SimonBones

I disagree, DSE posted info on a bag lock directly attributable to improper packing by someone who didn't know any better. If this packer had not uncollapsed the slider, not stowed the brakes, and not cocked the pilot chute, would the subsequent deployment problems be the fault of the slider, brake lines, and pilot chute? Or would that have been the fault of the packer? Fallacy? While a flat rubber band lay flat against the lines increasing the amount of friction in order to pull them, a tube stoe would have rolled. Surely when a dbag with rubber bands is having a bag lock (as I have seen multiple times) your argument about their ability to break goes out the window. Baglocks are not caused because a stoe that does not break, a baglock is cause because the stoe will not release the lines. Therefor the more logical (and safer) trait in a stoe is an increased ability to release the lines (like rolling off of them) and not breaking. A tube stoe has an increased ability to release the lines. Your argument about the lower break force of a rubber band does not make sense because as seen over and over again, rubber bands do not break during a baglock. While a rubber band may have a slightly lower break force, it has a lesser ability to release lines. It's as if you're saying that every time you find a broken locking stoe rubber band you deduce that you would have had a baglock, but thankfully the rubber band broke. Could I not come to the same conclusion every time I find a broken locking tube stoe? After all, they only need 25 pounds of force to break and there is 90 pounds of pull force on it if it does not want to release the lines. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Which ones? I've never known one. I've heard people say on internet forums that they've heard of baglocks because of tube stoes. When asked HOW their baglock was because of tube stoes, the general answer is "because a rubber band would have broke" which is bullshit. In every baglock I've seen, the rubber band did not break. Tube stoes break a 25 pounds of force. Pilot chute averages 90 pounds of force. Easy math. There are NO baglocks directly attributed to tube stoes. It's far too easy to look at someone who had a baglock who coincidentally used tube stoes (again, I have never seen someone baglock with tube stoes), and claim that the tube stoes caused their baglock. Reality check: Rubber bands do the same thing! They will not break and lock a bag any day! It all depends on if the line/stoe gets sucked into the grommet. It can happen no matter what kind of stoe you use! And if it happens, rubber bands WON'T break! Funny, so do tube stoes! They don't have to be, because they're actually safer. Tube stoes roll off your lines, wearing them less, and reducing your chances of a baglock. Rubber bands flop over your lines, wear them faster, and increase the "race track effect" causing uneven line deployments. He knows how to make a Racer. A system that receives a lot of criticism for it's inherent safety (different debate, not siding). Many riggers charge extra fees in order to pack a Racer. They'd rather stay away from them! Why are Racers some of the only rigs out there who use rubber bands on their reserves? Like the people who've designed Javelins, Wings, Infinity, Mirage, Vectors/Microns, Vortex, VooDoo, etc. Why do none of them use rubber bands on their reserve deployment systems? I guess what they do "runs against the best expert advice out there". Right. I'm not going to take part in an argument on whether or not racer systems are safe, but of the rigs listed above, racer will certainly be last in line when I buy my next rig. If MOST rig manufacturers find it safer to use something rounded and ::gasp:: less 'breakable' than rubber bands, what does that tell you about choosing a geometry for your stoe? What does that tell you about the industry standard? Tube stoes are safer to use than rubber bands. The geometry of the stoe is more important for safety than the slightly lower break force. Rounded is safer than flat. I have no problem with other people choosing to use rubber bands over tube stoes. Some people would rather save a few dollars than go with the extra safety. I'd rather spend a few extra bucks and treat my equipment better. If you want to use rubber bands that's dandy. But trying to claim that they're better because the guy who builds Racers likes them is a silly argument. You can recommend rubber bands for their lower expense all day long I really don't give a shit. I'd even agree with you, yep they're cheap, they don't break or roll. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I think you are trying to make a correlation where there isn't one. If someone packs their sport rig using tandem rubber bands they are bound to encounter problems eventually. Likewise if someone packs their sport rig with tandem sized tube stoes they're bound to run into problems eventually. The incident report indicates the problem had nothing to do with whether her stoes were rubber bands or tube stoes and more to do with using the right size. If your locking stoes are way too big (like tandem rubber bands or stoes) some of the canopy fabric can come out before getting to the locking stoes which can create a baglock by wedging the stoe and lines. I've seen this once. In fact, in that case, it appeared that if the person had been using tube stoes, the baglock wouldn't have happened. I don't have a picture of that particular one, but Videofly on here should still have it. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Consider this: If rubber bands (As opposed to tube stoes) are supposed to be the almighty anti-baglock device, why don't most reserve systems use them to close the reserve bag? As far as I know, only Racer systems use rubber bands on their reserves. Most everyone else uses a bungee elastic rounded stoe. It's not a tube stoe, but it's not a rubber band and probably has a higher force required to break than a tube stoe. Both are rounded. Tube stoes and reserve bungee elastic stoes can roll as lines are moving through them. This makes for cleaner deployments and less line wear. Rubber bands flip over lines, and can lay flat against lines as they're pulled through (causing multiple baglocks), and have more of the "race track effect", here is a quote from NickDG on the subject: This leads to a less clean deployment of the lines, and more wear on them. As previously stated, none will completely eliminate the risk of a baglock. My opinion from experience is that there is a higher chance of baglock on rubber bands than on tube stoes (when used correctly). Tube stoes are geometrically more similar to what's being used on your reserve. It just makes more sense to have rounded stoes as opposed to flat ones. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I've used tube stoes on both my rigs since I first bought skydiving gear. Over 2000 jumps later I have never had a baglock. I have never seen a baglock with tube stoes. I have seen several baglocks and all were with people using rubber bands. The main factor was the rubber bands were flat against the lines and had more friction in the pull. Tube stoes are rounded and just roll off the lines preventing a baglock from happening. People like to say that tube stoes won't break. That's bullshit. Get yourself a spring tension meter, they'll pop at about 25 pounds of force. A normal pilot chute in freefall makes about 90 pounds of force. Easy math. For anyone who may have had a baglock with a tube stoe, how can you be sure that it wouldn't have happened with a rubber band? Every baglock I've seen, the rubber band never broke. I think the thing to take away from this is that baglocks can happen regardless of if you use rubber bands or tube stoes. In my opinion and my experience, tube stoes are LESS likely to cause a baglock because they will roll off the line and not get caught in a flattened perpendicular pull like a rubber band. Just like all parts of your gear, if you use the right sized tube stoes (or rubber bands), don't mix different kind of stoes, and don't double wrap one but not the other sort of thing, you'll be just fine. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I posted this on bj.com too, This is copy and pasted from my BASE number email B name removed: Jump #38 – Building XXX building, SC 240ft December 25th, 2007 – Christmas morning At 2AM on Christmas morning, Leroy, Dark Naked, and I continued our BASE road trip to get our first B (thanks again Leroy!) That was one of the most fun jumps I remember because we went at this building special ops style. We parked a mile away and maneuvered through the woods to our compound entrance point fully equipped with night vision. Once to the compound fence, we had to jump it and make a mad dash for the shadows behind tall bushes as it was a fairly lit up compound. From shadow to shadow we sneaked towards the building. The building was surrounded with two layers of fence as well. Fortunately the first fence had a fallen over section we hopped and I was quickly able to find a weak point on the inner fence. We crawled into a basement window into the pitch black of a hotel that has stood ‘under construction’ for a long time as a canceled project. With Leroy’s night vision and red lights we located the stairs and started our climb to the roof mostly in the dark. Once on the roof, we peered over the edge to find a security vehicle circling the building. Somehow we must have been spotted. The security guard showed no interest in coming into the pitch black building after us, so we sat on the rooftop waiting him out. Eventually he drove off, but circled back a few times. Leroy tied off a static line to an eye bolt at the edge off the roof and DN and I got our pilot chutes ready. I PCA’d Dark Naked, counted a few seconds, and jumped with Leroy PCAing me. A few seconds later Leroy was coming in behind me. We all landed in the shadows of a big bushy tree, stuffed our gear in the stash bags and made a wild dash for the compound fence going clear over it. We rushed through the woods to get back to the car only to find that we came out of the woods a half mile up the road where the car was parked, around the corner from the compound. Three men dressed in black with black bags on their back sprinted full speed down that road that night hoping that the security guard (or anyone else) would not come driving down that road after hearing the three loud sequential bangs from canopies opening. We made it safely back to the car and drove away victorious. That is what hanging out with Leroy was like, awesome. Best Christmas ever. My most memorable and fun BASE jumps were made possible by you. I will miss our countless phone conversations asking each other for guidance on "how to get this damn elevator going". You will truly be missed 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

These really baggy are more of novelty fun than anything else. They don't make your flying any better or help you learn anything. They make it much harder to fly! Imagine trying to freefly inside a washing machine. Big suits like these just thrash you around and beat you up, much less control! But the plus side is that you can use them to do some silly things if you ave the skill in the first place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lihAHNZiMIQ In order to slow your fall rate down enough to fly with belly flyers it requires continuous movement or max lift (in tunnel speak). When you're all out for max lift it can be very exhausting fighting the drag on your limbs and I frequently land out of breath and very tired. I got mine from an older jumper who happened to have a vintage one from the 70's in a box, I believe it was called a Brand-X suit. There were only 5-10 jumps on it in 30+ years. These vintage ones are a bit harder to find and people aren't very willing to give them up, but you can try. Another thing to try is calling up someone like Tony who has been making suits for a long time. I'm sure he made some of Olavs suits. If you ask Tony about remaking some old vintage suits it probably wouldn't be too difficult. Good luck

It was an honor getting to meet you and jump with you. It's amazing to read everyone's recollection of your smile. It's so true, you always had such a big happy grin. You organized some of the coolest dives I've been on. Thanks for inviting me to do that cool demo too. I'm sad that you're gone, but I'm so happy I got a chance to get to know you. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

On top of freeflying and spaceball flying, I will also be organizing the 'King of the Cloud' competition. This competition is open to any jumper with more than 50 jumps and promises to be some of the most fun you've ever had on a skydive. More details to come at the boogie, see you there! 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

That's so awesome

I only just met you for the first time at the record after years of seeing all your videos and knowing you as one of the greats while I was coming up in this sport. Your daughter Tahani was one of the funniest and cutest little girls I'd ever seen as she would run and jump on her belly playing crash stunt man. I hurt for your families loss. I'm glad I had the chance to meet you and make that formation with you. Blue skies Eli. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Freefall produce is not a new idea at all. I've done a lot of experimenting with a wide variety of produce. Trust me, they go much faster than most people think and they hit with much much more force than you would think. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=2030088&id=1296321030 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I will be there doing some Load Organizing. Freefly, belly, tracking, whatever. As long as you learn some new tricks! So be there! I'll also bring out all my spaceballs so if you want a chance to get your photo chasing the ball, be there! Ever turned 4 way with a vertical flyer? It's not a Hybrid, it's an Inbred! Want in? Be there! Can't find anyone to help you with what you need to know to take your flying to the next level? I'll be around for evening seminars on Intro to freeflying- basic to advanced, advanced tracking techniques for track dives, and more! 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

1. Whats your name? Simon 2. How old are you? 25 3. Why did you decide to start jumping out of airplanes? My roommate and I were fascinated by it 4. Are you single or taken? Taken

Here's a little tip, you can generally score higher if the game music is muted and you play this in the background instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwQbPgouUYo 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I figured it was about time to unleash this hell on the Bonfire. This online flash game has taken hours of my life away from me. It's time others get sucked in too. http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=774 My best score is 3,347. Good luck. You'll need it. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Here are two uploaded videos from the Saturday night film fest: Penelope Howe's http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=118057042373 Mine http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=1216581976798 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I'm sure I'll be down at some point over the winter holidays. I'm around there every year. Still too far away to have dates or a plan yet. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Rook told me he was hoping to put some stuff together over the winter in Sebastian. Got a couple advanced level events coming together here in TX (Dallas and Houston) over the next 2 months. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

I believe what this person is trying to say is that this thread is 36 pages of people agreeing with each other about how they disapprove of skyride, but making this 36 page thread has not actually accomplishing anything to stop them. Sure, things have been done to fight skyride, but it doesn't seem that this thread has had any effect on that progress. I think for the most part this person is right. Spending 900 posts talking about how much people dislike Skyride does not actually accomplish anything. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

The positions of your body don't care whether or not there is a lid covering your face. Makes no difference. Some people have had full faces where their worn and/or cheap visor flips open on them. Most people do not have that problem and if they did, it could happen on their bellies too. 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

As much as I'd love to turn the points on my head (see attached) the problem is that being vertical while doing 4 way only allows you to use two limbs for grips as opposed to four. So a lot of formation draws that require arm/leg grips or three limbs for grips to complete would leave me kind of screwed. But I don't mind being on my belly at all. It's like taking a break and doing something extremely easy for a change 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

And I'll be on my belly 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Brad Cole just posted one: http://www.vimeo.com/5933240 -Simon 108 way head down world record!!! http://www.simonbones.com Hit me up on Facebook

Some pics and news article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1203782/Lets-Amazing-pictures-108-skydivers-set-new-world-record-freefall-formation.html Ans someone posted a video here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/5966657/Video-108-skydivers-set-the-freefall-world-record.html