just get what you need now and worry about video after you are ready for it, you never know what camera/helmets will come out by then. I know for a fact Bonehead is working on a full face camera helmet that may be released in a few months, but maybe longer. Also the Sidewinder PC/HC are the only 2 full face camera helmets that I am aware of that are currently on the market. good luck... "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

Check around at the dropzone(s) you may be considering to get your A license at. All DZs offer some type of video for an individual jump, but not all offer "video packages" that include all your student jumps. Getting all 25 jumps (minumum u need for your A) on video will likely not be cheap, but maybe you can get every third one or something. As for doing it yourself, not only is it not allowed, it would be extremely dangerous. I just started jumping with a camera myself and its adds many more variables to the skydive. Also if your goal is to document your progression another skydiver doing the video is what you would want. The viewer can not really get a sense of what the camera guy is doing. Normally the video guy is an oberver of the main jump, not a participant. This is not to say lots of jumpers dont wear cameras on normal jumps, they do, but nomally to film those they are jumping with. 10 or 15 vids of you doing a solo would not be alot to see imo, get a real video guy! Good luck,

very pretty scoop. those new pix do your rig justice! Looks alot sharper in the new ones... "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

I dont even have to click on the link to know what flick that is LMAO nice one....but thats who I thought of when I read the thread title "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

Not sure if you jumped at Elsinore yesterday but its my understanding that 2 tandems got sick under canopy. Either way, it was not just windy yesterday, it was gusty, real gusty. Its been doing that alot in the afternoon lately. I went down there around 1 but never did jump cuz I live way to close to jump in gusty winds. Everyone that came down was complaining about turbulence under canopy. I saw a nasty dust devil near the loading area that caused 2 tandems to land near the swoop pond. My point is I'll bet you were getting one hell of a ride under that huge canopy, so I wouldnt beat yourself up over it. I know a girl got sick too, lol I talked to the video guy. But who knows maybe you did not jump at Elsinore, ur profile doesnt say, regardless just jump again and see if u puke! btw today was much calmer till around 2:30 then got nice around 5 again...awesome day, very good vibe today....really good people at Elsinore, specially the real experienced jumpers. Always eager to jump with newbies like myself. "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

Trust me John, for fun I like to bend spoons with my mind!! "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

I would think a brand new, custom built for your body size containter would be the most important piece of gear. Of course other factors are very important, such as how often/quickly is the jumper going to downsize etc. Used mains seem to be easy to find and you most likely keep a new container longer than a new main. As for a reserve, I would go used if I could find a good one at a good price, if not new would be ok since it will most likely stay with the container. But I have never owned a new rig/canopy so take my advice with a grain of salt... "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

perfectly stated! "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

My Icon is an I5 that was made in 09/2005. I got it off an instructor at my dz along with a Smart 160 last summer. I have about 150 jumps on it so far and really like this container. I previously jumped only school and rental gear (so my experience is limited) but this was a second hand container and it fits me better than any other rig I have tried on. I did remove the reserve/hardware after getting it and washed the container. Since then I have tried to take care of it. "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

My lines for my main were made by PD, not Aerodyne. I figure if I have my lower brake lines replaced and my keepers modified (if my rigger agrees) , then I will at least know if that was the cause. But who knows, after looking at them again the fuzziness is where the "bend" in the excess brake line is in the keepers. At least in my rig it appears to be related to the stowing/releasing of my brakes. If I find out more info I will post it. EDIT: yeah I thing the edges of the keepers are the prob on my rig, I think if they had sewn the edges with a rounded side (just a hem in a pair of pants) it would prevent this. "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

I have an Icon I5 that was made in 05 that I purchased in excellent shape last summer. It had a smart 160 reserve but no main. I got a Sabre1 170 from a friend, but it needed a new line set. I ordered one from PD thru Square1. I have since put about 140 jumps on it. Since about 40 jumps I noticed my lower brake lines were a little fuzzy, at this point they are so fuzzy I am going to have them replaced, they dont look frayed or unsafe, just annoying really. IMO, this thread indicates the problem is with the risers/container. I do most of my own packing and even when I dont I am very careful about stowing my brakes and excess line. edit: after taking a good look as to where the fuzzy portion is (about a 4 inch section around the middle of the lower brake line) I think it is from the "sharp" edges of the keepers for the excess brake line. I am going to have my lower brake lines replaced soon and see if my rigger can modify/replace the keepers. "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

WOW! she is a bigot??? Why?? How?? Who did she insult? Who did she put down?? Because she does not think same sex marriage is OK? Most likely due to her religous beliefs. So she is a bigot because she has traditional christian beliefs?? Now Hilton is obviously a bigot, no tolerance for anyone elses beliefs, kinda like yourself. Personally, I have no problem with gay marriage, marrying a donkey or anything else of the sort. I am an athiest so I dont care about god. But fair is fair, you sound much more like a bigot than Ms. Calfiornia. BTW, I voted against Prop 8 in Cal, but the gays lost and need to STFU about it, now 2 props have passed in Cali banning same sex marriage, get over it or move to vermont "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

1) It was a xmas gift in 07 for my then 18 year old daughter (got a both a tandem, had always thought about it, but never would have, had it not been for my daughter bugging me) 2)yes all of them, most of them positive in nature, but when things go wrong it can get scary as hell. 3)I feel like I am flying, or swimming in the air if that makes sense, most of my thoughts are about completing the dive properly and not screwing it up for the other jumpers. Thoughts of bouncing or the ground approaching are not even there till pull time, if at all. 4)I did my AFF training and got my A last March, since then I have done 218 jumps, my daughter also got her license so we jump together now, she has 30 jumps. I plan on doing 200-300 each year. Lately I have been doing 8-10 jumps a week. "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

Dustin, I also jump at Elsinore and I am very familar with the rental situation at Square1. My daughter actually works there. That sounds like a good deal but keep in mind, the selection of rental gear is pretty slim. There are only about 11 rigs total. Only 6 or 7 of those are 190s or 210s. There is 3 or 4 170s and the rest are all 150s. On the weekends these rigs (210s & 190s) go very quickly. During boogies the line usually starts forming an hour before the shop opens. Square1 also sells used gear, most of it is kept at the Perris location. You can check it out on their site or even drive over to Perris and look for yourself. Not to take any business from Square1 but unless you plan on buying 2 brand new rigs before you get 500 jumps I really suggest you buy a used rig for the first one. Like Drew mentioned, you can always pay to have it sized correctly. Either way good luck and maybe I will see you at the dz! "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."

It's very clear you have never met Jay Stokes, its fine you don't care, but if you are basing that on the fact Jay (never met any of the other peeps trying something like this) is egotisical, you are just plain wrong. "Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."