NWFlyer

Heck yeah! I'm all about clever wine names. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

For the reserve if you don't want to downsize your reserve 2 sizes in one fell swoop you could look for a low-bulk option like the Optimum or Nano, which would allow you to get a 193 in there. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Nothing wrong with a high pull so long as it's compatible with the jump operations that day and you put yourself in the right part of the exit order. But you mention load organizing issues, and yes, that's where wanting to pull at 6K will probably be incompatible with what a load organizer wants to do, which is to design a skydive that is fun and safe for all participants, and that ends at a safe altitude for the group. That breakoff altitude will vary by group size and experience level, but for your average mid-sized fun jump, it's rarely going to be high enough to allow for a 6K pull altitude. Your goal/desire to pull high isn't going to match up with what the rest of a typical organized group is likely to want, so a solo (or jumping with someone else who wants to pull high) is your best scenario. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Hard to dropkick with a busted femur. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You referenced Ann Coulter. Good luck with that! I'm a casual sports fan at best for pretty much everything. I enjoy watching games live, but my passions don't run particularly deep. I've attended a few professional soccer games in my life, and they've been as enjoyable as other live sporting events... the weather was nice, the company was good, and I got to watch some grown adults chase around a ball. What's not to love? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I'm starting to see them. A local jumper who tried and tried to get her custom-fit container to where it was comfortable / safe for her when she freeflies finally added a belly band and she's been very happy with it. I saw another woman when I was down in Perris recently who had a belly band for freefly as well. So, there's at least a few folks (besides the swoopers, who use them for a different reason) who are bringing them back. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

As I recall from my recent stay on the GI ward, one effective way to eliminate hunger on a clear liquid diet is to be on it as a result of pancreatitis. However, then you're stuck with the pancreatitis itself, which sucks more than being hungry. Also, one fun thing you have to look forward to post-colonoscopy is tooting. I had two different roommates on my 3-day stay in the hospital in January. The first was getting a colonoscopy, and when she returned she said "Sorry, but I'm going to fart a lot." That was an understatement. Quite possibly the loudest toots I'd ever heard, but, fortunately, they weren't at all pungent, just hilariously loud. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Again, I wouldn't be insulted. I might choose to do business elsewhere, I might not. But insulted likely isn't a feeling that would come to mind. To me, insult implies it's personal, when it's not. It's a business decision - one I may or may not agree with, but it isn't about me. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Nah, but then maybe we have different ideas of what we consider insulting. I've had riggers do things for me for free. I have never once expected it and always offer to pay for their time, even if it's just a few minutes. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Good points. To me, it seems like back-to-backs fit into a set of very specific and pretty limited scenarios that wouldn't apply to the regular fun jumping day - team training, some instructor scenarios, maybe a coach or organizer who's trying to work with multiple groups. For me, it's never occurred to me that a back-to-back would be fun/worthwhile for anything other than 4-way training. Otherwise, you get out of the flow of the day - while your jump buddies are debriefing, packing / getting packed, and planning the next jump, you're up on another load (jumping alone? or with who - when did you have time to connect/plan a jump?). To the original poster - if you can afford a second rig, by all means, go for it. I've had two rigs for about 2 1/2 years now and I love it, especially for team training. My original rig (bought used) became my backup, and I bought my first custom rig that became my primary rig. Because I already had a rig that I coudl jump I could take my time to piece together the components and jump on good used deals when I saw them. As of tomorrow, I will have a second custom rig and will be selling the old backup rig. For me, I like the fact that my two rigs are virtually identical - other than the containers being different (though now they'll both be the same), the main, reserve, and AAD are the same between the two. But then again, my canopy goals are identical for every jump. Keep in mind also that the cost of a second rig is not just the up front costs - now you're keeping two rigs in date, doing maintenance on two, have to figure out how to travel with two (if you're paying to check bags that may increase your travel costs). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I remember my 200th jump was a 16 way, so I'm guessing it was somewhere in the 200-300 jump range. Funny thing is that the more I jump, the more picky I am about bigger jumps. And 900, 1000, 1200, and 1300 were all 4-ways, and 1100 was an 8-way. My milestones are happily shrinking too. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I used the 20 year lifespan to calculate a rough value when selling one a couple of years ago. You (or the new owner) could send it in for service, but it's not required. Because mine was a unit that had been subject to a SB for the cutter, I gave the potential buyer the SN for the unit and for the cutter and he was able to validate with Vigil that it was up to date on the required service bulletin work. That may not apply to your unit. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I wish he'd kept going, but I'm also glad that what he did produce was all brilliance. Watching C&H make a slow decline would have been sad. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Meh. All it does is make it pink. You don't need no stinkin' nitrates. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

This has been making the rounds on FB in the last few days - really cool collaboration between Stefan Pastis, the creator of the Pearls Before Swine comic, and Bill "Calvin & Hobbes" Watterson. Washington Post article that includes interviews with both Pastis and Watterson. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/06/06/exclusive-calvin-and-hobbes-creator-bill-watterson-returns-to-the-comics-page-to-offer-a-few-pearls-gems/ Pastis' own version of the story: http://stephanpastis.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/ever-wished-that-calvin-and-hobbes-creator-bill-watterson-would-return-to-the-comics-page-well-he-just-did/ The strips - the setup starts on the 6/2 strip, Watterson draws part of the 6/4 to 6/6 strips, and 6/7 wraps it up with a nice C&H tribute: http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2014/06/02 So freakin' cool. And mind-boggling to believe that it's been 19 years since Calvin & Hobbes went away. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

The upcoming boogie at Davis would be a great time to make your first night jump, you could watch on Friday and Jump on Saturday. Except that (unless they're changing things this year) night jumps are only done on Friday night during the boogie. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

FIFY. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

https://vimeo.com/96571020 I've watched this relatively new video from the Australian Parachute Federation about 10 times already today. Really terrific promotional video that captures a lot of the magic of the sport. Well done! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Bill's already been a member of the club for a couple years now. Harry's got a big brother. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I like that. And since I have 4-way training scheduled for a week after my 10th in August, that may wind up being my celebration. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Yep, not sure it's as cut and dried as some people think. Eloy's advantage is proximity; for the visiting skydiver who doesn't bother to get a car because they can live pretty well on the dropzone and bum rides for the occasional grocery run, they'll continue to use the tunnel to supplement their skydiving visit. For the coaches who are squeezing in tunnel coaching in with organizing skydiving loads, same thing. This will surely have its own market of not only whuffos but also the PHX-area locals who want to do some tunnel on the weeknight after work or only do tunnel on the weekends and now don't have to go all the way to Eloy to do it. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I've never been to Skydive Coastal California, but I've visited Elsinore & Perris quite often and can confirm they are great, fun-jumper oriented DZs. I generally find that if a dropzone makes no mention whatsoever of experienced jumpers on their website, they're not that interested in your business. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You can usually buy everything you need at the gear store, but you might find better prices elsewhere. If you've not ever jumped at Skydance, one important thing to do would be to make a few daytime jumps there prior to the night jump. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I believe the team who won Intermediate at last year's USPA Nationals did an H exit for the entire competition. Of course, that's not gonna win in the Open class. See post 11. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke