TomAiello

Definitely true. But recognize that there are areas of the world where jumpers never progress to what you might consider more technical jumps. I know jumpers with hundreds of jumps who've never had to worry about that. And if that's the case, you probably ought to buy a second canopy for the nasty stuff, after (a) canopies advance for another year or three, (b) you know better what you like, and have seen more canopies in action, and (c) you've worn out that first canopy anyway. Lower wingloading. Lower wingloading will make the same (absolute) brake setting point "deeper" relative to the jumper. So more weight = deeper (further toward the cascade) brakes. One of the things that concerned me at the time was that I'd see new jumpers hearing Dwain say "get a canopy with vtec" and also "lighter wingloading will save you in bad situation" (both of which were solid advice), but they'd also hear BR saying "don't touch our brake setting." But Dwain was talking about wingloadings pushing .6, and BR was setting their brakes for their recommended wingloading of .75. End result? They'd follow all the expert advice and manufacturer recommendations, and end up with a low wingloading, vents, and brakes they didn't customize (which were set for someone substantially heavier than they). That's a classic backsurge scenario--and I saw it happen (several times over my own head). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Some separate thoughts: 1) I wrote that article some time ago. At that time, in my opinion, there was not sufficient field evidence to declare bottom skin inlets "proven in the field" and I think beginners should stick to rock solid, tried and true, simple gear. Were I writing it today (there's a rewrite somewhere on my hard drive, amongst my seemingly endless "to do" list), I would probably recommend secondary inlets for some jumpers. 2) Whether or not secondary inlets are worth the money depends greatly on your particular jumping conditions. Dwain once said to me "well, what are you going to do when your beginner has a 180 off an underhung cliff?" My gut response was "what the heck are you doing putting a beginner off an underhung cliff?" But, in truth, there are parts of the world where low and/or underhung objects are jumped by beginners. Usually this is (as in Australia, which I think you are in) because there isn't a terribly good selection of objects. So that whole exchange between Dwain and I was based on the fact that he was used to seeing beginners jumping those objects (in Oz) and I was used to seeing people rack up many (sometimes several hundred) jumps off much safer objects (in Northern California) before moving to such sites. I believe it is silly to recommend that everyone get canopies with bottom skin inlets. I know many jumpers who paid the extra 400 bucks for valves, and jump terminal walls, or only wind-through towers (or some other set of sites where the valves aren't really very important). In fact, I'd guess the majority of folks with secondary inlets fall into this category. 3) Canopies with overly deep brakes and vents _do_ experience back surge on opening. I've had it happen, when testing some things. I've also seen a jumper hung on an object due to backsurge (which, despite an on-heading opening, pushed him back into an underhung tower--precisely the kind of situation where you'd think vents would be recommended). At least one major manufacturer (the one that pushed secondary inlets for all jumpers) told people to never, under any circumstances customize their DBS (my thoughts on this are a whole separate thread, but suffice to say I think it borders on criminal negligence). Combine these two and you create a situation where someone could easily find themselves with overly deep brakes, which they have not customized (per manufacturers recommendation), and with secondary inlets (creating backsurge, when combined with the overly deep brakes) pushed by the canopy manufacturer. Given this, I think it unwise to universally endorse the addition of secondary inlets on a canopy without further evaluating the situation. So, there you go, my rant for the evening... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I once saw a test web site run by the police of some big city back east (I think it was Chicago?) that did the same thing for gun owners. You could map out everyone in your neighborhood who owned a firearm. They decided not to launch the project when some hoods who were caught burglarizing a home admitted that they had targeted that house because it showed as having guns (which they wanted to steal). I think I'll do a google search and see if I can find that story floating around. It was really wacky. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Would you believe that I once considered starting a fire in a dumpster in a parking garage so that I could argue that I was only jumping off the building because I was panicked and trying to escape the fire? With proper equipment, I'd take the 12 story exit... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's even sadder that I've talked to people who get the majority of their political news off this forum. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Larger canopies are generally inflating over heavier loads (i.e. bigger jumpers). It takes more time/energy to slow a heavier load moving at the same speed as a (theoretical) smaller load. In my experience, this factor (weight of jumper) is the critical one in determining effective parachute height (i.e. not just when it's open, but when it has slowed you down enough to survive impact) at the margin (i.e. in ultra low deployment situations). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I like the Troll with MDV. Also the Troll is quite popular in Europe generally, so you ought to be able to find folks who have them if you need help/advice with the canopy as you progress. Since I wrote that article, it's become increasingly difficult to find Visions. The closest thing, in my opinion, is Ray Losli's Soft Cock (cue skinflicka with witty comment). Unfortunately you can't get them over there. The Gargoyle is an excellent rig, especially if you are planning on trips to Norway (or the Alps) for big walls. Troll MDV in Gargoyle sounds like a good choice for your application. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Timmy has shorty hair. And only DJ wears those god awful white sneakers that should have stayed in the 80's. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This thread diverged from the "Best BASE Jumper" thread, into a totally separate discussion. Badenhop's post was originally made in response to this part of JohnnyUtah's post in that thread: As it looks like both Avery and Johnny have had their say and are done with this, and the thread is now being kept alive by other people who are apparently simply wishing to stir up antagonism, I'm locking it. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This thread diverged into two separate discussions. I have split them into separate threads, so that those interested in discussing the original topic may do so. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The best way to find Jean today is probably by contacting the USBA (the organization Carl founded, which awards BASE numbers). Contact info for Rick Harrison, current head of the USBA can be found in this BLiNC thread. Note to anyone reading this: I've left the site name in for historical interest. To the best of my knowledge no one has jumped there since the NPS banned jumping back in Carl Boenish's day. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

DJ Higgins from Portland. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Wingloading also matters, in my opinion. Opinion or fact? See above. Seriously, I think the major wingloading differences only start to show themselves at very low wingloadings (say, .5 and under), and are much less important than a multitude of other factors. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

But when it's not unconstitutional, the majority should rule. As is the case. Sure. That's why it's a "constitutional democracy" or "republic" or whatever you want to label it. The point is that the majority can have some pretty weird whims. And 51% of the people shouldn't be allowed to, say, ship the other 49% off for execution, just because they are the majority. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Not me. If that kind of re-organization happened, Utah would claim southern Idaho. Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls all have solid "Utah" populations, in many cases in the majority. The rest of Idaho already refers to the part I live in as "Northern Utah." -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Letting "majority rule" is always a dangerous proposition. That's one of the reasons for constitutional safeguards. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Who else could be at fault? I contribute to trade imbalances every time I buy something made overseas--like my car, my watch, my wallet, my pants, heck more than half the stuff I own. I once sold a BASE rig to a fellow in Australia, but that's about the only thing I've ever done to push up the exports side of the balance of trade equation. In all seriousness, it is the consumers' fault. We just happen to like being able to buy the best/cheapest/shiniest the world has to offer. In even more seriousness, I'm unconvinced that's really a huge problem. I'm a big believer in free trade and market corrections. That the dollar had to decline was obvious from sometime in the mid-80's. If you don't like that, I suggest investing in securities denominated (and/or based) in other countries. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I have a friend I send a Kwanzaa card to every year. He's got almost my exact political views (libertarian, white, gun owning male). I always say something like "wishing the best of the season to you and all those who you domestically oppress." His wife (a Chinese woman who earns well over $200,000/yr as a corporate lawyer) always finds them hilarious (of course, she's also a libertarian gun owner). Political correctness about holidays is a little overboard, I think. People are pretty much going to celebrate as they wish. And if you want me to take down the christmas decorations in my front yard, just remember that I'm well armed in both a physical and legal sense. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

While you are trying to dress that up as an opinion, it's clearly a personal attack. Please read this post. In relevant part: I also think it's extemely uncool to attack people's personal medical conditions, and their care of them. I have banned you from Speaker's Corner for 7 days. I do think that the "shoe comment" was a little over the top--I was initially thinking of a longer ban. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

You have a camera with a floating lens, most likely. There are numerous threads on this here and in the video forum. I recommend using the search function to find them. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

A few thoughts on site naming: This place was on the front page of CNN's web site the other day. It got similar publicity in many places. Any time that happens a spate of people (often, interestingly, new users) login to various internet discussions with a "hey, look at this thing I found, it's so cool, why doesn't someone go jump it." Obviously, they don't realize that in 99 of 100 cases, multiple someones have done so long ago (beginning, and often continuing, during the construction). It's going to take a giant chunk of my time to keep yanking all those "news inspired" discussions. I'll generally let a simple link to a big news story stand. I'll intervene if (a) it's a particularly sensitive site, (b) it's turning into huge discussion, or (c) I'm just feeling ornery. When I see those discussions in forums I don't moderate I usually either post (or PM) a link to my "Naming Names" bit, or I just pull parts of it and repost them. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

You should see the dissertations I used to get from Dwain, when I asked him questions...in fact, maybe I ought to gather them all up and post them. The number of people who have taken the time to provide thoughtful, useful answers to my questions is very large. The first two were Nick and Yuri, in an old forum that Nick used to run. But there were dozens of people after that, and there still are. I'll refrain from trying to list them all, because I know I'd miss a bunch. The wheel keeps on turning. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Some US retailers won't ship overseas, because of customs problems. As Tymkoder suggested, you might want to have someone in the US transship to you. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Wingloading also matters, in my opinion. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I agree. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com