bkoch

Hey folks, I jump a Triathlon made in 1994. It has about 700 jumps on it. I was wondering if old canopy material has lower porosity and is more likely to collapse? Or does age of a canopy matter that much? I love this canopy because it opens nice and easy and is easy to pack, but want to make sure it isn't going to fall apart on me at 500 feet. Thanks for your feedback. Brad

N/A

Hey folks, Just been thinking about something lately as I cross the thousand foot mark under canopy. What altitude is too low to cutaway--meaning, at what altitude, if I should have a problem like a collision or lines that break, or canopy collapse, should I just fire the reserve and not cutaway first? I jump an RSL, but I know back up devices are not to be relied upon. My personal thought was that under a thousand feet, if I should have a problem, I should just fire the reserve if the situation is unrecoverable. But someone told me this past weekend that if I have an RSL I could cutaway as low as 700 feet if I needed it. What's your thoughts? Brad

John, I totally relate to how you must feel, except for the bad weather part since I live in Northern California. My issue is mostly how can I keep funding myself for 15 jumps a month being a full time student. I plan on getting a tandem rating when I hit 500 jumps and a "D" license and using the money doing tandems to pay for AFF ratings. I have enough jumps for a "C" license and coach rating, so I am going to work on getting those this summer. First things first, right? Keep the faith. Take the action. In my opinion, you wouldn't have trouble finding full time work at DZ in California or Florida since the turnover rate is pretty high. But a lot of the instructors I talk to say it is best to do skydiving instruction part time, and have a "real" job the rest of the time to avoid burning out in this awesome sport. But there are those who skydive full time and love it still. Different strokes for different folks. -Brad

Relax. "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

Currently I am giving up any hobby that is hard on my body, besides skydiving. I went snowboarding recently and my back is still sore. If I'm going to hurt myself (and I don't intend to) then I'd rather it be skydiving. So I am giving up snowboarding, surfing, and I already sold my motorcycle. Skydiving is better than any other hobby I have ever done or could ever conceive of doing. I want to take care of my body so I can jump as long as my heroes in the sport have, like Mike McGowan, or Bill Booth, or Brian Germaine, or Raff at Hollister, or really any of the guys that have been jumping for a decade or two and have several thousand jumps... Giving up those other hobbies for skydiving is totally worth the trade off. Brad "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

Good on ya! Congrats -B "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

I used to worry about packing too. My advice is just to pack and pack and pack again. Eventually my confidence level grew so that now I don't worry about it too much. Though I do jump a Triathlon, which makes packing easy for me. I've had great openings on pack jobs I thought were awful. No matter what though, I touch all my handles a couple times on the way to altitude every jump and I trust my rigger that my reserve is solid and ready to go. Brad "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

Lately I have taken note that skydiving is occupying a massive amount of my finite money, at least one day a week is spent at a dropzone if the weather is good, and skydiving is on my mind all the time throughout the day. I get a lot of meaning out of skydiving personally/spiritually. To me, it is more than just a hobby. It has changed my perspective on life. I've had to quit skydiving in the past because of money, but I keep coming back, again and again. I hope I never have to quit again. I am jumping more now than I ever have, making 12 - 15 jumps a month. I am planning my budget around it now. Just wondered what role skydiving played in other people's lives. Brad

I'm the rebound guy right now... Here is what that looked like - girlfriend was in a three year relationship. Dropped the other guy, dated me for a month, dropped me for a month to "get her head together" and then we started again 6 weeks ago...Up and down. The highs are very high and lows very low. It is like driving to fly in the jet wash left behind another airplane. Very bumpy, but hopefully getting a little better... B "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

My two cents... I was married once. We were together for seven years in total, but the marriage part of that only lasted 11 months...Something about being legally bound to each other caused issues. Now I have a daughter with my ex. She is 18 months old and I only see her one day a week right now because she lives over an hour away. I can tell you this much- I used to want kids, but having one makes me not care at all if I had another. They are a giant emotional and financial responsibilty and though it is great to see my own offspring, I don't need to see more than one of my genes running around. I used to think being married equated to happiness, but for every one marriage I see that I would like to have, I see four that I would not like to have. The happiest most peaceful and centered people I know are unmarried. Having said that, if I met the right person, I would marry again. But I would rather be single and happy then in a relationship that sucked. There is nothing worse than the loneliness of laying down next to a person where the is no love. I have a girlfriend right now. It is tough, but so far she is worth it. Ask me again in a month and I may have a different answer. Brad "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

I've jumped at Byron the past two weekends and I really enjoyed the experience. I jumped there years ago and the positive vibe is still there, as it was then. Getting to land at the airport is nice. No van ride. Not having running water is the only drawback that I can see. I was told to always call before I make the 60 mile drive out to Byron from San Jose to check wind conditions, but that hasn't been a issue at all the last two weekends. The people are super friendly. It's a family friendly DZ too, as I brought my 18 month old with me the past two weekends and no one seemed to mind. All in all, it is a great place to jump. I'll be back there soon.

I've made 83 jumps in the past 6 months since returning to skydiving in July of 2004. All of them have been on a Triathlon 160. I don't consider myself very good at packing, but I have never had a bad opening with the Triathlon. It opens great, despite myself, and flies well in a variety of conditions. I love this canopy.

I'll quit for good upon my death, or when extreme illness, or unending immense physical pain makes it impossible for me to do so. Basically, as long as I can drive myself to the dropzone, I intend to keep jumping. I've tried stopping skydiving before because of financial reasons, but life is much better when skydiving is part of my life. I'd like to think I'm in it for the long haul from now on. Brad "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

Just curious about this. When I started jumping I made only 28 jumps in my first year, but since I retrained in July I am averaging about 10 jumps a month, which would be 120 jumps a year. It would be more if I wasn't a full time student, with a girlfriend, and a daughter. Ahhh life... "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

Hey, I had a question about reserves. I bought used gear this past summer and have been jumping it ever since. My reserve is a Tempo 170 made in 2000. I understand that the Tempo is no longer manufactured. Is the Tempo reserve still safe and reliable to have as my reserve? Thanks for your feedback. Brad "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

QuoteAnd YOU are how old? I'm 28 years old And you are HOW single? I think I am single, but there is a girl from school who might be in line when school starts again in January...we'll see. We were kind of seeing each other...a longer story then I care to put here...it could go either way, but if she wants to jump, I'm game. Brad "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

Absolutely Personality. Looks might open a door, but personality keeps it open. I've been with beautiful women whose hearts are like black holes that suck the life out of me and I have been with "average" looking women who were so beautiful on the inside I stayed around for much longer. In the end, if I ever get married, it would be for the insides of the person. All outer beauty fades. Sleeping with beautiful women whose insides are ugly has always left me feeling empty, no pun intended. Thats just my .02... Brad "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

Hey again folks, Sorry to post another question so soon after my last one, but I just retrained in July, have been trying to get at least ten jumps a month in, and trying to get as much information on updated safety information in this sport. I appreciate reading the different perspectives... I do ask my rigger for advise too, but I like to see what others think as well so I can make informed decisions. I was wondering why people jump with Mini-risers if there is another option that is stronger and more reliable? My gear that I bought used this past summer has mini-risers that are the updated and reinforced type 17. Are the reinforced mini's as strong as the larger risers? I read Bill Booth's article on DZ.com called - Do skydivers care about safety? and I really wondered if there is any other reason than looks to have mini risers? If larger risers are stronger and safer than reinforced mini risers I will probably switch to those sometime soon. I'd be interested in hearing what folks have to say about that. I know this is a public forum, and I do ask a lot of questions to the folks at my DZ as well, I just like a variety of perspectives. Ciao, Brad

I have an Infinity container and use an RSL and I am interested in getting a Collin's lanyard because of my concern about an RSL side riser failure resulting in entanglement. Can I not get a Collin's lanyard because Relative Workshop has a pattent on it? Or can I have a rigger put one on even though I own an Infinity container? Is putting on a Collin's lanyard adviseable, or would it just complicate the rig unneccarily? Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Brad

I started jumping again after some time away from the sport and chose Hollister to jump at for how close it is to where I live (just 45 minutes south of San Jose). What I have found is a great dropzone with really friendly people. It has some of the best scenery that Northern California offers, the Monterey Bay, the coastal range, the Sierras. Perhaps one of the biggest selling points for me is the great weather. Nothing could ruin my mood more than an hour or two drive to a dropzone that it is too windy or foggy to jump at. At Hollister, if the weather in California is halfway decent, you can bet they are jumping in Hollister. I have never been winded out at Hollister...The weather at the landing area is in a nice little microclimate that keeps jumpers quite happy. I would bet Hollister has the most jumpable days a year of any Northern California dropzone. There is a comfortable vibe at Hollister. Not a lot of egos or cliques as far as I can see... It is a great place to jump. Check it out if you're ever in NorCal.

Hello, I am trying to decide whether or not to disconnect my RSL because I do freeflying and am afraid of a premature opening causinig an RSL side riser failure. Are riser failures a common occurance? When is the last time an RSL was a contributing factor in a skydiving fatality? Thanks for taking the time to respond to my two questions. Brad "What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?" - Charles Lindberg August 26th, 1938

I had the chance to buy a used Infinity 30 jumps ago and it rocks. Even in a stand or a sit the main flap stays closed and the pilot chute is secure. It is a container that is easy to pack and the reserve pin protection and main riser protection are as good as it gets. I love my rig. Infinity is a solid choice if a person wants all the safety of modern gear without extreme expense.