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That suit isn't doing you any favors... if you need to keep using it, don't use the swoop chords. The beginning of the teaser video in the NSL article below might be helpful to you. A donation of $20 will get you an electronic copy of the whole instruction video. http://www.skyleague.com/pages/news/showArticles.php?story=1414 Note particularly placement of your arms (elbows slightly in front of and slighly below your shoulders, hands about six inches apart and in front of your chin). Happy flying. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Quicktime and iPod/iPhone versions now available for download. Contact me by PM or email (and be sure to include your valid email address, home DZ, and your full name) for NSL donation instructions and the download access instructions. Your donation gives you accesses to both electronic versions. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Quicktime and iPod/iPhone versions now available for download. Contact me by PM or email (and be sure to include your valid email address, home DZ, and your full name) for NSL donation instructions and the download access instructions. Your donation gives you accesses to both electronic versions. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

As a jumper that worked as a packer and videographer through college, I've got to refute the idea that you need a new full camera setup, two rigs, multiple suits, and your own packer... I would suggest working as a packer, buying a used camera helmet with a used standard def video camera, and (assuming you have enough experience to fly video), start developing your camera flyer skills. Before you know it, you'll be able to get you slot covered by fun jumpers who want video. After you're competent with that, you can pony up for a still camera and maybe a new helmet to hold everything and start getting paid for your work. B Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Thanks, everyone, for your interest. This has been a great fun raiser for a great cause. We all benefit from the NSL leagues and the work Kurt puts into the leagues and the new articles on the NSL website (http://www.skyleague.com). I hope folks that are making donations for the DVDs can continue to make donations annually. One of my Dallas Rogue teammates will send out the DVDs sometime this week to folks within the US that got their requests to me before I ran out of copies. Since I'm way over budget on this pro bono project (cost of blank DVDs, packaging, and postage has added up) I'm going to switch to electronic versions. I am in the process of uploading a 320x240 .m4v iPod/iPhone version that has chapter marks that can be used as you play the video, and a 480x360 Quicktime version that has a higher frame rate along with being higher res. The both videos will be able to be downloaded from yousendit.com when I send you the access code via email. The donation cost to the NSL will be the same and will include access to both versions: $20 for individual use, $50 for people using it for coaching, and a collective $50 for 4-way teams (12.25/person). There'll of course be no mailing or other fees. If you'd like one - send an email to me at ben"at"MassDefiance"dot"org with your valid email address, your complete name, and please hold off on making your donation until after you actually get the file. The Quicktime version should be able to be used on PCs or Macs, and the .m4v version should be ready to load right onto iPhones or iPods with video capability. Folks might need to find ways to convert it to other formats, or I might be able to make it available in some other format if the need arises. Even if you've contacted me earlier - please send me your COMPLETE NAME and CURRENT EMAIL to make sure your on the list. Assuming I don't have a problem uploading it, the 25 folks and teams that are getting DVD version can have an electronic version for free after I see their NSL donations go through. I hope to have this all sorted out by Thursday or Friday. It looks like with my slow Guatemala internet, it's going to take about 24 hours for each file upload. If we get any power surges or power outages, I'll have to start over, so please bear with me. Thanks for your interest and your donations to NSL! Blues, Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Thanks, everyone, for your interest. This has been a great fun raiser for a great cause. We all benefit from the NSL leagues and the work Kurt puts into the leagues and the new articles on the NSL website (http://www.skyleague.com). I hope folks that are making donations for the DVDs can continue to make donations annually. One of my Dallas Rogue teammates will send out the DVDs sometime this week to folks within the US that got their requests to me before I ran out of copies. Since I'm way over budget on this pro bono project (cost of blank DVDs, packaging, and postage has added up) I'm going to switch to electronic versions. I am in the process of uploading a 320x240 .m4v iPod/iPhone version that has chapter marks that can be used as you play the video, and a 480x360 Quicktime version that has a higher frame rate along with being higher res. The both videos will be able to be downloaded from yousendit.com when I send you the access code via email. The donation cost to the NSL will be the same and will include access to both versions: $20 for individual use, $50 for people using it for coaching, and a collective $50 for 4-way teams (12.25/person). There'll of course be no mailing or other fees. If you'd like one - send an email to me at ben"at"MassDefiance"dot"org with your valid email address, your complete name, and please hold off on making your donation until after you actually get the file. The Quicktime version should be able to be used on PCs or Macs, and the .m4v version should be ready to load right onto iPhones or iPods with video capability. Folks might need to find ways to convert it to other formats, or I might be able to make it available in some other format if the need arises. Even if you've contacted me earlier - please send me your COMPLETE NAME and CURRENT EMAIL to make sure your on the list. Assuming I don't have a problem uploading it, the 25 folks and teams that are getting DVD version can have an electronic version for free after I see their NSL donations go through. I hope to have this all sorted out by Thursday or Friday. It looks like with my slow Guatemala internet, it's going to take about 24 hours for each file upload. If we get any power surges or power outages, I'll have to start over, so please bear with me. Thanks for your interest and your donations to NSL! Blues, Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I'm all out of DVDs. I couldn't get this post to go through this morning, sorry to those who have made requests this afternoon hoping to get one. I may do a second run if there is enough interest, but I'm out of blank DVD's and mailing materials for now and won't have time to get more before I return to the states this week. Email me with your complete name and address if you want to be on the wait list for one - and if I can get more out next week, I will. By giving me your name and address, I'm considering that you are committing to making an NSL donation of $20 if you're using it for personal use, $50 if it's for paid coaching work, or $50 per 4-way team (splitting the cost 4 ways with permission to make three copies) if I'm able to get one to you. Please send me your email address to, so I can contact you if I'm able to send out more at a later date. Thanks for the interest, sorry I don't have more copies available right now. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I'm all out of DVDs. I couldn't get this post to go through this morning, sorry to those who have made requests this afternoon hoping to get one. I may do a second run if there is enough interest, but I'm out of blank DVD's and mailing materials for now and won't have time to get more before I return to the states this week. Email me with your complete name and address if you want to be on the wait list for one - and if I can get more out next week, I will. By giving me your name and address, I'm considering that you are committing to making an NSL donation of $20 if you're using it for personal use, $50 if it's for paid coaching work, or $50 per 4-way team (splitting the cost 4 ways with permission to make three copies) if I'm able to get one to you. Please send me your email address to, so I can contact you if I'm able to send out more at a later date. Thanks for the interest, sorry I don't have more copies available right now. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I have six copies of the DVD that aren't spoken for. No promises for a second batch. First come first serve... Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I have six copies of the DVD that aren't spoken for. No promises for a second batch. First come first serve... Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

If you have any of the items for in the title for sale or trade, please contact me by PM. Thanks, Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I have a tunnel training DVD that I've decided to share with the public. My team members and I use it for coaching work that we do. It's far from perfect, but does provide high and low video angles and verbal descriptions of how to do both individual movements and all a bunch of drills. It certainly doesn't encompass everything, but it's a good tool to have especially if used with the Airspeed mind maps, or the Airspeed and Golden Knights Block technique DVDs. The DVD covers individual body position and movement, tons of two way drills, two way block technique, and includes some 4-way video. The first 40 minutes of drills and instruction are from SkyVenture NH, and I included about 15 minutes of footage from Mass Defiance 4-way training in Eloy (which I think has all the randoms and every block but Snow/Offset), just so folks that have never seen some of the blocks have something to work off of. I'm not going to describe all the drills, but here are the individual chapters: Basic Body Position Balance Drill Fall Rate Control Turning 90, 180, 270, 360, 540 Drill Side Slides Forward/Backward Movement Forward/Backward w/ Grips Box Drill Superpositioning Carving Stability Drill Speed Grip Drill Turning Grip Drill 360 Madness Drill Cat-pole two way drill Cheese Grader (Cat/Compressed Super-positioning) Side Slide burble hops Sidebody to Sidebody hops Cat to Cat hops X-Drill hops (open to phalanx) Block 7 7/9 drill block 8 piece work block 16 piece work block 19 piece work block 21 pieces block 21 center work 4-way tunnel flying (Mass Defiance in Eloy) +/- 15 min. (all blocks, minus 1) Knee flying I'm willing to cover the cost of the DVD and the shipping and will send it to any US address (int'l shipments will have a fee) for "free." I am asking though, for anyone who wants one to make a donation to the NSL to support the work that Kurt Gabel does. The minimum donation will be $20 for folks using the DVD for individual use and $50 for anyone using it for coaching/instructional use. Along with the donation to the NSL, I'm asking for a promise not to reproduce it without permission, just ask anyone who wants a copy to contact me. Bad karma and competition brain locks & funnels to anyone who copies it. Send me a PM or email me at Ben(at)MassDefiance(dot)org if you're interested in receiving a copy. I'll need a mailing address and will send you the link to make the donation. If you want it this month (since I live out of the country and will be returning next weekend), send me your info by 10AM EST this Thursday. Copies will be shipped via US mail. Thanks, Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I have a tunnel training DVD that I've decided to share with the public. My team members and I use it for coaching work that we do. It's far from perfect, but does provide high and low video angles and verbal descriptions of how to do both individual movements and all a bunch of drills. It certainly doesn't encompass everything, but it's a good tool to have especially if used with the Airspeed mind maps, or the Airspeed and Golden Knights Block technique DVDs. The DVD covers individual body position and movement, tons of two way drills, two way block technique, and includes some 4-way video. The first 40 minutes of drills and instruction are from SkyVenture NH, and I included about 15 minutes of footage from Mass Defiance 4-way training in Eloy (which I think has all the randoms and every block but Snow/Offset), just so folks that have never seen some of the blocks have something to work off of. I'm not going to describe all the drills, but here are the individual chapters: Basic Body Position Balance Drill Fall Rate Control Turning 90, 180, 270, 360, 540 Drill Side Slides Forward/Backward Movement Forward/Backward w/ Grips Box Drill Superpositioning Carving Stability Drill Speed Grip Drill Turning Grip Drill 360 Madness Drill Cat-pole two way drill Cheese Grader (Cat/Compressed Super-positioning) Side Slide burble hops Sidebody to Sidebody hops Cat to Cat hops X-Drill hops (open to phalanx) Block 7 7/9 drill block 8 piece work block 16 piece work block 19 piece work block 21 pieces block 21 center work 4-way tunnel flying (Mass Defiance in Eloy) +/- 15 min. (all blocks, minus 1) Knee flying I'm willing to cover the cost of the DVD and the shipping and will send it to any US address (int'l shipments will have a fee) for "free." I am asking though, for anyone who wants one to make a donation to the NSL to support the work that Kurt Gabel does. The minimum donation will be $20 for folks using the DVD for individual use and $50 for anyone using it for coaching/instructional use. Along with the donation to the NSL, I'm asking for a promise not to reproduce it without permission, just ask anyone who wants a copy to contact me. Bad karma and competition brain locks & funnels to anyone who copies it. Send me a PM or email me at Ben(at)MassDefiance(dot)org if you're interested in receiving a copy. I'll need a mailing address and will send you the link to make the donation. If you want it this month (since I live out of the country and will be returning next weekend), send me your info by 10AM EST this Thursday. Copies will be shipped via US mail. Thanks, Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

You can also get replacement plugs directly from the manufacturer and just connect like colors to like colors... I had to replace a plug a few years ago. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I put together a DVD to aid with tunnel coaching that I do. The footage is from SkyVenture New Hampshire, and utilizes both upper and lower video angles, as well as verbal directions for all types of individual movements - turning sliding forward/back, superpositioning, up/down, carving, etc. It also includes tons of two ways movement, grip, and turning drills, 8 or 9 more advanced vertical transition drills, as well as piece turning and block drills. There's a bunch of 4-way tunnel footage at the end that shows all the randoms and blocks. The whole thing is about 45 minutes or so and each drill is titled and chaptered so it's easy to navigate. I can mail you a copy next time I'm in the states, and just might ask you to make a $20 donation to Kurt at skyleague.com to help him keep his website and management of the National Skydiving League going. Contact me via PM if you're interested. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

We'll also be jumping on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri (maybe Wed, too if other days get weathered out). So anyone that would like to do some weekday jumping, come on out, the plane will be flying. ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Different rigs need different size safety stows - UPT has two different sizes depending on the container size, quasars are longer if I remember correctly. Sunpath states in bold that you have to use THEIR factory safety stows... which are almost identical in size to UPT larger ones. While I am not a fan a racers, the rubber band option (even on rigs that came with safety stows but have sewn loops behind the free-bag grommet) is a nice option to have. Sucks to have to buy them, especially when some are $10 plus a pop...Definitely have come across some that were tattered... Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I bought a Kodak v705 from Lazlo (he did the switch mod), and tried it this weekend. It's doesn't get a high volume of shots per jump, but the still camera has a 23mm ultra wide lens, the camera weighs just 4 ounces, and is very snag free. Here's a couple of low res versions of shots I took this weekend. I'm just getting back into video after about a 10 year layoff. I used to fly a big SLR and a heavy High 8 camera and I'm loving being about to shoot video and stills with a setup that weighs less than 3 1/2 pounds. If you don't need to take a ton of shots the v705 might be a good option... Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I'd disagree. If you can buy one thing new, buy a container that fits you properly and get all the other components used. A 10 or 15 year old PD reserve will be just a safe as a brand new one - they haven't changed the design. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

My reserve pilot chute was wobbling, so I re-closed mine with a shorter loop - the exposed loop (from the center hole of the cypres washer to the tip) for the final one I was used was 12mm. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Converted Skysystems Mohawk helmet... originally made for a top lens and a belly mount high 8. Fits a HC21 and a Kodak V705 ultra wide point and shoot. I drill out the side of the helmet for the hype-eye mini and can dub with the camera still in there. Camera mount is alluminum, and I used closed sell foam and gaffers to minimize snag hazards. The still mount can come off by peeling of two strips of gaffers and unscrewing two phillips head bolts. It weights 3.5 pounds with the cameras. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

A client will be traveling to Texas this week and would like to get a Sigma updated with the new Skyhook lanyard and reserve staging loop. He has the kit in hand. He'll be traveling to either Dallas or Houston (unknown at this point). If anyone has names and contact info for Master Riggers who could do this work in BOTH Dallas and Houston area DZs please post or send me a PM. Thanks, Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I've done some flying with this group and they are great guys (in the air and on the ground). This team has the awesome short term and long term potential... This is an very good opportunity for someone. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

Yes - I should have chosen my words more carefully. By "outside" I meant away from the closing loop. Certainly not outside the freebag. You know how to you fill the ears a bit more to make javelins look good? By pushing the material towards the sides of the freebag (away from the middle) so the PC can sink in and fit flush? That's basically what I did, but had even less at the top of the ears and above where the closing loop goes (so that the little extra bulk of the skyhook assembly had a place to go and the rig would fit softly over my shoulders. I think the Argus is a little bit smaller than a cypres2 so that might have helped. I don't have a bulge into the main container (as evidenced by the fact that a VE96 with a big logo fits nice in there). The packing video from UPT that came with an earlier rig I got from them what helpful to me. You might want to check that out. Let me clarify about the folds that I make. I line the center of the tail up with the brakeline attachment points in my packjob. I do a standard s-fold (not the kind where you do the first fold and then encase it with the tail material). After I have make my second fold, part of the warning label is buried inside the fold and maybe half of it is visable right before I put the canopy in the free-bag. I don't think it's important what kind of folding method is used - I just wanted to explain it enough to convey how much of the canopy was folded and how much I left in the ears. For the ears, I use the UPT recommended trick of compressing the material towards the folds and then letting it expand into the upper corners of the freebag. Then I use a packing paddle to gently work the material to the sides. While putting the freebag into the container - I work to make sure that I'm filling the corners of the reserve tray. For more info refer to UPT's packing video that I think is a quicktime movie in there CD-ROM manual. Hope this is helpful. Ben Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!

I just assembled my new V304 with an Optimum 113 and a Velo 96. I think it looks and feels great. Here are some pictures. I took my time keeping all as much material as possible to the outside of the freebag as I closed the container and actually could shorten the loop by at least a 1/4 inch - I didn't need to pound on it at all. I closed it by hand without a tension devise. I didn't measure the length before I closed it, but the side view shot shows it's not excessively long and the pack job isn't bulging in the middle. I made the reserve s folds big. The last two pictures show me pushing my thumb into the main and reserve, it's not a brick. Hope this is helpful. Ben edit to add: I've got an argus in there, the new reserve staging loop, a skyhook, the bulkier louie loop main risers, and my 96 has a full span PD logo that certainly makes it pack bigger. Mass Defiance 4-wayFS website sticks!