kimgriffin

Hmm.... Kolla went to WFFC and Charlie visited DeLand, to Richmond and Frances hit. Hmm.... I think we should duct tape her to her desk next week when Ivan heads our way.

Ha... Andrea, that projected path pic is funny - sums up how a lot of us are feeling here in DeLand. Vigil USA's power is still down so I've taken my PC and paperwork over to RWS to finally get some work done. (Umm... yeah, and soak up the air conditioning.) They seem to be back to business as normal here but the plastic crates are all standing by for repacking. I hope someone posts pics of DeLand after Frances... you won't believe what a mess it is. 2 Cessnas at the airport (not the DZs) were still sitting upside down yesterday. A bunch of local jumpers here had trees crashed in to their cars and houses. PD's production floor is buzzing right now but the non-production staff is resorting to sending smoke signals as way of communication due to no phone lines or internet connection. If anyone's calling them, they can't answer their phones, emails and thier voice mail service is down (last time I checked). Was at Sun Path yesterday. They have soggy carpets in some offices but other than that they're looking good. Shit, I know they've got to be worrying about Ivan. At this point, it's on a track close to Zhills. Coming from So Cal, I think it's pretty cool to be able to prepare days a head of time for a natural disaster. Although, I know everyone in Fla is hoping and praying (maybe even sacrificing small farm animals) that Ivan somehow misses us. I'm hoping it does or I might need to check myself in to a Betty Ford sugar-addiction clinic. It's amazing how much junk food one person can eat during times of crisis and sheer boredom. ~Kim Griffin Vigil USA

Noiiiccee pics Scott! The mid-day laugh is appreciated! See you in Deland this year I hope! ~Kimi

My hamster Cindy. My 3 yr old mind thought she'd have fun on the ferris wheel ride (my purse). Poor thing was dead as a door nail once the ride came to end. ~Kim

I laughed!

I second that request! Please update the music! Have at least one night or a different music tent with a dance/house music DJ. I've heard the same music at the WFFC since my first in 95, although, I would guess that same sort of music has been playing since it was a Freak Brother Convention. Yes, more port-a-potties with hand sanatizers. A few running taps and/or water fountains around the area would be great. A food concession with more veggie options.

I thought you weren't making it this year? I'll be there tomorrow afternoon just to be sure you're not full of kak.

If any one is living strong, it's Lance Armstrong. That guy was just unbelievable in this year's Tour de France. He would be amazing even if he hadn't beat cancer... but to go through all he has and be TdF champion 6 times in a row... inspiring. I ride my fat-tire Walmart bike much more often now.

Now that's one of the coolest posts I've seen a while. I stopped and thought about it for a minute even. Kim

Today Aug 03 Scattered Strong Storms 88°/70° 40 % Wed Aug 04 Scattered T-Storms 82°/59° 40 % Thu Aug 05 Sunny 75°/50° 20 % Fri Aug 06 Mostly Sunny 72°/49° 20 % Sat Aug 07 Partly Cloudy 75°/57° 20 % Sun Aug 08 Isolated T-Storms 72°/62° 30 % Mon Aug 09 Scattered T-Storms 80°/60° 30 % Tue Aug 10 Isolated T-Storms 81°/64° 30 % Wed Aug 11 Scattered T-Storms 82°/65° 30 % Thu Aug 12 Mostly Sunny 82°/63° 0 % I find this weather report pretty exciting. Hope that doesn't make me a dork. It will be a welcome break from the heat and humidity in Florida, although, I know anything's possible weatherwise at WFFC!

If you don't get an answer here, then you may want to post your question (about having inlets added to the back of your Pantz) on the BASE forum here or at BASE-specific site http://www.blincmagazine.com/forum/index.php or email Jari Kuosma, ownwer of BirdMan. There may BASE jumpers out there with the BASE-version BM Pantz who have altered theirs for back flying. Good luck, Kim Griffin BMI

Hi Perry! Temporary retirement sounds like it's in order. Rest in Amsterdam? Okay... now that's funny I'm really happy to hear that you are looking out for your health, Perry. I know it must be hard to resist jumping at the Herc Boogie! Get well soon!!! Xs and Os, Kim

Great choice. I jump a Sabre2 also - love it. You'll definitely need to do some high pulls or hop and pops to play with all types of turns and the flare. From the sounds of it, you'll find the flare much more responsive compared to what you have been jumping. Congrats on your new toy! -Kimberly Griffin

I hope you choose a reserve brand based on quality and and size on knowing that you could land it safely in to a tiny back yard in windy conditions - not on price or pack volume. BTW - Performance Designs does demo its reserves as mains - comes with a pilot chute & risers, ready to hook up. -Kimberly Griffin

Hey Andy and Craig! Shit, so bummed I'm missing Herc Boogie this year. It's great seeing everyone's posts and pics - thank you! ~Kim Griffin

I'm definitely jealous! I went 2 yrs ago and it was probably the most fun I've had at a boogie - and I was working every day. The Herc is so powerful - so much fun. Watch out for the Finnish guys! ~Kim

I got up at 4:30 in the morning to go pee pee and couldn't resist eating a couple of left over rolls. I never do that. It's a great addiction! Anyone had fatty tuna (toro) - expensive but worth every bite. I have a hard time finding it. ~Kim

Hi Ron. I am happy to answer your questions to the best of my ability (in that I work for the distributor and not the manufacturer.) But, I leave for Cali tomorrow and a big shipment of Vigils just came in and I need to do billing and get them shipped out ASAP. So, I just wanted to let you know that I will get to your post at least by tomorrow before I go. It's frustrating knowing that there are other AAD malfunctions and there is nothing I'm allowed to say about it and there is nothing the mfg will say about it or let anyone else say about it. But, because the owner of AAD does not want to have that sort of business practice and the Vigil is a new product, we must sit in the firing range. But, the Vigil is a life saving devise and is under the microscope being a new product, so I do understand why people have questions. I'm a big fan of asking questioning, actually. I'm already very happy that the nasty static electricity bug was terminated quickly and the version B has been performing just as it should. But, I'll be even happier when another 6 months has passed. The reason why there have not been more answers on this site is because AAD is still a relatively small European company with no marketing department. The manufacturing and quality control depts are chock full but that is not the case with the marketing dept. The owner has been actively looking to fill the position of sales and marketing for AAD but he would rather wait to choose the right people for the job. Most skydiving mfg companies have had this problem at some point in time… find a person who is intelligent, with computer skills, people skills, is dependable, professional and a skydiver. It may seem like AAD has had something to hide since you have not seen them answering questions on this site, but that is NOT the case at all. To be honest, there has just been no one at AAD to monitor this site or to write press releases. I will try to pick up the ball and will do what I can to get you answers. It’s just tough for me to be on this site all the time, as I’m trying to work part time and wear pretty much all the company hats for Vigil USA. I do not want to answer questions from someone with ulterior motives and who has something to gain by Vigil’s loss. But, it's a whole different story with you, Ron. I do respect you and your position here. You deserve answers. Please, just hold the line for a bit. I'll be back... ~Kim Griffin Vigil USA

Betsty and Scott: Sorry I missed you this go around (in DeLand)!! I'm getting ready to go out to Cali for 10 days - busy. See you in Rantoul though! Kimi

Oh yeah... loving watching the Tour. The time trials yesterday were sweet (especially for US Postal!) It's making me want to trade up on my $100 Walmart bike! ~Kim Griffin DeLand, Fla

Dear “Indiana”, I did not say that anonymous posts are against forum rules. It is my opinion that such posts exhibit your lack personal integrity or that you have something to hide from people reading this forum. Let’s see… you have a Dutch skydiving license, you said you are in Belgium, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of your posts on this site has been ONLY to say something against Vigil. Hmmm… I wonder who you could be? (Sorry for the sarcasm.) Of course, you won’t admit to everyone who you are and why you have grievances against AAD but I’m sure you will continue to air your disgruntled opinions and do your best to sway skydivers away from buying a Vigil. I’m sorry you don’t have anything better to do with your time than to discredit a company who is trying honestly and with good intentions to gain popularity in the AAD market. This is not politics or oil industry here, Michael Moore is not going to be making a documentary on how Advanced Aerospace Designs is trying to rule the world with its evil plot to gain power and money through tricking skydivers in to buying its new Vigil AAD. The static electricity shielding issue was fixed a few months ago and almost every Vigil is exchanged now. The version B Vigil has many hundreds of customers world wide who have many thousands of jumps on them over the past few months – without one single problem. I’m not sorry to say that things are going well now. Yeah…. You got me… I was trying to trick everyone by sizing the picture in my last post so small that you wouldn’t recognize the actors posing as Vigil employees. Ha… that was me just being a stupid software user and not having the time to fool with resizing the picture correctly once I realized my mistake. I’m trying again so hopefully it comes out viewable this time. The picture is of some of the people who work for AAD in Brussels and of some of the instructors from the school “Pack Plus” at the Gap, France DZ. It would be nice if the French National Team was in the picture… I’m sure the ladies on this site would enjoy that. Best wishes, Kim Griffin Vigil USA -Kimberly Griffin

"Indiana", If you have something you feel is worth saying then I think you should have enough integrity to put your name behind it. I wonder why the anonymous post? Maybe next time you could at least go out of your way to create a fake user profile. Anonymous posts like this are the reason why many heads of the manufacturing companies don't bother to post on this site. To say that I would "blur the vision of potential buyers" means you do not know me at all. I'm not sure if you think you are outing Advanced Aerospace Designs here. They are open about the fact that they contract specialized companies to make certain parts of the Vigil. The link I posted last week are pictures of parts of the Vigil being manufactured… no conspiracy or secrets sorry to say. To others who replied to my post: Please email me directly at [email protected] with your questions. I am on email MUCH more often than on dz.com (although, I'll be in Calif and away from my computer July 9-19.). Side note: attached is a picture of the some of the Vigil and Pack Plus staff jumping in Gap, France, a few weeks ago. (Oh dang... it came out smalll ! Sorry! Looks like 60kg is the largest size for an attachment?) Best Regards and Blue Skies, Kim Griffin Vigil USA

Hi all. Yes, all Vigils in the US, Canada and South America have been replaced (except for a couple of stragglers). The Vigil, version B, has been in the field since April, many hundreds have been in use for the past couple of months. (And, yes, as some of you have chimed in... some in dry, static environments.) You can believe that the owner of AAD went big on the static electricity shielding once he found out the problems it was creating. The shield and the Vigil have been and are performing without a hitch. Like David said, DeLand Majik has around 1000 jumps on theirs by now, the French National 4-way team also has a bunch of jumps on their Vigils (I don't have their #s. Side note: Majik beat them by one point at a big RW meet in Russia yesterday). The DZ in Gap, France, bought 70 of the version Bs as soon as they came out. They have them in their tandem and student rigs and have around 3800 jumps on them now. Ron, you commented on how Vigil has been quiet. Yes, true. It has taken time, effort (and a lot of money) to get every single Vigil exchanged. So, sales and marketing have taken a back seat to this task. It hasn't been quiet for me or the factory in Belgium but I can see that some people would wonder where we've been. But, now that the exchange is behind us, we'll start running print ads again and I'll go to a couple of boogies this summer (Rantoul for one). New Vigils (version B) have already been selling and I'm very happy that the exchange is over and things are going back to normal. Well... going TO normal would be a better way to put it. I'm the only one doing most company tasks for Vigil USA, so I don't get on to this site for days sometimes. I apologize that I have not been very active here in the past few months. (I also just finished school.) Thank you to those of you who pass on (correct) information! If you think the Vigil is being made in some freaky Belgian skydiver's garage, take a look at the production facilities: http://www.vigil.aero/pdf/VIGIL%20-%20Production.pdf Have a fantastic weekend! Best regards and blue skies, Kim Griffin Vigil USA DeLand, Florida

Thank God there are people out there who do question our government! I saw Michael on a talk show and his main comment to the TV and live audiece was, no matter how you feel about the documentary... get out and vote. It's great when things get shaken up. I loved F 9/11... interesting side to see and very emotional when it comes down to the kids fighting and dying there for no substantial reason. He does through som humor in... not a boring move. Better than Bowling for Columbine. Eyes wide open, Kim

Just had lunch w Jari. He has a new EU distribution center in the works right now. He just came back from a meeting over there. Shipping within the US is as easy as it gets. Unfortunately, it's not the same in the EU. There are a bunch of hoops to jump through. But, sounds like BM is getting close to conquering that one. Yeah, of course, no one would ever take credit away from Robi! That was not the point of the discussion at all. ~Kim~ P.S. Sirob (Boris) is Boris Pecnik, one of Robert's brothers.