JohnnyUtah

Here you go bro. I sent this plus some more shots in full file size to your email. [email protected] http://www.johnnyutah.com

Dexter, I have that video on my computer and I can pull stills from it. If there are any shots in the video you want a jpeg of, I'll be happy to send you some. Johnny www.johnnyutah.com

You gotta admit he plays a good pumpkin. His foot placement was all him. I didn't even notice it until I loaded the picture on the computer. Man that kid's good!!!

Trevor is my little PUNKIN this year.

I wonder if it was the first one in Utah. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

Come on Tom, can't we have any fun? Skin wanted me to be a smart ass and try to put a smile on peoples faces (I guess it didn't work for you). What did I do wrong now? Johnny Utah

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Yo Skin, here are some more pictures of my ass (seeing how you like them so much). If you print them out, please do not put them under your bed, or in the bathroom. (and if you do, please do not tell me about it)

Tree, This thread started by me telling a story about a unique jump I witnessed. That is all I wanted to do. I thought the BASE community would be interested to hear about it. Tom asked me to elaborate. So I gave him that courtesy. In my elaboration, I pointed out, that testing needed to be done (I had this idea months ago). I have said testing needs to be done throughout this whole thread. My initial elaboration was challenged by Tom. I did not ask for this debate and I would like this debate to end, especially now that you have degenerated it. The air molecule explanation is totally relevant to every BASE jump that ever happens, though it is a minor factor. Whether you think so or not. I initially tried to explain it in more layman terms, but Skin did not understand. So I elaborated further for him. Sorry if you did not understand it. It is just science, nothing personal. This thread may have started with a story about an ultra low jump, but I have made no assertions about ultra low deployments. My assertions resulting from TomÕs debate were about anchor strength affecting inflation rate. I plan to do all my test jumps from the Perrine Bridge. You can believe whatever theories you want, but you have made false accusations (re-read the thread). Tom, I am truly sorry if I came across as coming down on you. I was just trying to give you some constructive criticism. I also gave you some great compliments too. Tom, I do like you and enjoy jumping with you. I hope for you the feeling is mutual.

I do not know. One big advantage to a d-bag, is that the canopy comes out of its containment device sooner, which allows it to spread out quicker. Keeping this in mind, it might be a mute point to anchor it. A danger that I can think of right now is: if the canopy is anchored to close to the exit point, it would have more chance of snagging on the object. Maybe we could put some kind of length between the attachment point and the anchor inside the d-bag. We will have to test that, and you can be the guinea pig if you want to. What the heck!! What kind corn pops have you been eating Tom? Just kidding. If you were to use a short S/L, it may result in a higher off heading opening, with an increased chance of object strike. We could call that a tard to the second power. On a roll over (McConkey Flip), if you used a S/L as long as your hanging canopy, allowing the canopy to still hang freely so you could control the heading, I think it might give you some altitude gain with no disadvantages. I would like to try this one. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

Dude, it sounds more like you wanted to address addition factors that contribute random chance to the BASE jump. The variances you are talking about are not intentional (right?), and therefore those different configurations, happen in a random way (unless you have simply perfected a less than ideal behavior), and can repeat a less than ideal configuration exactly the same way time and time again. Perhaps some day we can control these factors better, resulting in a perfect pack job every time. In my explanation, I eliminated these factors, to focus on the one thing that you will never be able control (at least not in this life), AIR!!! Did you read that part? Let us go to a molecular level. There is and will always be a part of the equation that you will never be able to control. Air molecules!!! The alignment of air molecule in one cube foot of air will be different than the alignment of air molecules in another cube foot of air. This is the nature of a gas. Air is matter in a gas form. If you understand physics, then why do you not understand this? The way those air molecules bump into the fabric and lines during opening will always be different on every jump, because those air molecules will always be aligned differently within that section of air that the parachute is opening in. (Unless it is the year 2250 AD and man has invented a chamber big enough to BASE jump in that will align gas molecules in a perfect array.) Instead of doing that, I think man should just build a bigger bridge. Actually my post that you replied to, has a picture of me jumping from a helicopter at Squaw Valley during the Blade Running 1998 event, where you can see my face but not my ass. If you are a guy, I would appreciate it, if you would not focus on my ass. Thanks! Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

Very observant Rob. He had a right 70 degree off heading opening. He did a normal pack job for a slider down/off jump, using a tailgate, which normally promotes an on heading opening...on this jump it didn't. From what I saw in real life and from watching the video, there is no apparent center cell distortion. Yes, his off heading put him in a perfect landing spot. That was luck. IMPORTANT NOTE: You cannot completely control the opening due to random chance. (There is a way to steer the opening on a slider up jump, but that should be saved for another discussion.) RANDOM CHANCE Ð Say you fold and pack your parachute absolutely perfect, and during opening your pack tray is absolutely flat and still, and the wind conditions are totally calm; you can still have an off heading opening (or tension knots) due to random chance. This is why. The way the air hits the fabric and lines of your parachute, and the way the fabric and lines react to that air is completely random. We pack the way we due in this sport to encourage the fabric and lines to respond to the air a certain way, but the air is random and the response is random, and we cannot control it. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

Tom, Johny 9lives had a tailgate for the ladder truck jump. We are using tailgates on all slider down/off jumps, so I do not understand why you are still debating this. I am all for a healthy debate, but you are going in circles. In post #8 the rest of my paragraph says: {However, the tailgate increases your chance of an on heading opening, and on heading openings seem to pressurize cleaner and quicker than off heading openings. This is probably due to less distortion of the air inlets in the nose and the increase of forward airspeed during the inflation process.} I do not disagree with the point you are trying to make. You are just skipping some factors in between. The tailgate promotes nose inflation first -- which promotes on heading opening -- which promotes less distortion in the nose and cleaner, more direct airflow into the cells -- which promotes faster pressurization of the canopy. Do we both agree here? Your statement is almost accurate but not quite. You would be more correct to say (which is safer in this case), A tailgated canopy has an increased probability of reaching full pressurization sooner. The tailgate is one way to get the nose to inflate first. Another way, is to shut down the tail. I have video of some openings of mine, back before I used tailgates, that look like there is a tailgate being used. Either way, this results in a higher chance of an on heading opening. A canopy opening on heading should have a more direct airflow going into the nose than a canopy going off heading. Also, on heading openings will usually result in less distortion to the nose, which will allow more of that direct airflow into the cells. I agree with Dwain's article. Especially the part where he says: Dwain and I are on the same page, like we were on most things we discussed. I can think of a time when we disagreed on an issue. It was at the last Petronas event, concerning a jumper who spiraled onto the roof of the mall. After watching the video one time, I said it looked like he had a tension knot. Both Dwain and Slim adamantly disagreed with me. They thought because the slider had come down, it could not be a tension knot. I listen to their response, and quickly determined that a tension knot can occur within a single riserÕs line set. After explaining this to them, they still disagreed. Later that day, a zoomed in photograph, taken from another building, showed without a doubt, that it was indeed what I said it was (a tension knot). My point is, even the best are not always right. OK, I would love to have you there...you are on the load. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

When I told the story of the Ladder truck jump, I was doing just that, telling a story. Explaining how things happened and why. This has turned into a brainstorm or a debate out of control (what ever you want to call it), which can be a healthy thing. It just seems like we have strayed away from the story I was telling about one of the coolest jumps I have ever seen. I have attached some images of the jump. Please enjoy them. This reminds me of something you said at Petronas last December. You were saying that a line over will not make your canopy spiral. I over heard this and thought for the safety of you and other's, I should inquire. I asked you why you would think that. You said because you had a line over and it did not spiral. I told you then, ÒEvery line over has a different configuration.Ó I hope you believe that. Time in the sport is a huge factor when considering ones experience and knowledge. Through time, one learns from all that they see and hear. This helps give them solid knowledge. I know for a fact, that the harder you hold on to a PCA, the faster the parachute will open. I have seen it with my own eyes (real life, not video) many, many times, both as a spectator to it and the person giving the PCA. The basis of my study is to understand exactly why and to what point of adding anchor strength you would benefit. Also, at what anchor strength will there be no more additional benefit and perhaps even a negative effect (The extreme example, would be an anchor strength that results in you hanging off the exit point). Tom, I am impressed with the knowledge you have gained in a short time, however, you still have much to learn in this sport. You are an asset to the BASE community; just make sure you are teaching solid information. I hope my words do not offend you as you do a great job here. DonÕt take me the wrong way Tom, but you should know that what you are saying here makes no sense (unless you are using a hypothetical 40 foot static line). Let us define what Òcenter cell stripÓ is. I said the following in a previous post (post#4). {Center Cell Strip is a result of too much snatch force (such as having too big of a PC at terminal). What causes center cell stripping is that the cocoon is extracted too quickly from the container. Increasing the anchor strength on a S/L or PCA jump does not increase the snatch force. It does not result in the cocoon being extracted quicker, it just puts more tension on the lines and fabric once the parachute has reached full line stretch.} In other words, that last two sentences mean: You will have the same snatch force using 40 pound break cord as you will using 100 pound break cord. Now if you had a hypothetical spring-loaded static line that will spring upward as the jumper exits, then you would have a higher snatch force. Perhaps you think that any distortion of the center cell after full line stretch is the same thing as Òcenter cell stripÓ. It is not. Center cell strip is just exactly what it saysÉwhen the center cell is stripped off the packed canopy (cocoon). This happens when the opposing forces between the bridle and the jumper are high during container opening. The bridle yanks (snatches) the attachment point away from the jumper so fast that the heavier part of the packed canopy (cocoon) cannot keep up. In other words, the majority of the packed canopy stays in or closer to the pack tray, as the center cell is stretched vertically by the attachment point being yanked upward by the bridle. Whew!!! That was a mouthful. To simplify: Let us define an anchor, as that force, which pulls against the jumperÕs fall, causing the canopy to come out and play. Let us create and define a new term called, Òextraction speedÓ. Extraction speed is how fast the anchor pulls the canopy out of the container. This speed is determined by the total force downward (jumpers fall rate and exit weight), minus movement of the anchor (like in the case of a pilot chute). If you got extra time on your hands Tom, how about figuring out a math formula for this. My definition of Center Cell Strip is: When the center cell is stripped off the packed canopy (cocoon), as a result of an extraction speed that is too fast. Whether you are falling away from 40 pound break cord or 100 pound break cord, the canopy is pulled out at the same speed and has the same amount of tension all the way up to full line stretch (even all the way up to the point where the 40 pound break cord gives.) I do agree that higher anchor strength may cause some extra distortion to the noseÕs air inlets at full line stretch, but this is not the same thing as center cell stripping. It happens later in the opening process so the canopy is already spreading out and approaching bottom skin expansion. A go and throw, would cause the slowest extraction speed (that I can think of right now). Its extraction speed is only slower than that of a S/L or PCA because the pilot chute moves with the jumper. A S/L or PCA also have a very slow extraction speed (unless you are using a hypothetical 40 foot static line or bridle). I disagree with you. Based on my personal experience, a stronger anchor point (such as holding onto the pilot chute harder) will give the jumper significant altitude gain, which will far surpass the small amount of altitude lost in a minor toggle correction. The various combinations of variables will make it very difficult to determine at what point, with what configurations, the altitude gain is cancelled out by altitude lost from a heading correction. More testing needs to done to even give us an idea. I would like to see those statistics and how they prove your point. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

Some of this is new territory that needs to be safely explored further. One danger I can think of, is if you use too strong of break cord, you could end up hanging off the exit point. So, do not start out using a break cord strength close to your body weight. Some more research needs to be done first. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

Beany, I am a BASE instructor and teach First Jump Courses for BASE. I am having a BASE Camp November 24-27, 2003 at the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho. I also have a BASE Camp every spring in May. So if you can not make it this November, it will happen again next May. You can read more about this in the thread "FALL BASE CAMP 2003". Feel free to contact me with any questions. I will help you out however I can. Johnny Utah (01)(815) 228-9966 [email protected]

Hey Mother Hucker, When I leave Twin Falls, BASE Camp is OVER (as I stated in my original post). I absolutely agree with you, that new BASE jumpers are not well suited for cliff and building jumps. That is why I don't hold BASE Camp in Moab. Of course, after jumping at the Perrine Bridge, people could then go down to Moab and risk it all for nothing off a low dangerous cliff. During BASE Camp, I tell every student that once the course is over, they need to practice more on Antennas and Spans before they try a Building or an Earth. My BASE Camp posting is to get the word out about my course. Perhaps you could start a new thread discussing what is appropriate at the Turkey Boogie so that a debate will not ensue here. Thanks! Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

I hold a BASE Camp every spring around Memorial Day at the Perrine Bridge. It is a complete and thorough first BASE jump course intended for experienced skydivers with little or no BASE experience. My students are taught all the fundamental aspects of the sport; including packing, gear check and gear knowledge, exit techniques, sub terminal freefall, deployment techniques, heading control, emergency procedures, landing techniques, etc. The jump site is very forgiving making it an excellent place to learn. I've BASE jumped all over the world, and hands down the best place to learn is Twin Falls, Idaho. This is why...The Perrine Bridge is a span bridge, 486 feet above very calm water with a large grassy landing area the size of a football field; and it's legal to jump all day. Many BASE fatalities are the result of an object strike. Once you fall away from this bridge, it is impossible to hit it, and 486 feet is plenty high to learn on. Also, there is a boat waiting down below should you land in the water. That same boat gives us a ride out of the canyon. Over time I have had a lot of requests to have a Camp in the fall. So this year I am. Fall BASE Camp 2003 will take place November 24-27 at the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho. After BASE Camp is over, Marcia and myself will then head down to the Turkey Boogie in Moab on Friday the 28th to join Vertigo in some candy land fun (Mineral Bottom) on Saturday Nov. 29. I talked to Marta today, and they will have a shuttle and a barbeque on location. With all the BASE heads there, it will be raging. So if you are ready to learn how to BASE jump this fall, here is a great opportunity for you. Sorry for the late notice, but IÕm doing this now because I have business to attend to in Salt Lake City after the Turkey Boogie, and I will therefore be in that area, making it all possible. To attend BASE Camp, you must have skydiving experience. I will need to talk one on one with you to determine if you are ready. You must use BASE specific gear. Every student will have, or be issued their own rig for the course. The cost is: $850 if you need to be issued a BASE rig from me $650 if you have your own BASE rig This fee includes: Packing Instruction BASE First Jump Course Jump Mastering Video Debriefs First 10 Boat Rides Advanced Instruction (as you progress through the camp) Participants are responsible for their travel, lodging, and food. If you are interested, you can contact me by phone or email. Johnny Utah (815) 228-9966 [email protected]

Email me with your email address, and I will be happy to hook you up. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

Right on Tom, I enjoy a good brain storm. IÕll quote you and then respond so the readers can follow the conversation. >ÒSo, do you think that a static line would yield faster overall inflation than a direct bag?Ó< That is an excellent question Tom! I donÕt know for sure. IÕve seen it go both ways. Of course factors like canopy type, wing loading, wind direction and velocity, air density, and other factors, might affect the opening speed. If and when I do the test jumps, I will be sure to include some S/L vs D-bag experiments. If I had to make an educated guess, it would be that a S/L with a low anchor strength would lose more altitude than a d-bag. Whereas, a S/L with a high anchor strength would lose less altitude than a d-bag. DEFINITION In my previous post I mentioned: The more canopy you can get to spread out before the system breaks away from the anchor point, the more bottom skin is exposed and within a small fraction of a second the bottom skins grabs air, and that is bottom skin inflation. To simplify. My definition of bottom skin inflation is: When the bottom skin has expanded and has air pressure against it. So, bottom skin expansion is essentially the same thing as bottom skin inflation, with only a very small fraction of a second difference in timeÉso small, how could we measure it? >ÓAnother hypothetical: Picture a canopy with a "perfect valve" bottom skin. Assume that the whole bottom skin is one giant (but perfect) one way valve. This theoretical canopy ought to expand top skin first, with the top skin pulling the bottom skin into place.Ó< For this valve to work, doesnÕt it need bottom skin inflation? Even if it doesnÕt require bottom skin inflation, and can some how allow air in with the bottom skin folded up, the more the bottom skin is open, the more air can get through to the inside of cells and the top skin. >Ó I could also make a pretty good argument that it would be the fastest inflating canopy possible. But it would clearly lose more altitude prior to bottom skin expansion (which would follow top skin expansion) than a real world unvented canopy. So, this canopy would lose more altitude prior to bottom skin expansion, but still be "overall" inflated and flying sooner.Ó< What I would like is a canopy that packs itself. >Ó And a not so hypothetical: What about tailgates? Tailgated canopies achieve bottom skin expansion slower than non-tailgated canopiesÉ.Ó< I agree. >ÓÉ. but still achieve full inflation faster than non-tailgated canopies.Ó< I disagree. I have seen several times, a canopy open slower due to a tailgate (like if you wrap the rubber band too tight for a no delay or short delay jump). However, the tailgate increases your chance of an on heading opening, and on heading openings seem to pressurize cleaner and quicker than off heading openings. This is probably due to less distortion of the air inlets in the nose and the increase of forward airspeed during the inflation process. Tom, when I do the test jumps, I will need some test jumpers. Let me know if youÕre interested. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

The jumper on the left is Johny 9lives. We did a 2-way, holding hands through opening with both of us being PCAed. The cliff was a rock quarry in Rode Island. The town locals said it was 78 feet. Our landing was into deep clear water (thank goodness). 9lives chose to prime his Velcro and that is what you're seeing. I figure since we were getting a PCA, whatÕs the point of priming my Velcro, so I didnÕt. But hey, if a man wants to prime his Velcro, then thatÕs his business. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

Zennie, yes there was a very small tower there. Tom, I don't have a whole lot of time right now to go into full detail (Trevor keeps me very busy), but I'll do my best to quickly elaborate for you. You replied, ÒIt seems to me that such a strong grip on the PC would yield center cell strip, thereby slowing inflation. (I don't think this would have much effect on bottom skin expansion.)" My response, From my experience through the 12 years I've been BASE jumping, I've noticed that the harder one holds on to the PC during a PCA, the faster the opening. I believe this is due to quicker bottom skin inflation, which results in an increase in canopy inflation rate (similar to the way my Super Mushroom packing technique works with a PC). Center Cell Strip is a result of too much snatch force (such as having too big of a PC at terminal). What causes center cell striping is that the cocoon is extracted too quickly from the container. Increasing the anchor strength on a S/L or PCA jump does not increase the snatch force. It does not result in the cocoon being extracted quicker, it just puts more tension on the lines and fabric once the parachute has reached full line stretch. This tension anchors the parachute system a moment longer, giving it that moment of more time to spread out before the jumper and parachute fall away from the anchor point. The more canopy you can get to spread out before the system breaks away from the anchor point, the more bottom skin is exposed and within a small fraction of a second the bottom skins grabs air, and that is bottom skin inflation. Obviously the less altitude lost during bottom skin inflation, the less altitude lost during the whole inflation process. Further more, the decrease in loss of altitude is exponential to the bottom skin inflation rate. I donÕt know the mathematical formula yet, but it has to do with acceleration during sub terminal freefall. Every moment of sub terminal freefall you lose more and more altitude as you accelerate, and that results in the exponential characteristic of it. You asked, "Why did you believe that the anchor strength had to be 155 pounds?Ó My response, Well, honestly, it was an educated guess at best. I actually am planning a series of test to gain some real data that will hopefully show just how much benefit is gained for every pound of increased anchor strength, and if there is a point when it doesnÕt increase the benefit (benefit being less loss of altitude). I said, ÒI had just watch the lowest real BASE jump that I have ever seen or heard of, and my hand was completely numb for a while.Ó You replied, ÒI believe that there is video of a 63 foot jump on Fixed 2.Ó YouÕre right, there is a clip of that on fixed 2. IÕve watched it myself many times. That one is marginal. That jump could be made just as safe without a parachute. Jason noted in his video, that using a parachute was optional for that cliff jump, and if it had been over hard ground, that dude would have been seriously broken or dead. The PCA 2-way we did in Rode Island was just like that, only 78Õ. It was not a ÒrealÓ BASE jump. If the water had not been there, we would have been seriously messed up or dead, and people were jumping from the same exit point without parachutes and were just fine. So on that jump, the water was our final deceleration device. The jump Johny 9lives did from the fire truck ladder, was a ÓrealÓ BASE jump because the parachute opened and stopped his fall, completely inflated, and flew. If it had not opened, he would have been seriously injured or dead as it was over only 3 feet of water. A very ballsy move on his part. Common sense needs to be applied here, otherwise, I could static line from my roof into a pool and call that a BASE jump. IÕm interested to know if anyone knows of a lower BASE jump using these guidelines. Thanks for your input Tom. Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

The jumper on the left is Johny 9lives. We did a 2-way, holding hands through opening with both of us being PCAed. The cliff was a rock quarry in Rode Island. The town locals said it was 78 feet. Our landing was into deep clear water (thank goodness). 9lives chose to prime his Velcro and that is what you're seeing. I figure since we were getting a PCA, whatÕs the point of priming my Velcro, so I didnÕt. But hey, if a man wants to prime his Velcro, then thatÕs his business. A couple different sites and a few days later, 9lives, Danny Koon and myself made it back to Cross Keys where they were having a boogie. At the end of the boogie the local fire department came out with a ladder truck and shot up a stream of water for swoopers to swoop under. 9lives decided he wanted to jump this fire truck ladder. At full extension, the ladder is 100 feet long. They leaned the ladder out a bit over the pond, making the exit altitude close to 80 feet. The exit point was over 3 feet of water. He kept asking me what I thought. I kept telling him 50/50. So we went up the ladder. Having just done the quarry jump a few days earlier, I learned a lot about the relationship between bottom skin inflation rate and anchor point tension strength (such as break cord strength or how hard one holds on to the PC during a PCA). When we reached the top of the ladder and looked over, I figured it was possible but it would be close. He wanted to do it and I knew the only way it would work is if he had an anchor point strength almost equivalent to his weight (155 pounds). Once he climbed over the rail and got in position, I unpeeled his shrivel flap, folded it in half and gripped it so it would pull out of the bottom of my grip. I told him he was all set, and he went quickly. I held onto that shrivel flap with every fiber of strength I had and I believe that for a moment, I held his whole weight in my hand. He did get very quick bottom skin inflation, and then full canopy pressurization. The canopy flew forward for a short canopy ride, and he landed in the three feet of water standing up for the most part and walked right out of the water without a scratch. If he had landed on hard ground, he probably would have walked away as well. In the end, I had just watch the lowest real BASE jump that I have ever seen or heard of, and my hand was completely numb for a while. We do have video of it and I will post an image in the near future. If anyone knows of a lower ÒrealÓ BASE jump, IÕd like to hear about it. The part that cracks me up, is that he not only jumped from a ladder, he BASE jumped from a vehicle, a truck. Unbelievable!!! Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

"What is considered to be diligent training for doing a gainer?" That's a great question Andrew. You will probably get different answers from different people. Here's what I can offer you. I suggest you practice at a pool. Launching from a solid base is more realistic for most exit points. If you have access to a solid diving platform, then obviously that's ideal. If you don't have one available then I suggest you practice standing exits from a spring board and running exits from the edge of the pool. While practicing at the pool, focus on looking at a point (that's behind you before you start the rotation). On a BASE jump this point would possibly be the exit point...makes for a sweet visual. The danger you're training to avoid is either under rotating or over rotating. Why? Because deploying in an unstable body position can result in several problems, such as bridle entanglement, pilot chute-in-tow, off heading openings, and line twist. Here's the HOT TIP. Once you have rotated to a head down body position, you can safely deploy. Any momentum will continue to rotate your body towards a belly to earth position as your parachute is extracted from the container. If you were to wait until you were flat belly to earth to deploy, you have a high chance of over rotating as your parachute comes out. So, while practicing at the pool, try to learn how to enter the water headfirst and vertical. Hitting the water is the ending point of your practice jump at the pool...like wise, this head down body position is the first moment of your rotation when it's safe to deploy. This doesn't mean it's the ideal time to deploy. What I like to do is deploy once my body has passed through that vertical plain and IÕm at about a 45-degree angle; so I'm still not flat belly to earth. You'll have to figure out that perfect timing for yourself. But the window for a safe deployment is between the vertical head down body position and flat belly to earth. Having said that, I would like to stress an old saying that my first jump instructor told me back at Cedar Valley, Utah in 1984. "When in doubt, whip it out!" Here's another good one he told me "Haste makes paste!" And another "Those who hesitate, inherit the earth." Here's one I picked up along the way "KNOW THY ALTTITUDE!!!" My point is this. Your jump priorities (from exit until freefall ends) are: 1. PULL 2. PULL AT A SAFE ALTITTUDE (allowing enough time for your parachute to open completely) 3. PULL STABLE IF POSSIBLE In other words, if you DON'T have enough altitude to get stable, then you must deploy unstable (as bad as that sucks, we usually get away with it...sometimes we don't). This leads to my next suggestion. DonÕt attempt your first gainer at the Perrine Bridge. Although itÕs not a low jump, itÕs not a high jump either. The best place to try your first gainer is Bridge Day or a similar object. Something you wont hit if you should have on off heading or line twist, and something high enough that you gain enough airspeed to right yourself before deploying. Here are three more safety tips: * When throwing your pilot chute, throw it strait out to the side; hard enough to stretch out the whole 9 feet of bridle. If you're deploying stable, this technique will keep your bridle and pilot chute away from your body and burble. * When you open, your #1 priority is heading * Never give up Have Fun, Don't Die! Johnny Utah My Website email:[email protected]

Every time you look at an object with some sort of altitude, you contemplate if it's jumpable...and if it is, then you wonder if it's land able. Even if it's a jump you would never do. Johnny Utah