bliston

Last year I was in a similar situation and ended up on a pickup team with Robby Spencer, who got bronze at a world meet. Never having trained with a team before, I can definitely relate to how you are feeling. As tail, which is where I assume they put you, I was often last on 1. because I was learning, and 2. because tail is typically the last on anyway. Besides learning the dive pool, (learning everything by numbers and letters helped me), and doing tunnel work to improve you individual skills I suggest these things: - focus on where your clone is (the point guy if you are tail) and try to read where the next formation will build based on where he/she is moving. Just focusing on your next grips with put you behind the power curve. - think of your primary responsibility as to fly to your correct slot and your second job as actually picking up grips. Often times just getting the grips will put you of balance or out of position for your next move. - If you are off balance, after the key comes get balanced before you make you next move. It will take discipline but it is WAY faster than making a shit move immediately after the key. - Hold yourself to a specific grip and key plan (my team calls this "doing the steps"). After you are in your slot you should be picking up grips by looking at each grip you pick up and pick them up in a specific order (preferably outside in - so you are not looking in for a grip, then looking out for a grip, and then looking back for the key. Lastly, after you have all your grips, focus soley on giving your eyes to whom ever you have to and look at the specific hand that will be keying the point. If you follow this method you will spend less time fumbling for grips and get a quicker jump on the next move (assuming you know the next point and exactly what you need to do to get to your next slot. -Think about being light on grips. By lightly touch the grips you will not put your teammates off balance and also will be forced to keep your own balance. I absolutely agree with everyone who voiced that speed and jump numbers are way down the importance list of being a good teammate, but home these "mental" suggestions will help you ramp up your awareness so it's your only your speed and flying skill that hold you back. Lastly, don't be hard on yourself. Learning to be a good 4-way competitor takes many years. Give yourself credit for the little things you are doing right and build off of those. Best of luck! Ben Liston Mass Defiance Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

It is very important to make sure the risers you get are compatible with the container you have, they are not all equal. Please refer to Relative Workshop's site http://www.relativeworkshop.com/tech_risers.html for more info on the problems than can result by mixing and matching. You can't just have three rings and some type 17 and figure it's all going to work the same. The exact specifications (like the length of white loop, for example) are critical, especially on mini risers b/c they don't have the mechanical advantage that large three ring risers have. I would strongly recommend getting risers from the same company that manufactured your container regarless of what what the other "cool kids" at your dz have. In my mind the cutaway system (in terms of reliability) is one of the most crucial aspects of your gear. Don't cut corners or go for "a cheaper option" and be sure to disassemble, inspect, and clean your cables at least once a month regardless of the number of jumps (even zero) that you did. Ben Liston Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

While I agree that aquabouys are crap, organizations in some other countries might still accept them as adequate. Example: while in Australia about 4 years ago, it came in real handy to have one to do beach jumps. Is it wise to jump near water w/o adequate flotation, of course not, but that's a whole other argument akin to using the most minimally protective helmet to ride a motorcycle. In terms of finding one, I got one through a used gear website. Sunshine Factory, I think. If you need it for a specific jump in a place that accepts them as legit, and promise to get it back to me, I'll loan you mine. PM me if you are interested. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

It seems that people put to much weight into jumps numbers on a canopy. Poorly treated canopies (or canopies that are simply in tough environments such as regular beach jumps) with 500 jumps can be in worse shape than one with 3000. Exposure to the elements is a huge factor in determining wear and potential "life-span" of a canopy. This includes above mentioned items like being packed inside (avoiding sundamange and wear), but also factors like climate. If you jump in a desert environment for example, it's going to have a sandpaper effect on your gear. If you have concerns about a canopy's strength you can always get it pull tested by a rigger or the factory. If the canopy strength is okay (knowing thatZP remains ZP for it's lif) have a line set that is in good condition and trip should keep the performance of the canopy perfectly acceptable for the average jumper. ben liston Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Two quick points: 1. You can't depend on a "over the course of the year" ranking system to place teams for the simple reason that not every team even has a league in their reason (the northeast for example). Even if everyone was active in a league, how could you fairly place pick-up teams? 2. Would four classes solve all the problems? Move the pro teams to a PRO category. Have OPEN be a place where past advanced class champions and the strongest non-professional teams could still compete and have a shot at a medal (also a good place for P/C teams). Have ADVANCED be a place for trained teams who want to do the whole draw and are too experienced to be in INTERMEDIATE, which should be reserved for new teams with members who aren't ready to do the whole draw. I recognize that we have to draw the line somewhere about the number of classes we create, but maybe FS has grown and changed in ways that merit a forth class. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

In my mind a player/coach is someone who has been a professional formation skydiver and gets paid to be on a team. Again, I think it's great that this happens and don't have any problem with these teams competing in the advanced class. If somebody has been successful at the national or international level but is still paying his or her own way, then I wouldn't consider that individual to be a player coach, just a valuable teammate. I agree with you that a team can only be as fast as it's weakest link and anybody that does a 12, 15, or 17 average with or w/o a player/coach earned it and should be proud of being personally capable or that accomplishment. I guess what I was alluding to was that when all the people on the team are comparable skydivers and make, more or less, equal amounts of angle, grip discipline, mental or other mistakes throughout the season, it makes it all the sweeter when everybody steps it up and you have a great meet. I guess there is just a slightly different feeling at the end of the day when everyone on the team feels like the jump or the meet was the best they have ever done personally or as a group compared to three out of the four people feeling that way. My thoughts on this are based on personal experience. Hope this post answered your question and doesn't cause me to get burned at the stake. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

"respect to PC's, this year seemed better than most. I only counted 4 pc teams among the contenders and only 1 PC team on the podium. Surely an improvement over prior years." Agreed, I am all for the use of player/coaches - they help people vastly impove their skills and do a lot of good for 4-way in general (assisting other teams on the DZ from time to time, being visible role models for new jumpers, etc). But I agree that there's something extra sweet about getting a team of regular guys/gals together and putting up some cookin' skydives. Wish us luck getting through the snowny and icey winter! Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Thanks for the kind words, Ari and Andi. We were happy to have good plane company, too! Look forward to seeing what you guys and your repective teams get going next season. Sparks are sure to be flying... I hope teams can stay together and build on the solid scores from this year Take it easy. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Congrats to all the teams this year for solid efforts through the tough draw. As always, I was impressed with the sportsmanship and talent, especially from all the Elsinore teams. I'm already looking forward to battling it out again next year. Sorry, again, to Perris Exceed for getting the shaft. At the least, you should've been allowed to finish the meet out as a guest team; you guys were smoking the field. Be fast, Ben Liston Mass Defiance Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I ran into the situation of a rig that had a "colored in" mid flaps and in a conversation with Aggie at Sunpath. He told me that it may indeed affect the structural integrity of the fabric. He said that while it might be fine, there is no way to know what chemicals were in the type of marker that was used or what it might do to the fabric over time. The owner of the rig decided to send it sunpath and get the entire mid-flap replaced. You can check Sunpath's website for pricing. While, by itself, it may not cause problems, when sun damage, abrasion, or other things are all working together to weaken material, who knows how much of it's original strength may be lost. It's clearly not a good idea to do anything that will deteriorate material, coloring included. I guess it's ultimately up to the rigger packing the reserve for that cycle to decide (and sign off) on the system's airworthyness. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

My four-way team has the following hours booked in the Orlando Tunnel: 11:30pm (4/30) - 12:30am (5/1) 10:30am - 11:30am (5/1) 3:00pm - 4:00pm (5/1) 6:00Pm - 7:00pm (5/1) We are looking for a team or individuals to split the time evenly with - two minutes in, two out. Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested in sharing single or multiple hours. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I stand corrected. I guess Collegiates USED TO BE the cheapest meet around. Hope you make it, though. Save a dollar a day, and you'll be well on your way. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Collegiate Nationals is one of the best events you will ever participate in. I went 3 years in a row and have nothing but good things to say about it. The USPA competition manual has all the ins and outs about requirements and events. Don't worry about going down alone, there are always people to do pick up teams with if you're interested in team events. More than anything it's just a a killer party week. Additionally, the costs are cheaper than any other competition you'll every do, there is ample free coaching, and great support from the meet staff. First time competitors are welcomed and it's definately something you won't regret being a part of. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I just build one for $80 total "Castors of Oaklahoma" will sell the same wheels and casters that Casper Creepers use for $8 each. Ask for 3" diameter 7/8" wide performa wheels wheels with swivel casters. I used 1/2 birch plywood (eliminates most sanding) - from Home Depot and minicell foam padding from www.noc.com. The foam comes is many different thinknesses and you can use some of their thicker stuff to build up the front and the inside + outside of the legs. NOC sells MondoBond, a waterproof adhesive that works well. I also got some spray on polyurathane from the Depot that I put on right after I cut out the deck, so the whole thing is pretty weather proof. Happy building. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

www.digitalliquidators.com is a good source. I haven't ordered from them personally, but have a friend that swears by them. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!