upndownshop

Scott has "retired" for the time being I believe his courses are still available just with different instructors. Well after looking for his freedom of flight site, this is what appears http://www.canopyskills.com/ Guess he has taken some time off..

At a 1000' there is time to cutaway especially with an RSL or skyhook, might be a bit intimidating but it has been done many times. Many factors involved but a canopy transfer would be another option (if the conditions are right). These are options that need to be discussed in length so you can have a good understanding of the details. Dumping a reserve into the main is the last option, when you are deep in the beeps (or passed them) and there is no other option, for example: finding yourself with a bad main and knowing for a fact there is no time to cutaway, say 200', get it out. I originally brought these options up because they are real life saving procedures, but they open up a whole new set of EP's, and they can be confusing. So it takes a full understanding of all the factors involved. Of course the rel answer is, dont go there. Keep asking questions, sit down and discuss as many possible scenarios as you can and then discuss them again. J Also leaning into a belly to earth position as you chop can make a difference. If standing while chopping, lean forward, may avoid you from going on your back.

Ben Lee started his site a couple of years ago and since then has assisted 25 new clubs being open in colleges across the country. After a lot of work and dedication his free service is making a difference. USPA is working with him in getting the information out to public and those already in the sport. www.uspa.org/GroupMembers/StartingaCollegeClub/tabid/304/Default.aspx www.collegeskydiving.com has been recognized by USPA as a website to learn how to start a college skydiving club. The site also has many articles on safety and "how to" written by the professionals in the industry. Way to go Ben!

Not sure if I picked up on everything that was discussed in regards to the RSL being mandatory, I assume the thought that Sun Path is mandating it is the belief? Seems like it has gone a couple of ways in here. I am also not sure if this was mentioned or not. According to a conversation I had with Derek a little over a year ago, the only reason this has become an issue is because when the original javelin obtained its TSO, it had an RSL, therefore to remove it from production you have to get a new TSO. So every Javelin leaves the shop with one. And that is about as far as I can go with that, I cant speak for the legality after the fact. Well not anymore than what has probably been mentioned in here. Not sure if that shed any light or If i just repeated others, but I do know I will never jump with out an RSL unless doing CRW (and then i usually forget to disconnect it anyway) blues J

WHat a brilliant idea Dont worry, ill disconnect the RSL first. We talked about it and came up with a couple of scenarios, but I bet that wing is hard as hell. He does do it with his buddy for the airshow, he puts a wheel on the top, in the dark with headlights. Again be careful and have fun!

Yeah, what he said! The jumps I did we killed the prop completely. Make sure you practice the exit with all of your gear on, including your helmet, alti, what ever you plan on wearing. Move slow and make sure you have firm foot placement when climbing out. Trust me, you do not want to "fall" out still half way in. Now on a lighter note, who here has ever done a barrel roll in a PP at 500'? My buddy is the World Champion for Aerobatics in PP. Scared the crap out of me, I didnt know he was going to do it! Just be careful guys, move slow and be sure footed. I still want to do CRW with one though

Humm...nice!

You are correct, there will be no skydiving during Sturgis this year. We have however committed to 2009. Long story short, we needed more time to work out the logistics involved by teaming up with the Buffalo Chip. Another factor was moving SkyFest out of Texas to S. Carolina this year, really added to my "normal" workload for it. I apologize for not posting that in here, it completely slipped my mind that i had made this post a while back. Please look forward to a well planned and unique Skydiving Event for 2009 during Bike week. Thanks for inquiring. J

Oh boy, hummm not sure I want to go here but.... Being a second gen my answer may seem a bit strange. But I was 10 yo when I lost my first true "friend" my mentor as well. He taught me all the things about skydiving that I wouldn't listen to my father about. His son is still very active and has one of, if not the oldest skydiving team in our history. Since then: loss of true friends- 12 off the top of my head, plus my father, only two of those we not from skydiving. This does not include plane crashes or base. How many acquaintances? I couldn't even begin to count. One of the drawbacks to traveling the country for almost 4 years as a Mfr. rep in the industry. How many have I witnessed? About a dozen. Everyone of them hurt and some still do, but it seems that in the last 5 years I sort of feel "numb" in a way to it all. Not that I dont grieve, but something seems different at times. Not that you ever get used to it, but maybe, well, almost "expecting" it. Especially reaching 40 and all the ones I knew as a young man, many have gone in the last 5 years. They do always end up with a tear, a jump and a beer. I can say this, focusing on the memories, all the laughs, jumps, beers and hugs always bring a smile to my face and maybe a tear, but those are what seem to make it ok for me. Oh and one other way I dealt with one death was organizing one bad ass boogie for the last 8 years. See it works, just got a big smile from some memories. There, I got it off my chest, can I go now?

and i will add the improved bottom end lift. The storm IMO "perfects" the spectre by increasing its flare power. Sold me with only one demo jump on it.

Been out for about 25 years, called an ROL. Except you need a lid, it doesn't do well with open containers, but great for an unopened can of beer!!

Whats he afraid of, you increasing peoples knowledge and becoming safer in the sport, thus increasing it? Oh wait, he obviously could not teach you anything that you could pass on if he is really suing you for those reasons. Good luck

as long as you bring the cherry

waiting on chinagirl to get above me. So I can play. then i can say let go of my ears I know what Im doing. ok Ill go away now

Well, the last known where abouts of my 7' stuffed Banana has been verified. Between Scarlett's legs at 13,000' above the Carolinas!! Nice shot taken by Tony Hathaway! James, nice job with the article, they added everything I requested except for announcing who won the Annual SkyFest Award (Dad's trophy)which was Gary MacCahan. Which by the way, to all of you former maggots of SF 2008 you may remember a section in the ceremony where you were asked to take a trophy home and to place it on your mantle? And if you dont have a mantle you were to........... Well Gary has pretty much done just that, he removed all the family photos to have room for the 2' tall trophy on the mantle. What a guy. Thanks again everyone, and once more, James nice job on the write up, you are certainly hired for future SF's.

We started something at SkyFest this year I call "Fly for your neighbor" I doubt I am the first one to say that so maybe it is just bringing back history like the event itself, never the less it is probably time to revisit it, I think it speaks for itself: If you are flying for your neighbor than most likely you are: Aware of where you are, Aware of your traffic Aware of their hazards and runway Aware of your runway Visually communicating Predictable approaches landing safe And dont forget the old rule, when in traffic, kicking your feet/legs lets others know you see them And of course respond by kicking back-thus acknowledging you see them I would be more likely to understand our fatalities if we had 100,000 canopies in the air every weekend, but GD??????????????????? We dont. God Bless

So I have been home now 3 days since SF and I spent half the night compiling more data from the survey's and hope to release it soon. After 8 years of pretty much building the same event that I envisioned originally in 2000, I still get excited about the stats every year. More to come, and thanks everyone for supporting and giving me a strong sense of "real" appreciation from the attendees. That means everything to me. On a side note and FYI, the hardest thing about this event is "converting" most (not all) of the "old timers" to just make one or two jumps with the newbies so they get that "loving feeling" back. Once they do, the whole thing comes together. They continue to get deeper and deeper into giving back (or just , as we all do, being center stage of experience) thus the Paying it Skyward becomes unstoppable. THANK YOU ALL

Oh now Andy, did someone threaten to move your trailer and set you off? None of that was directed to you specifically. It was a situation where "now what?" came into play. So I stepped up and took it. To be honest maybe I should have stated: I forgot that I would have to mail the forms and funds prior to the event, thus the situation was like a curve ball, so to speak. Besides, If I remember right you seemed pretty beat up and tired come the end of it, as well as the rest of us. But I am curious, how/why am I to give cash to replace checks that are made out to a different company? How am I to recover the funds? Besides I was more concerned of making sure the funds for that large UPT check I wrote for the auction rigs was covered. I was 600 miles from the closest branch of the SF bank, and I didnt locate the check book again until late into the second Farm visit. But I am home now and the forms and check are sitting in the mail box. I will know better next time, now go and drag an AFF out the door so they can learn about our traditions

I will never forget when I visited Mile Hi for the first time. A new 4 way team needed a 4th due to one man unable to jump. I was the most experienced one of the 3. I just stood in and followed their dive. the casa was in town and I was to give the count. Well I slipped and off i went without them. Next thing I know I am spinning and trying to get stopped and found that I could not. The way I fell immediately put me into a spin. At first I was laughing and smiling due to the fact that I am going to get hassled about it. After a bit I started to realize that I have a real problem. I could feel my arms and legs getting heavy, I tried the obvious and it did not work, so I tucked up into a ball and held it until things changed, then punched out an arch and all was well. Got slow and made it back to the 3, completed one round of points and left. I found that nothing I did, arch, de arch, drop knee, arm, nothing worked except for balling up. I bet I could never duplicate the exit that put me there, but I can definitely say that tucking my knees and wrapping my arms around them pulled me out of it. I bought a case of beer for the team.

but i must say, as neat of a trick as it was, this is the site we are on http://www.buffalochip.com/EVENTS/Attractions/2008Attractions/SkyDive/tabid/327/Default.aspx

I for one can tell you that Steve Boyd has a great attitude when it comes to getting jumpers in the air. I said this to him many years ago. "Steve, I love the way you say: yes to business". Many a times during the 4 years of SkyFest in Spaceland Steve flew very light with never complaining about the cost/loss. I remember one year it stopped raining on a Friday at 4:30 pm, we flew 22 Otter loads by sunset, and most of those were extremely light. While Spaceland may do a bit of Tandems, they also produce many students from them, thus assisting in the growth our sport, which I can say from the 80 DZ's I have been to, its not easy. Jim GREAT JOB and way to go for helping out other DZ's, which is nothing new to Spaceland, I have seen it many times. And as you mentioned, we all make mistakes, we learn and grow while doing the best we can. Hey Jim, do you have a plane near South Dakota in the first week of August for 5 days?? Looking for a turbine? be well and congrats with the new additions J

Is Combat RW a tradition? Oh wait, we call those zoo dives now dont we?

Hey Bill trying to get a hold of you, cannot PM you give me a call please! Or go to the SF site and email me, thanks J

Bill Coe would not agree with his chuteless jumps.

Huh, wonder what else is going on in South Dakota at that time? You know, you should run for USPA or something, too damn smart!!