lifewithoutanet

Not only big enough loop, but a stronger stow in which to place the toggle stub. One of the biggest concerns over these types of risers is that the toggle stub and pin rest in elastic when stowed, not in a reinforced nylon stow as on standard LRT risers. An argument I've heard is that this makes these toggles more succeptable to premature brake fire. I understand the point, but I've never lost one. In any case, I'd just replace the risers if you wanted them to be standard LRT-type risers. -C.

Two of my rigs have this type of risers/toggles. I have always stowed them with the control line to the outside of the pin. In this case, ref the left-side riser/toggle in pic HPIM1717jjii.JPG . You have the control line routed between the toggle and pin. Using that left-side riser/toggle as an example, I would route the control line to the right of the pin (not between the pin and togglestub) in such a way that the fingertrap is also to the right side. This puts the stress of the opening shock on the dacron and not the fingertrap. I'll post pics of how I set brakes with this style of risers/toggles tomorrow, once I find my camera's card-reader. In the meantime, ask away if you have questions. There are varying opinions on this style of riser/toggle and not everyone knows why they were designed, what benefit they serve and additionally, what risk they can present. -C.

...there's a shitload of candles lit behind a locked door. Eric Ryde said you'd get in there before a single drop of wax falls. Happy B-day, man. We got good shit to work on this summer. Great talking with you tonight, though I think I might just have to dial your old number and talk to that little trollup, Mackenzie. She sounds a helluvalot hotter than you. -C.

Is that just an additional span of webbing hitched in to lengthen the bridle? Seems to me that a new bridle would be well worth the minimal cost, instead of lengthening it as you did. You're adding a knot that could potentially become a snag point in the mesh and lead to a hesitation. Also, that knot represents a significant weight between the PC and pin. Just seems like bad juju to me. -C.

It's "Tonik", Jamie. And it'll even cover your ass herpies! (but not if they're a pre-existing condition) Woo-hoo Health Insurance (ComedyCentral.com is lame...go to that link and click the "Enter Now" link around the middle of the page under "Your System Status: Woo hoo! MotherLoad's ready to go! Click 'Enter Now' to start".) -C.

No disagreement, there. Again, it's when you choose to apply that aerial training to BASE in actually throwing aerials that I think needs very careful evaluating. -C. PS Check your PMs in a bit.

I don't quite agree with that statement, especially when you're talking about someone with low jump numbers. This isn't supposed to be a dig at/about David (Coco), but I'm going to use that example because we're already talking about it and I don't think he'll mind. I don't think anyone's arguing gymnastic/aerial talent, here. And if they are, I think they're missing the point. My point is that no matter how much training you have in aerials, when you have few jumps, you have little experience getting yourself out of...well, bad experiences. Who do you expect to be able to deal w/ a fucked-up situation after an aerial? The guy w/ 200 jumps and no aerial training or the guy w/ less than 50 jumps and tons of aerial training? And really, I'm not talking about stalling out on your back or anything related to aerials (though I really don't think their influence can be ignored). I'm talking about just plain shit gone wrong. Line twists, off-headings, hesitations that put you LOW. It's what happens after (possibly because of) the aerial. So this could be the 200+ jumps jumper w/ no aerial training, the sub 50 jumper not doing aerials or the sub 50 jumper who is throwing aerials and focusing more on that than the skills that will really keep him/her alive. Which jumper do you think will be better prepared to handle a fucked up situation? Again, not knocking your talent at all and wish I could borrow some, but the fact remains that there are no jumps out there that actually require an aerial. Aerial's are for show and pure enjoyment. They won't keep you alive or get you out of a bad situation, but they just might help to get you into one. Just ask yourselves, when you're working on aerials, "Have I really covered everything else already?" -C.

But watching you and Michelle turn points off of KL was pretty damn cool. Along the same lines, I didn't do my first gainer until KL and that was jump #81. Did 5 more after that, but haven't done a single one off another object. F the Finns, -C.

Try and contain your disappointment, flockers, but I'm out. Post: 1-Voodew1 (TX) 2-Professor (TX) 3-FlyinBob (TX) 4-Buried (IL) 5-The111 (LOCAL!) 6-Skyflyingbecca (FL) 7-Moonglo (TX) 8-Luminous (TX) 9-unclecharlie95 (ITALIA) 10-Base733 (UT) 11-nathaniel(IL) 12-HELMUT (Tatooween) 13-OmarPR (LOCAL) 14-RobertPecnik(CROATIA) 15-Purple Mike(Earth) 16-Costyn (NL) (very likely) 17-Matt (GA) 18-Joni (NE) 19-Yuri (Russia-USA) 20-Lifewithoutanet (CA/CO, USA) 20-badenhop (Lodi) 21-Mike Steen (UT) 22-EmLo (Local) 23-DaMan (Local) 24- Rob Jones (Local) 25-Scott Bland (Local) 26-Chris Ware (Local) 27-Scotty Burns (Local) 28-Jeff Nebelkopf (Local) 29-Mike (Local) 30-Paul Mazillo (Local) 31-Scary Perry (Local) 32-Mark (normis) Cochran (Local) 33-Manny (Local) 34-Lurch? (NH) 35-Mudbug(TX) 36-Murphy (AZ) 37-Harry Parker 38-Pendragon (U.K.) 39-980 (Canada) 40-RkyMtnHgh (FL) 41-MarkM (FL) 42-SkymonkeyONE (NC) 43-Ian (?) 44-Aaron (?) 45-Medusa (Colombia / FL) 46-Danny (Puerto Rico) 47-Kevin Keenan (FL) 48-Cyntia (FL) 49-Jose (Turtle) (P.R.) 50-BJ Alexander (FL) Have fun without me. Shouldn't be too hard. -C. edited to correct the counts

Man, ain't that the truth. BASE has been my most significant life-changing event to date. -C.

29 1/2 when I started. Did my 100th on my 31st b-day (just felt like tossing that out there). -C.

What's up, Michael? I'll be there in mid-June. What is it you want me to smuggle through customs for you? -C. PS Still have a 2/3 full bottle of Tequila which you gave me after your first A. I'll bring that, too. edit: Doh, kinda missed that "PM me" part.

Your poll is flawed. He'd enjoy all the slaps and kicks and everyone knows he can't survive past 1/3 of a six-pack. -C.

I can't vote. I can't say when or if I would quit because 1.) I'm not quitting now and 2.) I do not know what mindset I will have when I reach 1,000, 10,000, or however many jumps. That is the future. If I apply my logic, knowledge and experience today to my 1000th jump--and if I stick to that number and quit--then those 889 jumps between now and then will have been meaningless. I'll have learned nothing. I'll have stopped evolving. Life is nothing if not used to experience the unknown and to build from one experience to the next. Quantifiable figures in BASE or anything risky...I just don't buy it. I always hear people talk about "100 things to do before I die". Anything only worth doing once isn't worth doing at all, in my book. I don't have an official list of my own, but if I did, it would be "100 things to keep doing before I die". This list would change and evolve over time, molded from actual experience, which we all know doesn't come from doing something only once, or exactly 100, 1,000, or 10,000 times. -C.

Do what Hookitt suggested. And since you're using your BASE canopy, find good, steep hill. You'll need it. -C.

Seems there was a recurring theme this weekend. Same here. -C.

Hecker, Really good to hear from you, man! Heal fast, heal well and keep in touch. We're all here for you, bro. -C.

Jealous much, Jaap? -C.

By "leave your skydiving mentality at the door", I'm not talking about friction between the sports. I'm talking about BASE being no place for a skydiving mentality. The gear is different, to the point that there are contradictory effects in BASE vs. skydiving gear from the application of similar pieces of equipment. The freefall is different. The canopy flight is dramatically different. And most importantly, there's no FAA, no regulating body. The "skydiving mentality" of which I refer is one that typically includes some thoughts of regulation or certifications or requirements to protect people from themselves. It's especially common of "open-minded" newer jumpers--who don't realize why so many people are "trying to keep them out of BASE jumping"--with a desire to meet some basic requirements that PROVES that they're ready to jump from a fixed object. There's no place for that kind of regulation or certification in BASE. The USPA model is flawed in this application. Regulation plays to the lowest common denominator and if you're not smart enough to realize the consequences without these formal controls, you need to reevaluate your approach to BASE. I heard the following, early in my very young BASE career: "Skydiving may very well be the thing that kills BASE." Few simple statements ring so true. -C.

Yes, but I doubt any manufacturer would recklessly field an option they haven't tested. This thread was intended to spur debate, which it has, and get people thinking about potential snag-points. It was not intended to paint someone as irresponsible. I'm not saying that that's what you're saying, Yuri. I'm just making it clear that despite my feelings on the design, that's not my point. -C.

No, it's from theory, just sitting around thinking about it. In which case you're missing a factor of relative wind, which will grab the PC as it leaves the jumper's hand and have an effect on how far it is able to extend outward from the throw, before being pulled up and above the jumper. Again, this will vary by the delay taken. At the time I first posted, I wasn't sure who was offering this, or exactly how it was constructed (what material was used in the sleeve, for example, how tight the corners were, etc.). Now that I've seen pics of Morpheus' design, I can think about it a little more. I wonder if making the mouth of the sleeve broader than the rest of the sleeve would help eliminate snag potential on the corners. -C.

This information would be interesting to hear, if and when you have some time to elaborate. Nor do I. I'm just wondering if this has come far enough to field it. I've Emailed Morpheus and a couple of other manufacturers to get their take on it, as well. -C.

Do you have any knowledge about how the PC was packed in each of these cases? -C.

The more thought that I put into this, the more I stand by the fact that it's adding an additional point of hang-up potential. That it's worked well so far doesn't ensure it will continue to. I'm not sure the benefit really outweighs the risks. -C.

I can understand it's use and lesser hesitation potential on terminal and longer delay jumps. Do you know if it's an option on the standard Gargoyle? Guess I'll check in w/ Rob. Thanks. -C.