JumpinJohn

This Saturday (may 10th) Archway Skydiving will be hosting an RW competition for up and coming jumpers. A 4 round 2-way competion will be held with the top teams receiving prize money (to be determained by # of teams entered). This contest will focus on skill development and will be limited to teams with under 200 jumps combined. You are welcome to bring your own videographer or get one at the dz. Prices will be $144 for teams with their own videographer and $216 for teams that need video. An entry fee will also be taken to be used for prize money. Come out and enjoy the day with us!

I just put a pro track in my hurricane. I'm finiding it a bit hard to hear, even though the volume is set on high. Anyone else have this problem?

I'm going to try to, but money is tight cause i just started work this past thursday and I won't get paid a full weeks pay till next friday. And, I'm on the schedule for saturday, even though I'm not supposed to have to work saturdays... but we'll see if I can get it straightened out. Anyways, hope to see you all this weekend. J

Sweet, now all I need is my damn rig... I'm so frustrated

"Taking out the DZO is no problem if Marc competes" hahaha... missle boy

I would love to take part, but I think I heard something about needing a B or better license to participate. Plus, my container STILL isn't here. On to week thirteen....

Well when I chose to order my javelin I went primarily with what the rigger at my DZ said. I really liked the look of the mirage and from what I have heard its a pretty solid container, but my rigger had just had some unpleasent dealings with mirage's customer service. They had screwed up several containers they had built, one they made crooked, the other they built with the wrong color binding tape twice, and with another customer (I'm not sure of the specifics) but essentially I guess he was having a problem with their service and they told him they didn't need his business. Anyways, I don't want to do any flaming here, but with the difficulties that our rigger had been having with mirages as of late, I decided to get a javelin. So, even though I feel that both are solid containers, it came down to customer service for me. But Anne, I agree, mirages do look damn cool.

My middle name is Roland, after my dad's first name. It's german. So to keep the porn tradition alive, my porno name would be Roland Peabody. Hehe

Hell yeah I'll be there. I live about 20 min away in champaign. Any and all are welcome to come crash with me if someone is sober enough to drive back here.

Yeah I hear ya when you say its weird not having a dive plan after your off student status. While I was there I just did alot of solos until I had the numbers to get an A. Mostly I worked on making my turns more crisp and usually pulled a little bit higher to play under canopy. As for the gear. I started out by ordering an RW suit (swoop suit by tony suits) and a wrist mount. Then about a month later I ordered a new javelin, pd reserve, cypres, and a used sabre 190. Which by the way I hope gets here by this weekend... The way I chose my gear was to talk with the rigger at my DZ. She had seen me fly and land and made some recomendations as to what I should get. She also got me a bad ass deal. Anyways, thats my story! Blue Skies!

if they aren't open today then we'll go to ottawa.

So this morning my friend tracy calls me at 8:30. She doesn't say who it is or ask how i am, but just says "its beatiful, want to go skydiving?" So I said yes. We are ditching class and going to Hinkley at 10. Oh Hell Yes!

Missle boy... hadn't heard about that one yet

Ohhhhh, I get it. Well its good you guys made it back alright.

Just out of curiosity, who chewed you out when you got down? I can't believe that if the first group landed out you got bitched out for asking for a go around. I certainly would have done the same thing in your position... John

Hell yeah, Optimus Prime

I just did something exactly like your 3rd option. I ordered a new javelin, pd reserve, and a cypres, then picked up a used sabre 190 that has just under 100 jumps on it. The container was pretty loaded (i.e. rings, pinstripes, kill line pc, etc.). But, even with all the options, and the pd reserve ( as opposed to a tempo which is cheaper) the total cost was about $4200. Not too far off from your price limit. So if you went with the tempo reserve and maybe a wings i think you could make your 3rd option work. You are right on with the downsides though. I have been waiting 5 weeks so far and the container isn't supposed to be in for another 3. But I've been sidelined with surgery over the winter anyways so i wouldn't have been jumping anyways. Anyways, I guess the point of my reply is to say that you can make your 3rd option work. Talk to your rigger though. Mine helped me alot in terms of choosing the gear that is write for me, and also got me a great deal on alot of the gear. Or, maybe they have a used rig waiting for you!

Well, I've got one on my new javelin coming soon. Its there mostly because its standard on a jav, had I got say a mirage I'm not so sure I would have gotten one. I am comfotable having it there, and I know when to disconnect it so its alright with me.

I made my first jump last semester cause I really wanted to experience flight in a way I never had before. After my first jump I was stoked. I started hanging out with the others members of my college club and we watch alot of skydiving movies. Watching guys like Troy Hartman, Rob Harris, and Patrick (I am not even gonna try to spell his last name) really motivates me. To get to the level they are at (or were at R.I.P. guys) is the ultimate pursuit. Now every time I jump I just get more and more excited about skydiving! I can't wait till my rig gets here! Only a few more weeks!

So I read the article on being the youngest, as I am the youngest in my family. This is one of the things they had to say. "Having somewhat more distance in their relationship with their parents can give last-borns freedom to explore new ideas and new places." Hmmmm, new places? Like how the world looks from 14,000 feet???

That show was f*ckin hillarious last night. I was laughin my ass off.

Hey, does anyone know where to get a string for your sunglasses so you can wear em as goggles?

Cut that baglock away! You deserve better!

I've had the chance to go to Alaska twice. Its really beatiful up there, and the air is so much cleaner than here in Chicago. Both times I went were before I started skydiving, so I can't let you know about the DZ up there, but the fishing is unbelievable. We did some fishing for kind salamon on the Cheena river (neer Fairbanks), as well as some fly fishing for Greyling. Also, if you get a chance, go down to Homer. Its a small town on the southwext coast I believe. We took a charter boat out and fished for halibut. It was a great day, caught me a 175 pounder (which is relatively small I guess), but was still a thrill! Have a good trip! J

Check out http://www.troyhartman.com . His show on MTV was called Sensless Acts of Video. Check out his site, its got some great stories and visulas from the crazy stuff he's done.