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Gear

  • Main Canopy Size
    190
  • Reserve Canopy Size
    176
  • AAD
    Cypres 2

Jump Profile

  • Home DZ
    empuriabrava
  • License
    A
  • License Number
    48391
  • Licensing Organization
    USPA
  • Number of Jumps
    146
  • Years in Sport
    5
  • First Choice Discipline
    Formation Skydiving
  • First Choice Discipline Jump Total
    90
  • Second Choice Discipline
    Freeflying
  • Second Choice Discipline Jump Total
    50
  • Freefall Photographer
    No

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  1. I am spending the winter in Sarasota ( I come from Scotland) and as invited to spend Christmas with some good friends in Salisbury NC. I asked how long it would be to make the trip thinking they would say two days. They said around 10 hours. WhenI asked others I was amazed to find drining 700 miles in one go was the norm and not the exception. As it turns out it took ten and a half hours (including fuels stops) and I know that there must be bigger trips done solo. So I want to find the longest non stop trip taken teo categories. Distance travelled in one continious journey., and Longest time spend behind the wheel? Let the bragging begin. Also if any skydivers in the Sarasota area, would like to hook up for a beer let me know as I am here until the end of April and don't know may folks in the area.
  2. I am heading over to Florida for the winter (I live is Scotland), as I have some work commitments that will take me to Sarasota through to April. I used to jump in Europe and five years ago slowed down and eventually stopped, as jump buddies moved away and I had usually jumped overseas so did not have a UK DZ I kept my brand new rig and even had it repacked fairly regularly, however it has not been touched in 18 months so I decided as I plan to get back in the breeze, to unpack the main and let it breath a bit. It came out like a brick, but I got it spread out and then kept it stored in a large black plastic garbage bag. However as I have to ship it out in ten days when I went to pack it properly ( i always sucked at packing - and needed a little help) I spent two hours, wrasslin this thing and inventing some new (and I think quite good) swear words. So is there anyone in Edinburgh or near to Edinburgh that would be able to help me get this thing back in the rig, so I can ship it. I know I know.... pathetic ! but after all this forum is all about sharing and caring!!! I hope. Any volunteers PM me, thanks Oh yeah beer etc goes without saying.
  3. I just wondered if there were any folk who had ever jumped an intentional cutaway rig, who after the planned cutaway went on to have a mal that required another cutaway? It was started but a conversation on risk statistics. and I just wondered if anyone had experiences this or knew of anyone else who had!
  4. I found this old clip on a vintage newsreel website, it has some cool old clips I liked http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=21894 plus http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=28280 You will doubtless find a few others including this one http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=24109 which is very typical of its era, plenty of smokes, before and after testing a new parachute. It has a pilot chute, which pulls out a larger pilot chute which pulls out the main. No sound on some of the clips as it is a subscription website I think. A good source of new 'vintage' material.
  5. Whilst trying to solve the mysteries of the universe, with two equally unqualified buddies - both jumpers, (we cracked it in about three beers, so was a good exchange of ideas) we then discussed what position would an unconscious skydivers body naturally fall? I thought they would go into a butt to earth shuttlecock position, another fellow thought they may tumble. So simple curiousity got the better of us and a bet was made. I guess it may be different scenarios create different outcomes, but if anyone can help settle a bet that would be appreciated.
  6. I have written a number of books on peak performance and success, and six weeks ago had a new book come out, based around the mindset of champion golfers. (Whoa don't flame me yet, I will get to the point pronto!) I wanted to explore why those consistent winners were able to perform at their best when the pressure was at its greatest. You can easily make the analogy for competition skydiving. The conclusion is that the top performers under pressure focus on outcome not process. Which is consistent with the top freeflyers when I ask them how they transition, they generally tell you they do it without thinking. Secondly they have immense self confidence, they are not arrogant, but have great faith in their ability to execute the shot (in golf) or move in skydiving. But it was the third aspect I found the most revealing it appears that they get into the present moment (the zone) where time stands still and there is no emotion, they are not thinking they are just doing. The reason I ask this, is I am curious about the following and would like some feedback as I am thinking of writing an article for skydivers, based on these principles. So my questions is twofold. Do you find the best skydivers of all disciplines get beyond thinking, or are they very self aware? Second question have you met any natural skydivers who got worse with too much instruction? I have found when I tried to freefly I had a head full of do's and dont's and was trying too hard, which I now believe is the wrong state of mind. I am not plugging the golf book (no title given) just want to give some background as to why I am curious. "Bought a new fancy top of the range vacuum last week. Man it sucks!!!"
  7. I was a tv producer for many years, both cable and network. As a rule cable had very tight budgets ("can you make it for $8000 per hour"?) the young producers keen to get a show on anywhere went "sure", with the crew and cast often not getting paid, as the big money comes in series two. Which never happpens as the cable company rerun the first series endlessly Also serious production companies don't tend to use googlemail, hotmail or yahoo e-mail addresses. Unless they are hoping to get a ton of private mails, and collect a good mailing list to sell on. Gee I do sound cynical, and my burnt fingers would explain why. The original poster may want to get a cast set up then sell the show to a cable network. This may be well developed but it doesn't sound like it This could be genuine, but It wouldn't take a researcher too long to go to 4 or 5 larger DZ's, tell folks about the show and find their cast (through recommendations and interviews) that way rather than this open casting which is pretty amateur and random approach, from my experience. By the time I finished my AFF at Eloy 5 years ago, I could have cast this show there and then. The original poster could easily confirm the cable company, number of episodes, budget, filming schedule airing dates and a whole host of stuff if this was the real deal. So I would suggest anyone seriously thinking about getting involved needs to know more and get answers. Oh yeah! one more thing.......If anyone wants to star in my new reality tv series "Around the World in 80 Beers" let me know. I haven't got a budget, or real interest from the industry but guy at my local community cable company says if I film it, He will broadcast it....maybe!!. Bring your own Advil!! "Read the small print!!!.......I didn't read the big print
  8. I have recently returned from Indoa, and whilst in Goa I saw a beach launched parasail set up. I was amazed by the steering method, and given that the canopies were in the sun most of the day, I felt this could be an accident waiting to happen. I havent aclue about the wing loading, and i guess the speed of the boat would make a difference. So my question does this look safe and normal? What do you imagine the wing loading could be? and as the wind is always from the sea, if the boat lost power how fast would they land. Here is the link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukFYvAmFxzs not sure how to make it clicky. Happy Holidays folks. Alas I got the shits in India big time so it didn't work out as happy holidays for me :o) but boy did I lose some weight
  9. I have interviewed folks for jobs who had skydiving in their CV's. When I asked them about it, and they revealed a tandem or static line experience. I figured they were misrepresenting themselves, and it went against them (none got hired). I have not jumped for two years so no longer consider myself a skydiver, but someone who has skydived. It is basically no big deal, but I think be yourself and don't look for labels to define yourself. But I think in answer to your questions, skydivers are current ex-skydivers are not. But if it gets you laid.................!!!!! who cares :o)
  10. I have two rigs, as I had planned to sell the old one when the new one arrived. However circumstances prevented me from jumping in over a year, and both need reserve repacks, It looks like I will get back for a two week jump vacation in September, so should I unpack the canopies and put them in trash bags (still attached to the harness) or leave them packed in the rigs. I have read about rigs packed for over two years then jumped, but was thinking it would be easier on the system to let it out for a vacation so to speak. "The older I get..........the better I was"
  11. Before the now standard belly to earth 'box' position, was accepted as the standard norn. What was the suggested freefall position given to aviators? I have seen some black and white footage taken in the early 50's of a test jumper, arm crossed over belly reserve and legs together, he appeared to be slowly tumbling in a head up position. I know in WW2 pilots were told to clear the aircraft and pull, but wondered if there was another position (Early FF pioneers perhaps!!)
  12. I am in Austin for three days (14-17th jan) from the UK and am looking for a good bar/diner to hang out in after sundown, any suggestions
  13. Extra thick parachutes? LMAO! Laugh I think they meant extra large, I believe they were jumping Navigator 280's Mind you extra thick has a nice ring to it.
  14. I am coming over from Lndon in a week to work for for a while and thought i may bring my rig, which is the nearest DZ. I will be based in Bellevue, and wondered if there is somewhere within an hour or so. Thanks
  15. I was watching a documentary about he Apollo space programme and their journey to orbit, then subsequently land on the moon. I was interested to find out more about their parachute system, as a skydiver I am very familiar with the implications of two-out situation, or a reserve main entanglement. The film showed the Apollo capsule under thre large round parachutes, I am just curious how these are deployed to avoid an entanglement. Are they staggered? Just curious. Plus the packing, How much would a packer get for doing all three? .....:o)