katecooper

The most comfortable rig is the one that fits you the best. Contrary to what the manufactures would have you believe, there is no one "most comfortable" planform out there. Different people not only come in different sizes, but they have different expectations of what constitutes comfort. Find a jumper roughly your size, ask her if she thinks her rig is comfortable and why. Ask her to try on the rig. note what you like and do not like. repeat. I've found through the years and more rigs than i care to think about that if the container is properly sized for the canopies I've chosen and the harness is properly sized for me, then the rig is pretty darned comfortable. One newer option that really (for me) increased the comfort level was the in cut lateral, originaly found on the Sunpath Javelin Odyssey but now found as an option on many containers. Another was the advent of hip rings, now found as an option on every container. Try before you buy. And, if possible, fly before you buy and enjoy the experience. Retail therapy at it's finest! blues kate

There was an article in todays (28 July) LA Times today also. Front page blurb "Teaser headline witha a See B1" 2nd section major article going 2 pages with photos. Great press, albeit with the seemingly mandatory rundown of "incdidents" at Perris in the last few years. Can't wait! Tunnel Time! kate

Thank Laurie let us locals know when we can start coming by to bug him k

Ditto on what Dominic just said. I can think of no greater show of support to his family than for Eric to be showered with cards bearing postmarks from all over the world . This will show them the vast scale of our "little" community and how we care for our own. So take a few moments, and a few pennies, pesos or pence for postage and put pen to paper to send Eric and his family a few words of encouragement. blue skies and GO ERIC!!! :-) kate

Okay, bump back to the top so Eric's friends can find his updates and addresses easily k8

Lori can you post the address again for cards? I'd like to get them out en masse to Eric thanks kate

For all the local jumpers, there is a blood bank in Temecula tomorrow, Tuesday. Address: Starbucks 27501 Ynez Rd. Going south from Perris take the Rancho California exit, turn left over freeway, left on Ynez, turn into Tower Plaza. Hours 1:00-6:00 pm FYI Blood Bank 800.879.4484 I'll be there after work. Anyone want to share a cookie with me? blue skies and strong thoughts to Eric k8

So, any room in the Von-Novak-mobile for some skydiver blonde for a skydiver blonde? k8

Good for you. Kimm and the girls deserve a trip to the magic kingdom :-) bonus points and karma for quade! k8

Get up o'dark thirty, beat the traffic, have a great breakfast near LAX, park in long term (cheap slots) , and spend the $60 (and saiving on short term) In Florida. It's only a couple hours of sleep and you can bag that back on the plane. kate

oh yeah, that's how I'm known slacker k8. Now you're going to have to atake that back before I scrape ice for you again :-) k

Go big! I wish I were there, rain or not :-) k

25 years jumping 1 broken ankle (turbulence on final) 1 dislocated shoulder (DC 3 exit, 40 way) 50 stictches in forehead (canopy collision on opening) When I made my first jump, my jumpmaster told us: 1 jump or 10,000, jump knowing that you will have a malfunction and you will get hurt. he was right. k8

sorry for delay, just finalized sale of VE 79, Nomex jumpsuit, and flame thrower to some weirdo. Hey, wait. OH NO!!!!

If he can bring back the shredded pieces (of the canopy, not his ass) then it's a go. note to self, amend warrantee to say 'during normal skydiving activities' k

oops, and it would be, uh, July now? Our web-dude is in New Jersey doing 124 way sequential dives this week. There are advantages and disadvantages to having all your staff being experienced skydivers! :-) (oops, was that too blatant?). I'll make a note of it and try and get it fixed asap, thanks for the heads up. blues k8

We replaced a canopy before where the owner lost a serious fight with a barbed wire fence in high winds. The canopy was less than a year old and had several hundred jumps. Shit happens. We defend and protect your right to be stupid. k

Yep, darn it. Hooked into yet another aspect of this sport. Does any of it suck? I had two wonderful flights (and yes, I was nervous on the first one). I've been measured for my suit, but am agonizing on what model to purchase. I tried, like bill, to purchase the demo I was using, but I guess my size is in higher demand than his.... long flights k8

Welcome JP! :-) and yes, I did like it k8

So, I was on this big way camp a few days ago and I notice that one of my campers has his wrist mount altimeter on his right hand. That's right, gentle readers, the right hand. hmmm, think I. I ask him why he's jumping it that way. "I'm left handed, and it's the way I made my first jump, with it on my right hand" (camper has 700+ jumps). I ask him if I can share my concerns with him. He says yes. I point out the unlikely, but possible change of his pilotchute bridle half hitching around his right hand during a deployment and not being able to come free due to the altimeter mount. He acknowledged the possibility, and said that he would seriously consider changing his altimeter placement. My job there was done, but obviously, this did/does not affect the safety of others, just the safety of one D-licensed "expert" skydiver. In the hypothetical situation that Quade was bringing up, I'd ask again what the reason for keeping the belt on was and listen to the answer. I've learned things that way. If the answer didn't have a better chance of saving my life than either releasing the seat belt or closing the door, I'd share that. He might learn things that way. Quade--I thought you were talking about me--I demoed a Velocity at a 2:1 wingloading this weekend with less than stellar results (although the results improved dramatically when the load I was on landed upwind). Cool canopy, but it's not going to replace my Sabre2! We are all learning. May we never stop. blues k8

My left shoulder dislocated on exit out of DC-3 on 40 way (everything left the airplane but my left shoulder--ouch). After that, I started experiencing repeated dislocations, when it popped out when I rolled over in bed I said "enough is enough". 11 weeks after surgery (full open Bankart Lesion) I was doing competition 20 way, pulling the piece. I have 100% recovery and strength. Get the surgery done if you are in this sort of situation and skydiving is important to you. Also do pushups (NOT pull ups) as preventative and post-operative strength measurements. I can sit fly, freefly, dive, and do four way now. No drama. I wore a brace for a while but found it way too constricting to consider as a full time option. The surgery worked for me. Your mileage may vary. blues k8

Yahoo! More women with World Records. I don't have personal e-mail contacts for this team, so a public CONGRATULATIONS from an (ex) World Record Holder in Freefly to the new record holders. 6 way anyone? I'll be at the DZ all weekend :-) (byoNAAcard and judges) blue skies kate

This camp is going to ROCK. 80+ jumpers (should have 87-88 by Sunday). I checked in quite a few today. Great group, many familiar faces from prior camps and events. We're using an otter from "over the hill" on Sunday to complement our three aircraft. That alone is exciting news. I hope I don't screw up, although I AM looking forward to getting out of the house in the nice cool mornings... k8

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai across the 8th Dimension. So bad it was great. k8

yesterday (16 june) we were told end this month, and that the delay came from one lone parts vendor. we should have then a day or two into July. k8