teason

yeah, some seek to profit on their pain too. Welcome to politics. That's why it's up to us to learn from mistakes of others and to give those who have gone before a legacy of making the sport safer! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

or tell that to these people in the jump range we're talking about http://www.skydivingfatalities.info/search.asp?MinDate=12%2F14%2F1995&MaxDate=5%2F30%2F2004&Place=&State=&Country=&Category=LOWT&MinAge=17&MaxAge=78&UnknownAge=on&MinJumps=50&MaxJumps=300&UnknownJumps=on&AAD=&RSL=&Description=&DescriptionOperator=OR&Lessons=&LessonsOperator=OR I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

hold on there nathaniel, I think your missing the point bigtime. No one is suggesting that we make everyone jump Mantas til they get a "D" license. We are in the sport because we believe in taking responsibility in our own actions and managing the risks we chose to take. Those of us on this side of the ledger are suggesting moderation, Training and accurate assessment of skills when down sizing. We are pointing out that experience AND judgement are the main factors for both jumper and the instructor giving their advice here; not canopy size. That being said, the question becomes can someone with 50 to 100 realistically possess those skills in order to fly a HP canopy safely in ALL situations (bad spot, down winders, avoiding obstacles) and if so what load/shape. We all have to agree that each jumper has his limitations. I believe that is up to those with a shit load of experience to teach the jumpers coming into the sport to recognize theirs and to point out ,even to other high timers when they are exceeding them. We owe it to them because they are the future of Skydiving. Others such as Daskal feel that it is the individuals right to assess themselves on what is right for them. Although I respect the perspective, my personal opinion is that it's like letting the clown acts run the circus. How can you know what you're ready for when you don't know what it is. I believe that's where the Experienced people come in. It's not about extremes(and you have proven that point) it's about the approach we should be taking with novices. Its about understanding the consequences of our suggestions. And remember when you got a friend who REALLY REALLY REALLY wants to try your tiny canopy and REALLY REALLY REALLY promises he won't do anything stupid, It can also be about avoiding eye contact with his family at the funeral. You're not doing anyone any favors by doing them a favor. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Actually I think his first one was from the wing of a plane in WW2. If I can remember the story right, his plane was shot down and he deployed while still on the plane itself 'cause he didn't want to jump. He did an AFF in the late 90's to do it right. ...or at least I think that's how the story goes... I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

DO NOT I repeat DO NOT put your head over the other persons shoulder!!!!!!! (the riser has to go somewhere) I've done Mr. Bills with a rope attatched to the other jumper's harness. After opening I would climb down (...er... slide down) to a chunk of wood we had T-Baring at the bottom. Rope burns, Fat lips, and the new nickname of uniball.... I haven't down a Mr Bill in some years now. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

***It was okay for YOU to fly a Stilletto when you had under 200 jumps, but its "reckless" for ME to fly my Nitron with 190 jumps. The only difference between me and you is that I don't make negative hypocritical judgments about other skydivers No, I think the difference is that we've learnt for our mistakes and the mistakes of others and it seems that you believe you won't make them. You HAVE to learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make them all (and god knows some of us have tried). You also said "I don't encourage people to fly canopies they do not feel that they are ready for." What makes a novice the authority on which canopy is right for them? They are new in the sport and don't even know enough to know that they don't know! That's why there is different levels of lisencing. An "A" holder does not have the same priviledges as a "D" holder. As have to wear helmets just incase they exercise poor judgement on landing. Shouldn't canopy choice also get the same consideration? By the way, don't you need a "D" lisence to jump without a helmet? I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Been there struck that! it was 7 yrs ago and we weren't low timers, we were sitflyers. We can all F*** up, thanks for posting the shots. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Just some clarification on Canada's recognition of TSO This is from the CARS "Where a TSO is referenced as an acceptable design standard, it is intended to mean that the design standards contained with the TSO are an acceptable minimum standard and the equipment does not necessarily need to have a TSO. " And now on to my 2 cents on the legislation. An Ontario DZ recently went through a provincial inquiry. Realizing that public opinion was in favour of skydiving laws, they table some crap to please the public. The Canadian Government has no intention of truely regulating skydiving that's why they are minimal regs in place. http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/REGSERV/CARAC/CARS/cars/602e.htm#602_26 The last time there was a push to regulate Skydiving, TC instead took the safe route and over regulated Jump planes. That's all they are willing to do. The only time the CARs require you to even have a rigger pack your reserve is for a Demo (see the above link), other than that it's up to CSPA and CAPS to self regulate. The Gov WILL stay out of it, the bill is solely for political points, that's why it is so flawed!!! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I will not hesitate to encourage licensed jumpers to downsize quickly*** I've seen novice jumpers turf in at boogies under small canopies that are way beyond their skill level. Over beers that night, they'll say that an Instructor or experienced jumper recomended the canopy they're jumping because it performs so well. I use to think that must be crap, no Instructor would recomend a canopy way beyond a jumpers skill level. see... 12 years and still learning I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Haven't scraped any friends off the landing area yet, have you?*** I hate it but you're right. That's probably what it takes. Years ago a freind of mine, the most conservative jumper on the DZ, flew back from a long spot, turned low and impacted a dirt road. I was teaching a first jump course at the time knowing that they were doing compressions on him on the road. I don't know how I kept it together infront of my students but they never knew anything beyond the fact that there was an injury. The reality was we didn't know if he had survived or not. I still remember trying to imagine the force of the impact as I was looking at his kroops with the plastic shattered and covered in blood. At a small DZ, you get close to everyone who jumps, they are not just "some idiot" who did "something stupid" they are friends who you've laughed with, shared beers with, confided in. They have parents, brothers, sisters and even children who you also know. Safety becomes more important when you can see a friend's blood stain at 3000'. I'm really sorry if that's too graphic but it's nothing compared to being there. You NEVER want to be there. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Responsiveness, dive recovery characteristics, and other factors can be as or more important than a simple size/weight ratio. *** Funny you should mention that, the jumper with 70 jumps who wants a vengence 135 origionally bought a Vengence 170 when I told him I wouldn't let load heavier than 1:1. I can feel myself going grey! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Just to give you some info on the DZ, we're in Canada where the jumpers usually do about 100 jumps per year, mostly jump Saturday and Sunday and can't jump between October and April unless they can go south and sneek in 20 jumps in 10 days. It's really hard for us to be as current as those jumping in the south all year round. Small canopies don't kill, bad judgement kills. Take someone with low jump numbers, low currency, and a high wing loading.......... We can't think for a second that we can be at the same level as jumpers in the south that do hundreds of jumps per year all year round. Just fleshing it out. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Novice/Intermediate wing loadings I'm hoping someone here can either back me up or critique my opinion of a situation that happened the other day with one of my jumpers. This jumper who has 90 jumps and an exit weight of 190 - 200lbs went to another DZ and was loaned a Stilleto 150 to try out by the DZO's wife. I'm thinking that it wasn't appropriate to give someone with 90 jumps an elliptical loaded at 1.26 to 1.33(this is a higher loading than PD recommends for even Advanced jumpers!) Am I wrong in thinking this? Am I wrong in keeping the wing loadings at my DZ reasonable? Am I babying my novices/intermediates by capping their loadings at around 1:1? I have a few of novices who think I'm holding them back. Is it time to cut them loose and let them jump canopies that are too advanced or is it the other DZ who has it wrong? I would love to hear other points of view on the subject of novice wing loadings. p.s. so would one of my 170lbs jumpers with 70 jumps and a desire for a Vengence 135. Help I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

[For instance, if someone's limit was 220lbs to keep it under the 500lbs limit and a student put down on the Release of Liability 220lbs, signed it (thus is signing a contract stating that fact) but actually weighed 230, thus putting the pair over the limit. Who's at fault? Is it legally the TM's duty to check the weight against the signed contract? quote] I once took a big girl who put 230lbs on her waiver....she really weighed 280lbs and was 5'6"(I guess I knew all along but I didn't want to disappoint or embarass her. The freefall was uneventful even though she was doing a little boogie woogie underneath me. Object are more stable when they have a low center of gravity! It was like jumping with an anvil below me! The only problem came on opening. As you may know, the Racer tandem 's lower attatchment are connected to the drogue, that means it's around the TM's back. I had made an error when putting her harness on, I hadn't taken her softness into account and had stretched out the harness. On opening, the lower attachment took alot of the shock and cranked my back really bad. It also pulled me into her (and she was WIDE!!!!) spread my legs and popped my left hip out. I don't even want to talk about the landing but thank god for the Firebolt! It's not just the canopy that can take a beating when you push the limits. I have no problem takein a 240 pounder or even 250 in special circumstances but limits are there for a reason, get a scale and remember that you're not doing anyone any favors by doing someone a favor! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

**** If you try out a different main, remember that your 3 rings are made by Parachutes de france and have slightly different sizes than the RWS rings. Play it safe and use only your risers.******* I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I haven't noticed red fadining anywhere near as much as say neon orange, but I have noticed that red f11 does bleed dye into the lines. The only thing colour can really do is effect pack volume (and I only really notice that on Tandem reserves when I pack more than 1 all the same size just different colours back to back) I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Jumpshack may be able to help you out with this. I used to have a jumper with a racerwith an FXC 12000 hook up and it was just as I think you are describing. Remember; the pin spacing is generally set so that if one pin goes, the other will go at the exact same time. To do otherwise could give an uneven launch. Make sure the pin spacing is correct! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Is that underwear on his horn? What happened next? ...what happened before?!?! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Dave DeWolf has a good one on his web site. The link is http://www.paraloft.com/2003%20Riggers%20Manual.pdf It also shows a good way to place it into a molar bag. Although I must mention that you must refer to the manufacturers directions as they have final say and not all molar bags are created equal. Almost all manufacturer's websites offer the manuals online. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.