Deuce

Look! The party light is lit! Everybody who can do a stable stand can hang. Heck we can even have some dedicated funnel loads for people to see what they are up against. IMPORTANT! The gnarliest freeflyers have to approach a hybrid base on their belly's, unless they launch linked in the base. And if the exit funnels, they have to fly back into their slot. So never give up on your belly flying! Lum. Yes I will be jumping Sunday. And I am scheduled to be hosting a VERY SPECIAL GUEST. So start guessing! What famous DZ.commer will be my guest at Byron this Sunday?

The 1990 GSX1100F Katana? With 103HP and a top speed of 143? Yeah, it was real enough for me. I sold it to a skydiver and it sure as hell is real enough for him. Course, my K1200RS with heated grips, anti-lock brakes, electronic cruise control, rev-limiter, catalytic convertor (Can I get an "AMEN! BillVon?) and 130HP is "realer"

I thought there were 2 light carts last year but could be wrong. Also, they took those rope lights and traced a giant arrow to show which direction to land... Very cool to watch, but I think I'll have to do a few this year. I wanna hang too JP, please please OH please can I hang? You bet, Lumster. We'll be doing hybrids like mad. Skye done her tandem yet?

Well, my first 'real' motorcycle was the Hayabusa's ancestor, the Katana 1100. Rode it for 11 years, if you ride two-up, you will appreciate the additional horsepower, especially in the Sierras. I survived it. As I was riding the rocket home I thought I had made a tremendous mistake. Of course in the last 12 months I have sprained both knees and broken one ankle, so you might ask the smart JP for his opinion.

I have a modified D wing that's just a little bigger than stock. I was backflying it with LouDiamond over me in his Birdman suit. Yes, fallrates were very different. I'm curious what the issues are with backflying with your D wing?

Is that the landing area behind you? Nice!

Since I can't jump til next weekend I took a motorcycle ride out to Byron to drop of some pictures and then rode up to Davis just to mess with the smart JP. I talked with Neal while jp was on the ride to alti about what's happening what days. First, you can set your tent up on the grass. There is an area fenced off for tents, but that's not going to be enforced during the boogie. So, starting Thursday morning, we'll be able to pitch tents on the lawn. Sushi night is Friday. They've got a mobile sushi kitchen and everybody gets a Sushi-box. If'n you want more, you can buy more. Free Beer every night. Surf's Up! Friday night is also going to be night jumps. This is with a light cart like the road crews use to repair the freeway at night. Night freefall, fully lit landing. If you are putting off your D license because of night jumps, this is a great way to do it. Saturday night is the luau. Giant roasted pig. They're also talking about doing formation loads on at least one of the days out of Skydance's two Caravans. Betsy's Skyvan will be there too. I'm definitely huffing on Davis cause I only got three jumps at Perris, but this should be a really good time. JP

Are you using a zoom? I'm using my 28-200 and I find the swooper as they set up in full zoom. I keep the autofocus in servo, just like you suggest. I keep the body filling most of the frame and manually back out the zoom as they approach. As soon as I've got dirt under thier feet, I start taking pictures. If I don't give it enough to focus on, it does tend to hunt a little. There's some new stuff in my galleries from an Ash Dive my DZ did on Friday at sunset. Unfortunately, it was an emotional event and I didn't reset my flash for the sunset swoopers. There are swoop shots from a little earlier,though. Without the zoom, it's much more difficult.

Ed, I thing we're God's reality TV. He's up there with the Angels and Saints watching huge banks of televisions in like this big KENO lounge and they all take turns pointing and shouting "Oh, God!, check this out!" and "I can't WAIT to ask that chick what she was thinking!" I'm sure God is grateful for the Cypres, keeps the line down and all. That whole free-will thing makes for much better reality TV.

The FM50 is the same size as the 30, and has WAY better performance. I use both the Sony and the Lenmar. The Sony provides better performance, about 110 minutes, and the Lenmar might only hold 70 minutes right off the charger. I have two of each. When I replace, it will be all Sony. Cheap is good, value is better.

Well, we got at least 22. I might get to my 500th THAT weekend. At least Me, Chopchop, Hookitt!, and Diablopilot are hanging, I need 10 volunteers to set a fast, stable base! GreenlightGO! Heck, maybe we could do it at night! Craporama, this is so gonna rock!

Yeah, that firewire doohicky is pretty cool, huh?

That's probably because you've done belly flying with hardcases There's just as much fun to be had turning points on the hill, and we'll show you if you bring your dusty bumper-suit I guarantee smiles and laughter no matter what you wear, or don't if you are skydiving with the Fish. That might induce a reaction of Shock and Awe

Yeah, buddy! Recover those costs! This would be advertising only, pretty much. I didn't get to pick McGowan's brain about his album he had out, but I think the deal is like with wedding proofs. Get people to look at the pictures in the album, and then order prints of whatever size from my shutterfly account, or have them place the order with me, and I'd have them printed and sent by Shutterfly. I just really liked that the only cable involved is the power cord to the printer.

Plenty, Andrea, and lots of local divas too. But pack your bumper-suit. You're coming too far, and there's too much fun to be had doing speedstars and BFR's and hybrids to limit your skydiving vacation just to VRW. Somewhere in there doing raft dives, and campfires, and greased safes etc, you might want to turn a point or two, or be base for a change in a hybrid.

That can be described in one eloquent word: D'OH!

Yeah, we've got folks that will walk out and adjust your attitude when you do something squirrely. I've been talked to many times by men and women with hands on their hips. I feel very safe in the pattern at my DZ. Nothing formal. Just very aggressive about making sure new folks and visitors understand the pattern and landing issues. A whole lot of pick-up CRW. I'm willing to bet we've got one of the best ratios of freefly freaks with their 4 stack awards.

OK it's got a little monitor, like 2". You can crop on it like with the camera (10D) You hit print and 55 seconds later you're looking at a 4 X 6 print. Anyhow, computer free! Just plug the compact flash card in and blammo! I'm thinking of using it to print teaser prints to get people to order the hi-res version off my shutterfly site. Awfully simple. I happened to have my one jump from Perris in the CF card, and printed the exit shot of LouDiamond in his birdman suit. Heck, the whole sales staff is coming out to do tandems, even though I was standing there in my idiot moonboot with a skydiving related booboo. Whattya think? Very plug and play, and fully hi-res when hooked up to a computer, but not necessary and you can crop, too. Hmmm. They got them at Costco for $279. FYI http://www.computers4sure.com/product.asp?productid=1268180&affid=2165

Bon Voyage, Bytch!

Check this out, yo! The girls outnumber the guys! Just like in my house! . Nah. In my house it's three to one! Deuce DiabloPilot B-squared Lummy Cornholio Chopchop Skymama SkydiveXXL SFC + 1 LizzieB + multiple hot skydiver chicks who will post prior to the event (They are only eye-candy if they don't post. Posting makes them value-added!) Sebazz Celljumper Flymysky Hookitt! Freeflyz Ladyskydiver GirlFallDown Skybaby Sunnydee123 I just got back from doing ground photos at Johnny Luv's memorial and ash dive. I love Bay Area Skydiving and Byron. A lot of us are going to be at Skydance for the American Boogie. Come see what the Byron Love is all about. Better yet come out and see for yourself this fall. Heck, Bonnie used one of my pictures as the backdrop for all the advertising so far! I'm published in the San Francisco Weekly! Come on out to play and let me take your picture. I promise not to break anything. Davis is just about sea level too, no hard landings Yes I've been drinking. Yes, I love you

Coolio. I am constantly surrounded by girl power! Two first graders and a career woman! In 11 years, my girls will do the AFF thing. Probably after a tandem. Once they're outta the house, maybe my wife will get her ticket, probably AFF, too.

HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN THIS? WHOA! http://www.americanboogie.com/med/index.html THAT is the best short video showing the NorCal vibe!

Huh. I don't know what I posted that prompted that, but I hope it was a positive vent for your aggression.

Can't imagine virgins getting christened with Monkey names. Especially a Monkey name like "ShadeyMonkey"

Hey! Bald Guy! (Blonde guy, whatever) The link in your tag line ain't working! You gotta hookabruthaup!