CanuckInUSA

I'm not sure how I would adjust to the winter wet season, but if/when I am forced to come back to Canada (and please fellow Canucks know that I do love my country, it's just that the weather and jumping is better where I am right now), then living in the Vancouver area and jumping at Pitt Meadows is something that could very much happen. Alberta is an awesome province, but I don't know if I could handle jumping at seasonal Cessna DZs. At least I'm under the impression that it is possible to do hop n' pops at Pitt Meadows during your winter wet season right? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

PM has been sent concerning my packing trick(s). But DiabloPilot (who jumps in your area) likely has a good trick to show you in person (and who knows, maybe his trick is the same as mine). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

If you were packing a BASE rig (or a reserve), I might understand. But you're likely being too methodical with your skydiving rig if it takes you two hours to pack. If you are having issues with a new slippery ZP canopy, I understand that it's not easy. But there are tricks on how to control that canopy and getting it into the dbag. If I was with your right now, I could easily show you my trick(s), but I'm sure you have plenty of access to some knowledgeable packers what with you being a southern CA jumper. I'm not advocating that you learn to trash pack. But numerous times I've been able to make a 5 minute call by trash packing and (knock on wood) they are usually good openings. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

My bad ... for some reason I thought you were a Calgary girl. But seeing as you're from Edmonchuk, well that changes everything. Well maybe not. I've been gone from Calgary long enough to no longer have that Calgary/Edmonton rivalry in my blood. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hi Kat ... how's Calgary? For the people who exclusively use packers, they are losing one jump for every four jumps that they make. If these people have the $$$ and use multiple rigs to get the most of their jump day, then all the power to them. But if they use packers because they are lazy or have little confidence in their own packing abilities, then they are the ones who ultimately lose out. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I do not understand you motivations for this thread. Yes BASE and skydiving are not the same and never should be confused as being the same. They are very different. But if you don't like this forum, why are you here? For sure this forum wouldn't be worth anything if all the BASE jumpers up and left. But most humans are into communications and conversing here is just another way to express our individual experiences and ideas amongst ourselves. Forums like this helps newbies like myself understand the mindset of the BASE jumper better so that I act appropriately when I'm in the BASE environment. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Mike and Captain Ron are definitely instructors who do make a (positive) difference. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Yes we are totally spoiled down here (and I'm only jumping at a medium sized turbine DZ). I hate to say it, but I regret the likelyhood of having to move back to Canada once my work down here is done. As far as this topic is concerned? Hmmm ... A while back I said I could see myself being a TM. But lately, the idea of flying meat hasn't been all that appealing. For sure flying video is something that I can see myself doing (I'm just waiting to get more experience before I go down that road) and being an AFF instructor and possibly a rigger could also be things that I see myself doing. But I have also been warned against working for a DZ and have seen those who do not have their "I'm happy today" hats on. But I guess if push came to shove and if it meant this is the only way you will jump, I guess working at a DZ is a viable option. I know it doesn't work this way, but my dream DZ job would be to be a freeflying or canopy control coach (and pretty much load organizing). But one doesn't just rise to those sort of positions without paying ones dues in these other areas first. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Didn't you know about the party with all those other cool people going on in my head? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I didn't put the wing loading on my last post for a couple of reasons. First off, all you need to do is look at my profile and you'll see that I'm currently loading my Crossfire2 at about 1.5:1 which falls within Icarus's recommended wing loading for this canopy (but is still under loaded compared to what many people think is the optimal wing loading for the Crossfire2). It is tempting to get to that optimal wing loading, but I must also remind myself that I have NOT mastered this current canopy (I have stood up all but two of what 210 or so landings on this canopy, but I think about my two crashes more than I think about all those successful stand ups). Secondly, I didn't post wing loadings because I have lost about 10-15 pounds since last summer and my wing loading on my Crossfire2 isn't all that much higher than the wing loading on the Sabre2 170. Plus how my wing reacts will be different than how someone else's with the same wing loading will react because I jump in a high density altitude region of the world (my home DZ is 5000 feet MSL and on a hot summer day, then density altitude could be approaching 9k-10k MSL). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Most high performance canopies already hiss when the pilot is executing a diving front riser turn (gotta love the sound of a high performance canopy in a dive almost as much as I love the sound of a radial aircraft engine). But this makes me think back to a girl I used to mountain bike with. She used to have a cow horn attached to her bike and we always knew where Lisa was. Of course we were riding in the Alberta Rockies (home of many many Black and Grizzly Bears) and this is no April Fools joke. She actually did used to (maybe she still does) ride around with this clank-clank-clank sound. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey dude ... rumor has it that you just received an email message from UPS (via Birdman Inc) saying that you should expect a package to arrive on or around Wednesday April 7th. Hmmm ... I wonder what could be in this package? Could it be something which is predominately white, but has red wings? Hmmm ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Not long ago I took off my 2nd alti (it used to be attached to my leg straps) when I got my new container and my landings haven't been as consistent as they used to be with my old container. I guess I was trying to nail my swoops without the use of this 2nd alti. But now I'm thinking that I need to put it back on my new rig. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

This has been a very good thread with tons of good information from the experienced people out there. I'm not sure how much I can help here (after all I still am very much a newbie to this sport). But if we can get more people (myself included) to slow down and think about what they are doing with their canopy choices, then maybe a few less incidents will occur this summer. It looks like I am slightly bigger than NeedToJump (Ari), but I seemed to have followed a similar (fast) downsizing progression. - Triathlon 220 (50+ jumps) downsized to a Sabre2 190 at the right time. - Sabre2 190 (90+ jumps) downsized to a Sabre2 170 likely a little early, but not critical nor dangerous. - Sabre2 170 (220+ jumps) downsized to a Crossfire2 139 without truly maxing out the Sabre2 170. I learned a lot from my Sabre2 and was able to swoop great distances with it. My only beef with it was the short recovery arc (and for that I don't regret my Crossfire2 downsizing choice). But I will openly admit that I didn't learn everything I could have learned on that Sabre2 and did downsize sooner than I should have (all except that recovery arc issue). So now I am flying my Crossfire2 and I will admit that I have been tempted to buy one of my friend's Crossfire2 129 (and another friend has or had a 119 for sale as well). But I still have NOT mastered this canopy. To me maxing out a canopy and mastering a canopy are different beasts. I say this because there has been a number of swoops which I did well and believe I came close to maxing out the canopy's potential. But there have been other jumps where I have messed up (not dangerously ... knock on wood) and bleed off a lot of my speed due to numerous factors. So instead of thinking about all those good landings/swoops I may have had with this canopy, I still can't help but think about the times were I haven't efficiently piloted the canopy. So I can see myself on my current wing for many many moons to come. Like NeedToJump, I doubt you will see me on a x-braced canopy anytime soon as I still have four Crossfire2 canopy sizes to master before I ever think about flying a x-braced canopy. Oh and for what it's worth, my 2nd rig (it'll be my wingsuit rig) has a Spectre 150 in it (a canopy I'd love to get my PRO rating with). So not every jump I make is a jump where I am looking to swoop. We should be swooping for our own reasons and not swooping to try and impress other people. Unless your name is Clint Clawson (or one of the other PST guys/gals), there's always going to be someone at the DZs better than you. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Okay I will fess up here. The dumbest thing I have done to date was thinking that I could deploy my main at about 2k and beat the Cypres. Well deploying at 2k may be fine and dandy for a old-time belly flier who routinely does this (possibly without a Cypres). But I had just come out of a head down jump hauling ass at 3k (it only took about 3 seconds to slow down from 3k to 2k and it's all on video) and my Cypres fired at the very tail end of the snivel as the main was about to fully open (this event occurred around this time last year). Now I know that if I ever find myself at 2k coming off of a head down jump that I need to go for my reserve instead of my main. Hmmm ... maybe I should post the video of this on www.skydivingmovies.com as it should serve as a lesson that pulling at 2k for most people (at least those with a Cypres equiped rig) isn't such a good idea. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

With all these new (sometimes used) wingsuit arriving, I find myself sitting here (and trying to) patiently wait for mine to arrive (hopefully sometime within the next couple of weeks) as I'm supposed to be in Eloy two weeks from today jumping it for the (beer) first time. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Well if I'm not allowed to vote for DZ.COM, then I'll vote for the Pink Mafia website. Those girls rock!!! Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Being able to judge the horizon isn't something which happens overnight and it's questionable as to whether or not I have jumped enough to known what 5k really looks like. But I have a pretty good idea and I'm sure I'm no more than +/- 500 feet off (maybe I should dedicate a slew of jumps to horizon altitude recognition to be sure). But I would also believe that the internal clock is also a factor. Basically if your clock is blaring away (it's time to break off) and the sight picture of the horizon looks like it has jump after jump, well then it's time to break off. Likewise, if your horizon altitude picture tells you that it's time, then check your altitude and get ready to do something (like track like a MFer). In all honesty (I did several freefly jumps last weekend without an audible), and freefliers tend to rely on each other for signs of when to break off. The key to when to break off is the question though. Obviously when jumping with others with audibles, we tend to break off at roughly the same times. But when nobody is relying on audibles, then we must rely on our own internal clocks + horizon sight pictures and never ever suck it low just because the freefall aspects of the jump are going well. One other point. I'm not sure how much this helps identify horizon sight pictures, but flying video and watching the video afterwards of the jumps likely helps recognize the horizon sight picture of normal break off altitudes (using audibles). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Demonstratable skills!!! In fact guys like Ron and Derek have always said that they didn't have a problem with a newer jumper jumping a high performance canopy, just as long as they first seek advanced canopy control instruction and then are able to demonstrate the appropriate canopy control skills on larger canopies first. I can and often do everything on BillVon's list on virtually every jump I do, but that doesn't mean I feel that I am ready to downsize as I know I have not mastered my current wing yet. I've stood up something like 208 of 210 landings on my Crossfire2 canopy. But it's the two crashes (ironically they both happened within the last six weeks) which stand out in my memory and we haven't even hit the hot high density altitude months yet. Both crashes are explainable and neither one was the type to make you think I was going to the hospital. But I still made mistakes on those two crashes and one only wonders what would have happened if I was on a sub-100 foot x-braced canopy when I made those mistakes. Swooping is fun, but the margin for error is slim and permanent consequences can result from an ever so small mistake. Dang maybe I should apply for that CN #. Nah ... not yet. I still have some rebel blood in me. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I will be there 1) Eloy Easter Boogie (except that I messed up booking my flight and will be there one week after the fact). 2) Memorial Day in Twin Falls ID on my FJC. 3) July 4th long weekend at the Ranch. 4) The 2nd Annual Bytch Boogie. 5) Eloy Holiday Boogie. I will try my best to be there 1) NorCal Freefly Festival. 2) Chicks Rock Boogie. Plus depending upon time and money, I would like to do some tunnel time coaching in FL or CA. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

The Pumphouse Brewery is located at 540 Main Longmont, CO, 80501 303-702-0881 and a map to the restaurant can be found here. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Mondays and Wednesdays are a no-no for this camper (don't mess with my volleyball nights and we'll all get along just fine ), but I believe I am free on Thursday. Where and when? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

SoBe can be found here in south FL (just west of West Palm Beach) Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey Ian I am nowhere near qualified to say whether one person or another has the right skill to safely pilot a sub-100 foot X-braced canopy. But I have always been under the impression that one only goes to a x-braced canopy after and only after they have absolutely maxed out their existing canopy (obviously an existing canopy with a high wing loading in itself). But sadly this message doesn't seem to get around to some of the people wanting to fly x-braced canopies. I know of at least one person from my DZ who is flying a Velocity in a docile manner and I know of another person (who is skilled) but who's talking about buying a Velocity as well who isn't maxing out their current canopy. And I only assume that the reason why these two people want to jump Velocity canopies because they like telling people that they fly a x-braced canopy. And to add insult to injury, there is another junior jumper (maybe 100 jumps) who somehow convinced someone to let him jump a Sabre2 150 over the weekend (not sure exactly what the wing loading was, but this junior jumper is not a small person). This junior jumper seems to be in a rush to be jumping a small high performance canopy and has been warned numerous times about what a dangerous road he is venturing down. But he's young and invincible and somehow feels he's better than everyone else only because he used to hang around the DZ as a packing rat (before his 18th b-day). Dang ... where have we seen those young "I'm better than everyone else" jumpers? They seem to be all over the place. Personally, I know I did downsize a little aggressively in the past, but now I consider myself as someone who flies a high performance canopy and is very much at risk of messing myself up if I am not careful. And it'll be a long long time (possibly it'll never happen) before you see me on a x-braced canopy. You see, I still need to max out my Crossfire 139 before I downsize to a 129. Then I need to max out a 129, a 119 and a Crossfire2 109 before I ever think about jumping a x-braced canopy. Plus what's disturbing from the example you gave is that the person with only about 400 jumps hasn't jumped in 9 months. Shit I haven't done a good high performance landing in about two weeks and I feel uncurrent in high performance landing techniques. How the heck could I perform under this wing if I haven't jumped in 9 months. We have another person from out DZ who's recovering from a broken back (fortunatetly no spinal injury occurred and he wasn't even flying an x-braced canopy) and who is only starting to jump again (he's flying a large Spectre) and if you listen to this guy talk about his crash (he never let up on the front risers if I am not mistaken), he'll tell you that he made 400+ successfully jumps prior to his incident without ever having to dig it out. But all it takes is one moment of lapse judgement to forever change our lives. I am by no means a canopy nazi. But I am starting to be around this sport long enough to see how risky it is and that some people take high performance canopy flight to lightly (as I'm sure I have in the past). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

You left out a very important poll option and that is that while many of us do rely on our audibles, we also watch the horizon. Our internal clocks are working during these dives, but internal clocks aren't always accurate. But if you know what 5k looks like by looking at the horizon, then you're a step ahead of the dive. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over