base689

> ...the device you are referring to as the "carry-with-you" static line bridle was actually my idea... > So! If you're planning on patenting the thing, go ahead. Probably it is the fact that English is NOT my first language and so my attempt of humor are not exactly taken the way they should be by native-English-speakers. Probably it is the fact that Italian humor is not exactly well understood by Americans. The only sure thing is the following: YES, Dexter, the idea of "carry-with-.you-SL" is YOURS!!!!!!! Perhaps I was the first to use it, perhaps not. Possibly I am the first to have used it AND to have posted about it and details of its setup. Furthermore, I must give credit to Michael-CRW for the idea (very smart indeed) of connection of "carry-with-you-SL" to bridle via a secondary break cord loop, just in case something got entangled, after a split millisecond you again free. Take care, my friend Dexter, where you are, try to come back in one piece and if you ever have the chance of coming to Italy, please drop me an e-mail that we can share few nice objects together. Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> your using breakcord instead of a cornectorlink to secure the devise on your bridel? Yes, my friend, just have a careful look at my original photos (my special bridle is sort of green-blue colour and any piece of break cord is sort of whitish). > how can you then control that its the correct breakcord breaking first? It's very simple. The way the "spare branch" is made, makes it very long compared to the length of "really-going-to-break" break cord loop. The "linking-second-break-cord" loop has got at least 10 cm of slack. The first thing that happens when you jump off the object is that at line stretch you put force onto the "really-going-to-break" break cord loop and you break it. After another 10 cm of fall, you simply "finish" the slack of spare branch and you simply pull (giving a whiplash onto handrail) the "carry-with-you-SL" through the secondary break cord loop. When you pass the "really-going-to-break" break cord loop: 1) through first loop of main branch of CWYSL; 2) through second loop of main branch of CWYSL (the main branch of CWYSL is AROUND the handrail); 3) through loop of your bridle, you have a very tight "system". Such a "really-going-to-break" break cord loop is quite tight, perhaps 4 cm in diameter, all the (three) loops are quite close together. The spare branch is way longer that all the other parts and finally is physically connected to the bridle itself via "linking-second-break-cord" loop: there is a slack of at least 10 cm, reasonably about 15 cm. There is NO WAY to have the "linking-second-break-cord" loop to go under tension before or at the same time as the "really-going-to-break" break cord loop... ...unless you use a "really-going-to-break" break cord loop that has got a diameter of 20cm (using half a meter of break cord to form it)!!!!!!!! Normally, I use 25 cm of break cord to create the "really-going-to-break" break cord loop, of which length quite a bit goes into forming the knot, so ending to have a "really-going-to-break" break cord loop of 3÷4 cm of diameter, no more!!! Again, look carefully the original photos I sent you in high definition, got them zoomed and you will clearly see what I mean. In the mean time, take care!!!!!! Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> so you use the length Carry on SL that fits for the object (so you minimize the risk of a SL hangup, which will ruin your canopy and the day). Well, indeed, if you followed LITERALLY my instruction, you must connect the "spare branch" of your "carry-with-you-SL" to the loop in your bridle via a loop of break cord, so the possibility of hang up is ZERO. In case of (temporary) hang up of "carry-with-you-SL" onto handrail/frame/object/whatever, after a split millisecond you will have broken such a link (it's just a second (=looser) loop of break cord, that some jumpers use it (the second break cord loop) when jumping off very low object where they DO NOT use the backup PC (scary!!!)). Yes, losing such an invaluable piece of equipment, yes, leaving traces, yes, but flying free toward freedom and not ruining at all your day (nor the canopy). P.S.: > i have 20+ jumps.... you have more jumps than myself using the device I created? I am jealous!!! P.P.S.: What about showing up at my places? What happened? Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> I wonder if it's okay to use a static line and have ground crew remove it as soon as the deployment is completed. Or you can use the "carry-with-you-SL" created (well, I got few inputs about it by somebody, yes... ) and patented (well, you know, not exactly yet patented, but I am on the way... ) by worldwide famous (well, at least my jumping mates and very few blokes abroad know me quite well... )by BASE #689. I haven't got yet tons of jumps with "carry-with-you-SL" system but the few times I used it, it worked pretty well indeed!!!! No trace left behind!!! Unless you witness the jump from proximity, you cannot say it was a SL jump (unless for the very high deployment). Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> To be honest I find your tone unpleasant alot of the time... I would like to share my little thought about the matter. And what I am saying next is generally applicable to any low timer, in which category falls in this case our friend leroydb. And, please, I mean no offense to leroydb nor to any other low timer. BASE is quite a new sport, yes. But, besides being relatively a NEW sport, there are indeed techniques that are used in 95% of BASE jumps and that are quite well consolidated, being the result of "best practice", developed in about 20 years (at least). Any single small, and perhaps stupid thing/equipment/technique/whatever used in the above 95% of BASE jumps is the result of years and years of practise, often paid with tears, sometimes the result of successive trials and attempts. At the same time I can understand that a BASE low timer, thinking about himself being quite smart, looking at the above thing/equipment/technique/whatever, comes out with: What can't we do this? Why can't we do that? NO CHANCE!!!!!!!! NO WAY!!!!!! In 95% of BASE jumps (among which sort of jumps fall, I hope, the jumps made by a low timer) there is NO reason to deviate from "best practice". If something is not in use, it DOES NOT mean that no other smart @ss in our sport has NEVER thought/experimented with it. Rather, I would tend to think that some really (and true) smart @ss in our sport (as Adam, Todd, Anne, Robert, Mark H, ...) has ALREADY thought and played and tried about it, but he discarded the idea for some negative (=negative in BASE means deadly) side effect. Which negative side effect of the "new thing" could be no so evident the young new wonder of the sport, so popping out with new brilliant ideas. My little 0.02€: there is no such a brilliant idea to be introduced in BASE that is thought by a low timer after 5 minutes of reasoning about the matter. Sorry, I do not want to be offensive, but I try to be realistic. Q: So in BASE cannot be introduced new things/techniques? A: Yes, they can, but not from a low timer after 5 minutes of thinking. Unless this low timer is a genius. I know very, very few geniuses. The magic new wonder of the sport (no offence, really, just to make things clearer) should give a thought about his "new fantastic idea", calm down for few seconds and thinking that, possibly, if nobody has come to this conclusion after 20 years of story (and practice) of BASE, the reason is that there are some negative side issued that are not always so evident. It takes a bright mind (not necessarily belonging to an old timer) to come out with something new that has positive effects. It takes a bright mind and a lot of experience (that nearly an old timer can have) to pick up the negative and dangerous sides of the new idea. To end up this post of mine: if the new wonder comes out with an idea and gets a little bit of flaming, it is NOT because because we do not like him, but perhaps because we (old and new timers) are not so stupid or lazy to have never thought about it. If it's not been done yet, there must be some really good (=dangerous side effect) reasons behind. Just my 0.02€. Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

My sincerest condolences to family and friends of Andi. Fly free brother. Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> just interested in hearing if anyone has experienced a hang up that once they pop their toggles... Yes indeed. I bought and put in use on my Prism-Fox 245 Multi Vtec+cover the WLO risers+toggles system by Vertigo. I jumped them for a while while going slider off, with the intention NOT to change the system when I would have gone slider up off our terminal wall (where, in case of a slider up jump, just in case of a line over (touch wood) they could have been effective of some utility). So, to make a long story short, I jumped the WLO toggles for a while doing only slider off jumps. Just a quick note: the WLO toggles, apart from the line release mechanism, are made with a straight stainless pin that goes into the keeper onto the riser and a stainless snap button that keeps it (in addition to the keeper) locked in position. The snap worked realy fine to keep the toggle set in position. The snap worked so fine indeed that on a night jump off our local A that didn't allow me to release the toggles. After having grabbed both toggles and yanked down as usual to release them, I started to make a turn to present myself up wind for the final. But something looked weird in my flight, I was pulling down my right toggle, but the canopy didn't quite turn. I looked at my right hand (I have a permantly taped onto my helmet speleo light that I ALWAYS turn on in ALL my night jumps) and I discovered the matter: the snap was still in its closed position, and any attempt of mine to release the toggle by pulling down, simply resulted in a pulling down of ALL the right rear part of canopy, because (via the locked toggle) I was pulling down the whole rear right riser. After the fifth/sixth attempt, finally the toggle released and the jump ended with an uneventful stand up landing. From the following jump I assembled back the original BR risers and big grab toggles by Morpheus. Until I got the "line release" big grab version by Morpheus that I am currently using. Honestly, the "line release" big grab has the negative side of being a real pain in the @ss to be assembled; but, once assembled, they look like a standard big grab pair of toggles, with a nearly to zero tendency to hang up. The above is my humble experience. Just my very humble 0.02€ Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> ...every time I step up to the railing and look down it scares the hell out of me Welcome in the club, my friend!!!!! Every time we step up to the exit point and look down, there is this feeling of scare that pops up all of a sudden. Well, it is a good thing that when you are EXACTLY on exit ready to jump you are not any more scared but rather you are concentrated and focused on what you are about to do. Still, we feel scared few moments BEFORE getting to the exit, or rather while we are donning our rig, or rather while we are approaching the exit. Moral of the story: sooner or later during the activity that leads to jump a fixed object, it will visit you this intense feeling of scare!!!! Just my 0.02€ P.S.: Where do you live, my friend? Could you possibly invite me to have a tea at your home? Perhaps reaching your home by lift, perhaps leaving your home WITHOUT using the lift...?!?!?!? Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> how long is it? and how long are the 2 arms? Each of the 3 loops is 2.5 cm long. Measured from tip of loop to tip of loop, the main branch is 44 cm long. The secondary branch (responsible for carrying with you the whole SL) is 25 cm long and is inserted/sewn 5 cm below/before the beginning of one loop of the main branch. The above measurements are obviously NEITHER perfect NOR mandatory, they come simply from few good and sound reasonements about the average size/diameter of fixed part of structures to which we bind to, thought to be nicely working in 95% of situations. In those cases (the remaining 5%) in which the above length (of main branch) is NOT enough to "surround" the part we want to attach to, probably it should NOT be the case to use the "carry-with-you SL" but rather to SL using the "standard" method (=pieces/wraps of fixed rope (to be left there) around handrail and break cord loop to be tied encomprising the above fixed rope and bridle loop). Just my 0.02€ Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> that part I don't like. I do set it on out side and in a way that I WILL lose it, why? Probably I didn't explain myself well, or, rather, it is difficult to explain in words such a simple thing. In either way you get your rubber band to hold S-folds, both in the "to-lose-it" case or in the "not-to-loose-it" case, you have the same number of S-folds within the rubber band and the same force holding S-folds. Apart form the fact that I use myself (to hold S-folds) a very thing yellow elastic band (but this is due to my "special bridle" that, been made out of 5.5mm rope, is very thick). > could you send me a pic of how you have made your rope bridel. Im interested in the attachment point in both ends.. Probably you mean how the two loops are sewn? The two loops in my special bridle have got the same type of seam/stitching as per climbing ropes that need to have a loop sewn. I will try to make a close up photo of (sewings of) loops in my special bridle. P.S.: Without taking any offence to Dropzone and to its webmaster and to all the people posting/reading it, I don't see why we are discussing these things here on Dropzone-BASE zone instead of discussing it in the BASE Board..... Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> But the bridle should unfold BEFORE opening the rig... Yes indeed. > Is it possible to use a rubber band somehow tied to the rig? Rubber band: yes. Tied to the rig: no. The most reasonable and accepted way to "keep" the S-folds on bridle is to place a rubber band on bridle itself, holding the S-folds. Just be careful that the strength exerted by rubber bands on bridle S-folds MUST be WEAK. The S-folds must release themselves WAY before opening container (this is a major issue on pin rig where container opening (=pulling) force is relatively low): a premature opening of container BEFORE bridle S-folds are released would produce an out of stage deployment, which thing is NOT nice in any case. The rubber band (or also a thin elastic band, the ones used in offices/schools/wherever) must hold in position the bridle S-folds, that's it, no need to "stage" deployment. Check out that this rubber band holds bridle S-folds just lightly. A smart way to position such a rubber band is to place it "around" bridle itself (just pass PC and bridle inside rubber band), so once S-folds are released, the rubber band remains "around" bridle, which things produces two positive effects: 1) you don't loose the rubber band (=save money); 2) you don't leave any trace Just my 0.02€ Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> how long is it? and how long are the 2 arms? Gotta have to take few measurements and I will post them > What are the advantages of using the rope bridle? Instead of what the advantages of rope bridle are, I tell you what the disadvantages (according to me, obviously ) of standard bridle are. I have the fear that using a standard bridle, the continuous usage in SL jumps could create too much wear and tear on seams/stitchings on standard bridle, the abrupt and violent (even if at 80 lb - 36 kg) load applied onto bridle and its stichings could cause in the long term the seams/stitchings to fail, or to weaken them. That on a single parachute system could lead to rapidly deteriorate your day of jumping. It gives me more peace of mind to use for SL jumps a dedicated special (rope) bridle, whose seams/stitchings are well oversized/overdimensioned, eliminating any possible worry about bridle (seams/stitchings) weakening, leading to failure in the long term. My special bridle, being a rope, has non need of being thin/lightweight/whatever, because I am NOT going to handheld it, instead it (rope bridle) is going to "sit" there collected in "figure 8" loops (kept together by a very thin elastic band), so its bulk does not affect at all deployment. > It looks like your PC is extended beyond the SL attachment point - is there a reason for this? Not exactly. The length between pin (closing the rig) and attachment of PC still is the canonic and standard 9' - 2.74 m (you know, in case of anticipated break cord failure, I still have my 48" ZP PC as back up that pulls the pin/extracts the parachute, PC located to a distance from pin that is a standard/known/consolidated "distance"). It is the attachment of break cord that is done on a loop (created via a knot on special bridle) located about 1' - 30 cm below PC attachment. This way, PC is out of way from where break cord is going to break, lessening the possibility of PC entanglement (with structure/with whatever else). Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

Here are few photos I took at home of my "carry-with-you" SL and of my special bridle for everybody to take a look. If you have any question, I will try to answer them. Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> I was wondering if BASE 689 has done many jumps on his sl set-up? Not many (4 or 5 jumps so far), but nothing wrong with its mechanism (also according to my mates watching the setup at work and on deployment). > and if you would like to share some of your experience with this device with us. Just let me dig out the photos I took (at home) of my setup and I will post them here. > if you have any technical data for us (ie. what kind of knots, what kind of cord do you find the best, and so on) Standard "surgeon knot" for the (main) loop of break cord. "main loop" of break cord is the loop that is going to break, "secondary loop" of break cord is the break cord loop that connects the "carry-with-you" SL to (special) bridle, it is NOT goint to break if everything goes smooth (if any part of the system gets entangled with fixed structure, it is supposed to release, breaking itself). Anyway, photos will be quite self-explanatory. Another post with photos will follow soon. Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> Naming legal sites like the wall in Norway, Italy, the one-day-deal bridge and others should be allowed. No. It must NOT be allowed, Nick. Who say it "should" be allowed? You live in US, fine. You can come to jump Italy, Norway, wherever. You and your foreign buddies, very well welcomed indeed, come once a year, maybe twice if you are lucky, and stay here from 5 to 10 days a year. You do terrific jumps. You have terrific time. Fine. Have you ever thought that for the remaining 350 days of the year we (the locals) are left "alone"? Have you have ever thought that talking about legal sites ("Oh, yes, they are legal, we can freely talk about legal sites...") leads to ALL THE WORLD to read how terrific is jumping Italian terminal wall? That Italian terminal wall is legal? That Italian terminal wall takes no harrasment from Police? That Italian terminal wall is "suitable" for first timers? Now, because it legal and it is OK to talk publicily about legal sites, EVERYBODY can read this information. Also skydivers that think that BASE jump is cool read this information, that Italian terminal wall is cool to be jumped, and so on. Come on, let's buy BASE rigs. Come on, let's try to pack it. Come on, let's go and do a fantastic trip to Italy (instead of Italy, write down any other European/foreign country as you like) to jump that terminal wall. It's a pity this is NOT the way to learn how to BASE jump. It's a pity behaving this way there is a higher chance of fatalities happening. It's a pity fatalities did happen. I am afraid you, as any other supporter of "If it's legal, let's talk freely about it" school of thought weren't there to help him packing, to help him to exit in dead air, to help him teaching escape procedures, whatever else, to talk to authorities and to friends/relatives of poor chap. So, if any US/wherever citizen would like SO MUCH to talk about legal sites so bad that they cannot refrain from talking publicily about BASE sites, please, feel free to talk on the Internet about YOUR OWN legal sites in your OWN country. Please, leave Italian legal objects OUT of your posts/threads/public discussions. Thanks. I think I have been clear about the reasons behind the "let's NOT talk publicily about ANY BASE site in the world" school of thought. It's not paranoia. It's just good old common sense and it's about tears dropped. Real things happened, not theory. If you want so bad informations about foreign BASE sites, with few e-mail's (perhaps just one is enough), you have all the information you like. In fact, you did it. I think it's not fair that "foreigners" come to our BASE sites, have fun jumping/have fun jumping with us for 10 days a year and they talk publicily about their experience in a legal BASE site for the remaining 350 days of the year, and WE, the "locals", are left to face with the consequences of such "big mouth" talking and face the many BASE wannabies "I learn to BASE jump in 15 minutes" attitude. BASE sites information must be "difficult" to get for first timers. For "in activity" BASE jumpers, through Internet/BASE Board/Dropzone/whatever, is quite easy to get useful information, this happens through personal contacts. So, my personal opinion is that THERE IS NO NEED TO TALK PUBLICILY OF LEGAL BASE SITES ON INTERNET. I am open to receive comments/flaming/whatever. In the meantime, peace to all. Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> the "opening" of the stash bag was folded into in the middle and covered over by the other folds? This is EXACTLY what I do with my stash bag. Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

Sorry if I reply myself, but I have done with my Fox (at the times) about 40 skydives (deployed from a Javelin) with BASE packing, so I consider myself an "expert" in using BASE parachutes in a skydive > 5) I plan to use my 38'' PC. Is it fine? Forget using your 38" (it would distort your pack job at terminal). Rather, use any skydiving ZP PC in the 28"÷32" range. It is up to you if use the skydiving bridle (7ft - 2.13 m) or the BASE bridle (9ft - 2.74m), both would work fine in a skydive. But I doubt you can find a spare, "usable" skydiving bridle with one free loop at each end (normally, skydiving bridles are sewn onto D-bag and onto PC). > 7) Do you mean standard BR packing, just roll the nose? Yes indeed, BR standard BASE packing is fine. And if you roll the nose 3 times (instead of just 2), it's not wrong!!! It is going to open up anyway!!!! Have fun!!! Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> I think also, some of those who might not use it, might use WLO toggles, with one setup for all jumps. Wrong. WLO toggles (which I used until few months ago, when it happened an event after which I stopped jumping WLO system) can be used in any jump, slider off and slider up, but their use for releasing the offending control line is meant only when jumping slider up. In case of a line over in a slider off jump, the fastest and cleanest way to get rid of line over still is to discard the offending toggle. This is obviously the wat to go, and I clearly remember a post on the BB by Jimmy (by Vertigo) stating exactly this: "in a slider off jump, in case of line over, the way to go is to rapidly discard the offending (WLO) toggle; release of offending line in case of line over using the release mechanism of WLO toggle is meant to be performed uniquely when jumping slider up." The main reason to discard the toggle, in case of line over in a slider off jump (and NOT to get the WLO release mechanism to be effected), is that this way it is the fastest and smartest way to solve the problem. Just my 0.02€ P.S.: All the above is under the obvious assumption that when you jump slider up you route the control lines inside the slider grommet and inside the ring on the riser, and when jumping slider off you use the line mod, i.e. you route the control lines (outside slider grommet and) outside the ring on the riser, using the white loop on riser for setting up the brake. I honestly cannot see which are the advantages (when jumping slider off) to route the control lines inside ring on riser, while I see only disadvantages doing so... Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

Very well done indeed, my friends!!!!!!! > what are the numbers up to at the moment? A chap of mine just got number 869 (for having closed the word in mid December 2003). Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

>Well of course it can be done, we all know that. Is it the wisest, safest route? Come on now, I think we all know better than that... ignorance is beyond me in this situation Here are my toughts about the argument "BASE training without skydives". Yes, it can be done "safely" but with the following "if's" ALL fullfilled. 1) If you have a very experienced BASE instructor/mentor very, very capable of teaching 2) If you do a lot of training on a "fixed" harness (it is not so natural to go for your toggles and flying the canopy) 3) If a lot of theoretical classes are held with lots of videos watched and commented 4) If all the BASE pack jobs in the training process are done by mentor with student carefully looking 5) If a lot (=hundereds and hundreds) of dead air exits are performed, in a pool, onto a mattress, but much better with other suitable means (=pendulator or very similar tool) 6) If you have easily available (NOT to travel hours each time) an EASY and HIGH (from BASE point of view) object, I mean, a single span BRIDGE so that you cannot hit anything while flying, with at least a very large meadows underneath where to land on, from which object with PCA jumps the student can fly 30"-45"-60" and learn how to fly a BASE canopy "safely"; it is obvious that in this process the student must wear helmet, knee pads, elbow pads/whatever else protection is possible 7) If the above point 6) has got also a river/lake underneath as possible getaway/alternate landing area (better than only the meadow); in which case (=presence of water) a boat must be available at any time 8) If the instructor/mentor AND student has got lot of spare time to teach and to be taught 9) If you can do all the training from the above EASY single span BRIDGE for at least 40-50-60 jumps (first 10-20-30 of which are done by PCA) So, if ALL the previous points are fulfilled, yes, I think that "BASE training without skydives" can be carried out "safely". But, for sure, the above "BASE training without skydives" would be very, very time consuming, in terms of BASE pack jobs, time spent by both people involved, journeys to and from the BRIDGE. Finally, if the above easy OBJECT (=single span BRIDGE) is not available within less one hour drive, the "BASE training without skydives" remains only theoretical and NOT feasible, mainly because of the enormous quantity of time needed to carry on the whole program. Forget any "BASE training without skydives" if you haven't got ANY easy (see above) object available... : in this case, let's stick to the 150-200-250 skydives first and then BASE training Just my 0.02€ P.S.: the above holds true only for training in BASE jumping where no long freefall (BASE jumps with slider up where terminal walls are jumped) is involved. If in case this "BASE training without skydives" has success, I think there is no other way other than skydiving to gain a good stability in freefall in box position, plus gaining good ability in tracking... , skills that are obviously MANDATORY for jumping terminal walls/objects Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

Hi D-dog!!! You know that you are one among my heroes, don't you? I miss so much your long posts about opening of new sites, we had so much fun reading through all of them!!!!! I hope flicking is going jolly well indeed for you!!! When are you going to show up your face in this part of the world? See you soon Italy BASE #8 Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

Hi Johhny!!!!! When are you coming out with pictures of supermushroom packing technique for stowed PC's? See you soon Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

Goodbye, mt friend. Take care of yourself. Come back in one piece, for good lord's sake. Remember that if on the way back home you are passing by South Europe, just drop me a line that I can host you and we can have some fun off our local objects (terminal/subterminal/low). See you soon Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

Yes indeed. It is showed on "A Fist Full of F-111" Australian BASE video. Jump performed by W.A. about beginning of 80's. Really OUTSTANDING is the landing on top of large cylinder nearly touching with his Parafoil the side of small cylinder. OUTSTANDING jump!!!!! Me too think it is one of the coolest BASE jump ever As far as the writing on the video says, it is the only BASE jump done by W.A. but Aussie BASE jumper think that, due to coolness of object jumped (and also to the way the whole action was performed), W.A. is a legend!!!!! And I agree with Aussie jumpers!!! Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com

> The setup is similar to something I posted a while back In fact, I created my setup using EXACTLY your drawing of the time, using dyneema 4mm rope for the ruggedness of its sheath and fastening it to the loop on the bridle taking into the account the suggestion of CRWPER about attaching it to the bridle through a loop of break cord (instead of girth hitching it): so, in case of any entanglement, it would become feree breaking the (second) loop of break cord. Losing the precious piece of equipment, yes, but flying free towards landing area. Post by bor: “Why are you not using standard bridle?” Good question. I made my Special Bridle (special in the sense that I use it ONLY for SL jumps) using 5.5mm dyneema climbing rope (whose break load is 1800 kg - 3968 lb) having the terminal loops sewn by a rigger. About 30 cm - 1 foot off the loop end (where the PC is girth hitched) I made a knot “of-which-I-do-not-know-the-name-but-it-is-very-used-among-sailors” forming a small loop to WHICH I attach my “carry-with-you” SL via the (second) loop of break cord and to WHICH I attach the (primary) break cord loop. I decided to use such a cinfiguration after a post on the BASE Board a couple of years ago by a chap that was using this setup. The idea of having the loop where you attach EVERYTHING to be a separate one from the loop where you girth hitch your PC is that this way you have your back PC hanging a little away from where you tie your anchor to your fixed object, location in which there could be some “mess”. And actually I think it is not a bad idea, even when you tie your knot on exit point you do not have the PC “bothering” you. Why I don’t use standard bridle? Now I come to answer you. When we do SL jumps our break cord breaks at 80 lb - 36 kg, that in absolute terms it is NOT a great force, but it is exerted in a very “sharp” way. You pass from zero force on your bridle to 80 lb - 36 kg in few thousands/hundredths of second, that (in my mind) COULD cause some “damage” (or excessive wear, if you prefer) to the standard bridle/to the sewings/seams in the standard bridle. Our standard bridle, expecially when you deploy at terminal, withstand forces for sure greater, for few instants, than 80 lb - 36 kg, but such forces are exerted on the bridle much more gradually, think when PC inflates, it does not exert the force so abruptly as a fixed point (a 80 lb - 36 kg break cord) would do. Our sport, apart from consolidated techniques/equipment/gear/whatever, is made also by what we call “mind wanks”, maybe stupid things that make you worry a lot until you “fix” them someway somehow. After that you have solved/fixed these small things (in fact, we call them “mind wanks”/”mental wanks”), we show up at our exit point with a bigger smile and with more peace of mind. My Special Bridle used in ALL my SL jump is what, in this case, make me smile feeling very confident in my gear, giving me a good peace of mind (apart from all the sh!t coming from the jump itself) and in the end solves my “mind wank” about possible excessive wear of standard bridle used for SL jumps. Just my 0.02€. Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com