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  • Main Canopy Size
    150
  • Main Canopy Other
    Storm 150
  • Reserve Canopy Size
    143
  • AAD
    Vigil 2

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  • Home DZ
    Skydive Utah/Skydive Elsinore
  • License
    D
  • License Number
    29060
  • Licensing Organization
    USPA/CSPA
  • Number of Jumps
    5800
  • Years in Sport
    9
  • First Choice Discipline
    Freefall Photography
  • First Choice Discipline Jump Total
    1000
  • Second Choice Discipline
    Wing Suit Flying
  • Second Choice Discipline Jump Total
    3000

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    Instructor
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  1. Using ND filter to reduce jello: How to make it video here: http://youtu.be/L5o3m90zTQg Results video here: http://youtu.be/PgldwfAJB1s DSE mentioned this earlier. Seems to me that it works just fine (even with 4 f-stops lost and on overcast day like on that video). Now, does anyone have 4x4 inches of Neutral density lighting gel to spare? Sheet costs 5$ on BHphoto, but shipping it here is 120$ Write to Rosco. Ask them for a few demo rings/gel samples of their gel. The demo ring contains strips of every color/type they make. Each strip will make three gels for the GoPro or Sony camera if you use a US nickel for a template. Toss in an Xacto knife and a slow cut, you're home free. They look like this: http://learnmorephoto.com/images/roscolux-160x160.jpg
  2. VeRY cool! Thanks for sharing the script and setup protocol. I can't see this working for a large DZ (it's not common to find fat pipes where big DZ's operate), but for smaller DZ's, it's a great solution!
  3. Congrats to: W. L. "Jay" Stokes 3427 Kirk Verner 2592 Mike McGowan 2342 Sherry Butcher 2295 Mike Mullins 2261 Larry Hill 2012 Jan Meyer 1980 Thomas J. Noonan III 1728 All very good people, all highly qualified.
  4. You're welcome! Forgive me, I was referring to other candidates. It was an appreciated surprise to see you there, too.
  5. Are you an Anarchist? Who would represent American skydiving to the FAI? Who would issue credentials? Who would train instructors? And most importantly, who would there be left to complain about? Who would represent skydivers to the FAA? Who would work diligently to protect small airport operations on public airfields? Who would keep the NAA in line? Who would lobby for us in DC? I once had an opinion that the USPA wasnt' all that. And then I became involved, informed, and of a different opinion. Having had the experience of working with a couple of NACs over the past couple of years....USPA may not be perfect, but it's much more close to perfect than many believe. Bear in mind too, there is a significant difference between the BOD and the admin of USPA. The Admin people are all professionals, working to do the bidding of the BOD, who are obligated to represent the membership who elected them. Generally, the board does what the membership asks for. Occasionally, they don't. Charlie is right; new blood will enrich the board. Some board members haven't jumped in years, and only serve their own DZ's. Other BOD members jump their tails off. FWIW, it was super to see two candidates for the BOD make the trek to USPA Wingsuit Nationals, and shake hands with the competitors, meeting them in person.
  6. Why doesn't that surprise me? Wait...I've watched you sleep (multiple times) in BOD meetings. One time, a few of us in the front row chuckled when you snored. You're sitting in the meetings; if you've really not noticed a couple of these things, then your region might suspect an issue of attentiveness. What else might have you missed? You were sitting next to the BOD member (no longer sitting) whom I assisted in walking out of the room to vomit (Scottsdale) and commented as I helped walk around the hotel. You were present in Reno and San Diego when other 'moments' occurred. How could you possibly not have been aware?
  7. I could, but I decline. Oh FFS, Spot. Either share facts or don't. This "I'm going to throw out just enough gossip to show that I am more in the know than you" routine wasn't really that clever in junior high when the mean girls did it.
  8. There is a difference, in my view, between "discussing candidates and their platforms" and people posting "don't vote for this guy because he did this, that, or the other thing." Or verbally reducing them to dust. Or turning something they didn't do into something they did do, because someone on the internet said so. Every single member of the board has warts. Some of them more huge than others, but I've yet to meet a member of the BOD that doesn't have SOMETHING that nobody would like. They're people. They make mistakes in both personal and professional lives.
  9. I could, but I decline. A-A couple of them are no longer on the board. One of them isn't a skydiver any longer because he lost everything when he was burned at the stake on the internet, and I find that reprehensible. B-While there are a few people that believe that outing someone on a website like this is morally/ethically acceptable, I'm not one of them. It's one thing to bring to light truths about our organization (and it's got flaws enough of its own), its another thing entirely to (often anonymously) attempt to destroy someone else's reputation over the internet. You're invited to attend a few BOD meetings and come to your own conclusions of who is and isn't contributing to the forward progress of our sport. There are often two sides to every story, and not everyone chooses to tell their story here on Dz.com. And its not my job to force them here to defend themselves.
  10. FWIW, I don't know that it's possible for the board to hold themselves to the standard they expect from us, nor what we expect of them. One candidate in this year's election, was shown to be flying in a beanbag chair ferrying to a demo. Another, fabricated emails that were used to eviscerate another candidate in this year's elections. When the fabrication was discovered, it "didn't matter, because no one wants that guy elected anyway." Yet another posted confidential material on Facebook, where an instructor was crucified long before a USPA Safety/Training committee conversation could take place. We've seen BOD members stoned in committee meeting, we've seen BOD members drunk at meetings, we've seen BOD members participate in covering up competition cheats, we've seen BOD members give ratings for sexual favors. There is at least one sitting board member whose admitted they truly don't give a shit about skydiving, but they sure appreciate the free airfare to this or that place. Over the years, I'm sure nothing surprises anyone. Just remember that the BOD members are like everything else, a cross section of life and real people. A few board members are brilliant. A couple are dumber than a goldfish. Some are intent on building power, while others just want to do the best job they can. If I didn't think my mountain regional director was a super guy, I'd have run against him not because I want the job, but because someone who has passion for the sport tempered with experience should be sitting in that seat. Since he's a good man with a lot of background, I voted for him. Regardless of what anyone thinks...the job the board members do is a dirty, pain in the ass job. I've not been on this board, but have attended most USPA BOD meetings since 2006. "Fun" is not a word I'd use to describe any of it. Reading Judy's words on Tom and Albert doesn't surprise me. I've been around when Tom Noonan is having one of those 30 minute calls with constituents. And the same goes for several other BOD members. I'm stunned at the amount of personal time some of these people dedicate to their constituents, all for a plane ticket and hotel room twice a year, to an event where they get to listen to people bitch, moan, and complain about how bad their USPA board is. Hats off to those people that serve (even the couple that are dumber than a goldfish) for taking the time out to do a thankless job.
  11. yes and yes, and for specific purposes, it's a terrific tool. I can't see how one might apply it well in skydiving, however.
  12. Wish you were here, John. It's going along well, weather not-withstanding. Some very impressive scores going up here!
  13. Lots of WS jumps out of PAC's, and it's not difficult to safely exit them. I've put out 11-ways from a PAC without any issue. If you were taught and do practice a head-up exit with all surfaces minimized, you'll be able to exit a PAC no differently than any other aircraft (assuming the pilot is maintaining a tail-high, rotation-reduced profile). Causing a stall is a bigger issue for the PAC. With three on the door and three jammed at the rear, stalls are relatively common, scary, and unnecessary.
  14. No, it's not the same, and if that's the message you took from my words, then I communicated poorly (using someone else' words). It's the braggadocious child that needs to tell the world "I broke the rules and I got away with it." As some have said, the worst thing is to get away with breaking a rule/ignoring a recommendation and thinking you're OK for having done so. Eventually, that attitude will catch up. Whether it's downsizing, putting on a wingsuit too early, jumping a camera, attempting particular maneuvers in a group without the training/skill, whatever. Consider the approach, not the action.
  15. Guys I did it I finally ran across the freeway blindfolded and I didn't die. OK, that was sarcasm, but I did run across the freeway blindfolded and figured I would report back now that I have experienced my first blind-folded freeway crossing on foot. I know many of you will be disappointed... I now believe I'm capable of running across the freeway with a blindfold on, whether it's rush hour, midnight, under construction, or whatever else is going on when I run across the freeway wearing a blindfold. I ran across the freeway blindfolded, don't really have a reason to do it again and it won't matter anyway because I'll take off the blindfold before winter comes. Distracted by the thought of being "that idiot" not the actual stain on the concrete. Are you proud of me now?