arlo

I'll make a general statement instead of one that is "cut-away" specific. I trust my instinct. If something doesn't feel quite right, then there's a reason for it so I don't mess with it. I had that happen in CA on during JFTC. That day I had a contact blow out + a total mal on one jump (STRIKE 1). Next jump was with borrowed gear and both contacts blew out (STRIKE 2). While trying to put my 3rd set of contacts in, one was stuck together out of the blister pack...then tore. You know all that shit about things happen in 3s? Well, after those 2 strikes, I opted to sit down for the rest of the day. I saw no reason to tempt anything. Ask Lisa....she was witness to that whole pile of shit day I was having. I guess it's just a matter of how much you believe in or trust your instincts or "whatever" you wanna call that little nagging feeling that something just quite isn't right. What's the worst thing that could happen for listening to it? You miss one jump? I've found that most of the people I know full-on agree with the decision to step down from a jump if it doesn't feel right. To trust or not to trust? Depends on what you have to lose.... blues, arlo

great customer service is of utmost importance to me as a consumer. if i find a company that takes care of its customers, i will use them even if the price is a little bit higher. too, i can comment on the protrack since i have one. i do make it a point to carry the owners manual in my gear bag since there are some features i don't use often, but if i need to, its right there for me (or others)to read. blues, arlo

Gustavo was just here at work and I got to see some of THE most spectacular skydiving pictures ever. You guys did an OUTSTANDING job with that big-ass 56-way diamond!! The pictures gave me goosebumps. :) The break-off shots are phenomenal...I can't EVEN imagine the view you had. Great job to all the crw dogs that participated. Man, you guys ROCK!! blues, arlo

Any Larsen and Brusgaard product....specifically the ProTrack. L and B have the absolute best customer service hands down. That is worth its weight in jump tickets. My ProTrack rocks and its worth the $270 bucks or so to get one. blues, arlo

I was freeflying last weekend (5-way stuff)....does that count as redemption?

I figured you guys would crank out some practice jumps sometime after round 1. ...and yeah, over-training is HIGHLY over-rated. Man, i can't believe how long it's been since I've been back to my home dz. I spoke w/Meagher tonight and between seeing you guys there, those guys there, lobcock "if you don't drink, you die" lambert there, etc etc, I may as well keep a cyanide pill hidden between my cheek and gum...just in the rare, unlikely event things START to get outta hand. GOD HELP US ALL!!! ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..... a

yeah RIGHT!! Blame it on the green stuff....

...are the bros gonna be out in full force?

Hey!!! I heard that lobcock was in town!!! I can't believe that I'm actually gonna have to drive to the Hills to keep you mothers straight. How bad is it that I end up being the adult supervison? Please keep that goat away from any alcoholic beverages, firearms, or explosives....at least until I arrive...then all bets are off! ...and I guess it is a girly team if you count box and V. arlo, the

oooh yeah, I have no idea why I said "that's about it." Trey Yuen )or whatever the hell it's called) has good crab rangoon. If you REALLY wanna splurge, go to Charley's Steakhouse. good stuff. It's not Peter Lugers, but its pretty damn good. ...and as you said, Dunkin Donuts. Chocolate cream-filled with chocolate frosting. yummmmmmmmmm. arlo p.s. did I say they have chocolate?

depends on how much time you plan on doing in the tunnel. each hour is $600 (or $525 before 5pm), 1/2 hr is $300, if you want more #s, email me. If you're doing a "camp" per se, it's whatever set rate they have. Camp info can be found on www.skyventure.com. Hotel is less than $40/night at the Riande....close to that at Best Western Movieland. Broadway pizza is cheap if you like pizza, and that's about it. arlo

I'll be there doing 8-way on friday and I'll probably be there on saturday as well for a little bit. I'm not sure if I can handle being around the person you guys know as happythoughts. I hear he wears women's underwear.... arlo

there used to be a team called the Misty Blues....I think they were a demo team. Also, there's a BASE team called Gravity Girls. Chicks have also been singled out within their own team: 3 slaps and a whistle. How's THAT for a visual? arlo

No need in searching Winsor's posts on rec-dot . . . I've been involved in many of those conversations with Winsor over the past 5 yrs. As a matter of fact, I met Winsor because he was one of the few people that actually appreciated my "got rice?" t-shirt. Politically incorrect? Depends on who's asking, I guess. Winsor is a man of integrity, honor, he's quick witted, and he's pretty damn intelligent. If those aren't qualities you want in a National Director, then don't vote for him. I personally think it'd be kinda silly NOT to... but I'm opinionated that way... blues and go kick some ass Winsor!! arlo

PM me if you're interested in getting one of the Mindmap DVDs... :) arlo (edited to add:) ...but not a bootleg copy. Craig Buxton worked pretty hard to put this thing together and I don't think it's right to copy it. Consider it an inexpensive portable coach and a good investment.:)

Hey Kev- If I'm not mistaken, this is the same cable that is used on your cutaway system on your rig. Wire snips worked for mine. Regarding the exposed wire after cutting: the trick is to use a lighter and melt the end of the cable ever-so-slightly and, carefully/quickly using your fingers (if it's too heated, the plastic sticks to your fingers, peels your skin off, and in general isn't a pretty sight), "pull" some of that softened plastic coating over the exposed end of wire. That makes it smooth again so it won't catch on the loops. Oh yeah, make sure to do this with the cutaway handle fully extracted from your suit the first go-round. It would suck to burn your suit trying this. ;) If that doesn't make sense, ask your rigger to show you how they fix the cutaway cables on a rig. hope this helps, arlo

yeah, no kidding. If that rear float would've anchored like a good rear floater is supposed to do, it could've helped out the situation. a p.s. glad they were talked into it!!

otter...nothing like looking up at a sweet 8-way exit locked out on the hill...when it works. arlo

...sorry. senility must be kicking in....i missed it first go-round. DOH! ...back to your regularly scheduled program. arlo

dammit I hate it when that happens!! thanks!!!

hilarious! note i got said this was winner of a TX halloween costume contest...or was it sheep-roping? ;) I don't see any velcro gloves, either. ...too, this dude MUST be a muff brother... arlo

hmmmmmmm, "both bosses away" sounds like YOU're the one that needs looking after! Anyhooooooo, do you really, REALLY want me to get Kate into trouble? hehe god save florida.... so how the hell are ya girl? what's with the crap weather out there? call in sick and I'll find something to blackmail your bosses with so you can stay... arlo

Hey everyone- ...anyone here going to Skyquest this weekend either to participate or visit? It's happening this weekend at Fantasy of Flight Air Museum between Tampa and Orlando. The 100-ways will be going on Fri-Sun, the 10-round pond swoop meet (with Lyle Presse organizing) will happen Sat-Sun, and the National Skydiving League Championships will happen Saturday and Sunday as well. This is gonna be a cool-ass skydiving event, so if anyone is in Florida and wants to check out some bad-ass swooping, Fantasy of Flight is the place... Oh yeah, the museum has some bad-ass stuff in there...lots of old military planes and what-not. cya there, arlo

Dave has a point. Anyway, the idea behind having a continuity plan is, well, maintaining some shape fashion or form of continuity. Flexibility is a given, but it's sorta silly to have a continuity plan of which there's nothing to follow. That's why your avg Joe Blow skydiving team() like Majik, Airspeed, Knights, etc have a continuity plan more than by name only. Why are there A slots and B slots? You can try to equally as good at one or the other, but bottom line is the two will never be exactly equal: you will be better at one than the other. Also, by maintaining a continuity plan, you have the opportunity to build in muscle memory which in turn, allows for quicker builds. NOTE: Flexibility should apply towards one's general attitude within the sport. If you (generally speaking, of course) can't open your mind to constructive criticism (i.e., low hook turns, downsizing too fast, proper operation of emergency procedures, etc), you WILL, at a minimum, hurt yourself and at worst, kill yourself and/or someone else. There is sooooooooooooooooooooo much to learn in this sport. It's good not to assume you know everything because you will be proved wrong...and you'll miss out on some incredible opportunities to meet some really cool people that can actually teach you something... blues, arlo blues, arlo

Oh my god....let the games begin. glad you worked that one out, Rob... arlo