Ktownbret

Sweet!!! Thanx man!!! I really need the help. Definatly ready for some referance points to find out whats really going on up there. www.okanaganskydive.com

ya, the closest place for coaching is Vancouver, about 4 hour away for me. I've been trying to get out there for the last month, but they have had rain forcasted every weekend. At least Ive had mother nature on my side at my home dz. I did 3 head down solos yesterday. Never got any video but I did manage to pull off my first really sloppy transision. Definatly a baby step!! Hopefully Van will get some better weather this weekend, and I will get some coaching. But once again their forcast looks grim. It's a long way to drive to get rained out. GO CANUKS GO!!!!!! www.okanaganskydive.com

Ok, so here's where I'm at. After probably 40 jumps trying to cartwheel into a head down, with no success, I tried a new approach. I can now do a nice slow backloop on exit(cessna 182)into a head down that feels quite stable(bending my legs, and straightning out my head seemed to be my problems). My body is straight. I am mostly feeling the wind on the front of my thighs. I seem to be able to drive my hips either forward or back slightly, and spill air from one side of my body to the other. I "think" I am falling straight down the pipe. On my last jump today i managed to start a turn, but it caused me to go unstable. I can recouver no prob back to my sit, but for the life of me I can't catrwheel back. I can do nice cartwheels all day long from my sit, but can't seem to be able to stop them half way. I can also get back into a head down from my belly no problem. So my question is, what do I do next? My dropzone has no freefly coaches. I have one friend who has a great sit, and just started flying camera. She is still a little nervous with her camera. Do I keep doing what I'm doing, trying to make this position feel natural? Do I try to get my friend to shoot video of me from a sit/stand?(would this be dangerous?) or do I keep trying the transitions? Any help would be greatly appriciated. www.okanaganskydive.com

tag can be fun!!! www.okanaganskydive.com

hmmm... ya ok maybe a nice slow, soft accurate landing next to the alter? www.okanaganskydive.com

That sandbar is sweeeeeeeeeeeet!!! www.okanaganskydive.com

Does anybody know for sure what weekend the KJP Scrambles are held this year? Also if there are any other events in B.C. on Labour day weekend? I believe Abby's boogy is on Aug. long weekend. Can anyone conferm this? Thanx Bret www.okanaganskydive.com

Have I got the place for you !!! I just got back from Skydive Ixtapas boogy in Feb. It was great!! Really laid back and quiet. Not rushed like some of the bigger boogys. They have a boogy in April too. The highlight of the boogy was my butha Pauly swooping the aisle for his wedding on the beach at sunset!!! New tradition? I think so!! Check out the vid i shot with my still camera. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H1kz5_v9l0 www.okanaganskydive.com

If I can find enough interest we would try to bring in a twin otter or a caravan, If the interest is smaller we were thinking about approaching one of the clubs in Van to see about renting the Porter, or King air? I know there is an event in Alberta, on July long weekend, that alot of people attend from B.C. And all the other long weekends in the summer seem to be taken in B.C. What I really need is input from other skydivers in B.C. or Alberta who would like to Skydive in the Okanogan Valley. I need to know what weekend they would like to come here. We usually have good weather from May through September. The biggest draw might be the scienery. The dropzone is right between Okanogan and Kalamalka lakes. Beautiful blue/green water. Sorrounded by great mountain views. I will try to post some pics tomorrow. There would probably be alot of focus on the social aspects of the event. Great food, drinks, Sunset loads onto a secluded beach. I have some great ideas, and some good support. I just need to know if the people will show up!! http://www.skydiveadventures.ca/index.html www.okanaganskydive.com

Definatly go to that boogy!! If I didnt have to work I'd be there. There is a drive to the airport, but when I was there in Feb. we never had to wait for any traffic at the airport. Landing on the beach makes it all worth while. The staff in Ixtapa put on a great event. We had free drinks at a differant bar every night of the week. There was BBQs, fire jugglers, oh ya and more drinks. I would recomend finding a hotel in Zihua. It was my first trip to Mexico so I got a 4 star all incl resort. The food was terrible. The food everywere else was great, and cheap. When I go back next year I will defintly do this. Great job on the myspace pg Val. looking forward to seeing all you guys next year. This time I'll bring a crew. www.okanaganskydive.com

great idea!! I have a pretty good sit. I worked on it all last season. Got good at levels, and started to take a few docks. Just this spring i realized that i cant fly worth S$#% on my back. Looking back now, I think I should have put alot more time into this befor I even tried to learn to sitfly. www.okanaganskydive.com

Would anybody out there be interested in attending a weekend boogy In Vernon British Columbia? I am considering putting an event together. I am trying to find out how much interest there would be. Also what weekend would be best. I believe there are currently boogys in B.C. on every long weekend through the summer, except July 1st. I am considering having it on this weekend. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

If you are jumping in western Canada french is not an issue www.okanaganskydive.com

Chilliwak is shut down now. Not enough people there. www.okanaganskydive.com

Great dropzones all over B.C. Vancouver has 2. Pitt Meadows with a King air, and Abbotsford with a Potter. Both have great views of the mountains. Further east you have one in Kamloops, and one in Vernon. Both are awsome cessna dropzones with great peeps. mostly only go to 10000 ft at those 2. If you are a hardcore freeflyer I would hit Abbotsford. If bellyflying is your thing there is world class flyers in Kamloops. May 18th to 21 there is an awsome boogy there. There will be a king air a twin otter, and a couple of helis. Vernon and Pitt Meadows are kind of a mix of belly and freeflyers. Vernon is home forr me and definatly has the best view of the 4. It is in a beautiful valley right between 2 lakes!!! We just got a second plane there so there will be alot of loads this year. Hope to see you there. http://www.skyflyerz.com/about.php http://www.vancouver-skydiving.bc.ca/ http://www.skydiveadventures.ca/ http://www.skydivekamloops.org/ Blue Skys www.okanaganskydive.com

can anybody tell me what the advantages are to spending $200+ on a lens. Is the picture quality better then the $40 Kenko? I know they are smaller and lighter wieght, exactly how much does this play into safty? Also how about size? I seem to be getting the idea that a .45 would be a good all around lens. www.okanaganskydive.com

Can anybody tell me the best lens to get for my sony pc 1000. To start I will be filming mostly freeflying, but hope to be shooting tandems soon. Thanx www.okanaganskydive.com

If you seem to be working your hips as much as you can try concentrating on your head position. I found that I was looking down alot, especially when people were below me. This was causing me to back slide, or at least slow my forward movement. I have also found that by tilting my head back, it's like getting an extra gear. Not only do you get that much more wind deflection, but it also straightens your whole body out. You have to be careful though, because its a little harder to see. www.okanaganskydive.com

Arching definitely seems to be my trend too. Especially on transitions. I got some excellent coaching recently. From exit he held my leg strap with his right hand, and higher on my harness with his left hand. He kept me really close and was able to mouth instructions for my head position. He was also able to put the lower half of my body in the correct position. From there I practiced slight hip movements to get a feel for forward and backwards movement. I was able to realize that my head position was Throwing me off. I think I can at least call it a baby step.

looking to find my old mentor Rosco. Unfortunatly i do not remember his last name. He was an instruster in Cambell River on Vancouver Island. I would give my left arm to jump with him again. If your out there Rosco, or anybody has his phone number please let me know. Bret www.okanaganskydive.com

more about having fun then serious skydiving. If you want to relax, get in some great winter skydives, and party your face off then this is the place for you. Don't expect to get 6 jumps a day, because your head will probably hurt too much from the night befor. The staff in Ixtapa more then made up for the drive to the airport. The after hours events were very well organized. I traveled down there alone, and felt like I was leaving family when i left. Hope to see everyone back there next year.

very positive vibe. I can't say enough about the people here. Starting to have a few more freeflyers around. rumers of a second plane for next year.

Sweet, Thanx Val. I found a place right on the beach. See ya down there. Bret www.okanaganskydive.com

hey would you be able to tell me what hotel most of the skydivers will be staying at in Ixtapa in Feb? I'm thinking about heading down there on my own and I am going to need some friends to help me celebrate my 200th. www.okanaganskydive.com

Check out Go-Crazy. Got my one piece this year, and love it. It is made of 100% hemp, is super dourable, and it looks great. Everyone who sees it wants to know where it came from. I was amazed at how much this suit helped my sit. Helped me get a much better forward drive. I also have some Matter pants that I like, but don't seem to be as flexable as my Go-Crazy suit. Bret www.okanaganskydive.com