CanuckInUSA

My copy just arrived in the mail today. So I look forward to finding the time and reading it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Thanks for the URL. Yes it did answer many of my questions. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I picked up Johnny Utah's "Bridge Day Safety Video" and it serves as a good wake up call concerning the bad things which can happen to people in the BASE environment. If I may I'd like to outline each malfunction type that Johnny shows in his video and maybe we can start a dialog as to how to try and prevent many of these problems so that newbies like myself actually have a chance at surviving some BASE jumps. Going Head Low This seems to be one of the chief culprits in a BASE jump gone bad. So many other bad things seem to result when a jumper goes head down. It's my understanding that when we exit, we should exit head high diving up and out looking at a 45 degree angle above the horizon? Is this correct and how often have your experienced BASE jumpers seen people go head low? Over rotating This is something which a newbie like myself won't be trying for a while, but what is a good way to try and prevent this? Practicing your exits at a swimming pool or just staying away from these sort of exits? Bridle wrapped around the body Assuming that we're not head low, when else can this be a problem and how can we prevent it? Stalling in freefall I would assume that one needs to get some sort of acrobatic experience (either in a swimming pool or with a gymnastics coach) before one really starts doing acrobatics. But it's also a good idea to not try acrobatics off of objects

Please know that this post is not meant as any sort of slamming post. But it is in this exact scenario where you need to know how to perform flat turns. If you're not comfortable with flying your canopy in this manner, then please start practicing up high and get to know how your canopy responds in slow flight. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Why not? If you are concerned about something, there's no harm in bringing those concerns to the table. The newbie may actually have something good to say. We're all different and some people find freeflying easier than others (it hasn't been easy for me, but I have worked hard to get to where I am today and know that I still have a long road ahead of me). If someone can't match fall rates on their bellies and have issues flying relative to others, then they need to build more skills before they venture into a more demanding environment that what they may already be in. But it is possible for some newbies to do really well in freeflying and what's the harm in holding them back. IMHO, this not a black and white scenario. Try not to compare yourself with others. There's always going to be someone better than you and believe it or not, there is someone worse. Set your own goals and try to stick to them. But remember that jump numbers don't necessarily equate to talent. Hopefully we will get to meet at a boogie one day. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I would guess that it was your slider (of course I'm only guessing here). It's easy to miss a slider packing error if you don't ensure that it's all the way to the line attachment points. My worst ever opening to date was on a Sabre2 170. But before I start blaming the canopy, I'm guessing that it was a slider packing error. I've yet to get slammed on anything near as bad as that opening and I can only assume that this is because I am more conscious of where my slider is when packing now. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I could have posted this in the "Swooping and Canopy Control" forum, but feared that it might get lost in there as that forum seems to be more gear towards swooping while what I'm about to say is more broader in scope. I was talking yesterday with one of the DZs experienced CReW dawgs and we were talking about the future of canopy coaching at the DZ as well as canopy flight in general. And the topic of what makes someone a good canopy pilot came up. We both agreed that being able to safely land your canopy time and time again were good qualities, but do they make you a good canopy pilot? We also both agreed that being able to swoop shows a certain skill level, but does that mean that you are a good canopy pilot just because you can swoop? Hmmm ... Keeping in mind that this fellow is a CReW dawg, but here is what he feels makes people good canopy pilots: 1) A good canopy pilot is someone who is passionate about canopy flight. It is someone who is will to dedicate time towards improving their skills. The freefall environment rocks (IMHO), but it doesn't always provide enough precise canopy control exposure. 2) A good canopy pilot is someone who is willing to go up to altitude and spend time flying their canopy. Once again, point #1 hits upon this as well. The freefall environment is fun, but it doesn't allow us the same amount of time to get to know our canopies the way we could learn the canopy by spending more time at altitude flying the canopy. 3) Finally, a good canopy pilot is someone who is able to fly relative with other canopies (both traditional CReW as well as non-contact CReW). This fellow's analogy was simple. The only time we get to fly our canopies with precision in the freefall environment is only within the last few seconds of our skydives. But when flying relative to other canopies, we get to learn to fly with percision for most of the jump. Any thoughts and opinions on what you think makes someone a good canopy pilot? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Send Betsy (bbarnhouse) a PM and tell her about your freestyle goals. It's my understanding that she is a bad ass world class freestylist and she should be able to provide you with some good info concerning the discipline. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I got to make a few jumps yesterday with my new Diamond .3 wide angle lens and I am very happy with it. Before while doing a dock with someone, I may have only captured their face and shoulders with my old .45 wide angle. But now I capture almost their entire body. Hmmm ... my captured video clips can only get better from here on out. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I showed my ugly mug today at MH and experienced a day that hasn't happened to me all that much in my limited time at the DZ. People talked, they did a little skydiving, they talked more. There are hurt people on both sides of the fence and each side isn't having an easy time understanding the other. But what did exist today was the mutual respect among most people there. It was a small family, but the people who were there tried to do their part. I don't like the circumstances surrounding the price increase. But it's not the end of the world. To me attracting people who want to jump, to have fun jumping and hopefully make some bad ass skydives is what counts. MH will never be an Eloy, or a Perris or one of the big DZs like you may find in FL. But it still has potential if management is honest to their clients and the clients appreciate what the DZ offers them. A DZ with good airplanes. For the first (oops beer) time in my skydiving life, I let a new skydiver's enthusiasm really serve as a wake up call to me. Amongst all the politics at MH right now, I got to talk with an AFF student who couldn't stop smiling thanks to his new found experiences. How could I let the negative vibes get in the way of what this guy was going through. I think he took a piece of cloud nine and put it in his jumpsuit pocket as he was grins from cheek bone to cheek bone (he ... he ... we got to jump near some clouds today ... something that doesn't happen to us often). Each jumper must do their part to make their DZ a better place, no matter where it is they jump. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I stayed away on Saturday because I was playing in a volleyball tournament (we finished 3rd out of 16 teams but wanted to win it all). And I thought about dropping by after 5 pm, but the winds seemed to have picked up (not that they were ultra strong, just strong enough to slow down loads?). But this mornings rainy overcast weather is rather disappointing. Wasn't it supposed to be nice today or did that change since Friday? This is you last weekend in CO right? Hmmm ... Awesome ... congrats ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Individually I'm not sure how much each one of us makes a difference. But it also does start with the attitude that each and every jumper brings to the DZ. But don't count whatever influence you can have short Scratch. You are one of the ambassadors to the sport that newbies like myself need to listen to. I think I know "this wonderful" thing you speak of as I experienced something pretty darn neat at SDA last weekend and have had good times in CO as well. Thanks for the good read ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I didn't get to try it yet (I was playing in a volleyball tournament today). But hopefully tomorrow and yes it's focused to an object that would be about 3-5 feet away from me and I have some gaffers tape to hold it in place. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

My first reserve ride was on jump #498. I was pushing to do #500 on the sunset load at Eloy last Christmas, but the Gods decided that that wasn't going to happen. My right break fired on opening, my Crossfire2 canopy spun up on me beyond control and the rest is history. Hello Mr Reserve canopy, nice to see you. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Check this link here. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I will be seeing two whuffo Calgarians (my brother and sister) in a couple of weeks and I'm sure they will likely mention something about the inquiry currently going. Rest assured I will set the straight so that they know we skydivers must be responsible for ourselves up there and not rely on the Feds to be looking out for us (like the whole inquiry mess seems to be heading). As far as this thread is concerned. It's unfortunate if some critical information (like the fatalities) is wrong. But I enjoyed reading it. Having been just in Eloy less than one week ago, I really enjoyed reading about the different people at the DZ and comparing how they were perceived in the article with how well I know their characters. I got into Ricardo's who story (the guy who swore several times) because it was this time last weekend when he, myself and a few others were shooting the shit outside the Bent Prop one night and I can just picture him saying the same things he said to me to the reporter who interviewed him. So I enjoyed the article ... but I guess it's different if you have a closer relationship to the DZ like Betsy and Gordo do. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

It's an athletic endeavor and is thus a sport. But it's more of a lifestyle than anything. They usually don't mention that when you're a student. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Cool ... thanks for the info. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I am 59% pure. 43% of the people are less pure than myself. 2% are the same. 55% of the people are more pure than myself. Who knows what this all means? 11%-cloudseeker2001 12%-Turtlespeed 13%-Amazon 16%-Mujie96 24%-PhillyKev 24%-freeflygoddess 27%-lummy 27%-chopchop 28%-feuergnom 29%-Dshiznit 29%-Skyant 31%-hookit 33%-Samurai136 33%-girlfalldown 36%-roysplaything 36%-piisfish 36%-Laurel 39% - Damion75 39%-RevJim 41%-Andyman 42%-craichead 43%-Remster 44%-moodyskydiver 46%-Slappy 47%-manifestbitch 47%-TribalTalon 48%-kansasskydiver 50%-Brains 52%-headoverheels 53%-tinfoil 57%-Tailgate 59%-CanuckInUSA 61%-Viking 62%-mcneill79 64%-sheenster303 65%-Cookees68 66%-buckleme 68%-weegegirl 69%-selbbub78 70%-Casie 70%-themitchyone 71%-kelel01 77%-skycutie 77%-SpeedRacer 80%-sdgregory 81%-Jumper03 83%-Skyrose7 84%-ripper0289 88%-samhussey 94%-Klingeme Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey Clay I received my own Diamond .3 wide angle lens this morning (pretty good customer service for getting the lens to me so fast) so I am looking forward to trying it out soon. But I have a question for you concerning focusing the lens. The limited documentation I received with the lens spoke of focusing and that I needed to do this manually (as opposed to setting the focus on infinity). And the documentation mentioned that if the lens goes out of focus that I need to focus it manually. But I can't really see myself in the middle of a skydive just signaling everyone to stop what they are doing just so that I can re-focus my lens. So how does this unit lens perform and is focusing really a mute issue? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Vic ... unless I'm mistaken we have met at least once (you were in a nice drunken stupor) and I want you to know that I respect who you are and had a great time in Sebastian and hope to visit the DZ again soon. But I had to dig this up concerning something which you said here in DZ.COM not all that long ago. So if this is good business for your DZ, then why can't it be applied elsewhere? And why is it so wrong for a fun jumper to try and stand up for something they believe in? Are our opinions worthless? Or do I need to whine to you more? To see Vics original post in this other thread, click here. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

It'll be interesting to see if the receipt itemizes this deduction? Then again, because the DZ does not use a ticketing system to manifest for jumps like some other DZs use, there is no receipt given to fun jumpers concerning the actual jumps which are made. A special report must be requested and only two people (unless they've changed this) will issue you a report of your jumping activities at the DZ. So I doubt fun jumpers will be able to deduct their mandatory charitable contributions. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

To the unfamiliar this seems so simple. It's about the money right? WRONG!!! The money is only the the tip of the iceberg. It's about being at a DZ where people want to jump. It's about being at a DZ which fosters the attitude that is a good place to be. It's about being at a DZ where people can better themselves. It's about being at a DZ where you as the customer are appreciated for who you are, a regular paying customer. It's about knowing that you can go to a DZ and know that they will try their best to accommodate your needs as a regular paying customer (like getting on loads in a reasonable timely manner and not worrying about being bumped). It's about fulfilling unrealized promises before the next batch of new promises are made. Mile-Hi Skydiving is a medium sized DZ. We are lucky that the family did not shut the doors after Jeff's death. I realize that I can not directly compare it's operations with that of a world class DZ (it's an apples and oranges thing). But what's wrong with trying to make the DZ operate more like how a world class DZ is operated? Most of us realize that we exist in a region of the country with a very high cost of living and accept why certain commodities are more expensive than other regions of the country. We are spoiled in that we exist in an urban environment but at the same time, the DZ is extremely lucky to have it's tandem customer base come from this large urban environment. But the DZ will never grow out of being the medium sized DZ if it doesn't do a better job attracting jumpers from different regions of the country or different parts of the world. Heck there is a CASA boogie coming up in June and they haven't even taken the time to mention it here on DROPZONE. How will it ever attract jumpers? How will it ever attract decent coaching? So many of you have no idea as to what a great place it is to jump at, what with our good 12 months of jumpable weather and breathtaking scenery. But does the DZ market this to fun jumpers? Who outside of metro Denver has made plans to specifically come visit us? Very few that's who. So is this just about money? I think not ... this is about trying to preserve and make better something which is important to us fun jumpers. A good DZ to call home. But if the input of one of the DZs most active fun jumpers means nothing? Well then I guess we know where fun jumpers really stand in the grand scheme of things. That's right, I earned the lovely distinction of spending more money on jumps than anyone else at the DZ last year (a year in which I cherish and will never forget). The DZ may not get as profitable of a return on me compared to their precious tandems, but the fact does remain that I spent more money at that DZ than anyone else last year. Is my input not worth anything, or am I just whining? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

It's a great flic ... I saw it in KC last summer ... you'll enjoy it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

At the risk of hijacking my own thread this is a huge reason why I think every up and coming skygod needs to visit Eloy. There are just so many quality skydivers jumping at Skydive Arizona that it (hopefully) serves as a wake up call to all of us up and coming "x" number jump wonders that there is always going to be somebody better than us. I'd like to be part of a DZ where yes I do give back to the sport when I can, but also a DZ which attracts good skydivers to develop my skills with. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over