NoShitThereIWas

Good points ... but when you think about it, I can see where this survey is headed ... Many people who did not get a college education are forced to work more physically intensive jobs. I have a wonderful friend who works in a factory and suffers a lot of pain. I think he is practically miserable physically mainly from the wear and tear his job puts on his body. I am sure if he could get a desk job or professional job (which usually requires more education) he most likely would if for nothing else to save his body. I have witnessed this in my own life as well. Without the college degree it is all about skydiving, packing parachutes, rigging, etc. All things which are physically hard on you especially if you have to do it your whole life. With the college degree I can say, I love skydiving and wish to keep it my hobby. Let my brain get worked hard instead of my body. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Well, I absolutely agree with tonight's results. I thought Brooke should go. Thanatos should be happy. Looks like we are down to 4. Syesha rocked last night! She was by favorite. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I agree with both statements of Relyon and Billvon. Opening a chest strap is not going to contribute tons of aerodynamic efficiency and if one wears a baggy freefly suit while flying their canopy, then this would defeat the whole purpose of becoming more aerodynamic. But I guess it all has to do with the goals of this jumper. If he wants to develop the habits now I say good idea. I do not find it dangerous to loosen one's chest strap unless doing so takes their attention away from landing safely. An RDS is going to make a difference and I do not have one yet because I am not at the flying level that I would require it. I already find it a pain in the ass just to stow my slider with a rubber band and bungee. I have thought about getting rid of it but I do notice enough of a difference between that and my chest strap that I keep it on there. It seems like the RDS would be an even bigger pain so I don't mess with it, and plus they are expensive little buggers (even to make). So yes, I do agree with both comments above, but then I also say, open that baby up and see what he thinks. If he thinks it flies better and he likes it, great. If not and it makes no difference, great too. I like flying with mine open and I learned from the best of the best Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

If you do not feel overloaded, are able to multi-task and realize your priorities, I would say open it up. As a result of hanging out with some of the top swoopers in the world, I have realized some things and changed my ways. Especially if high performance canopy landings are anywhere in your future repetoire of skydiving I would say get in the habit now of opening your chest strap. Since learning how to collapse my slider and get it out of the way behind my head, along with opening my chest strap and my wingloading; this has made a world of difference in the flight characteristics of my canopy (for the better

I think that is why he will not likely make it to the top. He is really good but he just does the same thing. I want to see him bust out and do something wild. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Noshit? Man where was I??? I guess she just made bottom two but I was even surprised at that! I thought she did a bang out job. I love dredlock boy just from 70's week (Halleluliah) was awesome but I just couldn't get into him in Memory. Carly did awesome as well. I thought the bottom two would have been dredlock boy and Brooke for sure. I am really shocked. And bad hair emo boy just seems a little bit arrogant to me. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Open it up baby, let that canopy breathe that RAM air! OK after reading some other posts, maybe I should be a little more conservative in my answer (especially with my ratings) My first response would be open it up. But what I probably should have asked you first is: #1 How comfortable are you after you open with looking out for traffic and doing your checks, collapsing your slider, etc. If you are already on any kind of overload, the last thing you really need to worry about is opening your chest strap. It is not really high priority. It does in my opinion however allow the canopy to fly more the way it was designed to fly through the air without being choked. Depending on the canopy and the wingloading, it may not make that much of a difference. I usually dump, check over back, check canopy, open, stow slider while looking for traffic, open chest strap, grab toggles, control check and fly. I would also throw in there the use of risers to steer to avoid traffic but I have the nice luxury of not having to use my hands to steer, I just lean Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Yay! I finally found the American Idol Forum for skydivers!!!! Just started looking for it actually I am hooked on Idol and have been reading some of the comments. This is great. All I can say, is that Thanatos had me pretty much rolling after reading some of his posts. This is great I will have to follow this thread now. I was shocked that Syesha went home last week after Brooke forgot the lyrics ... I thought Syesha sounded GOOD. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Hey thanks to both Phreezone and DSE. To DSE: That was a pretty awesome website, saved it to my favorites. This is going to open up a whole new world to me. There is so much I have been wanting to do to work with video and editing, I am really excited. I have never taken the time to just sit down and learn it. Maybe it is time. I just wish they would use easy terminology; all these complex names for computer stuff It looks like I will need to get some equipment and set aside some time for some more reading on this topic. I briefly skimmed the info in that site but it looks more complicated than I thought so I will have to take a look at it later. I'm sure I'll be back here soon with some more questions. Now I know why everyone always talked about FireWire. I just never knew what that was. Thanks Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Hey All: Thought I would come online to my DZ.com friends to get some help. When I don't know the answer, someone on here surely will... I have a Sony TRV33 with some footage on it from the Buffett concert last night and want to download it into my computer. I was trying to figure out how, I have never done this before but I have a USB cable and tried to put the small end into where my camera charger slot is but it didn't fit. I feel pretty lame that I do not even know what a fire wire is (I have heard the term used frequently) but is this something I need to do? I am not a literate videographer when it comes to computers. I only know how to shoot the video, pretty much nothing else. Can someone tell me how I can get my video footage onto my computer? Thanks Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Jen: Although I did not have the pleasure of getting to know you real well, I believe we have jumped together at FFE. You, Marnie, Tera and the pilot have been on my mind incessantly since learning about the accident. It sucks that we won't get to jump together again or make a new women's record (at least a Missouri State Record ...) You were a skydiver and your name was Jen. I'd have to say, that makes you mighty cool right off the bat. I hope we will learn from this tragic accident and your life will help prevent further catastrophes like this one. That is the only good thing I can see coming from this. You were not from my home DZ but you were from a sister DZ. I'm telling ya, this is two crashes in two years at home and too close to home. It makes me not want to skydive anymore. Blue skies Jen and heartfelt condolences to family and friends. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

This was a great thread to start. I am getting a kick out of reading some of the responses. As for me, hmmm. If we are relating this to skydiving, here are my top three: Jump 25ish: (Skydive Monterey Bay) The winds were too high, I landed on the tarmak and proceeded to get dragged across it while fighting my canopy (which was rental gear). Out of the corner of my eye I managed to see the van filled with friends and spectators shaking their heads and my DZO calculating the cost of new gear. Jump 40ish: (Skydive Monterey Bay) This was probably my worst and most dangerous. Docking on an 8 Way, the next point was for me to "move forward" to my buddy across the BFR and dock. I guess I thought he was farther than he was because I tracked. Luckily it was Sunset Bill with thousands of jumps and he saw me coming, managed to duck out of the formation and I went right over the top of him. Jump 300 or so: (Skydive Chicago) Tried to get back from a long spot, decided to go for it, ended up too low to turn, didn't make the DZ and downwinded it on the pavement in 15+mph winds. I thank my gloves on that day, when I got up, they were shredded but my hands were fine. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

That is awesome, I want to see the video. Let's hear it for the geezers!!! I think it would be really cool if they all went head down. Congratulations fellas, were there any women on any of the formations? Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Sudafed. (The little red pills) I didn't look up where you live but if you live in Missouri, you probably can't find them ... There are so many meth labs in this state, they banned the best medication I have ever used for sinus issues. Here they now have the Sudafed without the meth products and it sucks. You want the little red tablets if you can find them. Good luck! They work great for flying, SCUBA diving and skydiving. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I'd be willing to help, just drop me a line or a Private message. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

My heart aches most for Marnie's daughter. I, like Marnie love our sport so much but I love my daughter too and the thought of something bad happening to me from skydiving causing me to leave my daughter behind and not getting to watch her grow up is about the worst thing I can imagine ... How old is her daughter? This is so devastating. I don't know if there is anything I can do to help, I just feel so badly as another skydiver Mom living so close to this incident in Missouri and the people out at Freefall Express are truly a beautiful and kind group of jumpers ... I am so sorry to family and friends of those lost. If I can help in ANY way or make any difference especially to that little girl who is likely devastated, please let me know. Her mom was a beautiful person who did remarkable things yet I know right now that is not going to be enough to comfort her daughter in her loss. Maybe we can set up a fund for her in her Mom's name or at Christmas time send gifts to that little girl from her extended skydiving family. I speak like she is a little girl so forgive me if I am wrong, I know I have jumped with Marnie but did not know her personally or her daughter. When my daughter lost her papa in 2003, he was a pilot at Aloha Airlines. The following two Christmas holidays, many of the Aloha pilots and flight attendants who knew Randy sent gifts to Dakota. One of those gifts was a teddy bear with a halo and a rose. We call it her Papa bear and she cherishes that bear and those gifts still to this day because they came from the people who were like extended family to her dad. Plus, it also made the holidays a little easier. I would be more than happy to organize something similar for Marnie's daughter. That is one way we can honor Marnie. I mean it when I say that you guys are part of my extended family and please let me know if there is anything I can do. ANYTHING. Marnie, we will miss you on the state record but we know you will be flying with us from up above. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

That group of ladies would pretty much make a kick ass 8 Way team for sure. Would be a blast too! So, I have been told that a women's record need not have Missouri residents on board. As long as you are female and in Missouri, you count. As far as points go, I am looking at USPA's Request for Certification of State Record Form. If anyone was wondering, there are 17 record categories in the disciplines of altitude, accuracy landings, freefall, formation, canopy piloting and freeflying. As far as formation skydiving goes, there are sequential skydives which are all about the points and then there are largest formation skydives. So we may as well set a few records while we are at it. I'm sayin, lets make it bigger add some more points Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Yeah she is, talked with her a few days ago. But I would love to have her shoot this video. Come on Dad, let's get her out here! Thanks to Jimmy I am able to upload those extra pics. A Big Thanks to Jimmy, Jimmy you come down and jump with us ladies any time, we will take you on an all chick way! Just think of the possibilities Jackie if you are reading this, you should bring your heiny out here for a visit and come shoot our video or be on this one. We need your talent and it is so fun. You can stay with me! I heard through the grapevine that Ashley won't be much into shooting the video as being on the formation. So, if we have to have a guy shoot it I guess we can; it just won't be AS cool So interested ladies, add your name to the current list of eight. When we are ready with enough participants, we can set up the time, date, place, pilot, etc. I'm thinkin I know the pilot I want to fly it and I am sure the extra altitude thing won't be a problem. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Hmmmm. Back then: December 9, 2002. I was a 29 year old, stay at home Mom of a two year old; just got my AFF rating and a medal at Nationals in 10 Way speed that summer. Found out my husband was having an affair and had much stress and strife from the divorce that ensued. By December 2002, I had no idea that I would face the worst and hardest year of my life in 2003. This was a very stressful time in my life, I was forced to leave my home and friends in Hawaii. Now: Way less stress, way more happiness. I somehow made it through all that shit and got over it. Thank God, I made it in one piece. I am living life, strong and healthy with my strong and healthy 7 year old daughter, graduating from school next month, own my own home and getting ready to own two. I am getting closer to accomplishing my career and personal goals and dreams. Got my Riggers ticket, witnessed a terrible plane crash and the loss of a home DZ, which transformed my ideas about skydiving in many ways. Other than that, I haven't changed too much in 6 years. I'm still happy go lucky, love to travel, still a student (except with a BS this spring) and onto the next stepping stone, grad school. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Nope, no prison jumps for me. As far as I have been told, no one has ever landed in the prison. Jo at Bowling Green will also be the first to say "and we don't want there to be a first." Could you imagine? I have had the thought of having a mal or a problem which takes a little altitude to straighten out and then Bam, you are right over the prison at 1000 feet. It is quite large but I think it would be hard to actually land in there unless you were trying to. Jimmy Tavino has offered to help me shrink the pictures so I can post some more. Then you can actually see what we're looking like in MO. All I can say is other than the current weather, we are looking marvelous in Missouri. So I will get those other pictures uploaded hopefully very soon. Stand By. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Hi ladies: I am looking for women in Missouri who are interested in being on the state record. The first record was a 6 way round; last Saturday a new record was set with an 8 Way (4 Way base in a round with two pods). I will attach a picture of the formation and the ladies on it. What I would like to see happen, is for us to get enough ladies to build onto the two pods. I'd like to take Ashley Kassler off the formation to shoot video or get another female videographer who can fill that slot. I know a gal who lived in Missouri last year but is currently residing in California. She is awesome at video and her dad own's a DZ in MO, she would be perfect but I don't know about the residency issue. If anyone can chime in on that please do. Anyhow, the goal is to make the formation bigger, better and with female videographer (s). I know there are 5 more of you out there who were on the original 6 way. I'm thinking we can probably use 9 more ladies. One for video and 4 on each side linking the inside legs of the ladies in the pod. I know we have this talent in Missouri, let's get it together! The other option is to use who we have and add more points. I do have someone looking into that for me, i.e. If anyone else knows about state records and points ... Do the number of points count toward achieving a record, or is it all about the single point being held for at least 3 seconds? I felt a little badly beating the other record so soon but if you guys can keep your money and hold onto it for next time ... I think we should make it bigger and better. I can tell you that I stand behind everyone on our record to have the talent, we were mostly all rusty (for me, 2nd jump in 7 months) and still managed to have lots of time left over from a 2 point 8 way. It kicks ass looking at the picture with the eight of us, how much more would it kick ass to look at the twenty of us with a female videographer? I know a great plane and a great pilot. You guys just need to do the rest. Come and join us. As I get more info about times, places, etc. I will post it or email you directly if I have your email address. I am hoping to be able to work with some of the newer gals in the sport whom I know have expressed interest. We are looking for SAFE skydivers who can softly dock on a formation, are aware, can track away quickly, land safely and have a great attitude. If you fit the criteria, are willing and able, currently licensed through USPA and a female living in Missouri, please come out and join us. Cause: "Sisters are doing it for themselves." ~The Eurythmics Blue skies and I hope we hear from you! The eight ladies who were on what will be the most current record are: Deanna Nunley Ashley Kassler Robyn Greenfield Julie Riley Connie Price Jennifer O'Hara Cindy Karls Suzette Hechst Boys, eat your hearts out I can only get the formation picture to load, can't upload the others because they are too big. I tried three programs to make them smaller but couldn't. Does anyone know how to make them smaller? Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Not to burst anyone's bubble but we made a new Missouri women's state record on Satuday at Bowling Green, MO with eight ladies. We did it on the first attempt followed by a round. It was a success and I think we have some good talent and can do even better with what we have as far as adding lots more points or making it bigger. My suggestion is for us to add more ladies slowly and try to get everyone involved. One of the 6 ladies on the 6 way, Ashley Kassler was on the 8 way; we need to get the other five of you who were on there, take Ashley off the skydive to shoot video and make it a 12 Way. I can see that as being a very attainable goal. Then we will have a ladies 12 way with a female videographer. We could eventually work our way up to a 20 Way. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Wow, guess I did. But then again, I'm not on DZ.com as much as I used to be. I try to keep up but I guess I am just falling behind . The DZ thread that you stickied was about Van Prey's (don't know if I spelled that correctly) DZ. I did not know anything about that DZ except that at one point in my life, I was married to someone who did not like Van Prey and he dissuaded me from jumping there. I had moved north by then anyway but I mainly frequented Cal City (Bob and Judy's) and Taft (Dave Crouch and back when it was Air Adventures West) in 1996. I don't remember why my ex did not like the guy and I can't ask him now because he's dead, but I think it goes back to the days of the Bakersfield Boys in the 1980's. I happen to know a few. Anyhow, Bob and Judy owned the Cal City that I made my 1st and 2nd jumps at and even though my JMs put me out in way too high winds at such a light wingloading on my 2nd jump, I survived the skydive, landed safely and thought it was the best experience of my entire life. Both times, we went out afterwards as a large group and talked about skydiving and life. Bob shot the video of my first jump and the Flying Elvi who were my skyidols at the time were there from the Nevada Chapter sitting in on my first jump course with me as the only student. It was a load of fun and I have run into that crowd on occassion in life. I know times change and people change so I wish everyone the best but that sure was a FUN dropzone! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Just read this last post that Cal City got shut down????! How come? How sad! I love that DZ (the Bob and Judy one that is). I guess I have some research to do. Bob, Judy, Nick, Cheryl, Bennie and all those folks were just fun, down to Earth good people. Where is everyone going now? Nick Gough and Hunter Bellinger were my 1st jump instructors out of The Desert Express. Love that airplane! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Being a female Missourian, I wish I could have been there. I made my very first skydive out of that otter "The Desert Express" at Cal City March 26, 1996 so it would have been quite nostalgic for me to have the opportunity to make a state record out of it in my current home state 12 years later. Damn it Jim! I was in Perris, CA this weekend and missed it although I did have the opportunity to jump with Air Trash (what a hoot of old timer skydivers and a great group of jumpers). I'll be around to hopefully attend the Hillbilly Boogie this summer at Freefall Express so maybe we can attempt to break it again. In the meantime, congrats to the ladies who were there and participated. Sorry I couldn't make it. Blue skies, Jen O'Hara D-25347 Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."