Slimrn

At the risk of breaking my rule of not arguing with strangers on the internet, here goes: The USPA is more than a membership club. It is an association that meets at regular intervals to analyze different aspect of the sport. It appears to the normal jumper to have the effect of standardization of guidelines and safety recommendations which in a sport such as ours tends to be more helpful than it is restrictive. This is an opinion. Benevolence versus Paternalism. There are many aspects of the USPA that many jumpers don't like, but to throw the baby out with the bath water and just be a conglomeration of bandito dropzones is not something I can imagine would result in a safer sport. Seeing my friends heathy is the most importnant thing in the sport to me.

Gear is relative to skill/experience level, not to weight.

I'm sorry if anyone could take me to have meant that a nasal canula is adequate outside the aircraft- ha. You need a closed circuit when in the wind.

+1 to nasal canula....I mean why not deliver oxygen the way we do in hospitals right?

Right, so the higher you go, the partial pressure of Oxygen molecules remains the same, but the atmospheric pressure drops. Basically you get fewer oxygen molecules per breath. You have to offset that by breathing in MORE oxygen before you leave the plane. It's like filling up your gas tank before going on a road trip.

I do anesthesia for a living and I can tell you that it's going to have to be something with a higher Oxygen content than compressed air. It's probably a green O2 E-cylinder or larger.

Buying beer. Oh and making sure you have a good place to land. Balloons are at the mercy of the wind and you may feel pressured to go because it is novel/expensive/etc. I know someone who did this, then bought basically a new knee after making a low turn to land in a very tight area. Don't forget your basics, spotting being one of them.

You are welcome. To be clear, I was in the competition.

I would say that the judging you are describing is fairly subjective. That is why electronics were involved. Tracking in a straight line in one group as a race may also create an increased risk of collisions. Lodi has done a lot of things differently.

Our DZ had one not too long ago. Flysights are a must, that is your data source. Basics: Exit at 8.5k Turn off jump run Tracking window is 8k to 5k Keep tracking to under 5k to avoid slowing the track Flare and pull :) Longest track wins Fastest track also fun to look at. I hope this helps.

I like that you "called your shot" Babe Ruth style.

"It could have been carried by an African swallow!"

I had quite a bit of exit fear for my first 20-35 jumps. I think I started getting better once I was able to control my body flight on the hill. When working with new jumpers now, one of the things I focus on the most is exit stability. Once you minimize "surprises" out the door, you are less likely to be aftraid of it.

For clarity, you have a VC3?

Have you lost more shoes or wives?

Great question! When I was finishing AFF I asked my DZ's master rigger about buying gear. He told me not to kid myself- I would make 200 jumps in my first year and at least 100 in my second year. I was planning on being pretty active but I bought he was nuts. 18 months later I have made 450 jumps and have 25 hours of tunnel. I'm on a 4-way team now too. I guess I have a problem. :)

I have flown both of those rigs and ended up buying a Curv. I don't know that one is necessarily better in that size, but I did find the curv to be more comfortable for my body type (long and slender). The Curv's only drawback IMHO was the lack of MARD- there is now one estimated to be ready to go in summer 2017. I have been plenty happy with my decision and would buy a second one. My curv is the 170-135 variety (Vc3), and my next one would be a size smaller. My wife has been happy with her two Vector 3s.

We had a jumper at Skydive Dallas (Now Spaceland Dallas) have her camera snagged on opening, she chopped without disengaging the helmet. Her helmet was ripped off of her head with the helmet bib in the fully tight orientation. She said that it felt like her head was being ripped off and she felt "lucky that the incident didn't break her neck." This occurred in 2015 on a belly jump, very experienced jumper.

I have an Aero and have the bolt on low snag option. I wouldn't jump a camera if my helmet didn't have a cutaway system, but choose your own adventure. The Bonehead options are the best I could find and I've been happy since. As a matter of safety, I do walk through chopping my helmet before chopping my main so it is a part of my possible EPs. (I wouldn't necessarily do it, but it is in my mind. )

Just like in an infomercial: *Results not typical.

Don't forget your leg straps.

Those are pretty strong magnets- any problem with interference or damage to camera via magnetic disturbance?

I can add support for the comfort of the Curv. I have jumped new mirages will great padding, etc. but the bio yoke is a step up in comfort all around. I am non sponsored and looking to buy a second curv to replace my turn rig.

I have emailed Mads and haven't heard back. Does anyone know what the screws are called that close the battery door on the Optima/Quattro audibles? I would like to get a few replacements and don't want to order the whole door and gasket from L&B to just get some screws. Thanks in advance, Zach Breaux

I have flown both the Aero and the KISS. I sold my KISS to buy a 2nd Aero. I got the matte black, so paint chipping is not an issue. Comfort, fit, and ease of visor manipulation are all superior in in Aero. It also features a built in cutaway, and easier to use pockets for audibles. Edit: oh and it is made from carbon fiber, so it isn't a plastic bowl to contain my brain in case i need to use it.