tbrown

Bigways, like BIG Bigways usually get a waiver. Also days with low cloud ceilings to allow hop & pop loads, as the freefall is short and sub-terminal. As I recall from Parachutist Magazine, the waivers can even just be verbal, but are only good for a day at a time.

I do know two people who literally femured from slammer openings on Pilot canopies. It caused both of them to give up the sport. I had a wicked slammer myself on a 210 Pilot that wrecked the canopy, even damaged the risers. Had to chop it. Fortunately I didn't break any bones, though I was bruised from my neck down to my knees. Lines were Spectra. Aerodyne said the canopy was totaled and they gave me a sweet deal on a brand new 188, which never gave me any problems. Also owned a ZPX 188 Pilot with no problems. I've always done my own packing and after the slammer I religiously checked that my slider grommets were all the way up 2 or 3 times while packing. Skydiving's a dangerous sport - you pays yer money and takes yer chances.

Mark Brown was one of the pillars of Perris Valley Skydiving. When I returned to the sport after an absence of 22 years he was my mentor - and remained my mentor for the next eleven years. I can't even imagine how many hundreds, maybe thousands of jumpers of all experience levels Mark shepherded to their next level of accomplishment. He was there rain, wind or shine and had a heck of a sense of humor. I'm grateful that I got to see him one more time last month, if only for a minute or so. I will always miss him.

Sphincter Brothers

Lisa was the sweetest loving of people and a bright spot at the Elsinore dropzone. At the time of her passing she was waiting for a liver transplant and had actually passed and completed all of her necessary tests as a transplant candidate. She is the second dear friend to leave us while waiting for a transplant, the other one being Mike Gerwig. Probably many more that our members knew by name. All the more reason to be an organ donor, so that others may live when we pass away.

I once attended a basic canopy course where the instructor was teaching the newbies to make their turn onto final with their front risers. To do otherwise was "wasting the canopy's energy". Utterly irresponsible for teaching jumpers at the novice level.

I'm surprised they let your friend jump at all. At one dropzone there were two young women who were treating the entire class (with other students) like it was just a wild hoot. The instructor (also a woman) came over and told them to go back to the office and get their refund, she was kicking them out of the class. End of story. Considering that this is a sport that can actually kill someone, I think instructors have a duty to not allow a student to jump if they just don't get it or act like they just don't care.

Perris and Elsinore are both terrific dropzones. I was mainly a Perris jumper, but used to jump at Elsinore sometimes too, especially for their annual Chicks Rock boogie. I used to tell people that the two places offered "different flavors" of skydiving. I haven't jumped in five years and things always change. Lately I've seen where some Perris staff are now staffing at Elsinore, so the mix and flavor are always changing. Go jump and enjoy both places, one will probably start to feel more like home after a while.

Not recommended...

Jimmy was one of my JMs in my student days, back in 1975. He helped me learn about the wonders of freefall. We've been fast friends ever since, give or take a couple decades. I will even put him on our prayer list at (Episcopal) church tomorrow. I know Jimmy will be doing all he can to fight his way back. Much love to all.

Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter has died at the age of 78. No cause of death has yet been given. Hunter was one of the most brilliant lyricists of rock's greatest generation. His lyrics left one's mind open to questioning and interpretation in so many ways. Just a few years back Hunter accepted for himself and Jerry Garcia when the two were named to the American Songwriters' Hall of Fame. Fare you well Robert Hunter.

Square 1 preaches that you should never try a new canopy AND downsize at the same time (in fact they don't allow it). You do one or the other. That would be an especially good idea here because the Crossfire 2 (or the newer 3) is a fully elliptical canopy. The Sabre 2 is a semi elliptical "medium" performing canopy, so when you go Crossfire you're going to get more performance right off the bat with the same size. You need to be more careful with a full elliptical. Don't be in such a hurry - and get some solid coaching.

Elsinore has a very nice bunkhouse.