TomAiello

Probably not using anything. But I believe the "take a bight of control lines" method degrades opening heading. And I'll take on heading with a 1 in 1000 chance of line over, rather than off heading and a 1 in 10,000 chance, any day. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Hey, I've noticed that the search function finds text that has been removed from the original postings. So if I remove string "xyz" from a post, but then search for string "xyz" the thread still comes up in the search results. This might not sound like a big deal, but...err...I'll PM you with the context. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That's the method I don't like. I prefer either: (a) using a tailgate in addition to the slider (I don't recommend this if you are using a large hole mesh slider, although I do it myself fairly regularly); (b) using masking tape to simulate a tailgate (which is fairly common); (c) sewing a tailgate cord to the trailing edge of the slider and using that. I like any of these methods better than the "bight of control lines" method because (as I said above) I think that the bight of lines can alter the trim of the canopy (by artificially shortening the control lines, and also by possibly doing so assymetrically if you aren't careful). I know that CR used to put a stow band on the trailing edge of the slider for this, and discontinued the practice sometime in the late 90's, for similar reasons. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's easier if you change as few things as possible from your slider down pack job. Trying to do the micro-reefing, or 45 degree folds, or whatever, slightly differently is just going to make things more confusing. That's fine. You don't need to use any kind of slidergate/tailgate control. If you want to, be sure you know which one you are using, and the pros and cons of it. Can you elaborate on what you mean by "slidergate"? I've seen that term used to describe several different things. Personally, I'm not a fan of the "take a bight of control lines" style "slidergate" because I believe it changes the line trim and distorts the canopy during the opening sequence. It doesn't matter very much. I personally don't use the 45 degree folds on any of my pack jobs (slider up or slider down). Different riggers pack reserves differently--just like BASE jumpers--and some do and some do not use those folds. For simplicity, I'd do the 45's, or the rolls, or whatever, exactly as you do it slider down. Basically, when you pack slider up, it's almost exactly the same pack job as slider down. You use shallow brakes, instead of deep, and you set the brakes differently (because you use the keeper rings and route through the grommets). Other than that, just substitute bringing the slider up, and quartering it, where you would close the tailgate slider down. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Well, gravity and duct tape. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

There is? Which vid? I believe it's on No Morals, No Ethics. At any rate, I've got a still photo of Jason F. helping lift Russel over the rail, so I'm pretty sure that's how the footage got to Oz. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Read this thread. Quite a bit cheaper than Dainese, and pretty much the same protection. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

When you impersonate a dead man to steal from his widow and children, you're well past the line separating business and personal. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I just wanted to say: It speaks very well of Skydive Arizona that they've taken the lead here. Skyride is most damaging to small dropzones, who generally don't have the resources to hire lawyers and fight it out. Skydive Arizona has put in a lot of time, money and energy on behalf of the whole skydiving industry. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

If you haven't seen it in the "What can we do about Skyride" thread, copies of the complaint can be downloaded here or here. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The complaint as a .pdf is here in my public folder. The file is called "SkyrideComplaint.pdf". You can download it by clicking the little download arrow next to it. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I can stick a copy on my web page, for public download (assuming that's legal--those documents are public record, aren't they?), if you email it to me. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

PM Sent. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Getting them wet won't hurt them. I've broken in boots before by wearing them into knee deep water (I filled a bathtub until it ran over the tops of the water proof boots) until they were thoroughly soaked, then wearing them the rest of the day. Be sure to protect your feet, though, as the break-in day can be pretty painful. You can also keep changing socks every hour or so, to help protect your feet (and dry the boots faster). Disclaimer: I've never owned a pair of Hanwags, and my Crispi's didn't need any breaking in. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm pretty sure that hWalker was joking. I'm also pretty sure that hWalker is not an American. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It would probably have made him look more "presidential" anyway. But honestly, I'd rather he just sat tight and let the actual folks trained in that kind of thing (emergency response, national security, what have you) do their jobs. I'd think that 99% of being the head of any large organization, including the federal government, is just delegating the right things to the right people and then getting out of the way to let the professionals work. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Interesting. I've got a tankless water heater. Maybe I better put in a water resevoir of some kind. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

In case anyone thinking of going there has the right kind of rig, don't forget to check in at the Horner for the latest closures and other information. Definitely agreed. But if you're an Aussie (or can carry off the accent well enough) you're almost certain to get laid with an American sorority girl. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Dude, you did? No way. That's so cool! But did you see the Idiocy one? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Several years ago, when I was working for the University of California, we got a new boss, who was really into all the motivational posters and sayings, and having "team retreats" and such. She refurbished a conference room and put up like 10 of those cheesy motivational posters in there. One of my co-workers started sneaking in and switching them out for the demotivators posters one every couple weeks. When I left, he'd gotten nearly half of them changed over, and the boss hadn't noticed yet. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Hey, and while we're at it, I don't think anyone has posted the Idiocy one yet. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Rounds allow you to go straight into the water, without chance of flying into other canopies. Can someone tell me what the record this jump set was? I know bigger ways have been done. Is this the biggest way off a bridge? Or the biggest way at this specific site? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Interestingly enough, when I met with the Department of Transportation about putting a platform out on the bridge, their main objection to a permanent platform was that handicapped people wouldn't be able to get through the sidewalk easily enough. Which is pretty funny considering that (a) you have to go up about 20 stairs to get onto that sidewalk, and (b) Russel is the only guy in a wheelchair I've ever seen out in the middle of the bridge. The bridge engineer was pretty understanding when I explained that we needed a bigger platform for Russel, though. Still, there's a load of politics and bureaucracy to work through. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I once accidentally told someone I was going to a party with my girlfriend's breast, rather than with my girlfriend. As I recall it was something about "baratnomel" and "baratnomell." -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

it actually does. How do you know? Well, my language skills are rusty, but I did live in Budapest for a while. It's always fun to listen to people who have no idea that you might be getting some of their conversation. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com