ridestrong

He wasn't sit flying... I'm sure he was in a gorilla with that dude. ETA: sorry man, never mind I see someone already said that. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Ooh yeah!!! Avs up one on SJ. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Think about it, snagging your main on a camera with your RSL attached. That would not be pleasant... and is a good point. Even more unpleasant... would be having your reserve snagged on your camera. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

I never would have tried to take the time to cut the line with a hook knife in this situation. You miss read that statement. Come on... Seriously? I will take friendly advice for exactly that. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

To those of you who have given constructive critisisms so far, thank you. Some of you more experienced jumpers seem to be contradicting each other. What is the point of disconnecting the RSL???? Is it to get stable before pulling the reserve? Then what would be the point of trying to hit silver the split second after the cutaway? Why not just keep the RSL connected then? The GoPro, is it a legitimate snag hazard or not? Some of you don't seem to think so. I unclipped the chin strap as easily as if I was standing on the ground, I would not have taken the time to fumble with it. I was calm and did not panic, there are times when you know you don't have a second to spare... I don't think I wasted too much time, I didn't fumble with the lines, toggles etc... It would take more time and altitude to cutaway without an RSL be stable and then pull reserve than anything I did in this situation. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Dude, the line was too high to just reach up and cut it with a hook knive. It would take some serious time to try to identify that one line, separate it and cut it all while spinning hard and fast.... still not to guarantee a landable canopy. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

>>realize what they are doing can kill them Why do we jump out of airplanes? Why do we BASE jump? Why do we swoop? Why do we do CREW? >>I actually try and learn from those mistakes and don't flagrantly repeat them I have 6 maybe 7 max jumps with a GoPro out of a 100. Is there a chance I do 6 or 7 more in the next 100, yeah maybe. But then... I have a cigar once in awhile. I haven't worn a condom with every chick I've slept with. I sometimes drive over the speed limit. I've drank expired milk. I don't always turn off ALL electronics on the airplane when traveling. Have you ever done any of those things? It's RECOMMENDED that you don't. We understand the risks with doing them but we do them anyway. Does that mean we "flagrantly" repeat them despite someone telling us not to. You gave me some good advice in that Heli Jump post and I used it to better understand the risks involved in jumping with a camera. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

I put both hands on my cutaway to pull, it is how we were taught in AFF. I have a Skyhook and I could feel my reserve opening as I put my hand on the 'D' ring. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

SIM A. Introduction 1. Skydiving provides a wealth of visual stimulation that can be readily captured through still and video photography. 2. Smaller and lighter cameras have made it easier and less expensive to take cameras on a jump. 3. Jumpers need to exercise caution with respect to camera flying: a. camera equipment and its interaction with the parachute system b. activities on the jump c. breakoff procedures d. special emergency procedures for camera flyers 4. Once a camera flyer has become completely familiar with the equipment and procedures of the discipline, he or she will be able to experiment and perform creatively. B. Background 1. In the early days: a. Early pioneer camera flyers had to solve the obvious problems presented by big, cumbersome camera equipment and parachutes. b. Only the most experienced jumpers and photographers would brave the activity of filming others. 2. More recently: a. Miniature digital still and video cameras appear to present less of a challenge, encouraging more jumpers to use cameras on their jumps. b. Skydivers have become less concerned about the skill of a camera flyer jumping with their group. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

I was prepared for the replies that you all have left thus far. I was hoping for more discussion on reasons to unclip the chin strap vs not. Maybe we can talk about how dangerous it really is to jump with a camera. I see 2 main risks with jumping video. 1. Loss of focus on altitude awareness. 2. Snag risk on opening. If you forget about the camera and only think about it at pull time you can eliminate #1 (an audible will help also). As for the snag risk you can minimize this by putting your head down (as Dave says in post #8). Other than putting your head down and pulling stable how many other ways are there to minimize the risks of a snag. How do I learn/know these things?.... by reading posts from you guys. Just because I have worn a camera a few times does not mean I have a total disregard for safety and recommendations. I would say night jumps pose a much bigger risk than jumping with a camera yet the USPA says that's ok at 50 jumps. So please tell me just how dangerous is jumping with a camera (GoPro). Is maintaining awareness and keeping your head down at pull time that difficult that someone with 200 jumps can do it better than someone with 100. The camera looks where I look, not the other way around. Only a few of you have given some advice... I will listen to and take legitimate advice from those willing to give it, whether you believe that or not. Lets say for arguments sake I had 201 jumps when this video was shot. Was taking literally 2 seconds to undo the chin strap that bad of an idea. I was fully aware of my altitude and was under at 2K. Please don't just simply reply with "Dude, 2 seconds is all it takes." In the next post you will see the USPA SIM basic info on camera use. Let's talk about it. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

On Sunday I had my first malfunction. I believe my packing error occurred while I was stowing my risers, when my d-bag and pilot chute got caught up in my excess lines. I think I accidentally brought one of the lines over the wrong side of the bag while I was untangling the mess and it went unnoticed as I stuffed it in the container. I was wearing a GoPro during the jump and after seeing the mal (and being a spinning mal) I decided to unclip my chin strap to avoid having a reserve snag on the camera. This was only weeks after reading posts here regarding mals, RSL's, etc. while flying camera. I had remembered reading some say that they would recommend doing this to prevent a snag causing a reserve mal or neck injury. Had I not been in a spinning mal I don't think I would have undone the chin strap. When my reserve opened the helmet flew off my head, I was under at 2,000'. Yeah... I felt like an idiot but it did make for a cool video. I have learned from my packing error and the whole experience. I know I am not supposed to have the camera till the "recommended" 200, but I did and I can't defend it... other than I was aware of the snag risk it posed. At the end of the day I had a great reserve ride and all of my gear was recovered completely undamaged including the helmet and camera. Hope you all enjoy the video and pics... Now bring on the beating. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nNMBoQFxGM&fmt=35 *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

:7: + bottle of Patron Had my first cutaway! *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

DUUUUUUUUDE Check this out... RealitySUCKS Once a few of your friends end up on one of these....wellll He was f'n with you from the first reply.... Besides, I'm going to teach him how to swoop and wing suit in 2 weeks... so it'l be coo... *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

I voted "No". There are plenty of a-holes on here (at times myself included, but usually only in SC ) but the ones with the numbers do tend to be that way toward new jumpers. They need to realize that their jump numbers are just that 'jump numbers'. It's not like it's how many lives you've saved or how many chicks you've slept with. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

This explains it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NI__468yW0&feature=related *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

AA11 , UA175, AA77, UA93 We are not talking about terrorist attacks. *Acts of war* (or however it's been called ) are subject of discussion. Ever consider not posting in SC... *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Death is even worse. Bumper Sticker: WARNING! Egging my car will cause death. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

In this poll of 72 votes, 49% said they don't disconnect their RSL when jumping with camera. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3828558;page=unread#unread *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

damn... I guess the hook I was using was too shinny. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Can I have your rig? Assuming you own one that is... *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

yeah... but how come there aren't any half-man /half-monkeys running around. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

No offense but you will miss your 'spot' more often than not with that basic approach. Anyway, congrats on 50... time to schedule some night jumps. *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

Not all religious folk are anti-evolution; only the stupid ones. ... but who turned off the evolution switch? *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad3Hzsy1-20&feature=related *I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.----