darkwing

plunge your hands many, many times into hot, coarse sand to toughen them up. Actually, I'm not sure what kind of webbing your toggles are made of, but you might could sew another layer on them to give them more body. Do so only on the part your hand is in. Don't mess with the functional part of the deployment brake part of the toggle. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

what organization. NSL? USPA? Each regional organization in NSL has some freedom to set up the rules I think. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I was not at all happy with my Body Sport suit, which was measured by factory reps and required major alterations after they built it. It still isn't very good, but I use it anyway. There are a couple of other Body Sports on my DZ, and the owners are pleased though. After much research my next suit will be a Michigan. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

You have my sympathy. Interesting that this topic should come up today. I got slammed yesterday. Serious neck/back trouble today. I will agree with a couple of postings above that seem to say that while line dump gets a lot of blame, there is essentially no real evidence to support it in the large majority of slammer cases. My canopy is a Spectre 190, which is known far and wide for very mellow openings. My view, in the absence of real data is the following: 1) Slamming is rarely due to line dump 2) Slamming may sometimes be due to a specific packing flaw (e.g. inverted slider--which I have seen done) 3) Square parachutes open in an environment dominated by turbulent flow. Kind of by definition this means that small changes in opening dynamics happen nearly every jump, and big changes can occur less frequently, but are guaranteed to happen occasionally. I put the generic slammer in this category. 4) By the way, slammers happened on round canopies too, although they tended to be not so bad as on squares. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I'm going to gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon if I see this again. This issue first came to my attention when I started jumping 30 years ago, and it is a recurring theme, both in the skydiving world and the flying world. It makes me crazy. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I get about 50 jumps on a set in my pro track, probably about 75 jumps in my pro-dytter. I use economy mode. I always observe the 2-minute rule when replacing them. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

when that loop cutaway handle gets snagged you're gonna need that low profile reserve handle. ;-) -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Maybe focus on how you feel during and after the jump as a way to minimize how you feel before the jump. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Cars are at least that bad. The good news though is that if the gear still suits you you can jump it until it truly is worthless. In the meantime, and here is the important part -- save money up for new gear. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

it is an exponential law... P = Po exp(-mgy/kT) where Po = the pressure at ground level m = the average mass of an "air" molecule g = acceleration due to gravity y = height k=Boltzman's constant T = temperature All in SI units of course... -- Jeff My Skydiving History

lots of jumpers have been given that advice by a physician who knows nothing about jumping. Get another opinion, do lots of physical therapy. When you start jumping don't jump a camera (for a while at least), do jump a canopy noted for soft openings (such as a spectre). Remember though that ANY canopy is capable of a hard opening. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Yes I did. Remember, I advised you to copy an existing canopy, so unless it blows up or, or has a BAD turn, or something similar there isn't any reason to be that afraid of it. Open high enough to put it through its paces, practice flaring, etc. I'm not at home, so I can't look through my logbooks, but I'd guess that I had about 700 jumps at the time. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Really!? I'm astonished (and oubiously out of touch). I can't imagine why getting the tensions right would be easier in two passes than one, let alone other issues. But hey, it's been a long time since I built a canopy. A side note -- when I had my set up, and after I was comfortable with all the construction details I could make a canopy from scratch in one day, from fabric and suspension line on rolls, to a canopy ready to pack and jump. My first one took a couple of weeks though. It is a major rush jumping your first self-built canopy though. I still remember it clearly -- cold, low clouds, scary -- but it all worked out. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Doing a tandem is certainly NOT a generic requirement for an AFF student. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I've been there. I made about 40 canpies. Starting with pure copies, and then got more and more custom. Buy me a Dr. Pepper some time and I'll tell you about my famous "Stealth" canopy. I strongly recommend that your first canopy be a nothing real fancy (i.e. no airlocks, no cross bracing), and even avoid semi-eliptical. Stick with a rectangle. If you can't make a good rectangular canopy you will do much worse when it gets trickier. Do you have a double-needle machine? I wouldn't want to do it without a double needle. You need to do some single needle work too, both straight stitch and zigzag. You don't really tell us what your sewing skill level is, but if you aren't already comfortable sewing you should build a jumpsuit or ten first. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I've got 400 jumps on my spectre 190 and don't have this happen, but it is a long way from 135 to 190. I would normally blame line trim, but a new set of lines from the factory would seem to rule that out. I too do nothing to the nose, leave it full out when I release it from between my legs. I'd ask PD if they might recommend a slight change to the brake settings. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

A flight surgeon could answer this. I'm not one, so my response is as good as anyone elses, but I don't see where there would be a problem. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

It doesn't sound so much like a scam to me. It looks more like some clever people decided that they could make money by brokering some jumps for whuffos. I think it is only a scam if you don't actually get your jump. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

none usually, but occasionally my pals will start up on "beer run" which drives me crazy. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

It seems to me like the easiest way to respond would have been with just what you said in your post -- Made a couple of jumps at Z-Hills today, then jumped here, now I'm logging them... You answers did sound evasive. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Cordura for the rig, parapack for the backpad and other pads. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I also like exits the most. The first 10 seconds of the dive... -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I miss b-12, because I could tack the leg straps at the right length and they never slipped.... -- Jeff My Skydiving History

It strikes me as no big deal. Read Bill Booth's comments in the current issue of Skydiving. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

You make many valid points. I see nothing of substance to disagree with. One case I will make in support of the current (and about to be implemented) structure is that it is simple, relatively easily overseen, and presents a simple picture to those outside of skydiving (i.e. the FAA). I will suggest that there is a danger in your suggestion. I see it as likely that it would be implemented in such a way that it will suck more money out of participants. Now they will have to pay to get these supplemental ratings.... A complex bureaucracy will evolve to administer it, and this bureaucracy will require food (i.e. money). -- Jeff My Skydiving History