elfanie

AH! I just experienced brainlock. I was reading "high speed malfunction" and "low speed malfunction"... not total or partial. gotcha. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Ah...but I'm not a student. Ayup...my point exactly. Just talked with a 9000+ jump JM about this yesterday - and he feels that all mals should be dealt with by cutaway-pull reserve... my point was just that opinions differ. (although I really thought that the only controversy was with a PC in tow..not all high speed malfunctions. So some beleive that with baglock you shouldn't cutaway first?) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Not according to what I was taught. I was taught, "Regardless of the malfunction...look red, grab red, look silver, pull red, pull silver." Period. I was told ALWAYS to cut before pulling reserve. (ONLY exemption is an out of sequence deployment, where you pull the PC out before beginning EP's).. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Heh... some of the bigger JMs went with him...including the DZO (who is...well...to say he's good is a definate understatement). They kept up..and were belly down...but started to not keep up as well towards the end when he started sinking out on them a little (they were still with him...but he started kicking a little which increased his speed just enough that he was going to start sinking out)...but other than that, they kept up with him pretty well. I'm sure he'll share his video with everyone as soon as he gets it on the computer. 176 belly-down...can you imagine? -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

He did great...and he's such a fun guy. (He gives the best hugs. ) As for the camera flyer...hee hee. He went into a sit (you see his foot for half a second on the video, I beleive) and went feet-first. He was able to keep up with them very well, though...(but didn't get in as close as some might..he did give them a little space). Good job, Alphamale! And can't wait to see you back out at the DZ...and completing your AFF! -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I know that this isn't going to be very helpful or constructive...but did want to share that my husband (also considered a "big boy", although getting smaller all of the time) is getting a brand new custom made container for that very reason. In fact, he ended up with a chest strap burn on his chin from getting wacked in the face by his chest strap. I'll be reading this thread with peaked interest... (oh, and he checked his leg straps and noticed no slippage/loosening once on the ground...) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I think that there are times when messing with nature is bad bad bad.. and there are times when I think messing with nature is good good good. Blowing ourselves up = bad curing diseases = good As for global warming...I do not feel educated enough to make a strong opinion one way or the other. If someone could prove to me that what we are doing will have a negative impact...then I vote for "bad humans". However..it's possible that what we are doing will not have negative long term effects and that changing things could actually make it worse..in which case I'd vote "good humans". but as it is..I don't feel that I know enough to form a strong opinion one way or the other.. I've seen where human interferance causes more problems than it helps (such as childbirth - my field of work)..and I've seen where it helped more than causes problems (even in childbirth - my field of work) so I know it can go both ways.. just don't know which way we're swinging on this particular issue. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Of course not. But if it happened...it would be nature. I also don't want an asteroid to pulverize our planet...but if it did, that's nature at work. I also don't want a disease killing 99% of the population..but if it did... Just because something is 'nature' or 'natural' isn't the same as being "good" or "desirable"... I think you misunderstand my statement.. I'm not talking about evolution of humans.. I'm talking about evolution of the world and nature. Evolution continues..it's just guided evolution.. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

He does work at the DZ

I agree with everyone else that there are several factors....DZ attitude, where my friends jump, nice plane, etc. but one of our motivating factors wasn't listed (probably because we are the exception, not the rule)... we go where it's most kid-friendly. At our DZ they have a kids play area - there's usually someone available to watch them while we jump - they can fly kites and ride bikes outside - it is clean (as far as it's a PG dropzone, not an R dropzone, if you know what I mean)... The one thing that has kept us from jumping at the nearby DZ's is the kid-factor. (although we're thinking about jumping Buckeye in just a couple of weeks...I want to get #100 down in Coolidge first, and that should happen - if the weather holds up - next weekend) So for me...a BIGGIE is "family friendly"... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

we have gliders at our DZ (got a tandem glider ride for Valentines day...fun!).. however, I dont know that I'm the best person to tell you how we deal with the...just to say that I've not see it be an issue.. we know they are there, they know we are there...we look out for each other...(and part of spotting does include "where are the gliders?") I think someone who works at the DZ would be a better person to answer you... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

How are the environmentalists trying to "fight nature" by attempting to prevent humans from altering our atmosphere? Humans are part of nature.. if we do something, it's no different than any other animal doing it. If the cows fart enough to cause a problem - that is nature. Humans are part of the evolutionary path - and only time will tell if we will last or not...but we are part of nature and evolution of this planet. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

That is absolutely true. . .Like I said earlier, I absolutely know that because I like myself more and am a much happier person, other people treat me differently now. It is all in the attitude. . .my smile and friendliness is radiated out to others. . .my confidence in myself shows in that attitude. . . I have changed very little.. I was a go-getter and a social butterfly BEFORE I lost the weight.. and I'm the same way now. The interesting thing to note is not how my friends treat me (which are mostly the same)...but how strangers treat me, which is vastly different. I did lose one friend in the deal..one of my best friends. She's slightly larger..and as soon as I got smaller than she was, our relationship changed. Those involved comment about her having a problem with me losing weight...*shrug* But I haven't changed that much...I'm pretty much the way that I always was.. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

AAAHHHH.... don't say this!!! I jump coolidge..and that's one thing I'm terrified off...is the summer out there! with snakes...and scorpions..and terantulas...and..and...MORE SNAKES!! I am SO SO SO not looking forward to running into rattlesnakes out there.. and ohmygod..you got bit by one??? *shudders and looks faint* -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Ah...I did find this thread, finally.. clickity doo da I just must not be as good at finding them as Ivan is or something... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I don't THINK this has been discussed...at least not recently.... *grins@ivan* What is your nickname...and how did you get it/what does it mean? (either in RL...or here at DZ.com) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

*tries to think of something to say* I...umm..err...heh..... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

oh..and forgot to mention the nick...it's actually "Elfanie"...pronounced "elf uh knee"... My real name is Stephanie. 15 years ago I was dressed up for halloween and someone said I looked "just like a little elf"...someone else, as a take off of my name, said, "a little ELFanie..." heh...it stuck. (so no, i'ts not "el-fannie"...it's ELFanie...or just plain 'elf' for short. *grin*) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

*laugh* Not quite... I didn't skydive until I hit my goal weight (-200 lbs). I never had any intention to skydive in my life... went to cancun with my sister to celebrate my goal weight...and she double dog dared me to jump. she's my big sister, and she dared me, and she jumped...what could I do??? I had no choice!! then I got hooked.. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Even that doesn't have a simple answer for me... If I started jumping before the Cypres was invented, I probably would have jumped without a cypres. However, knowing that they are an option, an added level of safety, I wouldn't jump without one now.... why? Not because I want to do crazier things and therefore want a cypres....but because since it is an option, I see no benefit to NOT having one, and many benefits to having one. I'm trying to increase my safety - not increase the level of stupid things I can do. Until my cypres was installed in my new rig...I jumped rentals. (with a cypres) Why increase my risk unnecessarily? that's what doesn't make sense to me... if there is even a .00005 % chance that I could be knocked unconscious and still be alive because my cypres kicked, then why NOT have one? I just don't understand the benefit of forgoing anything that makes this sport safer... -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

since I talked to both of you in PMs previously about weight loss...and since ya'll both posted your before/after pictures...it's not TOO tacky for me to post mine, right? *cheesy grin* Amazing what 200 pounds will do on a 5'2" frame. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

I'm right there with you...taking ASL2 right now. awwww... I'd LOVE one of these shirts!! Especially since my ASL teacher said that she wanted to do a tandem, but has been waffling ever since on the date. Where could I buy one of these shirts?? (I have to fight to keep myself from typing "I want shirt that - my ASL teacher she tell-me she want skydive. I ask when, she tell-me 'busy..feb busy...march busy..'. I tell-her, "You scared - skydive this year?" she funny.) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

When spring hits and most people up north are dusting off their rigs....what is jumping in AZ like? I started jumping at the end of September...so I haven't gone through a summer as a jumper yet. Do most AZers travel to jump - like Perris or Elsinore? Or are the DZ's here still pretty hoppin' throughout the summer? What are summer's in AZ like at different DZ's? (Eloy, Buckeye, Coolidge..) -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

First time I jumped...I had no desire to skydive. I did it because I'm competative, and if my sister could do it then there was no way *I* could chicken out!! Then I did it. And loved it. So I scheduled a 2nd tandem with a friend...we went, and I did my 2nd and 3rd tandem same day. And that was it...I scheduled ASP and paid for the entire thing at once, and went through the course..and haven't looked back since. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings

Either lace bikini.. or boyshorts. no thong...uh uh...horribly uncomfortable on me. No grannie panties...one time of my husband saying, "those underwear remind me of what my mother wears" was enough for me to turn to hot pink lacey thingies. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings