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Progress! I have moved Tandem related threads from 20 pages deep in General Skydiving and Safety & Training, and I'm working on Instructors (5 pages deep so far). Instructors is where most of the Tandem threads lie, so that will take me a while. A question was asked in the Announcements Forum about why move old threads and not just start fresh? Below are my answers to that question, which I thought was worth repeating here . . . ***-There are active and relevant conversations on the subject of Tandem Skydiving that should be migrated to the new space provided for those topical discussions -There is a plethora of relevant information contained in older threads that will continue to be useful to new TIs, TIs new to the forums, or to anyone searching for information on Tandem jumps -Moderators who are assigned to that forum who do not have Mod privileges in the other forums in which the existing Tandem related threads are scattered will not be as effective as intended due to only having Moderator priviliges in Tandem. Blanket additions to the other forums can cause other demographic issues that are made irrelevant by simply moving threads as I am now. -Regarding Tandem related posts from the Instructors forum in particular: Instructors Forum was created based upon a large amount of interest in a Tandem Skydiving Forum with the eventual intent of this spin-off if warranted. When Instructors was created, I moved as many Instructor related threads from General and Safety/Training as I could to populate the new forum as I am now with Tandem. As the community grows, it becomes advantageous to split topical forums, grow new ones, revise others, and even get rid of some. Will this be the only change? I don't know . . . that is somebody else's lane. Arrive Safely John

Honest answers: -There are active and relevant conversations on the subject of Tandem Skydiving that should be migrated to the new space provided for those topical discussions -There is a plethora of relevant information contained in older threads that will continue to be useful to new TIs, TIs new to the forums, or to anyone searching for information on Tandem jumps -Moderators who are assigned to that forum who do not have Mod privileges in the other forums in which the existing Tandem related threads are scattered will not be as effective as intended due to only having Moderator priviliges in Tandem. Blanket additions to the other forums can cause other demographic issues that are made irrelevant by simply moving threads as I am now. -Regarding Tandem related posts from the Instructors forum in particular: Instructors Forum was created based upon a large amount of interest in a Tandem Skydiving Forum with the eventual intent of this spin-off if warranted. When Instructors was created, I moved as many Instructor related threads from General and Safety/Training as I could to populate the new forum as I am now with Tandem. As the community grows, it becomes advantageous to split topical forums, grow new ones, revise others, and even get rid of some. Will this be the only change? I don't know . . . that is somebody else's lane. Arrive Safely John

This is a pretty broad question . . . you may want to be a bit more specific to get responses and to learn the things you are interested in. Arrive Safely John

Welcome to the new Tandem Skydiving Forum. What started out as an idea a few years ago resulted in the "Instructors" Forum. The topic of Tandem Skydiving dominated that forum, so HH has now broken it out into its own space. Right now I am the only Moderator, but that may change . . . Over the next couple of days I will be migrating some of the more recent Tandem oriented threads from General, S&T, and Instructors into this new topical forum. Please consider the original post date when choosing to reply in a thread - make sure continued conversation is still relevant. If you see another that needs to get moved, or think I moved one that should have stayed put where it was, send me a PM. Cheers, and happy hauling . . . Arrive Safely John

+1 -- great advice. Arrive Safely John

I will be very interested to hear the results of your experiment. I used rear risers to recover from long spots for years. Then I took a Scott Miller course and learned that deep brakes work better - slowing the descent rate as much as possible to allow the tailwind to carry you for a longer time. I made two identical jumps using the same spot from the same altitude and was very surprised at the difference. I used front risers to recover from being short (into a headwind) for years. Then I took a Flight-1 course and learned that a bit of rear risers and a small body position to reduce drag works better. Front risers work, but at the expense of more altitude loss, and they are more difficult to sustain over longer periods of time. I was skeptical of this at first (contrary to years of using another method), but when I got home and used this technique for real when I was in a pinch, I discovered that it really works. The best way to see how rear risers work is flying side-by-side with another canopy. From the flight mode that matches your partner allowing you to stay in place, engage rears slightly and use a small body position and you should pull in front of your partner staying on level or climbing very slightly. I use rears for crosswinds as well, or full flight (each with a crab), depending on how far off the wind line I am at the time. Arrive Safely John

The only thing I know is changing on January first applies to the A license. The A Licence Proficiency Card, completed, signed, and stamped, is now only good for 60 days as a temporary license. If the skydiver applies for their B license during that 60 day period, the temporary license can be used as proof of an A license. Beyond that 60 days, the A License Proficiency Card/Application has to be sent to USPA for processing and assignment of a number. Arrive Safely John

Glasses (7) Arrive Safely John

Nudge nudge - know what I mean? Arrive Safely John

If your schedule allows regular allotments of free time for you to train when the dropzone is open and active (it's winter, remember), do it now! You may be able to get farther than you originally intended! Best of luck to you . . . Arrive Safely John

As of October 2008, all tandems made by USPA Members or at USPA Group Member dropzones need to be made by a USPA rated Tandem Isntructor. A Tandem Instructor with only a current manufacturer's rating can convert to a USPA Tandem Instructor rating very easily. He has to take the test, handle a few proficiency card requirements (depending on his USPA Instructional rating level), and pay the fee. It's just paperwork. Most Examiners teaching a full course teach the USPA Tandem Instructor Rating Course and manufacturer's rating course together. Edited to add: all Tandem Instructors with a manufacturers rating ONLY had to convert their rating to a USPA TAN/I rating before October 2008. Arrive Safely John

Search Cllassifieds link on main page is hard to see - have to scroll down and font is small. Arrive Safely John

Well played . . . and on topic this time, even! Arrive Safely John

Hey John Rich alias #8 - you're not fooling anybody . . . grow up and find something else to do to amuse yourself. Oh yeah, and enjoy the boobies for what they are . . . who gives a FUCK what kind of parachute it is? Arrive Safely John

Elevate (7) Arrive Safely John

Email Larry Sherling @ Sunpath: [email protected] for advice from the manufacturer. I own a 2012 DNKY (one size down from the NJK). It is build for a Velo 96; I currently have a Velo 103 in it which fits fine. Arrive Safely John

I was saving that one, but well played on your part! Arrive Safely John

High - sharing the happiness of a close friend who is decorating her first house and making it her home. Low - saying goodbye to an honorable comrade. @Holly: Arrive Safely John

Turbine (7) Arrive Safely John

"Classic" (7) Arrive Safely John

Well played, lad. Well played. Arrive Safely John

Harness (7) Arrive Safely John

Continuing the theme (I may get in trouble for this one) . . . Arrive Safely John

BWAAHAAAAHAAHAAHAAHAAAA Arrive Safely John

Now that we are past the whole NSFW faux pas, here's another. NSFW Kindling>>>Bonfire Arrive Safely John