Continuum II: Stories from the Edge
Triax Productions has partnered with Go Fast! Sports & Beverage Co. to release their second BASE jumping video, "Continuum II: Stories from the Edge." The film will premiere October 8-10th in Cañon City, Colorado at the 2nd Annual Royal Gorge Go Fast! Games, a legal B.A.S.E. jumping event. The feature will be officially released on October 16th at Bridge Day, the annual legal B.A.S.E. jumping event in Fayetteville, West Virginia.
The feature, as its name implies, is more video-magazine style in its approach. Embracing the entire sport of B.A.S.E. jumping, the film includes athlete profiles, rigging/safety tips, B.A.S.E. jumping event coverage, epic survival stories, trick tips, stealth urban B.A.S.E. jumping, never before seen B.A.S.E. jumping footage from sites around the world, and of course, entertaining bloopers. Some of the sites visited for the film include Malaysia, Thailand, Switzerland, the 2003 Royal Gorge Go Fast Games, Mexico, Southwestern USA and Norway.
"With the "Continuum II" film project, we saw an opportunity to support three athletes/entrepreneurs who have true ambition, vision and passion for bringing the reputation and portrayal of B.A.S.E. jumping to an entirely new level," says Heather Hill, VP Communications, Go Fast Sports & Beverage Co. "With continued efforts like this film project and the Royal Gorge Go Fast Games, we hope to help authenticate B.A.S.E. jumping's place in the world of extreme sports."
Triax is made up of local Colorado B.A.S.E. jumpers/skydivers Damian Doucette, Chris Pope, and Kenyon Salo.
Pope: "We tried to take a different spin on the standard B.A.S.E. jumping video and make it not only interesting to everyone, but informational as well. We were lucky enough to be able to profile a few great people for this video. I had a lot of fun making it! I love this stuff!"
Salo: "The camera lens shows B.A.S.E. jumping in its true form, and really lets the viewer connect with the action and the intensity of the sport. The Continuum series strives for this connection, whether with an athlete or an object or an emotion, in each and every shot, and we hope we can bring B.A.S.E. jumping into a new realm through this kind of videography."
Doucette: "In addition to some pretty cool base footage, we utilized techniques such as motion control, time-lapse and animated graphics to increase the overall production value."
"Continuum II: Stories from the Edge," as well as the group's first release, "Continuum," will be available for sale through the company's website, www.triaxproductions.com as of October 1, 2004.
For more information, please contact Chris Pope at 303.449.2091.
Troy Widgery founded Go Fast Sports & Beverage Co., producers of Go Fast Energy Drink and Go Fast Sports Apparel, in 1996. For more information about Go Fast®, please contact Heather Hill at [email protected], call 303.893.1222 or visit www.GoFastSports.com.
Performance Designs Releases the Sabre3
Performance Designs is beyond thrilled to announce the release of the long-awaited Sabre3. For nearly 40 years, their design team has worked tirelessly to refine what is possible in canopy design, and they've done it again, delivering yet another cutting-edge canopy to the skydiving community. The Sabre3 is not only worthy of the name, it redefines it. This new wing exemplifies PD's continued passion to build the next greatest all around 9-cell modern canopy, one which is sure to excite anyone who flies it, and truly amaze those new to the brand. One flight proves it: it's not just a new wing, it's a better wing.
Though the Sabre3 shares a lineage with two historically popular Performance Designs canopies, the Sabre and Sabre2, the designers began with a clean slate with the goal of creating the world’s next most popular canopy. They enhanced the qualities people loved most about the Sabre2 but minimized or eliminated those some found less desirable. Already tested endlessly by PD Test Jumpers, and demoed by PD Athletes, the Sabre3 has been described as dynamic, powerful, and perfectly suited for today’s modern canopy pilot - delivering superb openings, crisp response, and amazing landings.
“The Sabre3 definitely has the range to be a great straight in, no wind, standard landing type canopy for a lower experience jumper. Or you can really push it and get some amazing flight performance out of it. It’s pretty much for the world. What we want as skydivers is a reliable canopy that is predictable on opening all the way through landing. It really is a beautiful wing.
”- Brad Cole, PD Test Jumper
The Sabre 3 is not just a new wing, it’s a better wing. You asked, they listened and delivered once again. Like all of their canopies, Performance Designs’ Sabre3 is available for demo before purchase. Those ready to own one should contact their local Authorized PD Dealer to discuss if the canopy is right for them. Additional specs and stats can be found on the Performance Designs website.
By Administrator, in Gear,
Argus AAD Discontinued
According to Karel Goorts, Managing Director for Aviacom SA, production of the Argus automatic activation device (AAD) for the sport parachuting market has been discontinued. The current group of service centers will continue to provide service for units currently in use. A limited number of cutters and spare parts will be available. Many container manufacturers rescinded the approval of the Argus to be installed in their containers earlier this year, following questions about the effectiveness of the cutter. Argus owners should check with their container manufacturer to determine whether the Argus may be installed.
Source: USPA
Aviacom released the following press release on the situation:
Dear Argus Customer,
We thank you for the support and the confidence that you granted us over the years. The Argus has saved no less than 31 lives since 2006.
The recent bans from major manufacturers forced us to discontinue further production for the sport market, due to the impossibility to use our AAD in most rigs. We have been lobbying in St.-Louis at the PIA meeting with all involved parties to get the Argus back in the air – to no avail.
The manufacturers demand a brand new cutter design. This will take between 18-24 months and cost over 100,000.00 USD. We don’t get any guarantee that this solution will be accepted by those who issued the ban, so it is not a viable option.
Our Service centers will be able to continue the 4 year check-ups and the remaining ‘old’ cutters still will be exchanged for free. A limited stock of spare parts will be available.
The remaining stock of Argus SIS will be sold through our dealer network.
We are sincerely sorry for this unfortunate situation.
Kind regards,
Karel Goorts
Managing Director
Aviacom SA
P.S.: The Argus is allowed for use in the following rigs: Mirage, Wings, Dolphin, Racer, Infinity, Next and Basik.
Source: Aviacom
MarS A.S Product Service Bulletin
A product service bulletin has been released for the MarS A.S m2 AAD. This after several reports of the device displaying the errors "Error No. 0" and "Error No. 1". These errors were not eliminated by turning the device off and then on again. The error has been traced to an issue with the device sensor.
There is a mandatory compliance request for owners with affected devices to send said devices in for an inspection and subsequent replacement or repair. Costs involved in the procedure will be covered by the manufacturer.
More information on this service bulletin and the affected serial numbers can be found at MarS A.S M2 AAD Service Bulletin pdf.
A helmet that fully integrates GoPro 3 and 4 series
The issue of helmets with cameras interfering with the deployment sequence is well-trodden, to include on dropzone.com.
In France, new safety regulations produced by the Federation Française de Parachutisme, the sole, recognized sports authority for leisure skydiving, have become extremely stringent regarding camera mounts, and in particular, the way they protrude.
So a French skydiver, Olivier Hiolle, developed a helmet specifically integrating the most current cameras of the day, i.e., GoPro 3 and 4 series.
The result is astounding. The GoPro is fully inside the helmet, which has a frontal window.
The top of the helmet is flat in order to accommodate other cameras. Of course, that would be a departure from the initial idea of having no protuberance, but there is no other way to carry larger devices.
The helmet itself is a "true" helmet, in the sense that it is made of strong, resilient fabric and serious cushioning that will effectively protect the head in case of shock. We are well beyond the degree of protection afforded by basic helmets, in moulded plastic, whose protective function does not go much further than just providing a convenient attachment for a camera.
I have ordered one and flown with it a dozen times. The fit is extremely comfortable and natural. I have a GoPro 3+. I purchased, as an extra, a USB cable that remains coiled inside the helmet. That way, I never manipulate the GoPro directly, apart from activating the bluetooth by slipping my little finger into the lodgment of the camera. From then on, I use the remote control. When I wish to download the pictures or load the battery, I just pull the cable out of its lodgment and plug it where it needs to go.
The angle is perfect, no vibration whatsoever, and good sound under canopy (in the sense that I can hear myself grumbling and commenting on the approach).
This is a new one-man firm, who makes each helmet by hand, to include the color. Prices are reasonable, including options such as color (other than white or grey for the fiberglass version), cable, chin strap. By design, the strap, whether chin or basic, has a quick release handle.
This is the website: http://www.skyvisionpara.com/index.html, which, at present, is only in French.
Be aware that the photos I lifted from the webpage are not as good as the current product. It is a much more polished work than that. But the photos do give an idea of the design.
GoPro HD Hero 3 Announced
GoPro have just unveiled the specifications for their new generation of mounted sports cameras. The GoPro Hero 3 will likely grab an even tighter hold of the already dominated market, where GoPro have found themselves leading over the past few years. Other companies have tried to revitalize their products in order to keep up with the ever popular GoPros, but ultimately have not yet managed to capture the power, functionality and quality that GoPro manage to pack into their cameras.
The HD Hero 3 looks to focus on creating a smaller and lighter camera, while at the same time increasing the features and enhancing both video and photo quality. It's difficult not to be impressed by the Hero 3 by looking at what it provides, at least on paper. The Hero 3 range is said to be at least 30 percent smaller than the HD Hero 2, and 25 percent lighter. They have also included built in wifi, which while of limited use to some, is a huge positive advancement for many others. The processor of the camera is claimed to be twice as fast as it's predecessor, this makes the camera able to handle higher quality video at higher frame rates. The higher end of the Hero 3 range allows for 4k resolution video at 15 FPS, while supporting 60fps at 1080p, 100fps at 960p and 120fps at 720p. This is a vast improvement from the Hero 2 which recorded at a maximum of 48fps at 960p and 30fps at 1080p. This information would support the claim that the Hero 3 can in fact double the performance of it's predecessor, the HD Hero 2.
The design of the GoPro Hero 3 is similar to that of the Hero 2, though slightly slimmer. It's good to see GoPro sticking to a design that has proven to be successful, while only making minor cosmetic changes, most of which are due to design enhancements, one of which is a new, flatter lens. There are currently 3 models in the range, the entry level model which is referred to as the 'White Edition', the intermediate model which is called the 'Silver Edition', and then the top of the market model which has all the bells and whistles - the 'Black Edition'. Another impressive feature is the ability to control up to 50 cameras from a distance of up to 600ft using a remote. This remote is included in the Black Edition, while can be purchased separately for the other Hero 3 models for around $80.
Due to the fact that the Hero 3 has only been announced hours ago, there aren't really any performance tests out yet and will likely come in at a later stage, though the claims are that the Hero 3 (Black Edition) is twice as sharp, twice as powerful as before when under low light conditions and all models also have received a reduction in the wide angel distortion.
The photographic specifications on the GoPro HD Hero 3 are slightly enhanced from the Hero 2, in specific models. The entry level model, as with the Hero 2, comes with a 5 megapixel sensor, while the intermediate model has been bumped up from an 8 megapixel to an 11 megapixel sensor, while finally - the top of the line model has been bumped up from an 11 megapixel sensor to 12 megapixels. All three models have the ability for burst shots, with the White Edition offering a maximum of 3 shots per second, the Silver Edition providing up to 10 shots per second with its burst mode feature, while the Black Edition takes the cake with an amazing 30 shots per second burst firing option.
GoPro HD Hero 3 - Specifications
GoPro HD Hero 3 (White Edition)
Specs
Included
Built in Wifi
1080p/30fps, 960p/30fps, 720p/60fps
5MP photos
Up to 3 shots per second burst mode
Improved Housing
$199 MSRP
HERO3: White Edition Camera
197’/ 60m Waterproof Housing*
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
QR Buckle
1 Curved Adhesive Mount
1 Flat Adhesive Mount
Assorted Mounts and Hardware
USB Charging Cable
GoPro HD Hero 3 (Silver Edition)
Specs
Included
Built in Wifi
1080p/30fps, 960p/48fps, 720p/60fps
11MP photos
Up to 10 shots per second burst mode
Protune & White Balance
Improved Housing
$299 MSRP
HERO3: Silver Edition Camera
197’/ 60m Waterproof Housing*
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
QR Buckle
J-Hook Buckle
3-Way Pivot
1 Curved Adhesive Mount
1 Flat Adhesive Mount
Assorted Mounts and Hardware
USB Charging Cable
GoPro HD Hero 3 (Black Edition)
Specs
Included
Built in Wifi
4k/15fps, 2.7k/30fps, 1440p/48fps, 1080p/60fps, 960p/100fps,
720p/120fps
Remote Control
12MP photos
Up to 30 shots per second burst mode
Protune, Continuous Photo, White Balance and Picture in Video
Improved Housing
$399 MSRP
GoPro App Compatible
Pro Low-Light Performance
HERO3: Black Edition Camera
197’/ 60m Waterproof Housing*
Wi-Fi Remote + Key Ring
Remote Charging Cable
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
QR Buckle
J-Hook Buckle
3-Way Pivot
1 Curved Adhesive Mount
1 Flat Adhesive Mount
Assorted Mounts and Hardware
USB Charging Cable
The waterproof housing for the Hero 3 has been developed to be smaller and fit close to the new flatter lens. Lens distortion under water is often a factor in wide angle underwater photography or filming, and it may have been one of the driving forces behind the decision to adopt a flatter lens in their design.
The storage and ports have changed slightly since the previous releases and now contains a mini-USB for syncing and charging, while having micro HDMI for video output. The Hero 3 will use a micro SD card, as opposed to the regular SD cards used in previous versions.
The big question for many GoPro owners is going to be whether it is worth them upgrading their current setup for the new Hero 3. For the most part the White and Silver editions are along the same lines as the Hero 2, the Silver Edition just having a few new tweaks and enhancements, which may be enough for some to consider the upgrade. But from what we've seen on paper, the Hero 3 Black Edition looks to be a different beast and we have high expectations for the results of any tests that are going to be performed with this camera in the near future.