base935

Is there a difference in being the best jumper, and being a jumper that cares about other jumpers the best? I agree Jeb does sick aerials, but you can't say that he is the nicest, most helpful, friendly, or ethical jumper in the land... Gravity Research Institute

One thing that I didn't notice yet is the idea of going handheld if the wind is coming from behind. What is your opinion, Tom Aiello? Gravity Research Institute

Hey Calvin, you can charge more, because some new jumpers will pay more to get into BASE quick and with minimal research and effort... Gravity Research Institute

If you are experienced, and willing to show a returning FJC student your local objects when they get back, I assume you already decided that you are compatible with them, and decided that they have the right mindset in your opinion. If that is the case, why are you not taking them to a local object and teaching them yourself? I just got back from Twin, with someone I've been mentoring for the last year. There were 5 students in one FJC class, not Tom's, and they got 3 jumps from the course. Due to winds, one PCA, and two handhelds. The question I have is: Do these jumpers already have established contacts and commitments from jumpers back home, who will look over them for the next ~20 jumps, and show them the local objects? Or are they going to go home $850-1200 poorer, to a scene where they haven't talked to a single local BASE jumper, with knowledge only of slider-down, 1-2sec, 42"pc, span jumping, into a huge landing area? I agree that sometimes you can't win. I don't want to, can't, and won't take every skydiver in town that wants to get into BASE to the Perrine, and watch over them for their first ~20 jumps. I choose to jump with a very small group, and you won't get invites to our cool loads just because you want to. I will help everyone I can as much as I can, at the same time, but I have no answer for this problem that won't go away. I understand that if someone is refused teaching, they might just go off in the dark and figure it out themselves. Not good for anyone. But to flood the BASE world with FJC courses, somehow cheapens the demonstration of desire and determination to get into BASE. Guess those jumpers are always welcome at the Perrine... Gravity Research Institute

With all due respect Tom, When I saw you last weekend and someone asked you how your FJCs were going, your answer was, "Business is great!" I'm glad that you are banking on teaching tons of people who pay to play. And manufacturer courses that last weekend taught 5 more students at TF, at $1200 a piece. When they get done with these courses with essentially non-local strangers, they are going to return and either tear things up as rogue loners, or have to fit into the local scene, after the fact. I just don't understand why skydivers who want to learn to jump don't just keep asking until they can't be ignored anymore. Bring a camera, offer to drive, make your mom bake the locals cookies. But it just seems that more and more people are making a "living" off teaching anyone willing to pay, regardless of what the consequences are to the locals, local objects, or the future overpopulation of BASE in general. If you want it bad enough, you can have it when you earn it. Otherwise, keep your money for a new vented canopy and grow with your locals. Learn from them before your BASEing, during, and continue with them. If everyone with $1200 and another $1000 for gear gets to jump and return home, we can only expect more fatalities and less open objects... Gravity Research Institute

I have a ZP Ace and a ZP Blackjack. I use the ZP Ace primarily for slider up, and keep the Blackjack for slider down. I have about 185 jumps on a non-ZP Blackjack, so I can offer that for comparison. The CR Blackjack and Ace are WAY better in my opinion. Not only is the full topskin unnecessary, but it isn't a CR canopy. CR canopies are made by PD, and only the first third are ZP, which makes packing and everything else way easier. I can't imagine any time when vents/valves are better. If you want to tame the openings, try different nose treatments, and go with a small hole slider, or even a solid slider. I've jumped both terminal, and I would prefer the Blackjack with small hole over the Ace with big hole, and they both rock. I can't imagine that you're going to do 5-8 terminal jumps in a night, so just take a hard opening on the one a night that you will do, and pull lower... Gravity Research Institute

Jimmy, you're doing it wrong. You're supposed to shotgun beer before the jump. If you're going to teach people, please be responsible and do it correctly. These bad habits will be hard to break later. Gravity Research Institute

Beer is good, but you should have checked if he has a hot sister first. Gravity Research Institute

PM me what you have in mind... KS is pretty fun... Peter Gravity Research Institute

The best part about the last 28 posts is that Miles doesn't give a crap what is on here, he's too busy doing cool stuff that doesn't need online high-fives. Kind of flattering, huh Miles? Gravity Research Institute

Mostly for the east coasters... Gravity Research Institute

It actually started out with my girlfriend taking this pic, and edited Tony's head out of the exit. Cropped it a little and then copied a new layer of just the trailing edge, and blurred that back. Wasn't too hard to do, it just took a while to not look totally faked. The only reason I like it is for the simple fact that the photographer never gets shots of himself. Just happed to be the one time I have a pic of me... I like this other one too... Gravity Research Institute

From last year at Skydive Hawaii... And a slightly photoshopped crop from Moab. Gravity Research Institute

How about: "Things not to tell NPS Rangers?" EVERYTHING! You're not going to talk you're way out of the charge, and you're just f-ing things up for the future. Hope it made you feel good though. Don't tell them a thing. Gravity Research Institute

Now we're worried about "Conspiracy to Commit Aerial Delivery"? Seriously, how gay is this going to get before it gets better? Gravity Research Institute

Seriously, if you taking 125 pics with a Rebel XT- for tandems-, set the resolution to medium. I bet you could fit 300 of those pics on a $0.08 CD. And the resolution will be better than anyone will ever want their tandem pics to be anyways. You won't have to worry about buffering, and the files will transfer way quicker... Film stills are so 2005... I originally got into this thread thinking it was talking about digital DV video vs. film for movies... Gravity Research Institute

If you want, I have several phone numbers for the locals in Phoenix, super nice guys that you would be able to call and get help from... Let me know if you don't get any PMs... edit by request of poster ~TA Gravity Research Institute

Tom, we're all super proud of you for losing your virginity, and to a pro at that! We knew it would happen sooner or later... Hey Magot, I checked the weather forecast, looks like it will be too windy in the next couple days, but let me know if you still have credit with that chick, I'll be up there tomorrow... Gravity Research Institute

What if you are about to visit a NP in the off season? Should jumpers just start flooding the specific parks with permit applications and requests to begin "appropriate use trials"? What is the next step now that the wording on aerial delivery has changed? Gravity Research Institute

Hey there, I don't know if I was on any of them, we were out at Mineral Bottom most of the time, but you can upload them to our gravitypimps.com server, and then just link the images a lot easier. Let me know if you're interested... Peter Gravity Research Institute

Does it have to be skydive specific? Or will big BASE PCs work for your little project? Gravity Research Institute

Yea, if anyone needs a copy.... I've had tons of problems with DPP just locking up and "not responding"... Anyone else? Gravity Research Institute

Or you could just build your own for about $2.50. There isn't anything more than a "L" plug, microswitch, some wire, and heat shrink tubing. To seal it off, just heat it up and press it together with some pliers... Gravity Research Institute

Everyone wants a sticker... Gravity Research Institute

How about moderators? Or at least a new "one". Gravity Research Institute