skyjuggler

I beieve it is irresponsible. Someone else might not. Everyone has different ideas. I state my opinion, but am not responisble for anyone else's. Their choice is their responsibility. As is it your choice not to jump with someone who is high if you so choose. Read my other posts. Regarding saftey in the sky, I believe there to be other important factors other than solely if someone is high. Also, I like the relaxed feeling I get from jumping and don't want to get it artificially. I want to be responsible for me. Chris has obviously pointed out the legal implications. I guess mine is moral stand point. I also happen to believe that some skydivers are quite capable of jumping stoned. So many factors to mention. Tolerance, effect on an individual not to mention ability. Once again, i do not think or ever have stated that there is a link between being good and being high, just that some people who are very good do jump high or have done. Only my experience and perception. So I definately stand by the quote below, despite it being potentially to the detriment of my own reputation.

Okay, see below. Undoubtedly your experiences with the Fire Department can not be argued with. And no doubt you are very passionate about your experiences as I sure you have seen some incrediblely irresponsible acts. In Skydiving we all know people have different goals, hurdles, battles. For example some people are scared for 100's of jumps, where as others may be forunate to not be so scared after 5 jumps whilst obviously respecting the sport. My point is there are different experiences, not to mention abilities in this sport. I would like to say that being good doesn't mean you can or do jump stoned. To say there is a link between being wasted and reactions / behaviour, I totally agree. To blanket everyone with the same brush and say jumping stoned may lead to acidients, well I don't think that can be said. However the ironic thing is, I agree with you, jumping high is not a smart move in my humble opinion. I don't do it, nor do I like it, but for sure some jumpers do. I'm not going to stop jumping with someone just because they smoke a joint. I think there are more important credientials to it than that.

I thoguht about not posting anything but I will. I happen to agree with your following statement: For sure you are right. But people do this stuff without being high. Also you obviously are very passionate about your views, and after having read some of your posts over the last few years, I think you like to help people and share your views and I would not say you preach. But come one, bullying people with comments like that with comments such as having an eye out and not welcome on your plane, is that going to help anyones views on the topic. World Champions have and will and have jumped high not only on grass but a shit load of other harder stuff. I will continue to jump with people who may be high, but not because of their toxicity status but because they are bloody good jumpers. I do not wish to jump drunk or stoned because as I have mentioned previously I think it is irresponsible and I have no right to endanger others from the effects. But, the sad fact is, sober stupid or unfortunate actions also result in terrible events. Just my 2 cents, hope you can respect that.

Okay yes its a troll but.... One of the things I hate about these forums is that when people share their opinions, and they dare to differ from others, occasionally they get a bit of abuse. Some good points have been made, and subsequently ridiculed. However, I could not live with myself if I hurt someone else from being high, stoned, loaded etc... Therefore I am against jumping high at this current moment in time, perhaps I will change my opinions, but I don't go around preaching this fact. Undoubtedly senses tend to be effected by stimulant abuse but there are some interesting points. Unless you have lived under a stone, there are plenty of people who jump regularly or have once, jumped under the influence. It happens. Also some of these people are amazing in the sky, not because they are stoned, but because they are bloody good. A comment was made that some people jumping under the influence would fly the arse off those posting here, I agree, I can think of a few. More importantly, I am more scared of jumping with some people who reckon they can do everything and whose personalities are more dangerous than the effects of dope. Once again, I do not agree with jumping 'high' (excuse the pun), but would more worry about the standard, and skills of the person. So instead of jumping on people, how about sharing opinions and comments, acknowledging the experiences of others. Might learn something I guess Also, I am very sad for responding to a troll. Bravest Dog is quite funny though. Gives me a smil when I see a thread started by him / her!

Web site never worked when I ordered it. But I have the email if you want it. The dude Claudio was very helpful and is the sales guy as the guy who actually makes the helmets only speaks Portugese. Get one, they rock! Really comfortable and fits like a glove.

Often logic goes out the window for insurance companies. Basically there are two terms used to describe the state of the insurance market, a 'hard' market and a 'soft' market. In a hard market premiums increase and conditions for insurance become worse. In a soft market, premiums are lower and underwriters / insurers give better rates and more favourable conditions. Even if no one has claimed, rates may still increase, although a cliams history is an important factor. Why does this happen? Well Insurers don't like to loose money. So the deal is, when they start making losses premiums go up so they can recoup their cash. Insurers also get insurance themselves, called retro or reinsurance, and so the rates are bascially decided on what the market decides to charge. Since 9/11 insurers have been hit hard, they have also lost alot of money from the demise of the world econamy, notably their investments in the stock market. This means you and I have to pay more. Insurance is a funny thing, more of a secret club where people look after each other quiet alot. So don't try to apply logic, they just do what they want. Sucks hey.

I went for a RAWA helmet from BRazil. They make custom sized helmets for you, and they are hand crafted pieces of art. They come with a flat top, and have the option of a box on the left side of the helmet. I got mine without the box so I could do my own mount. Price without the box is around $250 or something like that. It was made within the week and shipped over to me. Oh they have 2 audible mounts inside. The only problem with bonehead helmets are they make one size shell and then fit different liners to adjust the size. I also liked the Haweye helmet. But when I saw a Rawa, and found out they do custom fittings, that was it for me. My choice, the RAWA.

I think the tunnel or tunnels are going to be very successful here in the UK. As for how many jumpers there are in the UK, I don't think that is too important. I am English but have been to the tunnel in Orlando a few times. Other teams travel around the world just to train in it. I believe 4-way teams see it as an essential tool for training. Europeans at the moment have to make a move to the states or Paris to get in the tunnel, and from reports, I hear that the Paris tunnel is not as organised as Skyventure and offers different conditions. Also, I am English but I do not jump in the UK very much. Yes I am a fair weather jumper, and jump in Spain or the US instead. There are others alot like me. The weather sucks here for jumping year round, but I believe the UK tunnel with recirculate the air so can operate when it is raining. Indeed the cooler air will help aswell, as my tunnel time was at 11pm - 2am so we could fly in the faster, cooler air. Another big positive in my eyes is that people will be able to hold down normal jobs and skydive their arses off. I gave my job up to skydive, but having a tunnel in the UK would mean I could fly as much as I could afford and then do the real thing in my holiday time. To jump alot IMHO you have to live close to a busy DZ, work in the sport or have a job that gives you lots of time off to spend the hard earned cash! I have also heard some people saying that the tunnel will be bad for the UK DZ's. I think the opposite. I think it will allow more people to experience freefall in some description, allow experienced jumpers to train and get better so pushing the sport's level, and so lead to busier DZ's around the country when the weather is good! Look at Perris, they have one in their car park, and it is attracting loads of business. I also think it is worth pointing out that the tunnel is not skydiving. I still enjoy jumping out of a plane, and of course you can not track or work in angles in the tunnel. But I love it for what it is, a vertical column which helps my skills no end. As for the competing tunnels, point taken. When there is one all is good for that tunnel. Monopoly helps! But competition is good for us the customer. It will keep them both on their toes and hopefully get us better value for money and make them work as efficiently as possible. What I would like is the security of a normal job, but with time to jump, jump, jump and train in the tunnel! At least I can have a job and train in the tunnel if they open tunnels here in the UK. I bet there are others like me too. Just my 2 cents.

Brian, For me, having my Samurai made at the PD factory was a really important factor in the purchase of my canopy. I think this is a really positive aspect to your company. I had heard alot about the Jedi and then researched the Samurai, but having PD manufacture it made my mind up. I like the idea of having an excellently designed canopy, but made with the quality control standards of PD.

The jumps the photos demonstrate are really difficult to do and I am sure that not everyone can do them. Ippo and Alex did over 1000 tracking jumps together I believe to get better. They do some very hard stuff. The group jump from the X-Fest is also very difficult, they are flying their slots, nearly all on head level and in the angle which the leader has chosen. I am sure people are taught to de arch when tracking, but as everyone knows, often what they think they are doing in the sky is not always the case, hence the use of video and coaching to pass on advice. I feel a little persecuted here. If anyone else would like to help out great, or perhaps I am a truely on my own in my views!!!! Once again, I am sure that there are great belly flyers who track like demons, just in my experience I don't see the flat dudes working on stuff like in the photos.

*** You are full of it in this statement. The reason those guys are belly down in that pic is likely because the lead flyer (on his back) is giving a poor lead by having too much vertical and not enough horizontal speed. Quote Full of what? Either my english is poor or you are looking for something to be aggrieved about and have picked up on something which I communicated very badly. I am not bashing flatflyers, nor do I doubt the need for excellent separation on big ways. The purpose of the thread was to converse with others, share experiences and see what others think. Nor do I state weather the photo from danwayland is of jumpers from either persuasion. How do I know what disciplines they do, I think I left my crystal ball in the cupboard. It's just a nice shot depicting someone’s tracking jump. Tracking obviously means alot to different people. However anyone can open the throttle on a motorbike in a straight and go fast but it takes alot of skill and experience to handle a bike and ride corners well. I think if people take the time and effort to explore something in skydiving normally they get good at it. Practicing by just going straight at break off can hardly be as good as a full jump which will be different every time. You even state "specializes in big way belly jumps", well the flyers I know who tend to specialise in tracking jumps are freeflyers. Once again, not bashing flat flyers just explaining my experiences. And I am sure many jumpers do both flat and free, and cross over, and good flyers exist in both disciplines, and a good skydiver is a good skydiver despite their chosen discipline......do I need a waiver to cover my personal views or am I still full of it? "Usually since it's slowed down to maintain proximity." Hence you can fly faster and closer most likely if you are a 'better tracker' and do more. i.e. Like the photos of Aria and the X-Fest demonstrate. From my experience I don't often see flat flyers participating in tracking jumps. Hence why I share my views and inquire about others. Also not my pictures, credits to Aria and Flyboyz.

I finally thought about getting some pictures to visually describe the type of tracking I refer to for freeflyers, which I probably so poorly described earlier, and explain my thoughts a little. As I mentioned previously my original question was intended to find out other's experiences regarding tracking. Here are some of mine. I think most will reckonise tracking as per danwayland's photo, belly flyers arching and staying behind the rabbit. Also, some have mentioned back tracking might be more efficient than tracking on your belly, I personally think the belly has so much more potential. The other thread regarding tracking in the freefly forum also touches on some good points, but I have finally found some pictures that will show some of the tracking and thinking about. The 2 pictures are nicked from PD's webpage, and are of Ippo, Lele and Alex from Aria. They have spent alot of time tracking together working on their proximity and their trajectories. They are very fast and track like demons but all around the sky. The final photo is from the XFest and has some very tastey flyers. Along with some of freeflyers, this is why I think freeflyers are better trackers. They actively train at the discipline and take alot of time and jumps to focus on them. If it was a straight track race for horizontal distance, I think those who train at it will become better, and from my experience the freeflyers I know train at it and consequently are pretty good. The picture of Ippo and Alex shows use of their torsos, knees and legs. No arches are present. By using their knee's to loose alitutde, they can accelerate better and not loose their speed when they start to stretch out. They are also de arched to catch more air and their torso's are angled down a little, producing more drive. Bascially they are showing very efficient tracking positions which are very fast forward. I hope they don't mind me using the photos for the purpose of this explanation. Some jumpers I know believe that tracking jumps should be fast and are natural selection. These are still group of flocking jumps, just at a fast speed. If you can't keep up then you have to get better. Also the nature of the tracking jumps are different. By being on head level rather than behind the rabbit, angles can be experimented with and the horizontal speeds are better. By angles I mean off the horizontal towards 45 degrees. The photo from the Xfest shows the head level and slight angle. And before I get jumped on it is probably at the end of a very flat atmonauti jump!! (Which is the same as tracking but in an angle, ideally 45 degrees) My experience and still my belief is that freeflyers exhibit the best tracking skills, not because they are born any different but because they train at it. Hopefully these photos might summarise some of my thoughts!!

I didn't know what the answer would be, that's why I asked the question. Yes I am biased to freefly , however I still thought it was an interesting question. The results are irrelevant, I think it's good to see the general feeling, and see what people have to say, so that's why I asked. Sharing of ideas and all. As I write the poll is 40% belly flyers 60% freeflyers, so thanks for the experiences shared. Also it shows how honest and unbiased freeflyers are!!!! My original question was prompted by the other thread in the forum regarding tracking. As I did not want to hijack it I started another thread. I wasn't looking for a name of the best tracker, just peoples opinions and thoughts on the topic. It's been cool to hear all the answers. I find the thoughts on tracking and what is involved great, there appears to be a good diverse range of jumps and what people want from them!

I guess that's the difference with people's experience. Some freeflyers do a track at the end of the day for fun with different goals to those who train at the discipline. Tracking in my mind is a discipline within freefly and is an essential skill which will not only help with head down but also opens up all the other angles of flight and not just head down in the vertical.....but that is another story. Tracking jumps which as flat and fast, contain slots, proximity, passes and changes of angle are definately difficult and require training. As far as BASE jumpers go, I reckon who ever said it is correct, the efficiency of the track can really be noticed by the ground covered and of cause the proximity to the ground, so the jumper can really see the distance travelled. But that is another story as well. I find it interesting to hear peoples opinions of tracking. But without doubt as we all know, there are some amazing flyers from either discipline who track very well.

That's what this friend was telling me. I have seen some horrible track positions, notably the rabbits: sinking and no speed. I guess this tends to be a thing DZ to DZ, as where I have jumped the last few years, there is a high importance put on tracking, the angles it is done in and the efficiency of the positions. From my neck of the woods every flat flyer I have tracked with has sucked arse!!! However I do know of a few Belgian Army guys who are taking freefly coaching and also happen to very good on their bellies who can track well!!! I find it so weird that so many people have the opinion that belly fliers track better. I don't disbelieve people, its just from my experience this is not the case. But then I have met some freeflyers with horrible belly skills so that is understandable!!!!!

Cool, thanks for your opinon. In general when I have seen flat flyers seperate, the ones that are going steeper may have more speed, but also tend to have inefficient positions. By this I mean bent legs with an arch still present. This I agree with you will not be as efficient as a flat track. Depending on each persons experiences, tracking is a funny thing. From my jump history, tracking and head up has made up alot of my jumps. The tracking I am talking about is a stretched, flat position but the trajectory is not flat. I hope all understand what I trying to get at. For example, there is a camera man called Bruno Brokken. He is the dude swooping bridges in the film Crosswind. He is a big lad and world famous camera dude with lots of jumps blah blah blah. However, when he is flat and stretched he is fast, but not tearing away. However when he drops into his angle just below flat he goes off. My best description with tracking is that you can stay flat but to get real speed you need to accelerate and then carry your speed. AS far as danger, that is why freeflyers train at tracking, as not everyone can keep up. In away tracking is natural selection because if you can't keep up then you have to go away and get better. I personally love the jumps which are flat and then go a little steeper. This is not for everyone as the rabbit has to be very still when playing in the angle otherwise, just like the vertical, corking can be dangerous. But thats the beauty, train harder and get better, safety first.

I am interested to know what the general thoughts on trackers at your dropzone are, regarding which skydivers track the best. I would always say freeflyers, as it is a discipline which freeflyers train at, and play with. However a friend at a large and famous Florida dropzone who is a freefly coach reckoned that at that DZ the best trackers were flat flyers as they have to get away from large formations. Whilst I appreciate this opinion, and understand that some people's opinions of freefly is purely vertical, I find it difficult to believe. What do people think?

I agree with what Fedykin is saying, despite his delicate and diplomatic touch as ever!!! I think the main areas to concentrate on are the legs and torso position as well as the angle you intend to track in. To answer the original question of palms up or down, I would say palm of the hand down towards the earth. Also it seems that everyone thinks that the flattest track is the ultimate goal. However I have heard two well argued points of view: will the flattest track with the slowest vertical speed travel further than a faster track slightly below the flat angle. I am not talking about having an inefficient position and diving slightly. Tracking in an angle slightly below flat definately generates more forward speed, but does this horizontal speed equal a greater distance than a slower horizontal speed which will exist for longer?? I personally think that the flattest track is not the most efficient angle for horizontal distance. I believe tracking is like a wing, if you have no speed you stall the position, there has to be a balance between vertical and horizontal speeds. By this I refer to the tracking trajectory, not to someone sinking out by arching and exhibiting an inefficient position with legs and torso. Thoughts please.

Yes they have the 2nd porter here along with the normal blue porter and the supper otter. For any people thinking of coming out, 4 otters (3 super, I think Jan s grey one and the yellow / blue on which he used to own) aswell as the 2 porters will be here for the Xmas boogie. 700 people expected, flat, freefly organisers, aswell as Loic s wing suits for demo and wing suit coaching, I can t wait. It is raining now, but the weather has been great, roll on the boogie!!!!!

Samurai's are also a great canopy. I would look at a XF2, Vengance, Stilleto, Katana and a Samurai. The Nitro / Nitron turns fast and dives hard but doesn't seem to swoop very fast, just my opinion. Also I wouldn't worry about the sausages on the top, just the rediculously short lines that make it look like a kite. This might work if you live in Hawai, you could double up for kite surfing!!! As others have said, demo as many as possible. I guess we are all biased towards our own gear, but I am very happy with the samurai, it is a beautifully created canopy and is made at PD, so you get all their build quality.

I have read alot of the posts about purchasing cameras and places to buy from, but here is my situation and experience, so advice would be much appreciated. I am looking to buy a PC 105 or TRV 19 PAL camera and have seen the prices in the states are cheaper. However given that I buy the PC105E or TRV19E (Pal version) will the warranty be for the states, or will the manufacture warranty be european or world wide as it is packaged in the box, and as it is a PAL camera, meant for sale outside of the USA? Second point: I have called a company called "Broad Way Cameras" and spoken to 3 sales employees who gave conflicting statements regarding waiting times (in stock, 4 weeks wait), prices, and information on the warranties. One sales person called Mike, was the rudest and most unhelpful sales person I have ever spoken too, even worse when every sales person I have ever met in the states has been helpful and wanted to sell me something. So is this firm worth dealing with, anyone have any positive or negative experiences. Firms to stay away from or do business with appreciated! I am coming to Perris in one week, and am tempted by the lower prices of the camcorders and the availability of PAL versions. However the hassel of dealing with an American firm when based in Spain, and not knowing which warranty will be shipped makes me think other wise. Further more, what is Sony's warranty policy? I was led to believe that there may be a list of shops in each european country which customers can take their equipment to. Is this true? Help required!

Hey Wrong Way, In less than 2 weeks Project 10 kicks off in Perris. Marco and Gi will be there. I believe one of the aims for Project X was to provide an opportunity for the different styles of some of the best jumpers to be seen. As the great pond between our continents can be quite a gap, time and money, why not check out project X in Perris with the Flyboyz, Alchemey, Babylon, Ippo Fabbi, Frick Atmonauti (Marco and Gi).

PC 103 has DV out but no DV in PC 105 has DV in and out. Also has memory stick for saving stills. No difference between US and NON US cameras apart from NTSC and PAL versions obviuosly. NTSC version called PC105R, PAL version called PC105E

Last I heard Marco and Gi were Italian and not French. Sure its tracking but just in a different angle. I have also heard of these terms and the angles that have been associated with them: "Tracking" is flat, "Atmonauti" is around 45 deg, "Tracing" a little steeper, "Flocking" which most freeflyers have heard of and "Head down" which is vertical. IMHO all these terms are used to describe angles which everyone can relate to in a briefing or for communicating with. Surely Freeflying is that, freeflying, all angles, trajectories, positions and speeds. I'm sure many people knew this atmonauti angle before its popularity took off via Gi and Marco, it's just that now it has become quite popular and people talk about Atmonauti jumps just like tracking and head down etc... As for difficult, have you seen Gi doing this feet first. Wow that is bad ass, and also I believe very difficult! But like anything, you have to train the discipline to get good at it!

Was chatting with Cedric recently and he talked about he suit. All have been sold and he is really happy. Aparently the Matter suit uses different material on the arms to the legs and it is a completely new design to the Crossbow. I gave him the Dropzone.com address so I would imagine that he will post details soon about the suit and clarify questions about the work with Loic.