BrianSGermain

My main reason for putting the bridle inside the mesh is as follows: It gives a bit of friction to prevent the relative wind from pulling the bridle out (I freefly) This is especially important for ZP pilot chutes. (I use F-111 because it stays in the pouch better, and gives better openings than ZP) (PD found the same thing in their testing.) Also, it does not seem to wear out the mesh any faster than other methods (20 years of testing) -BG Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Here is a short article with a sequence of photos: http://www.bigairsportz.com/art-pilotchute.php CYA Brian Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

It was so cold.... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Hey All! Check out this entertaining video of a recent canopy flight course at a boogie in Norther Norway! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMnlwkxcuhw Blue Skies!! Brian Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Hey Everyone! Check out this short informational video on packing your pilot chute. It may save your butt!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axCeYlY_6io CYA Brian Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

All I know is, I had a great time there. The weather didn't exactly cooperate, but we had a great time anyway. Perhaps you just had a bad day. --Brian Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

As it turns out, it is healthy for our brains to enter into a reality that is novel. It brings us into a reality that allows for infinite possibility, rather than the mundane existence of our habits. Like flat flying when all we do is freefly, we feel more alive. I did a 16 way flat dive in Toogoolawah, and it was one of my more memorable jumps this year. I was forced to wake up because I was in a new realm, outside my comfort zone. Yes, it built! + Did ya get your star crest Hehe! I got that back in 1987. Just got away from formation skydiving over the past decade or so... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

As it turns out, it is healthy for our brains to enter into a reality that is novel. It brings us into a reality that allows for infinite possibility, rather than the mundane existence of our habits. Like flat flying when all we do is freefly, we feel more alive. I did a 16 way flat dive in Toogoolawah, and it was one of my more memorable jumps this year. I was forced to wake up because I was in a new realm, outside my comfort zone. Yes, it built! + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

The skydives were lovely, the driving was the scary part! Ironic that we can jump out of an airplane without fear, but driving a car can get the heart pumping. To me, it doesn't matter what the risk is. I just know that I need to take them to keep me feeling alive. That is where the life force comes from... -bsg Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

This was scarier than most skydives that I have done... Perceived Ability weighed against Perceived Risk... visit me at: www.transcendingfear.org --Bri Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Thanks for the help! Fixed it in "edit"... Cheers! Brian Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I think line-twists can be very news-worthy: Check out this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-17AHJQQ8fA --Brian Germain Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

If you have 8 minutes to spare, check out my latest video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDl9WwkKWt4 This one really embodies transcending fear! --Bri Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

My favorite is still "Slow is Fast." + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Joy for fear. Love it!!! I can also recommend a bit of light reading on the topic as well... + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Great one, isn't it! It was done by an artist named Martin Simpson. The track is called "The Cape" Inspiring... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

The following is a discussion between Brian Germain and Boel Stier, a top skydiver and writer for the Swedish parachutist magazine. Boel is in the process of writing and article on no-wind landings, attempting to tie together the two articles recently on DZ.com on the subject, the first by Brian and the second by Scott Miller. Here are a few excerpts from the most recent discussions. Boel: I skipped the analysis of the stall and of the banking angle and load factor in my translation and summary, since we couldn't use more than three pages in the magazine for the text. Brian: I think Scott and I are reading different texts on this issue. Either way, we all know that landing with bank is not a good thing. Even if the canopy doesn't stall, it will sink into the ground prematurely, so I think the stall issue is a moot point, really. Boel: For me personally, leaning forward in the harness gives me a lot better landings, but there doesn't seem to be any explanation for why that is, apart from the fact that most people change their mental status to a more positive and active mood when they lean a bit forward in the landing. So I very much agree with you there. But I guess Scott Miller means that there isn't just one way to do something right. Brian: I just notice that I am more able to run with my feet underneath me, a possibility that is reduced by having and extreme pitch angle to my body as a result of hanging back in the harness. This also significantly reduces the chances of a butt strike. Based on the Swedish study on landing injuries, this is an important issue for sure. If we urged instructors to teach students to loosen their chest straps after determining that the parachute was viable, and lean forward during the landing, they would better be able to PLF, especially in the "over-flare" situation cautioned about in Anton's work. Boel: Generally, when reading these two articles, it seems like you dare being somewhat advanced in your article while he thinks it more important for everyone to be able to follow and use the tips and ideas presented. Brian: I have always taken the more respectful perspective on these things, aiming to teach folks the way more experienced jumpers do things, assuming that this generally tends to be the "right" way. If I wouldn't do it, why should I teach someone to do so? So far, this "not dumbing it down" method of teaching has been well-received world-wide, and has met with quite positive results in the end. Boel: Regarding the length of the steering lines I guess they shouldn't be either too short or too long. But I could easier relate to Scott Miller's view there, since it is my experience that many people (especially swoopers) feel the need to lengthen them after the canopy arrives from the factory. But I guess my experience is limited to mostly PD canopies. Brian: My angle on this was that the jumpers that tend to struggle with no-wind landings are generally not swoopers. They suffer from accommodations on the part of the manufacturers to make the experienced folks happy, myself included. This is moreso the case with shorter jumpers that switch to 18" risers, as they do not take the necessary step of shortening their brake lines accordingly. This puts them closer to the canopy, but further from the stall point. Often this results in late/low flares, a condition far more dangerous than bucking in front risers or a bit of tail deflection in full flight. Boel: By the way, both of you agreed on the flare being most efficient when the steering lines are pulled straight down instead of pulled to the sides. What is the reason? Isn't the length I can pull, from the steering lines to the full stretch of my arms and hands, the same in each direction? Do you mean that gravity helps when pulling straight down? Brian: This is to maximize the effect of the flare. If the brakes are pulled out to the sides, they cannot be pulled down quite as far. That last little "nugget" of flare is missed. + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

That was a concern, but as I got out of the line-twists by 7500 feet, I had plenty of time to assess the situation, and perform some high G turns to stress out the lines. On landing, I tried to perform a 270 front riser turn as usual, but couldn't hold the riser down because I was too physically exhausted. I switched to a carving harness/toggle turn and got a great swoop anyway. When I landed, I dropped to my knees and couldn't get up for several minutes. Very, Very tired... That was (subjectively) the longest jump I can remember. + Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Sounds like a very complicate risky venture. If the unit malfunctions, it will chop you during the hook turn. That would be a new category of fatality. Yuck... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I understand not wanting to spin for a long time, but fight hard at first. That way you will not have to cut away as often. If you expect that you will have to cut away, you are more likely to give up too soon. Remember, after that you are all out of parachutes... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I should probably mention that spinning for this long can result in your cutaway cables getting sucked up into the grommet, increasing the pull force significantly. Would I have been able to cut away after spinning for 80 seconds... maybe. bg Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Heads up, y'all. We are off the Australia and New Zealand for a month, so if I am slow to reply to questions, that's why. Time to teach down under!! --Bri + Stay Positive! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I felt I had to soften the blow a bit. It was a pretty intense video to watch without the commentary and fun jump afterwards. Laura makes it all better... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

The linetwists were definitely NOT intentional. I'm not that stupid. The truth is, I have no idea why it was in line twists instantaneously. It was weird how it was exactly on heading. No, I didn't pack it. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I can see how you might think that, as the aircraft started into a diving turn as soon as I got out. I have a second camera angle (headcam) that shows that I was stable on this deployment. Mentally, well that's another matter... Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com