jumpinjackflsh

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Everything posted by jumpinjackflsh

  1. Spot on Pops! I cannot stand that one. I wasn't much of a reader at all as a kid either, however, developed a love for it later on. Either way though, in a sport / activity where knowledge is paramount to survival, as well as a real enjoyment of the sport, how the HELL could you not read everything you can get your hands on about it? Blows my mind, completely...
  2. Uh yeah, I had to tuck it in for you Sat prior to boarding, same one was loose...
  3. Think that was frustrating? Just wait until you have about 50 seconds of working time from a perfectly good airplane... Don't over think this. It's iterative, each experience building on the last. Just when you think you got it? You'll have a horrendous experience. It is what it is. This takes time, and patience. The tunnel is amazing and will teach you a lot. However, a skydive is on it's own level as well. Not only do you have body flight to consider but everything that follows it. You don't relax when your not 100%. You have an off day, period. You go back and hit it again. All the tunnel time in the world won't fix this just like sometimes mondays just SUCK. Enjoy it, shake it off when it's not perfect and don't wait for some golden egg before you start AFF. Just go do it. Peace
  4. LOL, Chris we really need to do something about your tension factor. I think the OP is being forthright, and has answered some of the questions. Though I do see your angst and validate it. OP, I'd also suggest one other thing? I've seen so many times, requests for info from "Experienced Skydivers" then saying "It doesn't matter how many jumps you have". One cancels the other out. For instance, I've got 124 as of an hour ago. While it may look cool to my whuffo friends it doesn't count for much. Aka, my "advice/knowledge" is based on a few minutes of actual skydiving. If you really want good solid advice, at the least make a cutoff, aka, there are people out there, here, with thousands. I'd say make a baseline like people with a thousand or more skydives. It's a reasonable number and typically at that point they've gathered a whole shitload of experience. I've had a few mal's, zero cutaways and scared the shit out of myself a couple times. Not a lot of experience there. Lastly I'd say if you really want good info for your homework. Do it at the dz, and buy the person a beer/softdrink. You'll get there attention and they'll be more willing to answer when you are face to face and you are the one doing the writing. It is a tight knit group of people, protective of the sport and one another. We'd be friendlier to media if they'd just get it right sometimes. Jack P.S. Chris, deep cleansing breaths, you are starting to worry me
  5. Thanks Wendy, Agreed wholeheartedly. Your posts and many others here are what make dz.com "worth it". Despite the fact that we all are guilty of being asshats now and then(yourself exempt, never saw it out of you :). Per Remster it may not be base but I'm sure it's a close second or third. Either way I'm not a nums guy I just know every time I go that it isn't forgiving and I have to be on my best game from packing to pre-flight, ride up, exit, free fall, deployment and landing. On top of that, I know that sometimes even the best laid plans go to shit. I'll add, take note from your Seniors, not only in age but experience. Many many come into this sport and don't get the relevance of jump numbers. Many see it as a pissing contest. Reality is, everyone will share their experience if you only shut up and listen. Great bunch of people. So sad when we lose anyone. BSBD, Jack
  6. Agreed, you have a valid point. However, this manufacturer has it's SPONSORED TEAM flying cross braced canopies, one just died, with less than a few hundred jumps. So, while what you are saying is valid, they aren't the cops, should they be sponsoring a team of tunnel rats, and providing them with cross braced canopies to fly out of the hole. It's not a matter of looking at who to point the finger at. At the end of the day anyone that jumps out of a plane is responsible for THEIR choices. It's a matter of we are evolving and should someone with a couple hundred jumps be flying a cross braced rocket? This isn't about re-selling, etc.... Icarus isn't to blame anymore than anyone else is. What people are searching for is how to stop the high rate of death when people have a perfectly good canopy over their heads. Period
  7. I agree, I think people have the right as well. The thing I'd like to see is more formalized instruction in "getting there". Yep, more expensive, someone would have to pay, etc... However, I think more work on canopy control (B license) to move on to the next level, is necessary. There are quite a few courses, this area has been growing. I think it just needs more work and a little more framework built around it, and lastly our association applying it to the SIM, etc... Not doing so, just isn't smart.
  8. Agreed wholeheartedly Wendy. I think though it's apparent SOME KIND of direction were taken beyond "Hey you can't jump that". Life evolves, what used to work, doesn't work anymore, etc... It's called evolution and with the sport growing, canopies getting even faster, it's time to do SOMETHING. I have years to invest to even reach the knowledge level many of you have. By numbers alone I'm a nobody. However, that said, I'm smart enough to see a problem and notice that nothing innovative has been applied to resolve it. Taking the same track on this that's been taken for the last twenty years is not a solution. Period. When it comes to the fine details, executing on a plan/solution, well there's a hell of a lot more work to put in. However, doing nothing is ridiculous. It makes the sport look ridiculous and us look ridiculous when all we can do is stand over the body and say "he shoulda listened to someone". More can be done, more should be done. I don't want a police state but I think it's a joke that someone can strap on a velo that has NO business doing so. Period.
  9. http://www.pcprg.com/hardop.htm I have a ZPO 190. It opened hella hard (it liked to took my head off, compressed C1-C3, ripped out lines...). Ted bult me a pocket slider. End of story, opens well. Read Gary Peeks research, link above. Sabre's can be fixed with a change in slider size. Take a look, review with your rigger, execute. Problem solved. [Edited to Add] No amount of rolling the nose, changing packing technique, nothing solved my problem. The pocket slider did. I'd recommend one for your sabre however Gary's research shows (imho) that simply a larger slider will do the trick. So, there you have it.
  10. Thanks Big Mark, definitely! It's on my list for summertime completion. A helicopter as well.
  11. Jan, thank you for the well thought out proposal. Even at first glance it's something I see as a positive. I think the key element to success is the program being structured as a path to success for those that get in the sport and get bit by the swoop bug. Regulation and rules turns off a great many in the sport due to the whole fly free mantra. They see our sport and us in it as free spirits willing to cross the lines to experience what we do. In many ways it's true, it takes a special person to lay it on the line, every time for the love of the sport. However, even so, as John Mitchell says, enforcing the "no stupid shit" rule can be wildly interpreted. DZO's, S&TA's at many dz's rule pretty harshly to that. Some it appears to be non existent. Reasons vary, sometimes it's simply a matter of volume and people slip through the cracks. Either way, that alone won't contribute to solving this problem. The program, built in a fashion that provides a clear path to their goals, is now not about regulation, but education and training. Hey, I want to swoop! "Well, come here and let's go over it, and lay out a plan for the next 36 months, what have you, and begin your training and education to do so. We have it, loosely coupled (mentoring, tunnel camps, coaching) in many areas of the sport. It works well, but the thing that hits home about swooping is, if you drop a few slots on four way, you can just go up and try again. If you screw up on your sight picture, you may not get another shot at it... Aka, I really feel it's a great event/area of our sport. The big boys/girls that compete in swoop pull of some of the most beautiful moves there are and it's breathtaking to watch. However, I don't think ANYONE can argue it's the most goddamn dangerous maneuver in our sport. Lack of an structured training and education program, that implements requirements for getting their is simply sad. Back to the driving license comment brought up earlier, to that poster? You can't drive a formula one car without years of training and advancement through the sport, simply won't happen, period. Why are we still letting people drive formula one cars in our sport, without the same? It's not about preventing death. It's about developing the programs and practices that build a stairway for those that want to get there. Then, taking them there step by step. I gotta admit. I have "that personality"... I've fought it my whole life. I want something when I want it and I never want to work for it. This is serious shit though, miss a beat, drop a toggle and you are screwed. I went to SDC over the weekend. I want to jump wingsuits. I'm happy there is a program in place. I went to FlockU, met Greg and discussed next steps. When my jump numbers support my state of readiness, I'll take my FJC with him. Will I stop after that? Hell no, I want to fly well, I want to flock and dock and so many other things after. From that perspective I see a long path ahead of coaching, training, education, practice, etc... Keep moving with it Jan. My only request is structure not as a limitation or gatekeeper type thing, structure it as "here is how you get there from here". My hats off to anyone that gets the swoop bug. Done right, it's a hell of a thing to watch and must be ten times more exciting to execute. I don't know that I'll ever have the guts to try but if I did I'd seek training, take my time, and follow the line. That's for damn sure. Again, nice work Jan, go for it. In the end it should create better canopy pilots period. That's a good thing.
  12. Just remember whatever you choose to do in regards to this sport, like so many other things it's not always the obviously gnarly stuff that'll punch your ticket. Diving out of planes, plain vanilla skydiving, is still gnarly enough at the end of the day.
  13. When I was down there in February Manny was on every load there was... Incredible hard worker, totally in the game with an eye out for everyone. My last jump I did a solo tracking dive and he spent a few minutes with me briefing, discussing line, etc... You could tell the man was on his game. The next time I go I'll be opening my wallet to get some quality coach time with the dude. Talented, focussed, heads up. Good stuff. Between him and Luis I'd say you'll get just about the best coaching you could ask for. Edited to add: http://www.teamflyforlife.com/about-2/
  14. When I was a young man, I showed up to a family funeral, dressed in jeans (nice ones) and a button down. My father approached me, and said "Every man should own at least one good suit, for occasions such as this." I took it to heart, heeded his advice and acted accordingly. One black suit, a tie, white shirt. Years later I have a few more as business warrants but I never forgot his words.
  15. I've had the same thought. With only a hundred and some change on jumps I've been working really hard at break off, and pull time to look and develop my sight picture. Checking altimeter and the scenery to build in that view. I'm assuming it takes a lot of jumps and awareness to get that picture locked in though I do feel like i'm getting better at it. I've been low, real low, three times. I don't ever want to be again. Especially not with a malfunction. It was scary enough to be that low with a good canopy. Which in my estimation was luck, not skill.
  16. Timely post. This last week has been tough to say the least. I just got my first audible. A protrack. I put it in my helmet and set first alarm to 5500, for breakoff at 5, second for tossing at 4 and last alarm for hard deck at 2. My deployments have been consistently putting me under canopy at 3/3100. My thoughts being, if what opens doesn't work out, I've got to chop and get a reserve out between 3 and 2. Period. If there is anything wrong with this logic please let me know. As a B licensed skydiver I know I can throw at 3, but with a snivel of about 8-900 feet I don't like the thought of being in the same position at 2, now having to make the decision to go silver, then under a reserve at 1, etc... That said, I like throwing at 4. Jack
  17. I'm in as well. Wendy, very thoughtful and the right thing to do. You can't guess whether others have offered, I'd just go for it. If he doesn't accept it (doesn't drink?) you can take it to the dz as prepayment for a "first". In that case, I'd show up a day later with a turkey, or something similar for his freezer/family. That's the best you can do and you never know, it may go a long way towards changing his feelings on the subject.
  18. Always words of wisdom, lmao... Yeah, don't listen to the "it's safer than driving crew, just look at the numbers" bs. if as many people jumped as drove you'd see a significantly different picture. Your only ammunition is your ears, training, consistency and humble attitude. Even then there are no guarantees but frankly, the only constant we all know is we are going sometime, not the when or how.
  19. Yeah, and I'll add this "dude" is my S&TA, fellow jumper, and personally can vouch he has done much for the country, and where we live. His "pair" wouldn't even fit in dumbo's shorts pal. I was wondering why he was our S&TA, haven't jumped at my new dz for long and not knowing how they are chosen. This, and many other things i've witnessed, has proven that to be the right choice for all of us. Jack
  20. I'm with you. I'd put em all on a Otter and shove em out the door. With a little Rollin Stones music to escort em to altitude...
  21. From a conservative, noob, old guy point of view I think this stuff is what's required... Aka, "A License Card" style. Simply put, you don't swoop if you aren't certified to swoop. Downsizing through the range, requiring those signoffs. If you aren't certified, you don't have the credentials, you don't do it. Wave bye to the dz, maybe someone else will let you slide, not me. However, and one of the interesting arguments I found about the wing suit drama. Many in our sport are against advanced level certification (implemented by the USPA) due to setting precedent across the sport, increasing the costs and many other reasons. I can see the pro's and the cons. However, I'll say, as our sport grows, the new generations coming in, safety should be paramount and ensuring skills fit ability should also be a priority. I'm cheap, I'll be the first to admit it it. The thought of making this sport more expensive, regulated and mandated is a tough one. But honestly, how the hell did we get to the wingsuit issue when swooping's been killing more of us for far longer. From time to time, to this day, we even see the biggest most skilled in our sport fail and the result is often death. Given the required skill it takes to be good at it. How did we make it this far without a formal progression? What happens if we do it? Then you'll have to get certified to freefly, to wingsuit, rw, etc.... Yup, probably, but frankly, we've seen people broken from taking on more than they can handle in this area as well. The current SIM and ISP that we have in place today is the result of years of development in our sport. It's the result of countless hours of input from some of the biggest in the game to the people in the trenches at dz's nation wide. I honestly don't see why we don't take the same approach to specialized areas such as swooping as well. Tons of cons and more expensive but seriously, if you've managed to downsize five times and pick up a velo, you've proven you have the bucks to spend a little more on programs like these. I hate regulation. I'm a creative guy. I tend to be a bit dangerous. Jeez, hell, anyone that jumps out of a plane repeatedly for FUN, well we are all cut from the same cloth. But, when the writing is on the wall, and the story is clear? Why continue down the same path. Someone just saying "Hey, you should probably think about what you are doing" just doesn't make a bit of goddamn difference to those that are out on the edge already. Hell, the stories been told here too many times to count. You even said yourself DocPop, you ignored it, went too fast yourself. DZO's, S&TA's, Jumpmasters, Coachces, everyone should be on board however, a simple designation to your license such as "Ds24594" or "Dswp25694" would tell the whole story. Then at the least, at a glance anyone could see, you have swoop, wing suit, photography, training and certification. Doesn't mean you won't pound in, shit happens, even the best do, but it will sure as hell reduce the numbers and force people to put their money and their time, where there mouth is, and take proper steps to learn what they need to learn on the road to their goals. Lastly, sorry for being long winded but seriously. We come from a big background. From military, to teachers, to hippies and freaks, to pilots and janitors. It's a pretty big mix of people, all with the desire to be free in the sky. Well, ask anyone that's paid for our freedom, and they'll tell you, it doesn't come free. If we don't, move forward and grow in this fashion together, we'll keep doing the same thing, and get the same results. I'd love to swoop some day. Not sure it'll ever happen. But I will have my ass in a wingsuit just as soon as I'm ready (per BSR's). You won't see me sneaking around the rules before then because I'm old, cautious and not in a hurry to break myself. However, I ask myself if I was in this back in the day would I have? Yep, I was bullet proof, unstoppable, I probably would have. As long as we refuse to formalize, beyond bsr's and set some next level certs, we'll have this issue. Even after people will attempt to circumvent. However, it'll be much clearer than it is now. Jack P.S. As we get older our attitudes change to these things as well. The idea of taking an FJC from the likes of DSE and other top Wingsuiters in the country, hell I get a kick out of it. I look forward to it and lastly, I can't imagine putting one of those things on without doing it. Mandated or not. When we are younger, well, we are just dumber, period. We need the wisdom of the ones that have been around to lead us and arrive safely.
  22. Great post Oli and great study. The evidence points to a simple fact. The only difference in seasoned and unseasoned is managing stress. While it may appear to us, that as we get more and more jumps, the stress / fear dissipates, the reality is we build up an ability to better manage stress. This is NOT a hard idea to digest. Consider this... There are many many skydivers with a large number of cutaways, in many difficult situations, that pull it off, live and move on. Then there are some, both low time and long time, that don't. Sometimes those situations are similar to others that did. This would raise the question, did person A handle the situation better than person B. Aka, manage the stress caused by the malfunction, handle it, and move on, vs fail and go in. No way of really knowing that answer however the facts often support such a hypothesis. You see this behavior in many high stress situations such as firefighting, etc... Season veterans who are honest with themselves, and everyone around them, when questioned "how did you get over the fear" will look you in the eye, often laugh and say, "get over it?"... I don't get over it, it's scary, it's dangerous and many times just downright nerve wracking. You learn to manage it, deal with it, and function well in the environment. Training, drilling, training, drilling, preparing, all help you be better prepared to act without question, when needed. Common sense psychology if you think about it. I gave a speech, awhile back on "No Fear". Essentially the speech supported this view. Ask any of the long timers in skydiving, they'll tell you, if you don't have butterflies, there is more than likely something wrong with you. This shit is dangerous, period. Nutshell, yeah, the study is flawed, all of them are. But when all the other facts (people fighting here endlessly about procedure/practice, etc...) point to reality? Yeah, the difference between the pro's and the noobs, pro's learned how to mitigate risk, manage stress and perform well in very high stress environments. Which to me means? Physiological indicators of stress such as the manifestation of cortisol, would most likely still give similar readings to those that are just getting started. Common Sense Jack
  23. Thanks Douglas, per the stickies and articles I have read all of them, repeatedly. I didn't intend to infer the information wasn't there. Re your point on some people aren't ready even at 1000, point well taken as well. The funny thing about that is the whole ongoing "heads up jumper" discussion regarding when someone is capable. I know I consistently ask those questions of myself when preparing to do anything. Ask anyone, most will tell you they think they are above and beyond it all. I'm not one that's ever had those delusions. Thanks also for summarizing, you are correct, they do exist there. Short sighted of me for not calling that out. Im looking forward to flying camera for lots of reasons. First and foremost to capture the event, for review and improvement. Next, in my progression I do intend to learn how to be a good camera flyer for groups, tandem, etc... The last ten years I've specialized in corporate webcasting including everything from running camera to capture, conversion and broadcast worldwide over corporate intranets. I enjoy engineering and development and find that some of the best camera work in skydiving often far exceeds what happens on the ground. That said I'm looking forward to building on the professional knowledge I've gained thus far and adding camera flying to my toolbox. You can bet I will follow all of the above and focus intently on every aspect mentioned. Dave, agreed, the internet is no place to "learn" skydiving. I will definitely seek out mentors to teach me face to face the art of good camera flying. Though I will add, yourself, Pops, DSE, and many others regularly post well thought out, good advice and on many occasions I've learned from it. Filtering out all the bs on here is often a task but common sense, well, is common sense. Once again, thanks gentlemen. My goal is to jump well into my eighties and live to tell the story. I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen.
  24. Becka, thanks for your response. I'm at 116 jumps, have put alot in the last few months and I'm looking forward to jumping my GoPro. I mounted it to my bike helmet and have been using it / editing video for a bit to get used to it. I think dz.com is a great forum with a lot of good people sharing information but on the cameras, one thing stands clear. People just say, "don't do it" till you get 200. What we really need, is experienced camera flyers (GoProers even better) to get a list of things together for all of us noobs getting ready, to do / learn. Aka, your point about turning it on five minutes ahead so you have ample time to do your last gear check in the plane? Spot on. As well as gear check on the ground etc... I'll add to it. As I prepare to become one of the GoPro masses I just bought my first audible. Picked up a protrack from the dz.com classifieds and will be jumping with it this Friday for the first time. Also bought a Benny helmet so when I'm ready I'll be mounting it there instead of my full face helmet. Also I'm looking at what mods I can do to the Benny strap so I have a cut away system. As an older guy, I'm in full belief of listening to those around me. In our sport, when you fail to recognize, it can wind up making you DEAD. I'm not up for that. I love the sport too much and in turn it makes me love life even more. So, I'll listen. Will I wait for exactly jump 200? I might get wild and jump it at 189 ;-) But we know it's not an exact science. Melissa Nelson just posted a fabulous article about GoPro's and the hazards. The stickies on the camera forum show every example imaginable about what can go wrong. Good stuff, however, I'd challenge everyone, it's time to put together a laundry list of things to do, drill on ep's, etc... so when guy's like me start to fly one, we are in the best position to be successful and not wind up just another statistic. My contribution is I'll be flying my dytter well before I start with my GoPro. I'll outfit my helmet with a cutaway system and last but not least, per your recommendation, I'll ensure my gear checks are thorough and my camera is on well before exit so my last gear check is accurate and complete. To the rest of you, what else do we need to do? Thanks again, great response, Jack