321Cya

I noticed that nobody has mentioned the position of the legs. Pulling them up underneath your ass makes a significant difference, especially with wider/freefly pants or jumpsuits. Just having the legs 'hang' creates a fair amount of drag... Doing this on long spots could give you the extra bit of distance you need! ...just my 2 cents! J. www.vandrunen.ch

Yes I am mate! And it looks like I will for quite some time as Dani and I got engaged last week. We will get married possibly next summer... J. www.vandrunen.ch

Thanks guys. A few more questions... What size is the standard memory card that comes with it? Would I need an additional lens for use as described in my first post? Does the bracket to set it up for use on the helmet comes with it? If not, what does this cost? cheers, J. www.vandrunen.ch

Hi guys, I am planning to buy my first stills camera. As I'm new to freefall 'stills' photography I would like to know what you guys think and recommend. I will not use the camera professionally (eg. Tandem), but for hobby use only (mainly freefly and BASE jumping)! I especially wonder if use for BASE jumping will or should make a big difference in the choice of camera (weight, type of lens?). I would also like to know why and if digital 'is' or 'is not' the way to go? Thanks. J. www.vandrunen.ch

The following (*found on the swooping and canopy control forum as somebody's signature) almost made me piss in my pants... a winter poem: It's fucking cold! the end. J. www.vandrunen.ch

Hmmm,...interesting thought! And how exactly could those idiots kill you or have you killed when on the load, but not on the multiple-way? J. www.vandrunen.ch

Hey Jaap, I don't see 'Gravity Rebels' on there yet... J. www.vandrunen.ch

According to Google Earth the cliffs in the Swiss Valley are heavily underhung, more like 'slopes'... ...perhaps groundlaunchable! www.vandrunen.ch

snow n. Frozen precipitation in the form of white or translucent hexagonal ice crystals that fall in soft, white flakes. A falling of snow; a snowstorm. Something resembling snow, as: The white specks on a television screen resulting from weak reception. Slang. Cocaine. Slang. Heroin. www.vandrunen.ch

Hi, Anybody knows what the weather is usually doing in the two French Gorges around early December? Snow? Windy? cheers, J. www.vandrunen.ch

First of all: Tom, thanks a lot for making this sticky! I totally agree. It as easy as using some common sense by everybody. Before you jump sqeeze empty bottles underneath your jacket, put cigarette butts back in your packet, etc. The valley is far from a remote place, just 5 mins from most landing areas you`ll find bins. Isn`t it one of the first things we learn as kids? To clean up your shit (Re: toys)! Then there is the parking area behind the Horner Pub. We use it and obviously and unfortunately `abuse` it too! This place was never meant as a packing area, it became it, and we should be more than thankful to have this place. Respect it, don`t trash it! There`s a large garbage container behind the Pub and when you don`t see it you can always leave your garbage with the girls behind the bar. They`ll be happy to bin it for you. It is as easy as that! As said before in this thread, whenever you see somebody litter tell the person. Make those people aware and maybe one day they`ll learn... www.vandrunen.ch

I would like add that this ofcourse counts for ANY site worldwide! Whatever you do in your own home is YOUR business, but whenever you are in public places/areas, the mountains, a city, the beach etc. CLEAN UP after yourself! Thanks...

Hi All, I know that the stuff I`m about to write is nothing new, but has to be said once more. This morning I was travelling on the train in the Swiss Valley together with a small group of jumpers. When the ticket controller checked our tickets he noticed that some of us were Swiss and that`s when he asked us a moment of our time to express his concern (he obviously didn`t speak english very well and never told the following to other, foreign jumpers). He said he is a member of the local moutaineering club and that lately they start to see more and more littering in the Valley on the trail inspections. Not only on the tracks and the exit points, but even on the bottom of the cliffs! They know exactly where we jump and that this litter can not be linked to regular tourists! Last week we had awesome weather and it was therefor very busy in the Valley. This is great ofcourse and it looks like most of us are taking the small self-regulatory rules into consideration. Things like not jumping the certain cliff at the moment, calling the Air Glaciers Heli rescue guys etc. But it doesn`t stop there. We are very clearly NOT doing very well in non-littering `rule`. The regular tourists are doing way better then us guys! Something NOT to be proud of. Two days ago, just after the majority of the jumpers had left again, two of my mates and fellow jumpers came over to the Valley and I showed them the place behind the Horner Pub (this is the place where most jumpers pack and hang out!). It was litterally TRASHED. Shit all over the place. It was a f**king discrace. My mates then got a garbage bag (Available FOR FREE at the Pub!) and started taking matters in own hand. Eventhough that`s great and shows their initiative, they shouldn`t have to clean up after other guys. I`m personally very fortunate to have this beautiful place as my local spot and I know that everybody who visits and jumps the place loves it. We all know that the situation is fragile here. The locals accepted us, but that doesn`t mean they would mind if the jumping here stops. Many of your fellow jumpers have put a lot of work and effort in it to have it and keep it this way. We should be greatful for that and realize this more. It means that we all have to give a little contribution to this `cause`. Taking down your empty bottle or cigarette butt, or even pick up one that has been left behind. It`s no effort really and can make a huge difference for the future of jumping in this place. The fact that a ticket controller asks us to spread this concern throughout our community says enough. YOU ARE A GUEST THERE, SO BEHAVE LIKE ONE! PS1: Tom, could you please make this sticky for a while? PS2: Could you guys please `copy and paste` this and/or write your own version on other forums around the globe!!! Cheers.

Make that T shack... Gave up on the bad habit dude

Sounds like a fresh Level II to me... Congrats on that one bro! Well done.

Interesting stuff... Anybody has any idea where and when 'modern' jumping took off in Europe? France perhaps...? J.

Anybody interested in a Mushroom jump around the 11th till 15th of July? PM me. I can only go weekdays as I will be busy in the weekends... cheerio, J.

Me too! And uhhh,...if it is the same place...then watch out for sigar smoking BASE jumpers and bikers! Give us a call mate! J. www.vandrunen.ch

Why would someone even be interested in jumping alone, rather than going up there with a couple of homeys...?!? He must have had a very important meeting to attend that evening J. www.vandrunen.ch

In an early stage of my skydiving career I took my parents out to the DZ and they saw it was no bunch of 'luni's', but actually quite organized and professional, so they took it all very well. At some point my dad even did a tandem in France on a summer holiday. Then, a few years into it, they were visiting me while I was staying in Florida for a while and then I had my first and only accident (swooping the terrace, ending up in a bench ) right in front of their eyes. This is something you don't want to happen! Anyway, eversince my mum is freaked out about it! Later on I started BASE jumping and I never made a secret of it. Now my mum has sleepsless nights and doesn't want to hear about it, nor see it. My dad says the same (but I know he likes it, he simply can't say that in front of my mum...). He proudly says to his friends what I do and even asks me to show his friends my videos. Whatever the reaction might be, I think it's best to be honest no matter what. They might even be more hurt when they find out when it's too late. They ARE your parents! Joris. www.vandrunen.ch

I work here...(see picture) I do abseiling and inspection here and I can tell you that it's very frustrating looking at this beautiful flare stack every day. Fortunately that's only 2 weeks a month, which gives me 2 free weeks left to play... J. www.vandrunen.ch

Sorry to hear about this. My heart goes out to his family and everyone at Skydive DeLand. I met Gus in the several months that I've spent at Skydive DeLand and spoke to him a few times. I remember one time he came up to me after landing telling me his concern and giving me some usefull advice about my actions on that approach which left me a bit stunned. Then he gave me a tap on the shoulder and said: 'Don't worry my friend, we've all been there'. He was a great guy and will be missed. Joris

Couple more 'snowy' ones... greetz from Switzerland! J.

If you pass by Bern I'll take one!

or maybe... 'Senior' Core Crew! www.vandrunen.ch