livendive

I've mostly been a frap hat guy and let all my ratings lapse for the last few years. I'm going to get a couple of them back to help out a couple of friends, starting with tandem. It seems like full face helmets have become pretty standard during my absence, and with the proliferation of handcams, I see why. Sooo... Which one is best for ease of use and communication with your student? Blues, Dave

Mine were trashed at C3-4, C4-5, and C5-6, but 5-6 was the only one with increasing radiculopathy. After weighing the options and discussing the risks and benefits of arthroplasty with my surgeon who believes artificial discs will not be as strong in a whiplash type injury, I opted for ACDF at C5-6 last year, while also replacing both hips. I didn't get back in the air till yesterday, mostly because of other reasons (family matters then winter), but it felt fine in the couple jumps I did. If it ends up causing adjacent segment deterioration at C4-5, I'll probably opt for an artificial disc there, using the Mobi-C, which is the only device approved in the US for multiple adjacent cervical arthroplasties, that way I'm covered if C3-4 follows suit. However I'm pretty sure I wouldn't skydive again in that situation. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Talk to your DZ, it sounds like they have a TDM ~~> AFF progression which likely has specific performance goals. In all honesty, even if the first tandem is designated as "working", not a lot of work actually gets done on them outside of settling some nerves and developing a much greater understanding of the process. It's possible that two more tandems could be sufficient to knock out the performance objectives for their transition to AFF, but the instructor will be key to that decision. For a more traditional AFF system, I agree with what Chuck said...while a tandem isn't specifically required, it definitely improves performance on your first AFF jump. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Looking for a neuro or ortho who could PM me to resolve some conflicting opinions I've received and help settle some unease related to life in general and jumping in particular. The questions are related to cervical fusion vs artificial disc replacement and single vs multi-level. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

As a weekend warrior with a desk job, I went through a phase a few years ago in which my tailbone was giving me trouble. I got a new chair at work with a cutout that lets the tailbone hang free and put myself at the front of the plane every load for a couple months so I could hang my tailbone off the front of the bench or bring a homemade "donut" made from foam pool noodles to keep that aluminum straddle bench from pressing on the bone and the problem was resolved. Shoulders and hips are the bigger wear items in my opinion. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Thanks, that thought occurred to me after I made this post. I have bifocal glasses, but usually just take them off to read things, as I haven't gotten the hang of looking through the bottom of them. That said, I realized if this thing is going to test me as if I was flying a plane instead of freefalling, I might as well dress like I'm going to fly a plane instead of freefalling. With my glasses on, I should be able to pass both near and far corrected, then I'll just wear contacts for jumping like normal (I have had to land a few times after losing a contact and it's not a big deal). Now about avoiding white coat syndrome on my BP... :-) Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Thanks, good to know, I was hoping that was the case. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Dude, it is not 1990 anymore ;-) That was kind of my point...even 1990 technology would be better than 4 weeks for a membership renewal. ;-) Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Currently a 4 week backlog to renew membership even without ratings? This should take 5 minutes tops. Someone should introduce them to computers, maybe even FoxPro, dBase, or even Access. My phone could do this it in a couple hours a day max. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

If she had reacted in a polite and professional manner, I doubt this thread would exist. "Hey, can I get a discount?" "No, sorry." "Alright, it was worth a try." doesn't really drive one to go troll the denizens of dz.com Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

So you don't believe him for whatever reason. That's certainly one option. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

When one side of the story is anonymous, you can either believe the other side's version or not. In this case, that would mean believing: A) he bought some gear B) from a popular online retailer C) for somewhere in the neighborhood of $7,000 D) which was full retail price E) he then requested they throw in assembly and pack said gear F) they were offended by this request G) they articulated this offense inappropriately Why would you buy A-F but doubt G, especially when G was the entire point of his question? Because online gear sellers have such an impeccable reputation for ethical and professional conduct? If you think the guy's lying, question the whole damn story and leave it be. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

If it never happened, what would be the point of making it up? I'm struggling to understand your argument. It seems to be something along the lines of, "You asserted many things in this story and I believe all of them except the one part that comprises the entire purpose of telling it." Either believe the whole thing or call him a liar and walk away despite him giving zero cause for disbelief. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

We still only have his word on that. We also only have his word that he bought anything more than a closing loop or bag of rubber bands. It would be kinda weird for me to respond to any of the infinite possible stories he didn't post about, so I chose to go with the one he related. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

It seems to me he wasn't so much bitching about not getting a discount as about their reaction to his even asking. Requesting a discount is cool. Declining such a request is also cool (unless trying for exemplary customer service). Freaking out on a customer for requesting a small discount is pretty unprofessional. Lesson? Don't buy from drama queens or companies that treat you poorly. Blues, Dave (IBTL) "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)