steve1

Thanks for all the great information. Maybe I'll meet some of you at Perris and Elsinore. I can't wait.

Culbertson is in the NorthEast corner of the state. I'm very familiar with Superior. I used to be a timber-faller around there and have done a lot of elk hunting up Fish Creek and behind Alberton. I used to work for Jesse James of Superior. Have also talked with Mike Lapinski some. I've only been to Lost Prairie once. I've been out of the sport for a long time, and started up again last year. I used to jump with Fred Sands, Dave Tousey, and Stinkey a lot. That was about 25 years ago. I think all three live in the lost Prairie area. Dave owns the bar. Fred owns the D.Z. Used to jump with B.J. Worth before he became so famous. All of them are super people.

I live a long way away from a rigger here in Montana. At any rate my reserve needs a repack. I plan on jumping at Perris and Elsinore over Christmas. I was just wondering how long I might have to wait to get my reserve repacked if I showed up down there. I hate to wait too long and waist time I could be in the air. Also which DZ would be the best to do relative work (if you don't know anyone). I went to Perris last Christmas and love the place. The only problem was getting on a decent RW load. Two or three ways are fun but I'd hoped for something bigger. I'm still a 400 jump wonder and I don't expect to be asked on anything too big. Anyone have any suggestions?

Welcome back, I too started jumping back in the 70's. I made about 300 jumps back then and hung it up. I tried to be a good parent for about 20 years. I had to give up both rodeoing and skydiving. I'm too old to rodeo now but it sure feels great to be back skydiving again. Maybe I'm going through my second childhood or something. I'm just glad there's a sport that an old fart can still participate in. And there's nothing else like skydiving. I come home pumped up for days after making a few jumps with my friends. I don't know much about wind tunnels, but I'd like to try one sometime.

I was just wondering if anyone has tried using a ski helmet for jumping. Someone mentioned they may be too noisy because of the air vents. I was thinking of plugging these up with something. I'm getting tired of my old protec. I'd like to invest in a Z-1 but I don't think they are worth $250. In the olden days I had a motorcycle helmet and this was considered hot. Noone jumped without a helmet back then. I'd appreciate your opinions on this (using a ski helmet).

I had a couple malfunctions on my PC, back in the 70's. The first one I stood up under a 24 foot round reserve. A while later I was using a friends round reserve when I had another malfunction. I was oscillating terribly all the way down and sprained both ankles in a rock pile. There was very little control to this canopy ride. Very little forward drive into the wind. I watched Fred Sands of Lost Prairie, go through some power lines under his round reserve. He only touched one line and survived. These are the kinds of things that can happen jumping outdated stuff. I think investing in a round reserve today would be a very poor decision.

Back in the 70's I earned an SCR and SCS. I always wore these patches with pride back then. I loaned my jump suit to a friend and never got it back. At any rate I was hoping to send away and get these patches replaced. The website addresses I have tried don't seem to be up and going. Does anyone know an address for this? I have to say it feels great to be back in the sport after a 25 year lay off. I know these awards may be meaningless now but back then they meant something. I guess I'd like to have them for sentimental reasons. I've heard they pull bigger formations than that right out of the door now. Thanks for your help.