lewmonst

You need TUNNEL TIME with coaching. Nothing is going to take away your fear, and it shouldn't. Fear is a healthy thing to have in this sport. You need confidence that you can fly stable and deploy safely. Just like life, there are no gaurantees. I've been in the sport long enough to see eight, yes, eight friends die. Harness your fear to keep you alert and focussed. If you feel it overwhelming you, that's when you slow down, get more ground instruction, get more tunnel time, watch more videos, use that fear to inspire you to learn as much as you can. Nothing can replace real experience. But the more knowledge you have, the more experiences you can be as ready as possible to survive. I've survived many from good training, and some from luck. Just hope your luck bucket doesn't run out before you fill up your skills bucket. And get lots of tunneltime to build your confidence with body position and body awareness. I don't know where you are, but I know a lot of people in Perris California that could teach you the skills you need and build you confidence. Not trying to sound like an advertisement, but we've worked with lots of students in the same position you're in. That's why it's so awesome to have a tunnel in the parking lot. peace Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

To everyone: The WFFC is what you make of it. If you want to go and complain about something, I'm sure you can find something to complain about. If you want to go and have a blast, meet and jump with new people, make new friends, jump all day, party all night and do it 10 days in a row, you will. Every year I've gone to the convention, I've had a blast. And I've also talked to people at the same boogie I'm at who complain and aren't happy. It is what you make of it. There really are lots of great people there, are you going to be one of them? Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

lead all 4way exits, some a little different than others. semi-peel 8way peace karen http://www.exitshot.com

5 min, if that. -karen http://www.exitshot.com

Yeah, do not get a Sony gx315. I used to be all sony sony sony, but not anymore. (Don't get cyberhome either for that matter) I've now got a Panasonic DMR-ES35V and it's fantastic. No problems so far with heavy use for the last 2 weeks. Does both VHS and DVD (all formats) and can dub from VHS to DVD and vice versa. (Found out this week at 50 jumps it will only do 49 titles per DVD). And, it fast, very fast. Only 1 second to start recording and maybe 4 seconds to burn a jump once you hit stop. Even when my sony was working, it was so slow compared to this panasonic. peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

Both. I'm constantly playing the guessing game with myself and my neptune. I think I'm at 1200ish and then I check, 1160 or so... I'm pretty good at it. (Helps to do 100 jumps a month) So i know what range I want to be in for my setup points, and I go first with eyeballing it, and I check my neptune before the turn for confirmation. I don't have an exact alt for initiation, it varies +/- 100 ft, but I rotate faster or slower, with various inputs depending on where I start. that's just me. peace karen lewis http://www.exitshot.com

My Gx315 won't record with sound. So, for skydiving it's fine for debriefing, but obviously I need sound. On my way back to best buy, again. Anyone using the 515? peace karen lewis http://www.exitshot.com

I've got 21's loaded at about 2.3. They definitely fly different from the 27. I didn't really notice too much difference in decent rate (I've jumped several sizes of 27 cells, including a 83 at 2.4) I could hang in brakes for a considerably long time on my 21-88 at 2.3. The 83, when hanging in brakes, sunk a bit faster bc of the higher wingloading, but still, good range on both. When you ask for better performance, exactly what do you mean? I think the 21's open better than the 27's in that they are less needy or don't search as much on opening. I think the 27's flies better and has longer glide at the bottom of the recovery arc. I can get back from what I think are long spots on my 21. And I compete on my 21 in the CPC at least. I chose the 21 over the 27 because i mostly do camera, and need the more consistent openings. just my opinion. Although, I'd like to get 27's next. peace Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

Anyone have any suggestions? I uninstalled acrobat, tried to re-download it, but it won't start the download. I don't think I've changed any of my IE settings... Not sure what's goin on... thanks Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

Good question. I'd be interested to see if it was seperated into current tandem and aff instructors... And, seriously, is your wingloading true? I'd be afraid of your reserve blowing up, have you had a reserve ride at that loading? peace Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

Hey Lori, I've got a 1-to-3 duplicator in my team room. If you want dups fast, come find me. peace Karen Lewis ps, my cyberhome DVD recorder sucks. http://www.exitshot.com

Using it isn't hard. typing the names and email in adds time when on short calls can be a pain, but otherwise it's easy to use. I would like to see what the customer sees, besides the concept one. How can I see the ones from my dropzone? My own videos, or when i was the TM? I'd love to be able to send a link to people I know, but I don't know how or where to find my own videos. Is it meant to only go to the customer? Thanks Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

All that Bill said, and I'd like to add specifically: Look before you turn A seperate near miss: A foreign jumper with app. 150 jumps got in the middle of traffic of a 9way and 5way with much more experience. All 14 other jumpers were joining in the downwind or crosswind leg of the pattern. This jumper was a little high trying to enter the pattern and could decide where to go, at about 700 feet did a turn left, almost hit someone so (while still looking left) he did a hard turn right and almost hit me but I was anticipating all this and already avoiding him. He still never saw me and never realized it. He didn't understand the landing pattern either. One more thing, he was a solo following these groups out, no reason he should be landing at the same time, but he kept spiraling down after opening, racing to get down. Please don't race down into traffic. Peace Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

Aw, thanks Lori! I didn't even know such an award existed... Who was behind that? It's a good idea. But who you callin a baby? Remember, I'm bigger than you. peace Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

Ask Ben if you can paint all the walls in the tunnel matte black. peace Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

If you don't hit them at least once, you're not flying close enough. That being said. I lead everything, every block and random. Helps to think about slot-flying between the tail and inside center. The timing, if I had to guess, is probably a tenth of a second. Don't go early, don't go late. And don't just let go, fly. Teams like leading exits for debrief. It looks nicer when done right. When wrong, it's a disaster. Peeling is playing it safe for judging, but teams don't like to debrief from it as well. Best thing you can do is 1000 jumps with your team . In the meantime, you can get a few of the better teams' "Best-Of" dvd's and watch all the exits. Keep in mind, your team won't launch the same way, but you'll learn from it anyway. peace Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

Just like this. Looked fine to me Janna!

I recently had a whole box of bad tapes. Thought I was going crazy cause both my cameras had the same problem. Try a new and different box of tapes. peace Karen Lewis aka lew http://www.exitshot.com

On your off days (when not working, that is ) take time to go learn to freefly. Ths is a skill you'll need when drougeless freefall happens with your tandems and a skill that will take you far in the years to come.

I suck so I wear booties for competition. peace Karen Lewis aka Lew http://www.exitshot.com

Just think of the shadows as artistic. Like the shot the Sports Illustrated folks took in there that hangs in the tunnel office. peace Karen Lewis aka lew http://www.exitshot.com

Yep, already thinking that, and we already started talking about it in another thread. Not ready to shell out the MSRP for the HC3 yet, but drooling over it for sure. There are a handful of HC1's being flown in Perris. I'll wait for the 3. Now that my 330's are behaving properly again (no thanks to a bad batch of tapes), I'll probably wait till one of them dies and justify a HC3 somehow... peace lew http://www.exitshot.com

Thanks gang, that's a relief to hear. I ordered a new batch of tapes that should be here anyday now. Meanwhile, one of my cameras is already at the Sony service center, let's hope they don't charge me anything... I thought I was going crazy. My team joked, "it must be you"... Let's hope the new tapes do the trick... peace Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

So I thought my camera was whacked, getting dropout (horizontal lines), and then got them on my backup camera, and now, with a new tape from the same box, getting them on a 3rd camera. So, I'm beginning to wonder if I just got a bad batch of tapes. What are the chances it would happen on 3 cameras, all previously reliable (1000+ jumps on each without problems), at the same time... Tried the head cleaner tape and different tapes (but all from the same box of tapes)... Anyone else have this problem? And anyone tell me for sure it's not because of the cold weather? Thanks Karen Lewis http://www.exitshot.com

I dont think the camera allows for simultanious use of the video and still option. It will probably be like most videocamera's with stills function, you lose a few seconds of video when you shoot a still. Although I could be wrong...but I have to see it first before I believe it Yes, you are wrong. If you don't know for sure or don't have a reliable source, posting what you "guess" isn't helpful. Also, if you read my previous post and link on the website, it does allow stills during video. What we don't know yet is if there is a remote shutter release option for it. Not trying to get on your case... just check your info and read the whole thread... peace lew http://www.exitshot.com