lili

Thanks, I will try that. Laura

Hey there, I'm interested in trying to get on the WVWR (subject to my skills etc). I haven't been at any of the training camps, but could get to eloy from 16th to 23rd/24th March, is it possible that I could try out some time during the week before the attempts? Thank you, Laura

I own a boogieman suit and I love it. It is exactly what I asked for, fits how I wanted it to, and is very durable. It has hundreds of jumps and hours of tunnel time on it, and it is still in good nick. They are a bit pricey, but worth it if you know what you want, as it will last. Hope that helps... L

That looks like a pretty good set up and nice list of rules to go with it. Lx

not badly, dislocated little finger from not landing a downwinder properly, and a displaced rib from a super hard opening. Took a few days off after the dislocated finger. Didn't realise that I had displaced a rib so kept jumping and had a massage every so often to keep me jumping. Then went to see an osteo and found out the damage, had it "replaced", and it ached for weeks. Still, no more stabbing pains

With this statement, it may be that I am not as intelligent as some people, or maybe they have an ability to predict the future, but different people are happy turning at different heights, and have different wing loadings/canopies/glide ratios, and set up differently, swoopers or not, and I don't always find it easy to work out who is going to be the first down, or which direction they are going to land, unless it is me I am not super experienced, but if at 1200 jumps I am up there on half breaks (and I'm not alone), waiting to work out my set up because it depends on someone else, I can't imagine that that is a good scenario. This situation does not encourage me to spiral down as I am concerned about someone else doing the same intending to land the other way, or starting a swoop to go from being above me to below me and landing the other way. It makes me join a game of who can stay up high the longest to make setting up as easy as possible once I have seen the landing direction. Also, it is probably irritating the swoopers to have us up there so long, when it is unnecessary and clogging up airspace. I like the idea of fixing a tetrahedron in light and variables to show the landing direction, and there is always landing further out as an option for people that want to land in a different direction. Lx

I voted for 3500 as my canopy takes a loooong time to open (just how I like it :-) so definitely open by 2500. It also gives me a little time if something isn't quite right to react or assimilate information and hopefully still be open by 2000. Not sure why people would pull at 2000. What is your hard deck then? doesn't give you much time to sort anything out if it is wrong. Lx

I have seen that, but then it also depends on peoples opinion of whether it is light and variable or not. If the wind sock is showing the light wind direction when they look at it before starting their landing pattern, then often people land "into wind" and not in the default direction, whereas other people still think/realise it is light and variable and land in the default direction (ie. slightly downwind). Not sure that makes too much sense to read, btu I hope people understand. Lx

not wanting to hijack the BSR thread, I thought I would post my questions/observations here. Many dropzones have a "follow the first person down" policy, which works most of the time. But in variable conditions I have seen the first people down landing at pretty much the same time going in opposite directions (not deliberately). Also people hanging around on rear risers or brakes trying to work out which way the first person down is going to land which can be difficult. I'm sure I am not the only one to have seen this, or to have been confused as to which way people are setting up. Is there a better policy? A solution that I think would work is to put out an arrow pointing in the direction of landing during light and variable conditions, with an alternate landing area if you don't want to land that direction. Any thoughts? Also, landing areas that are perpendicular to each other. This can cause what to me are obvious problems when approaching the landing area. Trying to work out if the person flying towards your approach has seen you, and if not are they going to (a) turn 90 degrees and land in the same direction as you, or (b) carry straight through to the other landing area, is again not easy, or at least not for me without a crystal ball. Personally I don't swoop, but I would imagine that the first problem will only happen at a quicker speed for them. The swooper may be the first one down but the canopies that were below them before they start their turn may end up landing at the same time or shortly after in the opposite direction. Obviously being aware of the canopies in the air, and trying to be prepared for/avoid any eventuality is going to help, but I doubt I am the only person that has seen these things happen a fair number of times, and I am wondering if there is anything that can be done to reduce the frequency or prevent them. Any thoughts? Lx

Boogieman for me, love the suits :-) Lx

would depend on the power as well for me... Lx

I would definitely go for a boogieman suit, in fact I am waiting for a new one at the moment. They fit well and are comfortable even with a tight fit. The spandex is definitely a good idea. They also last a long time and there are some awesome designs. Lx

Just read the bit by hparrish about holding onto the harness of the student, and I totally get why this is a good idea in terms of more control and making corrections being easier, and I'm sure it works well with many people, but when I was learning I found this really offputting. I would end up arching every time (subconciously to have more space? not sure why). For me it was easier to relax etc when the coach was holding my right hand with his/hers and elbow with the other (2-way flower) and making hand gestures with the elbow hand (if this makes sense). Just sharing my experience in the hope it might help someone. Lx

at the risk of being another random advice giver, or asking for random advice here's a quick question for you... Is it not a good idea to have a solid (is not moving around and in control) position that you can switch to when the head down does go "quirky" so that you are not endangering the other person/people on your jump by carrying on the "quirkiness"? Lx

I have to agree, those 2 videos give a lot of good information. Definately worth a watch. Lx

Hi there, Assuming that your history is skydiving and not tunnel history, then I would say that the coaching jumps would be the wiser investment if you want to focus on head down. An hour of tunnel is very unlikely to get you to the point of flying head down in the tunnel. If your history is tunnel history then personally I would keep with the tunnel, however preferably do both. And Fabian does coach at Bedford, but it is a good idea to email him to find what dates he is planning to be there as far in advance as possible as Bedford is very busy. Good luck in whatever you do, L

Thats pretty much what it was like a year ago, I assume it is the same. Nagambie was a really fun dropzone, made lots of friends and super cool jumps there. Lx

Fabian Raidel is also at Eloy sometimes. I think he will be there December January time. Super good tunnel coach and nice guy. His email is [email protected]. Lx

Alternatively there are two Weston on the Green forums you could post to and see who replies, i'm sure i've seen posts from other people looking for car shares/lifts etc. www.rafspa.co.uk www.malcknox.co.uk Have a look, we're all quite friendly :-) I'd offer but don't live in Oxford, but there are a fair number of people who do. Lx

sitflying without arms can be done, flying in a windtunnel will help you to understand how to do this whilst still maintaining the same speed and distance relative to your jumping partner. It requires more flying with your legs and back to compensate for the loss of drag from your arms. Lx

I do fly camera occasionally on tracking or freefly jumps and get some pretty good footage. There are 2 things that stop me doing it more: I don't really understand the editing software, I could do with having it explained. It hurts my neck if I jump camera too many times in a day (although I am seeing an osteopath at the moment so maybe this won't always be true). I know a few other girls who have jumped camera and had the same problems with their neck, maybe this is why there aren't so many... Lx

I could be wrong but I thought that a spectre is a 7 cell slightly eliptical, in which case wouldn't it respond more to harness turns than a sabre? Also I remember from when I used to jump one that it seemed quite ground hungry (steep angle of attack) and I thought I read something a while ago about how this has an effect on how efficient harness turns are too. Could be wrong though, not a canopy expert by a long shot. Lx

If you do ever change your mind about going to the states, and manage to sort a visa, personally I have not paid more than £300 on a return airfare (joys of internet searches and booking a bit ahead of time), and the jump tickets are cheaper, and the turnaround is usually better (I have only been to Perris, Elsinore and Eloy). Also I usually stay in a tent which is free and you don't have to hire a car, just organise airport pickup. I only go in the winter when the weather is bad in the uk and europe, but I get a lot out of it and would highly recommend it. Lx

If you want to get into a two way hybrid from freefal and not from the exit I found that the easiest way (bearing in mind that the flat person was quite little in this case)was to take the harness under the shoulder and at the hip on opposite sides (you have to fly around a bit and have dedication) to try to make it even but give a good wide hand hold. Haven't tried it for years though. Found with the hip rings that you have to rotate as going into the sit and if the person is light and small they get dragged. Hope this helps, Lx

Not sure if there is a closer one but Skydive Tortuga in Arezzo, Tuscany is an awesome dropzone. Lx