funnjumper

Heya Jester MMMMM sercret projects grrrrrrr, your making my mouth water, sounds exciting, anyway I can help???? I wish everyone well this year, post some results soon eh?? Cant wait too here more Im sick of working for people and never getting enuf cash to come and play in Europe, so Im starting a new business throwing people off buildings!!! some i might even attach to a rope hehehehe So u can bet Ill be there next year for the best comp in wingsuiting!!!! Have fun Rocket

Hey Jester Good luck with the comp can't wait to see the results! Unfortunately I cant make it this year but look out next year!!! Go hard Rocket Rod

Gday Scott Hey man it seems like its really shaping up to be a big one again!!! Sadly I cant be there this year so I wish everyone involved good luck and wish I was with you Kick Arse with a Wingsuit Rod rocket Millner

Fook ya!!!!! it is the Cochstedt version of the more interesting answer to the question of; You are going to jump Ya? - Fook ya! You are going to Cochstedt 07 Ya? - Fook ya! You are a Wingsuiter Ya? - Fook Ya!!!!! Damn Cochstedt and there dates!!! Oh well its Ok German beer is at least the second best beer in the world.... and it is only a month Lead in my pockets?? what will the girls say.. Is that lead in your pockets or are you just glad to see me?? cheers mate Rocket

Wicked Hope i can stay around in Europe after cochstedt, to be able to do it Y so long after? Rocket

Heya Jester Itll be great to see you there, i cant wait Question tho, i though you guys were going to have your contest closer not farther from the cochstedt boogie how is SA treating u? rocket

Wicked pics Bo good to see your getting out rocket

Thanks guys, I thought he did a great job too... Nice shot of you Costyn ... glad to see some other jumpers are coming from my side of the planet, Cant wait to get there, can u feel the love...

hey thanks what u think of the video? cheers

Yihaa!!! Its finally here and online!! Here's the link to my footage from Cochstedt 06 - Aussie Style, an editor friend of mine Marty did a bang up job and I think you'll agree, please post, Id love to read what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xxggP4J8n4 (For some reason you'll have to highlight it, it wont link automatically - can any of you Computer boffins help here??) You'll see my massive flatspin at the start, what a ball tearer!! Also you'll see the amazing closing speed of the GS1, (remember Im wearing the camera) for those who still say its a slow suit ...haha! Literally its the best flying Ive ever done with the greatest bunch of bastards on the planet, specially all you pommies!! (dont you dare mention the cricket!) and the germans, fins, americans, canadians, swiss, dutchies!!!, french, italians, russians, and the gorgeous checs, sweds, spanish and all the rest, you know who you r, Cant wait to get back there... Been workin my arse of to make sure you've got at least one member from the southern hemisphere there. If anyones' got some cheap accomodation, caravan or a wicked tent let me know, (you think its expensive from the US!!!!) Honestly I cant wait to see all you nutbags again and god the dream of flying in over 30 ways again, well it tickles me in certains spots... Take care and see you up there Rocket Rod

Gday Wingsuiters Its that Time again!!! Yo ho ho! The 2nd Australian Wingsuit boogie at Picton NSW Australia... 26th Dec to 31 Dec 2006 Are you tired of a cold xmas when you could be warm and lying on the beach soaking up the rays??? Then come along to the biggest aussie wingsuit boogie ever and enjoy a few days in Oz. Free coaching, Acrobatic and small way flying, International time contest (Marl Rules), Aussie big way attempts, first flight courses just to name a few... Night time includes Human Foosball comp (yes folks Life size table soccer), band night friday night, Comedy night night Sat, plus the best of all New Years Eve Fireworks in Sydney Harbour - best in the world!!! The planes are Skyvan, XL750, Otta and Beaver. I have no doubt there will be formation loads this boogie, the growth of wingsuiting has been incredible. All Aussie's best instructors will be there, Fergs, Jimmy freeman, the Cox's, the World Base Record Singlemans, Rocket Rod, International guest instructor TBA... and a cast of thousands. We will also be making a doco of the event so come a Geek the cameras!!! So fo those brave souls that do exist out there and are willing to travel to the best upside down country in the world then this is the one for YOU! Boogie rego is $80Aud and best of all the jumps are only $27 AUD, thats about 16 Euro and $21 US and theres loads of free and cheap beer. website is being setup, in the meantime for more info email me at; [email protected] Rocket Rod

Yea getting it edited with all my other footage as I write, hopefully soon

No. edit... And I was just joking. OK, I shall elaborate. This suit has potential but needs a LOT of work. Lose about 80% of the unnecessary contraptions and fringes (eg, the velcro-on collar, the weirdness around the ankles). I agree with losing the collar and I like the new ankles system on the newer suits. Much smoother. Don't make it modular (detachable wings). Detachable wings are a cool idea. Saves bying a new suit for different types of flying. This suit could easily weigh less than half what it does. Why is weight a problem?? Id actually like my suit GS1 heavier. Im over 90 kgs and set the longest flight time at the Marl contest. Weight isnt an issue as much as we all thought it was. The legs (not leg wing) and butt need some serious redesign to fit properly to keep from losing tension in relaxed flight. I havent noticed this so much, maybe i gotta fat arse and it fills it out. lol Also, dont fly it like a birdman suit. Feet should be open out wide. Feels like daffy duck but your tension will dramatically increase. This is key to making it viable on a day-to-day basis. The arm wings fly just fine in any mode (high arm strength/endurance needed). Also learning how to fly relaxed properly will make a huge difference here. The sunken rig tray is counterproductive, IMO. Rather than create an single smooth surface, I have a rig surrounded by a canyon of drag. OK thats your opinion, and cool every ones got one including me, but i cant see it making any difference that could be noticed. While I have no problem reaching around the wing, the PC gets caught between the rig and the tray. Never been my problem but personally i always reach from the centre of my boc and feel my way out to my hacky, this way ive never had an issue. The suit moves forward slowly in anything but an all out tracking position, even with the tail wing on; It all depends on how you fly it. At Cochstedt I never had a speed issue, in fact I was going pretty slow for what the suit can do even during the fastest flocks. When I had a flat spin on exit and was about 1200 feet low as the formation flew away from me, I kicked into the suit out and took off after them, The closing speed was amazing, too much in fact and had to scoot over the formation not to run into them before coming around to my slot. The lift is incredible. What also was amazing is that I could fly slow and Im a heavy guy and still stay up with the skinniest of jumpers. Try flying it steeper compared to the three-wing suits. It's nowhere near as responsive as the BirdMan or PF suits in turns. Say what??? In fact it has more!!! But this is also a different breed of suit. It's a "floatsuit". Its good at that two, especially adding 2.5 secs to the existing world record at Marl getting 58.7 secs for 1000 mtrs and an Ave of 37mph but I could only get that at high forward speed. Its all how you fly it dude. If anyone ever wants to know what it's like to come to damn near a complete STOP without a canopy over your head -- give this suit try. Why not! In my opinion... This suit is so worth the try but itll take you at least 20 to 30 jumps at least just to really work it out properly but Wow is it worth it. She is fast, floaty and fantastic in formations. Especially if your a medium or bigger person and sick of dropping out of flocks or not getting back up this is the ultimate suit. She will fly anywhere, fantastic for ws camera flyer too. Rocket Rod

many people died when wingsuits started (72 of the first 75) or have you forgotten already!

Hi Helxen, Its good you asked your question on here first before attempting to do a pretty advanced technique but ultimately one that is fun to do. I agree with what everyone has said that it is a good idea to wait until you really feel like you are in good control of your wingsuit, can do lots with it and also get out of trouble in it. It takes time. A few more than 50 would be better. However, it none the less is a good question and from my experience I will attempt and answer it for anyone who may be more experienced and thinking about it. Ive done around a number of rodeos, most were classic rodeo with the jockey sitting up, excepting a fantastic Birdman/Rodeo/Atmonauti with G and 5 other atmonautis, WICKED! and also with jockies lying flat. Ill break it down into stages 1. Preparation 2.Exit, 3. Mounting, 4.Riding, 5.Dismounting, 6. Filming, 7. Other Jumpers. 1. Preparation - Practice on the ground first all the following components, exit, getting on and practice it on the ground, try to find a grassy area if you can but get them on you and if possible have another wingsuiter watch them move evenly, firstly get on you , then move to the riding position. Then practice them getting off. Also rehearse what you'll do if something doesnt go to plan, like maybe they fell off. 2. Exit - remember to get out a lot closer to the landing area than a normal wingsuit jump, and be critically aware of your airspace as you do not want to drift anywhere near another jumper and if you get a bad jockey it can easily happen For rear door exit I have the jockey stand beside me, holding my risers. I give the count with my body and we jump together. During this time i keep all my wings closed and ensure my body falls flat. You can easily feel when they are on top of you and then gradually open your wings. For side exit -jockey behind in a train holding the risers and rock the count forward and jump into the wind, you should be able to open almost immediately as theyre right behind you. 3. Mounting - once on, the rider wants to move up so their knees are along side your rig. Feet can be on your arse/legs. But this is vital for any successful rodeo; As the jockey moves they must be critically aware that if they are not straight and balanced they will turn the wingsuit, also if the jockeys feet touch/rest on any wing they will turn the wingsuit. At all times they must move smoothly and balanced. Leaning will throw them off. For the wingsuiter its a pain in the arse if they arent balanced on your back. You will be continually be correcting for them to try to stay on course and its no fun cause you never know what will happen next. Chuck em off is my solution if that happens, Yihaa sucker! 4. Riding - If the jockey is a bigger person I find it best for them to stay lying on your back, and make it fun by doing more radical moves in the air, dive and pull up hard is a rush. If lighter and the jockey is very coordinated they can move up and ride like a jockey holding the risers. For those with very good balance you can let go of risers and kneel on the rig and sit up. Open your arms wide for a huge rush. For those more game again, Ive seen pics of guys surfing a wingsuiter but no video so it never happened, YET! 5. Dismounting - Easy, they can jump off like dismounting a horse, the jockey grabs the risers and throw their legs over the side, or you can barrel roll if they dont wont to get off, a very likely senario for a jumper on first taste of wingsuiting Its not hard to think of other fun and easy ways to play here, just be conscious of snagging gear. 6. Filming - Not easy if the flight is not smooth as they will be going all over the place and its pretty difficult to stay with them. However the best video ive seen of a rodeo came from a freeflyer flying around and beside us and on his back. Tracking is also possible for camera. If your filming with a wingsuit basically think about shutting down your wings for most of the flight, a tracking suit would be better. 7.Other jumpers - Same as for camera flyers, the rodeo pair may go in any direction so be prepared for some radical flying/chasing. However if you have some experience with the same group you can pull off some amazing formations. Ill let your imagination take over from here... Rodeos are fun but like any other jump practice what you want to achieve and also have a plan b ready for any mishap. Good luck and let me know how you go, maybe you'll discover something we should all try. WICKED!! Rocket Rod

Hey Jarno Great video you've put together, finally Ive got home and have been able to watch it, Well done Only 11 months till next year!! Rocket

You callin me fat huh????? Too much good german beer and food in such a short time, saves wearing a weight belt... R

Now my big thank you goes to Maria and Cate for creating such an awesome suit. After how the GS1 performed in Cochstedt I though I may have a crack at getting within the top 10 maybe... but... Wow. Ill right a review when I get back home. Also thanks to WBT for your help, Mark F, all the competitors... how cool was it? Also, Jarno for working the idea of a stuka dive after a Gainer, wicked, mate!!!! And for your kind hospitality in Rotterdam, cheers. And lastly and probably least, to the Pomms,lol, Cheeza you rock girl!!! and had a Great time at Sibson, even if most of it was on the ground hahahaha. also Dave, what an awesome night we all had, my head still hurts, and Renata where is my new girlfriend???and Mark for the awesome pics for the home mag... All in all a funtastic trip, did some and saw some amazing stuff, and cant wait till next year!! long flights and I mean looong, Rod

Id like to second what James said, it was a ripper of an event! Thanks to Christian and Guido for the forsight to create the event in the first place.And for all staff and now friends who helped make this event possible a big YA? FOOK YA!! Personally id like to see this event become part of wingsuit signature events, the same with Cochstedt. The idea being that we have a type of circuit that we can all save and prepare for, especially for those of us who have to travel from a bloody long way, and at these events we have all the manufacturers and any other related skydive related dealers,etc, along with a no. of events which we could train for, be it big ways, time and or distance event, free training etc. That would include Stupino. If they were held around the same time of year, say within a month it could act as a finals event for all the comps that I hope we start to run back home. Some people could come for part or all of these international events. I think anyone that was at these events can really see were this sport can develop, it would be great to coordinate its growth so everyone can benefit. Luv ya work bruva!! Rod

What an amazing experience!!! Cochstadt has set a new standard for all of us to work toward. Thanks so much to Rolf for having the dream in the first place and the faith of "if you build it, they will come!' And especially to Wolf, Jens and Freidle, the organisers who also shared that dream. It was an experience not to be missed. From 1 birdman at last years event to 74 is not a bad improvement. Thanks to Scott, Yari and James for all there involvement, professionalism and wicked sense of humour!!! Coming from downunder was a long long long trip but once i got there everyone couldnt have been more helpful. From the loaner tent to been given 5 free jump tickets for coming from the furtherest away was fantastic, and I havent even started talking about the jumping! The JUMPING, my GOD!!! Ya FOK YA!!! Even in my wildest dreams couldnt imagine what a 45/49 way looks like let alone be in it. From day 1 it just got better and bigger. Bigger formations, different types, different positions, smoke, high altitude, everything a birdy could hope for, and best of all was the way we were being led down that path. Focus on improving, how to do things different, please ask questions and share your ideas. How good can it get??? The pics and vids coming out will tell the story and Ill get that flat spin recovery video up as soon as I can. Also a big thank you to Maria from Jii-Wings for having developed the GS1. Even tho mine was an older suit, I couldnt have wanted more. The speed of the formations was fast but for everyone who thought the GS1 was slow got a big shock, and i was nowhere near maxed out, even more so, whenever i got burbled or bumped I had no problems getting back up to the formation and keep the speed up, plus Im no lightweight either! The leg wing flapping was a pain but as I said its an older suit and the problems have been fixed, cant wait to try the new one! After all the interest hopefully I can get some demo suits next time, once again thanks to all those who ran the event and especially thanks to all the birdys who attended to make the record possible, what a Rush Ya FOK YA!!!! Rocket

Howd your jumps go with the gs1 and v1 rocket

Gday Gus Like the others I agree that your instructor friend should be competent on a docile wingsuit first. Not 1 or 2 but 20 to 30 flights and stable. Know all the basics well. There are too many little things to get to know before using a high performance suit, same as you'd recommend someone should learn before using a skyflyer 3 etc. Once he does start jumping the GS1 it will feel very different and as pointed out weird, but fun weird not scary weird. Due to its different flying position and the fact it takes a bit of time to really learn to fly it properly, some people can get turned off if they have just one demo on it. However for me thats where the fun started. Im no expert but i do love flying it with about 80 jumps on it now. What ive noticed to me and others is once you start jumping the GS1 it seems to have a mind of its own and may start turning with, what you'll think, is no imput, and then you'll think, so now how do i correct something I didnt start. Normal corrections as on other suits may not work that well. No need to panic, you'll find a way. But early on definately pull high! Its a great idea to do lots of solos just to feel the suit out. Ive found lots of ways to turn for example, from using hips, leaning over, bringing in some arm, raising/lowering legs to name a few. The more I fly it the more interesting it gets. The main position to start with is as mentioned straight torso, arms and legs and a biggy - pointed out (sideways) toes. It feels awkward but like most things you'll adapt and then make your own ideal position. Also the suit will fly nicely and faster with the head lower but you can work up to that. Then you can include a slight shoulder role. I find the best position of the hands is palm towards your body, its more comfortable that way too. Early on it may give you a decent chest workout and you'll feel like you've done a hundred pushups but Ive found many new suits (for me) I fly do that till you find the right position to relax into for that suit. Hope this helps as well, and like it was said earlier in other replies train all the safety procedures well, Prac pull etc. Go big Rocket

In regards to the leg wing flapping, it has been a problem and takes an effort to remember to push your knees and feet out to fully inflat the wing. It feels a little weird but youll get used to it. It is a different way to fly the wing than other suits. That goes for entire suit as well. Ive got about 70 jumps on a GS1 now and im still learning new ways to fly it. The suit is different and thats great!! It flies differently because its designed diferently. The suit itself has more surface area and thus lift than any other suit out there. The design of the wings attached to the rear of the pilot and not the side gives it this as well as the full length design of the wing. Its been mentioned how to fly the suit a few times before so i wont repeat it hear, however like every suit it will take a while for you to dial in the correct body position to fly it well and effortlessly and this will take some time. Flying the GS1 feels almost like being under a hand glider as the stresses are pulling from behind you. This is why when you first try it, it can start turning all by itself, hehe. But you'll learn to correct it and really start to fly it and it IS a lot of FUN! I used it during our Xmas boogie and it never missed a beat. I was camera on the flock records and was easily able to get my slot including a recovery from a bad exit sending me low. For flocking itself it is great. Again you can fly it slow or fast and get lift on any suit out there. The range is amazing. This is also great for larger people if fall rate is a problem. Some people have mentioned its slow, heheh, just go steeper. The suit isnt slow. It will also give you lift as you do. And Speed is good!! Just because of its total range I feel it would have to be one of the best suits designed for flocking and wingsuit camera. It is a bit fidly with all the extra bits but you get used to them and the improvements made have been great. Thanks Maria. However I would like the flight deck (the suit itself separate from the wing) to be made of a stronger material. Lightness is good but strength is an issue. Also id like some stretchy material in some of the stress points (hips kness) to reduce risk of tearing. Overall The GS1 is definately worth a try and not just one or two, you'll need at least twenty to really get a good feel. Its my no 1 suit at the moment and personally i love it. Rocket

Thanks pixie and gadget, looks like a shitload of fun!!! rocket

Gday Rolf Id like to know more about your record attempt. Looked at the website and i can't tell what country its in let alone anything about it. There's no info or anything on it, let alone any english.... or it could be just me lol. A few of us are planning to come to europe for the russia boogie. So let us know what your doing we may be able to make it. rocket rod