darklow

To be honest sometimes i get too tired with so much serious information about skydive, and very often we forget that skydiving is fun, challenge, freedom and one - neverending adventure. So i start looking for some more easy skydiving info and news, without all the serious and dangerous stuff. But if i searched in regular news magazines i found almost only bad stuff about accidents. Looking in the news here in DZ.com, i found very much useful technical stuff (which is of course very good information), but not anything to relax, to read something about skydive, while i drink my coffee in the mornings. So i started collecting such news by myself, and i am doing it already for a while. The project i started is called pure.skydive - www.pureskydive.com pure.skydive project goal is to publish easy news – not just serious info, but also news and articles about some interesting facts, records, events, gear, skydiving fun, and so on... I do not represent any of manufacturers or stores or drop-zones. I just publish skydiving news I see somewhere on the web or someone sends information to me or i write article by myself. If you have anything you want to share with skydiving community – events, new gear or anything else, fill in “Submit news” form or PM me and i will post it. Thanks for listening ;) Please don't consider this as an advertisement event if it is a bit. I just want to share with others my passion to skydive ;) Enjoy! The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Finally finished my skydiving portfolio page - personal blog and also photo portfolio. And still - all photos made using Sony A-200 and wide lenses. Portfolio is updated with best and most interesting on my opinion photos from 2008 and 2009 year. Photos here: http://www.adventure.lv/en/photo/ Tech stuff, equipment and helmet here: http://www.adventure.lv/en/about/ Enjoy ;) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

I jump with Sony Alpha 200. You can see photos here: http://darklow.first.lv/ 1. I bought bite switch for Canon: http://conceptusinc.com/biteswitch.htm 2. And bought remote for Sony cameras - Sony RM-S1AM http://www.sony.co.uk/product/dsa-remote-releases/rm-s1am And then cut both and made one switch. There are just three wires, very easy to join... The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Got Sony as a sponsor :) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

1. It is brand new camera, maybe i wasn't accurate while changing lens... By what details in photos you can tell camera needs sensor cleaning? 2. I am turning off "Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization" option. I red somewhere it is not good for skydive photos, or maybe i am wrong? When i throw pilot chute, i hold my neck straight and tight. After canopy comes out of bag and starts filling, only then i turn my head up, so used to do that from first day of AFF by checking canopy while opening, quite hard to not do that. Thanks for the tip, will remember i need to be more careful on this, i never had hard openings and it opens really soft, however if i wouldnt like to know what could be feeling on hard opening and looking up... I am new to this camera, had Canon 400D before. Still learning and experimenting. There are also one annoying option that i still didn't find how to turn off - when turning camera power On, it automatically pulls lens in and sets distance to infinity... To Costyn: This was first weekend with new camera, tow days, about 10 jumps, made about 400 photos, average 40 photos per jump :) first tandems, first freefly, first rw formations, wingsuits are coming :) Nope we are skipping Cochstedt boogie this year. The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

If anyone ever considering buying or already having Sony A-200 instead of Canon, don't be afraid, photos and quality from skydive is great :) First weekend with new camera, still experimenting, but like pictures a lot. Just remember Sony has different type of connection for remote control. I bought biteswitch and used ending from Sony RM-S1AM remote controller, everything works ok. Photos are made with Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 mostly with Sony 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 DT (SAL-1118) lens. Photos here: http://darklow.first.lv/ The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

It was great adventure, experience and fun for our team to be there and participate. Thanks to organizers for great event. Thanks to experienced wingsuit pilots for advices and nice tips. Most important experience is that now we have really good exercises to practice at our dropzone. Thanks to dropzone SPA, for being so friendly, and also helping a lot of finding main canopy in the woods - involving in finding planes and even helicopters. Thanks to all the sponsors of competition. Also thanks to Tony Suits and Phoenix Fly for donating prizes for 4th and 5th place. It was nice surprise :) It was really nice to meet almost all of the wingsuit producers in one place, see and try different suits. Looking forward to meet you again in some other events this summer... Personal thanks from team to James&Kristina and Jarno for photos and video and company in Spa Spa water activities :) Kaspars, Raitis and Daiga. DnB NORD Wingsuit Team from Latvia - historically Lettonia, or Lettland :) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Confirmation from our team :) DnB NORD wingsuit team from Latvia - Kaspars, Raitis and Daiga are coming for sure! See you already next week on Spa dropzone ;) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

very nice animal! by curiosity got interested in, but very few info about this animal... Info that i found on Encyclopaedia Britannica; Or A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and ... (year - 1826) There is only one species viz. G. Volans. Flying Calugo or Flying Lemur. This is one of those extraordinary quadrupeds whom nature has raised above their usual element and enabled to transport themselves through the air in a manner, which though it cannot strictly be denominated, flying is at least very similar to it. The body of the flying lemur is about three feet long; but, except when the membrane is expanded, it is very slender. It has a slender tail, about a span long. The membrane, which extends from the neck to the fore legs, hind legs, and tail is covered with fur, but appears membranaceous on the inner side. The upper side of the animal is of a deep ash colour, inclining to black when young, and the back is crossed transversely with blackish lines. Its head is long, its mouth small, and its teeth differ from those of every other quadruped hitherto examined. The cutting teeth in the lower jaw are deeply cut like a comb; the canine teeth, as Pallas calls them (though Geoffroy thinks they are more properly cutting teeth) are triangular very broad at the base and very short. The csecum or large intestine is very voluminous. It is a native of the Molucca and Philippine islands frequents woody places aud feeds on fruits and probably on insects. It almost constantly resides on trees; in descending from which it preads its membranes and balances itself in a gentle manner towards the place at which it aims, but in ascending it uses a leaping pace. It brings forth two young, which are said to adhere to the breasts of the parent by their teeth and claws. Geoffroy and Cuvier make two varieties or species of this genus, viz. G Rufus, Red Calugo; and G Variegatus, Varied Calugo - but these are probably no more than sexual differences. Reference: http://books.google.com/books?id=Is0nAAAAMAAJ&lpg=PA507&ots=PpifGsM-04&vq=calugo&dq=calugo+animal&pg=PA460&ci=531,700,407,654&source=bookclip Some historical drawing images - Flying Calugo http://books.google.com/books?id=Is0nAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA539&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=UxrrCMEjH0lhM1e5AJbU50Rivu8&ci=523,81,434,515&edge=1 http://www.greyheronprints.com/images/IMG_5151.jpg And another similar animal - Flying Maucauco - more stylish one :) http://www.greyheronprints.com/images/IMG_5168.jpg ;) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Considering buying new ROK Helmet from Cookie Composites with for top mount video and still camera http://www.cookiecomposites.com/shop/helmets/40/index.htm Anyone has jump with it, any comments? It is written it is for base jumping and canopy pilots. I saw in picture it has holes in sides. What about noise level if using this helmet in freeflying? About design, anyone has pictures of this camera wearing it? Wondering how wide it looks on your head :) Any comments about this helmet will be appreciated Thanks. The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

That is the thing, there are too many boogies :) and it is hard to decide which boogie is the one. Which is worth coming from Europe to USA, so far away and get maximum emotions and fun from it. Thanks to Scott and The111 i already have an idea and about USA it is pretty clear now. What about Australia? Anyone any ideas? The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Since our team had an idea to travel and jump more across different continents, meet, jump and have fun with different jumpers and wingsuit flyers, we are looking for next year's - 2008 boogies to include. I know it is very early, but we had to plan for next years boogies this year already. Even there is no clear if boogie will happen next year, but it happened this year, it is still okei, we just need the events for budget planning... So far we know we want to go to: 1. Africa. Planning to got to African Freefall Convention 2007/2008 2. Europe. Definately AN-72 Boogie 2008, if there will be one, i really hope there will. 3. Europe - Internationl Artistic Wingsuit Competition - Belgium, spring 4. USA ? 5. Australia ? Anyone knows what big annual/every year boogies are usually in USA or Australia related to wingsuit flying? Maybe they have some links, this year photo archive or any other information, it could be very useful. I asked some people in private messages, but since noone answered i made these questions here. Thanks. The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

We'll decide in nearest months. I have never been to another continent, so this could be great adventure and fun. Daiga is healing veeery fast, even doctors are surprised, that is why we are looking for a boogie to participate, she can't wait to fly again and not just in circles :))) (c) Mark Harris :) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Still planning and deciding, there is a chance we can go there all three of us from Latvia (Lettland) :) Are there any pictures from last year event? Couldn't find anywhere. Thanks. The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Thanks and hello to all of you and organizers from Latvian DnB Nord wingsuit team - Kaspars, Raitis and Daiga ;) Thanks to organizers of Belgium training weekend! Thanks to Costyn for home in Belgium and tent for boogie :)) It was amazing time for us, this was our first big event for our very young team, and we got a lot of new and needed experience here in these two events. Daiga will be back very soon in our flock and two times faster because of poster we made together for her ;) It reminds her of good times she had there with all of you. She feels great and day after tomorrow we are leaving Germany and heading back home to Latvia. In attachment greetings from our team and amazing poster :) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

1. Freefly exit 2. Freefly headdown 3. Wingsuit flying over Riga - capital of Latvia. Full size wingsuit flying picture: http://www.flash.lv/darklow/img/wingsuits_spilve.jpg The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

I guess all these spam blockers has to do something with this problem. Organizators saw my post and i just received private mail with PIN . See you at the boogie ;) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

I registered for a boogie almost month ago and also payed that day - 17 of March. Bank account shows transfer was successful, but still didn't recieve any info or any ID numbers on my mail. I also used contact form on registration page to told this, but noone has answered. Does anyone knows direct email to organisors? Thanks. The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Alti-2 Neptune has possibility to turn on two modes same time (each with three different altitudes - signals), one for canopy opening time and another one for landing altitudes (swooping). Because Neptune is quite thick, and pushes my ear, i am looking for another audible, thinner one. Does anyone know does L&B Solo has such two modes - one for opening, another for landing or it can have only one mode? What about L&B Optima? What are alternatives audibles with such landing mode also, besides Neptune. Thanks. The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Ouch, sorry. ok, actually i thought someone seen this before, and therefore i specially searched using keyword "vyle-art" and search didn't find anything, you can try it yourself, then i figured out nobody knows. ok, closing this post now :) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Some futuristic and some very similar to current wingsuits. Nice vision of future. Enjoy ;) I guess this is "landing wingsuit" theme: http://www.vyle-art.com/wingsuits/FULL_wingsuit_B.JPG http://www.vyle-art.com/wingsuits/FULL_wingsuit_A.JPG Seen similar picture somewhere :) http://www.vyle-art.com/wingsuits/FULL_wings_FLOCK_A.jpg http://www.vyle-art.com/wingsuits/FULL_mount_C.JPG http://www.vyle-art.com/wingsuits/FULL_mount_D.JPG http://www.vyle-art.com/wingsuits/FULL_mount_F.JPG http://www.vyle-art.com/wingsuits/FULL_mount_G.JPG http://www.vyle-art.com/wingsuits/FULL_mount_J.JPG http://www.vyle-art.com/wingsuits/FULL_homount_A.JPG i don't know is the artist related to skydiving, but he is definately inspiring from this sport and specially wingsuits and he is doing great art:) The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

Thanks for pre-AN72 boogie page - Flying (Airport info) information really helped. My calendar so far: In spring - Russia - Kolomna aerograd airport - some 50 jumps to practise my wingsuit skills. June 30th - July 3rd - 8th coming to join you... ;) Next will be one great flying year for me... The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

In the morning emailed to Jussi from Bird-Man about the problem, they will send me some fabric to fix the suit. Thanks birdman for fast reply! The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

We have two demo Birdman GTI wingsuits in our dropzone. On guy was regularly renting it and after jump he saw the suit, near left leg is shreded right by the seam. We were thinking but couldn't think of sure reason how could this happen. The suit for this guy fitted perfectly not tight, no too wide. Maybe while sitting in airplane with closed and zipped wingsuit little before exit? Maybe in opening? Maybe the suit already has a small defect in that place? Has anyone experienced the same problem? I guess it's not hard to fix this thing, but unfortunately we have no reserve materials for fixing, so maybe best idea is to send it back ir for repair? but on the other hand i am afraid it can take long time, and summer is going to end and we want to fly these last weekends .... Full size pictures pic1 pic2 pic3 Smaller pictures also attached below Thanks. The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/

My plan of this trying jump on weekend: 1. Exit last one 2. Observe where others are and don't loose them 3. Don't fly in center of tracking jumpiers, but only on one side, so if i can't get woth them i always can fly away to side no to pop up 4. We will be doing max 5-6 people tracking dive 5. If i see i can't catch them, i just fly away and make regular wingsuit jump The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness http://adventure.lv/