ianmdrennan

Agreed. Don't over think it. Don't go big on your first jumps. Start with the basics again. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Agreed. I believe Canopy Pilots should have an accurate digital altimeter or audible. However there are a significant amount of them that use the device inappropriately with a "Turn on the beep" mindset. It's sure to get people hurt - there is SO, SO much more to a HP landing than initiation altitude. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Nope, skydiving isn't. That said, we all do it because it brings something to our lives. Something we can't explain to others who haven't tried it. Yet, the outside looks at us like a bunch of nut jobs in the "Who would want to do that" category. It's sad that, even WITHIN the sport we all so dearly love, our own kind display the same types of attitudes to each others respective disciplines - along with the same lack of understanding the outside world gives our community as a whole. Blues, Ian I would agrree 100% if....there weren't any cases of a swooper taking out someone not involved in 'that' discipline. I don't disagree at all with that. I've never (to my recollection) advocated swooping in traffic. There's a reason my last 1500+ jumps have been hop n pops, landing in the dedicated swooping area. On the rare cases I go to altitude I never enjoy my swoop, even in the designated area, since it's so hard to keep track of everyone (even those that shouldn't be in, or around, the HP landing area). I'll just stick to hop n pops, thanks

There are lots of things that wouldn't/couldn't make this work and none of them are the technology. My opinion is that the pilot should be 100% focused on the task at hand. When we're higher (1000 feet range) visual and audible devices give us a sense for the type of turn and rotation speed we're going to be using. Once the process starts the pilots attention shifts, significantly, to observing as much as possible to whats happening around them and this heightens as they get lower. When you're finishing up your turn, the last thing you need to be is distracted by some device - regardless of how accurate it is. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Nope, skydiving isn't. That said, we all do it because it brings something to our lives. Something we can't explain to others who haven't tried it. Yet, the outside looks at us like a bunch of nut jobs in the "Who would want to do that" category. It's sad that, even WITHIN the sport we all so dearly love, our own kind display the same types of attitudes to each others respective disciplines - along with the same lack of understanding the outside world gives our community as a whole. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Not sure why you're shaking your head. I don't see anyone saying that we need not improve on the statistics. Every single year we should strive for a 0 fatality year. Although we do have to be realistic. It's extremely unlikely we will EVER have that - no matter how hard we try. To me, the important part is to keep trying, keep bettering ourselves, and keep passing knowledge along. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

True in that membership is not growing, false on shooting down his statement about number of jumps. The average jumper today makes far more skydives than they did 20 years ago. Year Skydiving Fatalities in U.S. Estimated Annual Jumps Fatalities Per 1000 Jumps 2010 21 3.0 million 0.007 2009 16 3.0 million 0.005 2008 30 2.6 million 0.012 2007 18 2.5 million 0.007 2006 21 2.5 million 0.008 2005 27 2.6 million 0.010 2004 21 2.6 million 0.008 2003 25 2.6 million 0.010 2002 33 2.6 million 0.013 2001 35 2.6 million 0.013 2000 32 2.7 million 0.012 So, as usual, in your rush to disparage another poster, you're wrong. I might suggest that you take a look at the way you "talk" to posters on this website. You could do with a little less condescension, and a little more information. Ian ps: For this actually interested, here are the USPA statistics http://www.uspa.org/AboutSkydiving/SkydivingSafety/tabid/526/Default.aspx Performance Designs Factory Team

A better attempt at a poll but there are still some serious issues with it. So, first I'll give my "ER" stories. 2 trips, broken ankle and broken leg. Both at around 5mph WELL AFTER the fast part of the swoop. Neither I would consider "Swoop ER visit". To the poll: The first part of the problem is that you can't limit what a swoop is. The reality is it is ANYTHING you do to pitch towards the ground (therefore speed) and use that energy low to the ground. I've seen some REALLY bad accidents from minor front riser inputs (totally destroyed ankles) to major impacts involving death, and other major impacts having nothing but a bruised ego. Anecdotal stuff aside - pushing the envelope, like all things, is largely subjective to time spent practicing and learning (or perspective). For example, if I go and buy a GXS 1000, take it to the track and race it as hard as I can - I'm very likely going to get hurt. Really hurt, or dead. Now, if a Moto GP champ takes the same bike, he'll have far less likely hood of injury or death (Although the possibility always remains) and will also very likely consider the bike "slow" or "easy" by comparison to their competition bike. BOTH riders will likely fall at some time. The difference being that, most of the time, the more experienced rider will identify the situation early, respond in a way that minimizes damage, and likely come away with minimal injury. This, like all things, can be applied to any "riskier" activity in life - and that includes skydiving. So to answer your poll: I swoop hard, as hard as I can, and that means I'm pushing my envelope. I do everything I can to have safe training/competition environment, starting before I even get on the plane - it doesn't mean everyone else is doing the same (and it also doesn't mean I can't make a mistake - just ilke anyone else who's died skydiving). Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Yep. Just like skydiving. Performance Designs Factory Team

Define swooping. Performance Designs Factory Team

No need to get excited. 1) We're reading a press article, and info can be incorrect/misleading 2) If the information IS accurate it's a TEMPORARY ban until they've had a chance to evaluate their process/procedures and if there's something they, as a dz, can do to minimize risks. They've had a really bad year, unfortunately, give them time to get their bearings. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

My wife has an iPhone, I have a DroidX. Both good phones, honestly I see little to no difference. That said, we use my droid for navigation, it's better than the IPhone for sure. Doesn't take long to find location either (in my experience). Performance Designs Factory Team

You guys are rookies

Yeah, it's always best to leave the worrying for future generations. Let them figure it out when we could have....right? Why not? Seems to be the plan for Social Security..... LOL, true. Of course I never said that was a good idea either

And I believe in stopping this nonsense that we shouldn't be looking at innovative ways to prevent this from even being an issue. Are there going to be failures along the way? Of course - ultimately I believe they'll be worth it. Too often the argument I hear from people, like yourself, is that it's not worth it or we don't need it - I simply don't agree. I favor innovation. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Lets see - we eat almost 100% sustainable products - rarely eat food that is otherwise grown/mass produced (although we admittedly do occasionally), support our local farmers, drive fuel efficient cars/motorcycles, and try to limit our travel other than necessary. We've made sure our house is energy efficient as well. Are we perfect - no, but we try hard to have our impact on the planet be minimal. Ultimately it costs more, sometimes a lot more, but it's worth it for our health, our planet, and our child. What do you Steve? Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Yeah, it's always best to leave the worrying for future generations. Let them figure it out when we could have....right? Performance Designs Factory Team

Pretty unreasonable of "Jim". It's certainly not going to be the end of life as we know it. Of course it's equally unreasonable to think we shouldn't take better care of our planet, or at least try to. Performance Designs Factory Team

I think you missed the true point of his post Performance Designs Factory Team

Ha! Owned

So did I. Of course my next computer will be a PC again. The mac is ok. I can see why people like them. However, it's pretty clear to me that it's an overpriced trendy piece of hardware. If they were priced similar to PC's I'd consider them viable. I just can't justify the price and what I can get with a PC. And, they suck for gamers. edit: I will say that the trackpad is amazing, beyond amazing actually. I prefer to NOT use the mouse on the computer. The battery life is REALLY good too. Still, I'm going to move back to a PC but stick with my iPad for the 'mac benefits' Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

We buy our food almost entirely from local CSA's who have sustainable practices (our seafood as well), no hormones introduced, and naturally raised animals. Ironically we save quite a bit doing this because we don't end up in stores much, buying a bunch of useless crap because it looks appealing. The food tastes noticeably better too AND it's made us try different things since we get whatever is in season. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Dan, Tone it down. If you want to have a constructive conversation then telling a poster to "Blow you" isn't the best way to go about it. Ian Performance Designs Factory Team

Really? no, really..... maybe you should get out more often. Yes. Yes. Really. I get out plenty thanks

It's the exact canopy I started to really learning swooping on. It had a moderate recovery arc (long for the time) and was fun to fly. Mine opened like total shit though - that canopy beat me like a red headed stepchild - every jump for 400 jumps. I do think there are better options in todays market, but if it's what you want (or have available) it'll do just fine. What's more important is that you get a good mentor and/or training. Blues, Ian Performance Designs Factory Team