DSE

In both cases Id recommend a small wingsuit for a good 100 to 250 jumps before (if one even has to) upsize. 201 or 5000 jumps doesn't make any change in that recommendation for me.. Agreed. Whether one has 200 skydives or 20,000 skydives, the first few wingsuit jumps are the first few skydives in a wingsuit. Look around on DZ.com articles, you'll find where Brian Germaine (thousands of skydives) had his ass handed to him by a big suit that he was not experienced enough to have been flying.

http://wingsuitcompetition.com/ Flocking becomes really old after a short bit. Currently we have: Flocking (can be recorded as records if flown cleanly enough, must be four-way or larger. Currently only flat flocks are recognized) Performance (individual competition for time/distance/speed) Recognized as a competitive discipline by FAI and USPA (and other orgs). Acro (two way competition, see link above. Recognized as a competitive discipline by FAI and USPA (and other orgs). Sequential (four way teams, not *currently* recognized by any body, but a helluva lotta fun). XRW (canopy/wingsuit relative work, not *currently* recognized by any body) The discipline is expanding, but the short of it is, anybody can buy a big suit, hang flat/dumb/happy. it takes skill to participate in any of the above. If you're just wanting fun/hang time, and aren't interested in social skydiving, then any kind of suit works well. For flocking or acro, the suits become a bit more specialized. The Performance competitions are built for any size of suit. Sequential is for any size of suit. XRW is for med-large to very large suits. Either way, *most* wingsuiters have multiple tools in their closets. Find a school with a number of demos. Fly with a few people. Find what you like most and start there.

Which I assume must be of the same model / type? Yes. If the same model/type is not available, then the chief judge has the authority to decide whether the competitor continues or can present a case for a substitution.

Another clone of the SureShot system, which already sells quite well. Both are far too slow for skydiving purposes

The competition is at Netheravon, UK.

Argh. Copy/paste from a word doc didn't work so well. Chalk it up to late-night... Day two; Two rounds in the can and Round three begun. More records set (and re-broken) today. Spirits are high, but the wind grew higher for a short bit this afternoon, and by evening, clouds covered us in. Looking forward to a big tomorrow.

At the first day of the first FAI World Cup Wingsuit Performance Cup, more world and national records have been set than at any previous point in wingsuit world history. Visit http://www.ppc.paralog.net for more information/results. Espen Fadnes (NOR) set two records for the EU. Marc-André Denault (CAN) set two records for North America. Alexey Shatilov (RUS) set a record for EU/Russia. Steve Holden (AUS) set two records for Oceana (Australia). Jackie Harper (UK) set two records for Female, EU. Simon Repton (USA) set a new record for Speed/North America. Marcelo Zoni (BRA set a new record for Brazil. Lori Butz (USA) set two Records for Female/North America. Satyendra Verma (IND) set a new record for Asiana. We now have a complete meet. We are not finished, but we have completed one round. Expect more national and world records to be shattered tomorrow. CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who is here, putting their numbers on the line, competing hard, growing, and making this discipline shine on an international landscape. All results make be found at the http://www.ppc.paralog.net website. Scores are updated in real-time, so you can watch as the comp happens. We’ll resume at 0700 tomorrow morning. Show your support for your friends, teammates, and wingsuit family by taking a few minutes to see their results in Google Earth 3D. Forgive the cross-post, it wasn't til later that I realized this event is of greater interest than just wingsuits.

At the first day of the first FAI World Cup Wingsuit Performance Cup, more world records have been set than at any previous point in wingsuit world history. Visit http://www.ppc.paralog.net for more information/results. Espen Fadnes (NOR) set two records for the EU. Marc-André Denault (CAN) set two records for North America. Alexey Shatilov (RUS) set a record for EU/Russia. Steve Holden (AUS) set two records for Oceana (Australia). Jackie Harper (UK) set two records for Female, EU. Simon Repton (USA) set a new record for Speed/North America. Marcelo Zoni (BRA set a new record for Brazil. Lori Butz (USA) set two Records for Female/North America. Satyendra Verma (IND) set a new record for Asiana. We now have a complete meet. We are not finished, but we have completed one round. Expect world records to be shattered tomorrow. CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who is here, putting their numbers on the line, competing hard, growing, and making this discipline shine on an international landscape. All results make be found at the http://www.ppc.paralog.net website. Scores are updated in real-time, so you can watch as the comp happens. We’ll resume at 0700 tomorrow morning. Show your support for your friends, teammates, and wingsuit family by taking a few minutes to see their results in Google Earth 3D.

I would suggest that our industry owes a great deal of "thanks" to CQS; they've now generated a recent precedent that is well-defended, offers up solid language and foundation for any future attorney seeking a similar lawsuit elsewhere in the country. It's unfortunate Mile-Hi has had to bear the weight of the cost. Supporting the DZ is the best thing for any of us to do, as their defense will stand for every other DZ in the USA for many years to come. Well done Frank and team!

I'm not sure why you'd want to record to ProRes LT? Why bother spending all that money to use a codec that is equal to XAVC-S? Why transcode to ProRes at all? You'll lose quality and increase filesize. XAVC is a terrific codec with a broad spectrum of bitrates and color depths. If you're going to be pushing it around much (such as with stabilization) you want as much info as possible. As far as Atomos vs Convergent Design; CD is a pro company that has been around for 2 decades, building broadcast gear, by broadcast pro's. Their tech and customer support is the gold standard of the industry. Atomos is a good company, but their products lag behind standards and their customer support could certainly use some bolstering, IMO. I'm not sure what you're referencing as "really nice 1080 vs ho-hum compressed." It's very rare you'd see any kind of end-display of 1080 (or 4K) that isn't deeply compressed. Global shutter is necessary to avoid jello cam. Currently only available at 24/30p on a few higher grade cameras, and at p60 on some very high grade cameras, the 4/4/4 vs 4/2/2 vs 3/1/1, vs 4/2/0...you might start with my book on "The Full HD." You can find used copies on Amazon or at B&H.

It's a mistaken assumption to think I've forgotten anything. Plain and simple, I feel a camera on top of the head is a mistake no matter what (for a new jumper0. Small side mounts such as the AS100 or Contour are preferable, if mounted properly. "Back in the day," the concept of putting a camera on top was more relegated to stills than to video, and putting a still camera on top was something that only more experienced jumpers did. I've not jumped without a cutaway system; even "back in the day." The DZO I started jumping with insisted on camera helmets having some sort of cutaway system. My first helmet was a modified, second hand system. My second helmet was a BH Optik, which also had a cutaway system. Neither are "stupidly expensive" and both were quite effective. Every skydiver whose been around can share "stupid camera stories," or stupid "[insert skydiving activity here] stories. We'll just have to agree to disagree that a blocky camera on top is superior to a slimmount sidemount.

Interesting perspective. {tongue into cheek here} That's likely why Outdoor did an article on camera-related sport death, is all these guys have incredible skills with POV cameras "before they engaged in the sport." I'm a bit slow sometimes; I'd appreciate you helping me understand how something relevant to skydiving might be trained "long before one starts skydiving?" (outside of breathing and visual acuity).

I already have an Odyessy, so it's a non-thought for me. This camera is for PRO work, not for day to day tandems. Boris RED is a great tool for post stab, and on the low-cost side, ProDad is a good option

The IRM contains the informative requirements; yet offers no indepth information on hazards, how to manage the camera, where/how to fly, deployment concerns, attention span, etc. Offering up less than basics/only recommendations in what is almost assuredly common practice, is doing new coaches and the conversation of cameras a disservice. That said, when the IRM section was written, cameras weren't the size of half a pack of cigarettes for $99.00, either. Times have changed. It's likely time for the IRM to change too.

Good Safety Day topic? Instructional Rating Seminar topic? Well...USPA membership was given a powerpoint to offer up for Safety Day... https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17JfC5ng40cxrohRkp0y9ED1pntKq_DI_WJKG3Pf6Dsc/edit?usp=sharing Nearly 100 dropzones have downloaded it, although I've not seen USPA themselves make commentary. This topic is also part of my Coach Course; It's seemingly silly that the IRM doesn't address this, because most every coach (fewer than 200 jumps), is wearing a camera. The BOD had a vote on this topic three meetings ago, how did you vote, Gary?

Specifically, exactly, how? I struggle with understanding how one can "debrief themselves" from their own POV camera. Truly, I'd appreciate learning more. A video example would be most helpful, with commentary on what you learned from said jump. Douglas, I'm going to respond to your post, but my comments are to everyone. I have been thinking about experienced level and the use of cameras for quite some time. Please note that I will not address the dangers of skydiving with these devices, but am simply trying to explain how they are thought of by some younger jumpers. About a year ago I communicated with another younger jumper who posted about small format cameras, and he too received quite a lot of grief from experienced jumpers. However, what I learned from him was that newer/younger jumpers view small format cameras differently that many of us older people do. Many of us think of video during a skydive (both freefall and canopy flight) as a tool to use to evaluate performance (in a "debrief"). Indeed it is good for that. In fact, so good that many of us cannot imagine why a person would want to take a camera along unless it was used for such a purpose. However, we now have a generation of people that do not necessarily assume that use for their cameras. Cell phones with built-in cameras, and small format cameras are so common that many people wonder why we would not want to use them as often as we can. To them, it is not about the quality of the video. In many cases, the "debrief" that they are referring to is simply use as an "event logger", reminding them of what happened on the skydive, not necessarily showing it, or using it to evaluate performance. It is a way of getting "more for their money" by being able to re-live the jump. Skydiving has managed to become rather expensive, so getting as much for their money makes sense to them. (Once again, I am not discussing the dangers.) I disagree with much of your premise. This is the "me" generation. In my industry for example, we've watched the trend away from television to youtube now to social media. It's all about raising your hand the highest and getting the most "likes." Yes, an event logger, one to be shared with the world. Unfortunately, a couple things haven't changed. -ignorance of the repercussions of paying more attention to trying to get a cool shot... (Been with us since the advent of the camera more than 100 years ago) -the way a parachute system works (unless someone's recently changed the behavior of a bridle and PC) These two things combined, create problems for the jumper and those around him. They are a distraction. The physicality of the camera is a lesser issue than the psychology of the camera. The psychology can easily be trained, but few are willing to take the time to learn, in great part because a camera accompanies everything else they do. Just a week ago, I witnessed a tandem student arguing why his selfie stick would be cool, and no danger. 3 hours later, I watched a guy and his girlfriend, both sub 60 jumps, with a selfie stick on a skydive (stick was concealed until after exit). IMO, it's the entitlement attitude of "me shooting my life and you don't have the right to tell me I can't, regardless of your reasoning." I don't think it has anything to do with "getting the most out of your skydiving dollar because skydiving has gotten more expensive."

Talk to me more (offline) before you go down that road... lots to share after this past week. It is an AMAZING piece of gear. For those that haven't seen it... https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicmicrocinemacamera It is NOT a GoPro replacement, not by any stretch. It's weighty and awkward to mount on most helmet systems. It's also a fair amount of work in post. But...at the price of body/lens (third party), it's a sweet deal.

The AX 33 is a terrific little camera, and has the same imager/same series imager as the F1000. The projector aspect is a little silly IMO, but it is a very nice overall camera.

For someone of Matt's calibre, I'd likely suggest the Blackmagic Design 4K Micro. It's not shipping just yet; having had a prototype, it's simply incredible. Sony's offerings are slim outside of the 1000V in 4K (for the skydiving world), at least right now. No one is doing an awesome job of 4K in a small/POV package just yet.

Nothing of quality really is. If you're seeing helmet/noses in 120 mode, it's set too far back.

Actually, the side mount with the camera upside down and the angle changed to invert is far better than a topmount. I don't think it sucks at all; it's virtually identical to the Contour in profile and placement, only smaller. And easy to get out of the side/clip mount while seeing the LCD display, hearing the record indication, and accessing the buttons.

The same can be said for *any* camera.

You mean the style of mount that was the reason for the fatality in Poland discussed in Norman Kent's video? The problem with side mounts is that they are usually permanent (you screw the thing on), and are actually pretty easy to snag, especially in the event of a cutaway (again - see fatality in Norman Kent video). RSL-side is arguably more dangerous than non-RSL side. An entirely different camera is an entirely different mount. Comparing all left side mounts to one that was fatal is as foolish as suggesting that every top mount is dangerous (there have been fatalities there, too). Although there are no right-side fatalities, there are people that are successfully jumping right side mounts too. And then there's the video of the chin mount capturing a bridle...and a wrist mount tangled during a tandem cutaway, and then there is the footmount where it was reasonably proven that the footmount contributed to a fatality in a significant way, and...and...and... It's short sighted and wrongful to suggest that a left side mount is more likely to cause an incident than a top, chin, wrist, foot, middle, or right side mount. The incident in Poland, the camera was roughly thrice the size of the Sony AS100V. The brand or type of camera bears zero relevance to snag hazard. ANY camera can be a snag hazard. Any camera can be snag-reduced. No camera can be considered fool-proof; there will always be the fool that figures out how to hurt themselves one way or another.

That's not the best choice of camera for a first camera due to lack of snag-free mounts. Have a discussion about cameras and snagpoints with your local S&TA. You may want to get a gopro instead, as there are less dangerous mounting options available for it. In addition, don't get footage horny. People that wait for a particular numbered skydive to arrive to use a camera tend to forget all about the skydiving and concentrate on the camera on that skydive. And then they have a cutaway because their riser entangles the damn thing, a two out because they lose altitude awareness or something equally as stupid (both of these happened to my friends). When I started using a camera it was my video logbook and nothing more for the first ~100 skydives. I turned it on at 10k and off when I landed. Kept my brain on the things that matter and not on "is it blinking?". The AS100V is no less and no more snag-likely nor snag resistant than a GoPro, regardless of mount type. Both have low-profile mounts, and both have snag-probable mounts. Out of the box, the AS100 is significantly less likely to snag (although that's not how I'd use it). As a right-side mount, it's far less snag-likely than a GoPro top center of a helmet. The AS100V is fine as a first-camera (or a full-time use camera) in skydiving.

Specifically, exactly, how? I struggle with understanding how one can "debrief themselves" from their own POV camera. Truly, I'd appreciate learning more. A video example would be most helpful, with commentary on what you learned from said jump.