ianmdrennan

Thank you very much for the offer and the information. We're calling now to try and get a room. See you all there

Like true lamers, Katie and I haven't looked into accomodation in the area. We assume the hotels will be busy with New Years and all but does anyone know if everything is all booked up yet or if there's a hope for a hotel in the area to stay at? Performance Designs Factory Team

CSpenceFLY & The RoamingDZ plus a few quarts of Peach Mountain Dew Mrs RoamingDZ.com Popsjumper Katiebear, SkymonkeyONE and DaGimp in "The Monkey Mansion" MOUTH Psycho Bob & Psycho Patty (My wife) RkyMtnHigh stl135... Wonderhog... Thanatos340 Skymama jumpchikk Jumpnkramer Goofyjumper Skinnyshrek and his "Den of Iniquity" Flytex revillusion Skychick312 & Avalonwings Lauralicious Skyjenb Skydivermandy and Dave Darkwing Nut n lucky Dbattman (tentative) Icon134 micduran,with her new camper Chaoskitty Pyke Yardhippe & Redhot wife (maybe) FrogLady PSW097 missg8tordivr NYBryan selbbub78 ncfitzge Jumpingbean001 FoxyRoxtail + hubby The_Don & jeannier Rick Kris & Dagny Scotty C. Tami C. Bobster Salsa John with Super Salsa and Green FIRE Skylar Jessie07 THayden Lachlan Zeemax Add: Mindway69 and IanMDrennan (Hopefully in time for the swoop comp even though I'm pretty damn uncurrent right now ) Performance Designs Factory Team

I agree that it's bogus. There's a lot more to a 270 than simply turning 270 degrees (at least doing a good one). For the record, I think 180's are much more of a traffic hazzard than a 270 as well (I am NOT, however, saying that they shouldn't be learned. They are an important part of the progression. ) Blues. Performance Designs Factory Team

err....you may want to go out and test that theory again..... I think you're wrong about that.

Little more Vortex II info (sizing): The Vortex II's are very tight rigs. Mine is sized for a 120 main (and it was a SUPER, SUPER tight fit) and 120 Decelerator. So far I've been able to put Reserve: 120 Decelerator 113 PDR Main: 120 Hurricane 109 XF2 107 Katana 96 Velocity 90 Velocity 84 Velocity in the rig. I could not put anything bigger than the 96 Velo or the 120 'regular' main in it though. The reserve container will not fit a 129 reserve either. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

I have a vortexII that I have put 1500 jumps on (and put through numerous swoop competitions) and while a little dirty is still going strong. My ONLY complaint with the company is poor customer service, which (in the US) is now a NON ISSUE thanks to Louis Tomasso. Blues. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Not sure if anyone did it at CO (we were all beaten to hell remember ). I know McSqueaky's in Pro now. I'll be doing the Pro Qualifier next year and I think Shitmil will as well. Of course I totally plan on shaming Stu into doing it as well Jokes aside, I hope that everyone in the top 10 goes and gets their Pro card. Next year is going to be rocking! Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Good job buddy! Can't wait to do it all again

Not necessarily. I believe by the time a pilot gets to the loadings mentioned prior under the Sabre2 they should have the toolset to being safely flying a KA. Whenever I switch canopies I start again from the beginning - straight in->doubles->90, etc, etc. Sure that progression happens relatively quickly if you've laid down a solid foundation but it's necessary IMO. I believe most pilots would simply start throwing out their 270's (or whatever) on the KA after switching. That's a bigger problem IMO. I wouldn't say inefficient. I would say that (for me) the KA is much more fun to fly at that loading. It feels more responsive and I don't feel like everything is sluggish. I don't see much benefit to a xbrace loaded at 1.6 that cannot be achieved from a canopy designed to fly at it's best around that loading. Seems about right. The headaches tend to be that they (xbraces) can dance a LOT. That makes it easy to lose control if you're not paying attention. Basically it's more work. Addidionally when a xbrace opens hard...it opens REALLY hard and it generally hurts a fair amount. Well..first of all I believe that Aerodyne puts out quality products. I may not like all of them but they all fill their nitch well. Having not flown the Mamba it certainly seems like a good thing from reviews (a friend of mine jumped it a lot in prototype). IMO one of the Mamba's biggest advantages will be the line type and the fact that it'll stay in trim over time. That is my biggest gripe with Spectra and it only gets more noticable with higher performing wings. As for how it performs against the KA...time will tell as there just isn't enough info out there yet on them. I suspect that a lot will come down to the pilot, as usual. Cool. PM me if you have any questions. The more up and coming pilots that do the CPC gets the better. Pleasure. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Hi, First of all, sorry about your buddy. Least he's still got 2 lives left though The questions you raise are largely due to (IMO) confusing marketing and also jumper awareness. I too, made a purchasing error when the Katana first came out. At that time it was near impossible to get a demo so I bought it for my wife on my understanding what the canopy was. At the time I thought it was more than a ST (Stiletto but basically a replacement for it) and less than a Velo. I was wrong. After jumping it I realized it was much more like a Velo with little to no resemblance to the ST. IMO the Katana is a great canopy and most definitely has it's place in the progression of a canopy pilot. In a perfect world the following is my recommendation for someone working their way up the swoop ranks: 1) Sabre2. Gradually downsized until loading approaches 1.7 or so. 2) KA in the same size as the last Sabre2. Gradually downsized until the loading is around 1.9-2.0 3) Velo thereon out. The problem is that a large X-brace (loaded 1.7) fly's kinda sluggish. It's an expensive canopy with not much 'bang for the buck' at that loading. The KA fills that void rather nicely (assuming you're not a big guy - least until the 135, 150 is available). The KA is also very suitable for experienced pilots who want the fastest landings they can get without a canopy that gives them the X-brace headache. Openings are less desirable on X-braces than non-xbraces. The packing volume is higher, the riser pressure is significantly higher, etc, etc. Basically if I HAD to chose between loading a Velo 103 or a KA 107 (without weights to increase my loading) I'd take the KA 107. Much more fun to fly at that loading. If the choice was an 89 KA or a 90 Velo, I'd take the Velo. Hope this helps. Blues, Ian So much for staying out of the swoop forum Performance Designs Factory Team

Vectran shows wear just fine. HMA on the other hand doesn't. Remember, Velocities are still lined with Vectran (including brakes). I do agree that it does require more maintenance than dacron or spectre from a breakage point of view though. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

I would highly recommend them. I ABUSE my suit doing canopy freestyle over land and I'm utterly amazed at how well it's holding up. It is by far the most durable and best made suit I've owned to date. The team and I's experiences with Matter have been nothing short of great. If I get to try the Matrix Suit I'll let you know but for now I've only had experience with the Proconcept 2. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Good job guys. I know there are quite a few pilots from that region itching for competition...except that Chris Cowden loser (I'd red flag him at every competition if I were you ). Can't wait to see what comes from the region. See you all in Colorado next year! Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Katie and I are thinking about heading up to do a bunch of hop n pops. What planes are you guys using for these things now (just porter?) and how many hop n pops would be a reasonable amount to expect? Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

I know you already deleted the post but I wanted to address it anyway I think it's the other way around . I think not competing cause you think you won't win has everything to do with ego. No - you're not talking about people who don't want to compete. If people don't want to compete cause they're just not interested then there's nothing wrong with that. The problem is people who say they want to compete but will only do it if there's a category they feel they have a chance to win in (1 eye, 1 leg with Manta class ). I get my ass whooped regularaly in a number of events. Some competitions I've had zero chance of making a comeback and winning. I didn't quit - I just kept on competing and doing my best. I've learned more in the events I've lost (CPC finals is a good example) than those few I've won. I've stood (and still stand I think) on the same side as you think you do. My first competition EVER was an open class Red Bull event against the PD boys, the XAOS boys, Alchemy, etc, etc. In fact I remember the first 20-25 slots being sponsored and/or full time jumpers in some way. I placed 2nd last yey that single event was an incredible catalyst in my learning (not to mention humbling ) Not wanting to compete is one thing - not wanting to compete cause you think you can't learn anything or won't win is an entirely different thing (ego IMO). If you're scared of losing then competition swooping isn't for you (figuratively I don't mean you personally). Everyone loses at some point. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Bite me Steve Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

last ones... Performance Designs Factory Team

few more.... Performance Designs Factory Team

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Was awesome meeting so many more of you!! You all rock

Funny - I learned so much in one year by comparing what I did in certain conditions to what Ian/Shannon/Jay/Cisco did in the same conditions and why they went further/faster. I learned a shitload and still continue to do so every competition that I attend. You just have to want to learn then open yourself up to it. So far what I can see is that people are scared of losing . That, to me, shows ego driven excuses. It's about learning from your peers (or those better than you or even those who aren't as good). Everyone has something to offer. You just have to be watching/listening. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Coolest boogie ever. I would like to thank each and every one of you for coming out and helping make this a wonderful time. It was great seeing friends, old and new, and I can't wait to see you all again soon! Trey - you outdid yourself this year. People were buzzing about how cool the Spider carnival (yes folks that's right a carnival ride!) was - not to mention the Emp, Rope Acrobatics, Jugglers, etc were.

I agree with Kitty. TV's @ DZ's (ESPECIALLY FOR BOOGIES) are for Skydiving. If you want to watch football - stay at home Or alternatively if football is on, when people want to watch a skydiving video don't BITCH when we turn the football game off Performance Designs Factory Team

Baxter Gillespie will be doing wingsuit organizing. I'm sure there'll be some 'flockers' out there to join ya Performance Designs Factory Team