vrommel

I couldn't agree more! Even if you and your buddy were highly experienced canopy pilots, contact flight is a whole new game, has it's own unique risks, challenges and rules. When everything goes according to plan then yes, it's as simple as you describe it. When the shit goes down, however, you need to know a) how to recognize what you're dealing with and b) exactly how to deal with it. When you're alone in the sky and decide to wing it, that's your business. When you're flying in contact with someone else and something goes wrong, a CRW flyer will expect you to react to specific situations in a specific way and his reaction will be based on the assumption that your reaction will be as he expects it. When everybody on a CRW jump is on exactly the same page, the jump instantly becomes a lot safer. That being said - go out, find an experienced CRW dawg, get briefed, beg/borrow/steal some proper gear and have some fun!! Be safe, H He who hesitates shall inherit the earth.

Hi Not so concerned about snagging lines, but rather material - sliding up the lines after taking a high dock, getting your arm stuck inside a cell because the grip caught the nose, that kinda thing. Your point about getting a foot / hand caught in a loop is very valid! Perhaps an FS type grip without any padding inside could work - this should still provide plenty grip for someone setting up for a downplane while not offering any obstructive qualities. The knife covers don't have any velcro - it's basically a medium flex plastic covered with Kevlar that's sewn onto the top of a standard Jack knife sheath. It tucks into the sheath preventing snags both up and down. I'll send a pic when I get a chance. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth.

I'm not so sure about the FS type grips - would be worried about snagging ... depending on how big they are. I would rather consider dive-loop type handles? Oh, and I would add as many hook-knife pockets with snag cover flaps as you can possibly fit on the suit ;-) H He who hesitates shall inherit the earth.

I guess you've probably bought one of the two by now but for what it's worth, I was considering the same 2 options when I was shopping for a stills cam a while ago. In terms of freefall photography, they are very evenly matched. Eventually I opted for the 1000D because a) it has unlimited continuous firing while the 450D needs to buffer once in a while which could cost you the money shot. This is especially useful with tandem photography. It's important to get the fast writing SD card with the cam - get the slow SD card and the fastest firing cam in the world won't save you. b) the 1000D is lighter than the 450D. The difference is minimal, but it exists. c) the 1000D costs less. The additional functionality and MP you get with the 450D might be worthwhile if you use it for ground photography where you have time to set up and manually configure the cam for every shot, but for freefall photography I'd say the one is as good as the other. Hope that helps. Helge He who hesitates shall inherit the earth.

When I saw t landing I rushed to him, but I was calm - it was Tonto - he'll be fine. Tonto is always fine. Some soft arse-landings when working on perfecting a new approach, but he always gets up and walks off the dz - with a smile. The minutes after that will probably be with me forever - feeling helpless as I watched the jsc staff and paramedics giving it their everything. Tonto was one of the people you'd immediately look for in situations exactly like this for guidance and to calmly and swiftly deal with the incident at hand. I couldn't believe it then and I have trouble accepting the truth now. I remember disagreeing with t on occasion. 100% of those times he was pointing out how I could improve the safety of my skydive and I was too proud to admit that he was right - again. He was without a doubt the safest skydiver I have ever known. As Agnieszka wrote, it was a perfect day and t was in his happy place. I shared a load with him earlier and spirits were high - it was a beautiful morning. To Taya, Caleigh, Shanna, t's family and the jsc family: my thoughts are with you all. We'll never forget you, t. BSBD Helge

JSC is my home DZ and I'm proud to be a member there. It's one of the friendliest DZ's I've come across and an awesome place for a newbie in the sport to find a home. Contrary to the reputation of skydivers to be very inaccessible to newcomers, I have found a wealth of friendly, helpful and highly professional people at JSC.