TomAiello

Sigh. What I have to put up with from the kids around here. Personal Attack. See you in 14 days. Let's really try not to make a habit of this, ok? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Wouldn't a full report on the details of various injuries and consequences help people to evaluate for themselves whether they wish to do those things? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

1) I think you might be over-generalizing about BASE jumpers. Not all of them hold the same views about anything. 2) I, personally, admire and respect Jeb Corliss. He has worked very hard to do the things he's done, and continues to work hard both (a) to follow his own dreams, and (b) to do so in a way that is positive for the sport. 3) Following their personal path through life does not always lead people to the safest, easiest things. If that were the case, we'd all be sitting on couches. I, personally, am glad that folks like Jeb continue to push the limits. His willingness to take risks in the pursuit of his dreams (and the willingness of others to do the same thing) makes the world a richer place for the rest of us. 4) I find your reference to Dwain Weston's death in extremely poor taste. If you'd like to grab a beer and discuss this, and you really are in SLC (as per your profile) drop me a PM, or email or give me a call (PM for phone number, if you're interested). I'm down there semi regularly, and with that username, I'd guess you've been up here a few times, as well. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've banned you from this forum for 30 days. A warning is not an opportunity to vent on the moderator who gives it. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Mina, I think that your boyfriend (a) is showing good judgment, and (b) really cares about you. Read my thoughts on having your boyfriend teach you BASE here. Why not find someone else to teach you BASE? If you an find someone you aren't having a relationship with, you're more likely to have a productive learning/teaching relationship. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I once saw a side mounted camera cleaned off a helmet by riser strike on opening. As far as I know the camera is still, in pieces, lying at the bottom of a very large cliff (it's a full day to hike the talus to the bottom). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I understand that "Abbie" means "Father of Joy" in Hebrew. True? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

But if you're Dutch, the pins apparently aren't as secure when just standing at the exit point. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

No way, dude. It's already REALLY UGLY. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This past week, I saw two 55 year old guys do what may be one of the most hard core BASE jumps I have ever witnessed. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Please read the Before You Post! guidelines linked at the top of every page in this forum. A good source of information for you would be the Australian BASE Association. I'd also recommend finding an experienced jumper who's relatively local to you. I believe one has already posted in this thread.

The legendary Randy Harrison lives in Iowa. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Doesn't that depend on what you want the suit for? For me, personally, maxed out performance is pretty close to the only thing I care about. Amen. It's pretty silly when the pilot is really the determining factor. I'd bet you a hundred bucks that if you put me in the top of the line suit of your choice, and Yuri in his original Birdman suit (the pre-Classic), he'd still fly better than me. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Are you guys switching out the closing loops for the low stuff? Sorry Chad, I realize I'm side tracking your thread, I'd better watch out for the moderator. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Agreed. I think that doing the first couple into water is a really good idea. I've landed a clapped out canopy downwind on rear risers (toggles completely gone, I had aborted a cutaway after releasing the toggles), on railroad tracks, without incident. In my opinion, rear riser landings ought to be considered a mandatory BASE skill. I honestly don't think that landing on rear risers is all that hard. Just try real hard to set up into the wind, flare late, and PLF well. I've had to make around 10 rear riser landings in anger (i.e. not for practice). Most of these were aborted cutaways, though, so I knew from the outset that rear riser landing was a possibility. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

While most of the PC orbiting that I've seen starts as left to right, it's usually been pretty much circular (i.e. a strong front/back component as well). I've seen very few cases of a purely linear orbit. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I tend to think the same way. In a more extreme example, think of loose pins vs. new velcro. The velcro needs some snatch to get open in the first place, but the pins will come out straight away with just the drag. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Can you elaborate on the experiences that have led you to this conclusion? How low are the objects you are freefalling? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This is a personal attack. I've banned you from Speaker's Corner for 14 days. Please read the Forum Rules. Specifically, please note Rule #1: "No personal attacks." -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Who have you flown with? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm not scared of low exits... I am. Very scared. But I think that perhaps "low" is a relative idea. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Well, in my defense, it does give me a certain expertise in snivelling, or rather in the opposite. Well, probably just to save me from a broken leg or two. Video here and stills here. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Ooooh. Good idea. I've even got a Sorcerer in the gear box we can use for that. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Consider also trying some other activities that require you to control panic. This ought to give you a chance to ease into it with things that allow slower decision making. I personally found rock climbing good for that. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Wouldn't that be Monsterbyte? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com