JohnMitchell

He'd be right at home in Seattle.

We learn from our mistakes. If the mistakes are potentially fatal, it's best to learn from other's mistakes. Most jump stories have a lesson in them, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. Even the negative ones will reinforce the necessity of making good judgements and taking timely actions. I've had the misfortune to have had some pretty weird things happen to me and the good fortune of having had the training to survive those things.

Hopefully, but . . . you know .. . there are NO guarantees.

We drove down from Olympia, WA to Salem, OR early on the morning of the eclipse. 2.5 hour drive took 3 hours going down, about 7 coming back, but worth every minute of it. Totality is an eerie, primitive experience, isn't it?

It's hard to get much past Brian, isn't it? I do a lot of small way, from coaching and AFF to 4 way. On breakoff, I always try to track as perpendicular to jump run as safely possible.

You're right, but I still hedge my bets. I've seen "following groups" not give me quite the time they should have, or maybe have winds aloft greater than expected. And besides, you should see me track!! Amazing!

Vskydiver and I got up at 3:50 am to drive down to Salem, OR for the totality. About 35 minute delay due to traffic. We stopped in at our favorite Salem microbrewery, Gilgamesh, where we found an entire beer garden set up for the viewing, including complimentary viewing glasses. Like you said, there is no substitute for experiencing the totality. Every minute of the 7+ hour drive home in bumper to bumper traffic was worth those amazing 1 minute and 57 seconds of eerie, primitive totality.

You too? Vskydiver and I caught the totality down in Salem, OR at the Gilgamesh Brewery, great little eclipse brunch out on the lawn. Amazing stuff. Where did you see it?

Amen. I just saw another 20 something swooper carted off in an ambulance for surgery. Meanwhile, I upsized a couple of times and I'm having a great time.

I'm afraid that's a common practice in the industry. I'm glad to hear it's illegal. Time to spread the word.

Sport amphip? Now that could be fun.

And another good reason that I advocate RSLs.

I agree with the safety aspect. Skydivers should NOT use vertical separation. However, I often ask that question when jumping with newer skydivers. Many of these AFF trained people want to deploy at crazy high altitudes. I'm trying to find a compromise altitude.

Good to see ya.

So . . . do you think if the USPA does this, they WON'T raise my dues again?

HP laptop running Windows 10. Funny, so I saved them both to my desktop so I could rotate them. Looked normal on there, no rotation required.

BTW, you're sideways in your pics. Wanna give 'em a spin.

Nice damn fish ya got there. When's dinner?

LOs at large DZs are typically getting free jumps and maybe some compensation. I've never tipped one personally. Our DZ offers organizing on Saturdays to low time jumpers learning to belly fly. We used to have a belly organizer for the experienced people, but a car wreck claimed his life a couple of years ago, so we've been self-organizing since. It hasn't been quite as good.

And all would go to the newbie "low man" if that were to occur. Jumping with a newb that goes low? I feel you should dive down to them and start over.

Reading Parachutist magazine, it seems the USPA would rather not take on the responsibility for the tunnels, but the FAI's Parachuting Commission decide to add "indoor skydiving." The USPA is worried that IBA and others aren't up to the Herculean task of organizing and fielding teams for international competition. So be it. Tunnel flying is cool, and is certainly growing as a sport, but it has little to do with the essential core of our sport; jumping from a plane in flight, opening a parachute, and then making a safe landing. Should NASCAR have to oversee BMX bike competitions? Both involve racing around some sort of track. Just as our sport grew since the 60s, and the USPA had to grow to meet the new demands, so can the IBA or any other organization that wants to concentrate on tunnel flying. Let them make the rules, collect the memberships, field the teams, and grow their sport. I feel we already have enough to do on our side of the fence.

A few things nice about a new rig: Your favorite colors. Perfect fit. The smell of it. . . So, it's a bit more money, but if you want it, get it. Used canopies aren't a bad idea.

Hell yeah, everything you said.

Both good DZs. Where do you live?

I think either method will get you to where you want to be. Is the STP at the DZ where you made the tandems? Do you like the staff there? Staying at a place where you're familiar and comfortable has its advantages. Lost altitude awareness? Yeah, you'll want to work on that.