brianfry713

I think someone got attacked right after or during landing a while ago in Nor Cal, sunk it's claws into the back of his neck below his helmet. We'd often see it swoop us right after landing. I think there were some laws preventing it from being shot, but I haven't seen it in a while.

I did my AFF at SMB a few years ago, and the weather sucked. The views are nice, when they're not covered with clouds. Adventure Center Skydiving in Hollister gets much better weather further inland. The winds and/or clouds kept me on the ground constantly, and it took me 4 months to finish even though I was there all the time. I haven't been there in a little while, but the plane at SMB is super fast. Depending on where you're coming from, you could also try Skydive Santa Barbara in Lompoc, Bay Area Skydiving in Byron, Skydance Skydiving in Davis, or the Parachute Center in Lodi.

My dz.com name is my name, and Brian is written on my rig's mudflap, so if I give advice on here, I'm not trying to hide who I am at the DZ. I have little doubt that you're backsliding in a sit, and you're probably moving around on your head, you're just not sure which direction unless you're almost completely on your back or belly. It's not that easy to fall straight down and know you're fallling straight down unless you're docking on a base of experienced freeflyers, or you're a tunnel rat. I don't personally have a problem with newbies trying to learn to freefly on their head or in a sit, we all started somewhere. If someone is giving you advice and talking about drift, they're looking out for you and others, and if they're on the same plane, they're also thinking about their own safety. I've already had enough people join my skydive who weren't invited and didn't think there was any problem tracking straight up or down jump run the entire time, or didn't realize how much movement they had in a sit or on their head or even on their belly or back. I'm willing to give a little unwanted or wanted advice to people who I'm not sure know the effects that drift and proper exit order and separation for everyone's safety. I remember how it felt to have 100 jumps, and I did think that I knew everything. It honestly wasn't for at least a few hundred more that I realized how little I knew, and how much more there is to learn. Yes your jump numbers don't mean everything, I've jumped with people who were pretty good freeflyers at 50 jumps and people with more than 10,000 jumps who didn't have much freefly experience. Some of us try to learn from the mistakes of others, and pass on knowledge we've gained to our fellow jumpers, whether they want it or not. Yes skydiving is dangerous no matter what you do. Freeflying, swooping, or anything besides a solo belly high pull with a Navigator increases the risk. We should do all we can to minimize the risk of the things we partake in. I do a lot of risky things in the sport myself, when I feel I'm ready. We do this for fun, and trying new things keeps it fun for me.

Perris has a picture of the jet on their calender and an Easter Boogie Apr. 4-9. http://www.skydiveperris.com/expert.html

Video of the stunt is here: http://dsc.discovery.com/beyond/player.html?bclid=164950249 It wasn't a skydive, it was a reverse bungee cutaway freefall to a a parachute descent. I'd log it as a BASE jump in the O category. It's only a skydive if you jump from a flying aircraft. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

If this thread hasn't already gone too far off topic, can someone post a pic of the snap to hold the slider down on the Gargoyle? I didn't see it on their website.

You shouldn't be posting this here if you don't want advice. Most people here will do nothing but preach safety and will just tell you to slow down if your jump #'s are under 1,000. That said, I was jumping a used Vector 2 (not freefly friendly), head down at 20 jumps, and a camera at 70. It's not the smartest thing, but it's not outlawed like I think it is in England. Just make sure your gear is safe, you're altitude aware (an audible is also a good idea), and you're aware of where everyone else is on the jump. Also be aware of your heading, position, exit order, and movement relative to other groups. A lot of people on the DZ are giving unwanted advice because they are just sick of watching their friends die and are trying to prevent watching others die. Once you're in the air, everyone is individually responsible to stay safe.

I did a Mr. Bill with a VX90 loaded at 4.5, it was spinning a little bit for the short time I held on (due to low exit altitude). I'm guessing I was holding on a little sideways, putting in a harness turn. You should try it again with a slower/softer opening canopy.

That's SkyDance SkyDiving. Davis, Byron, and Lodi are short drives from you. You can also talk to the right people and look around to see what other jumpers are using and get a closer look.

Personally, I chose the Infinity for my first new rig. If you want a skyhook you can now get them with a new Javelin Odyssey or a Vector 3. At your stage I would recommend getting used gear.

Congrats Abbie. I think it's a great idea, I hope you do well. Maybe some of the tourists watching people jump off the bridge will want to do a tandem. I'll have to bring both rigs next time I visit. I love both skydiving and BASE jumping, and the people who do them. Some people just like one or the other. These sports aren't for everybody. I think most BASE jumpers still skydive, and at least in my opinion they should. You can't judge a group of people, especially those who don't post here by what you read on dz.com.

I like slider down, but I would jump slider off. Slider down is less work. The risers on my DP hold the slider down strongly enough by just pulling it past the links on the front risers. I don't know if that would help or not in the case of a riser release, but I don't think it causes any ill effects by keeping it on as long as you put it in the container neatly and keep it shoved in the middle after you've cleaned up the risers. After I take off my links, I still have more gear fear even after checking it 3+ times than if I just pull the slider up or down, and reroute the brake lines. I also don't think the glide is going to be that much different unless you're also taking the time to loosen up your chest strap after you're open. I do think slider off looks cooler in pictures. You would also save wear on the slider by leaving it off.

From what I read on a local news paper website a while ago there were some legal "practice" jumps done at another S that has been used in movies before. We'll have to watch it tonight and see what they used for the show.

They do. As I remember, you can buy some at the ferry station in Stavanger, or on the ferry.

Finish the whole thing, and then grab another 40. I've tried to drink 3 in a night but I'm usually too drunk by 2 1/2.

I probably got my current job because I had just gotten a B.S. in Computer Engineering. My mom "misplaced" my diploma, so I never even saw it until she found it a few years later. She bought me a frame, but I just put it in a box somewhere. Then I got a M.S. and nothing at my job changed. I was a little ticked off that my annual raise that year sucked. I never even took that one out of the envelope it came in. Why waste another $150 on a frame? Hopefully I'll get a raise if I ever finish my Ph.D., but I doubt it unless I try to switch companies or something. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I'm still nervous before every jump, I'm just a little less nervous during a small RW jump than I am climbing over a railing to do a BASE jump at night. I learned a lot about fear from listening to Brian Germain's Skydive Radio interviews and during his canopy control course. He wrote a book about it too.

Big Titty Rich Lady

Everyone knows that skydivers are running drugs and are involved in lots of illegal activity, they need to be searched.

Welcome to the sport and this website. How many jumps do you have? You can fill that out in your profile. I haven't tried skysurfing myself yet, but I think you should probably get at least a few hundred freefly jumps first until you're very comfortable in a stand, sit, and a little head down before you try strapping a board to your feet. You're not going to find a whole lot of info on skysurfing because not too many people currently do it. I've seen and heard of people skysurfing at dropzones around here, and I think most dropzones will allow it as long as there is room on the plane. I know a couple of people with some skysurfing experience at Skydance in Davis, you should ask around next time you're there. They might be able to teach you. I also know there are a few skysurfers in Perris and Elsinore in southern CA. There are a couple of companies that make skyboards. You could also look here in the classifieds. You'll probably want to start on a beginner board with sideways bindings so you can deploy on your belly.

My chin doesn't set off the airport detectors, but it's only a few inches of titanium mesh and about 3 small screws. My face skiied into a big rock when I was 13. If you want to get searched, just carry a tin box of Altoids in your pocket. I've had family members carry it in for me just for fun. I've wanted to try farting in some of the air "puffers" at a few of the bigger airports to see if it detects a bomb, but my timing wasn't right.

That's why you set the trim for hands off flight.

In the US, most skydivers just sign the waiver or the USPA recommended medical statement, that says something like "I'm medically fit to jump". Only tandem instructors are required to have an FAA issued 3rd class medical certificate. There is a physical, eye, hearing, and urine test issued by a designated doctor you must pass. If you're under 40, you need to get re-examined every 36 calendar months. If you're over 40, you need to get re-examined every 24 calendar months.