husky329

We're living in a time where it is completely feasible to obtain an A license in one week and make 20 jumps in one weekend. Unfortunately, jump numbers are more a reflection of income and packing ability. WAIT DON'T JUMP DOWN MY THROAT YET. Please read my comment if you want to respond. If I am correct, the idea behind jump number requirements is that, after every skydive, the skydiver becomes increasingly experienced and capable. It is everyone’s hope that skydivers (new and old) are intrinsically motivated to become better skydivers. In fact, I would personally argue that this hope that skydivers are intrinsically motivated to become better skydivers is the foundation for jump number requirements (which I will come back to shortly). Again, in my humble opinion, I would say that the first 200 skydives of anyone’s career are extremely important. In the first 200 skydives you are trying to make good habits, develop a reputation for being safe, and build relationships with other skydivers around you (on top of constantly trying to be better). Here is what I think the problem with putting heavy emphasis on minimum jump number requirements is: By making this number (200 jumps) a goal, you are downplaying the importance of instruction, safety, currency, edification, and self-improvement. All too often I have seen/heard the jump numbers become the focus instead of the jumps themselves. 475 hop n’ pops does not a tandem instructor make. There is potential to make these first 200 (which I view as some of the most important) sloppy, unsafe rush jobs that are not “fun” or “training” jumps, but rather necessities in a race to wear a gopro. The intrinsic learning of the skydives can be entirely lost. Since the learning is almost completely lost, this entirely negates the foundation of the jump number requirement. After those 200 jumps, you now have sloppy skydivers who cannot be talked to about their camera since the 200 jump mark was viewed as the do-all end-all. Now here’s the kicker. I AM IN FAVOR OF MINIMUM JUMP NUMBER REQUIREMENTS. But I think we should treat them for what they are, the minimum. I believe that instructors and experienced jumpers should stress that the idea is not 200 jumps, but rather, 200 jumps and the skills and experience necessary to fly camera/wingsuit/whatever. It is not hard for the average joe to save up enough for 200 jumps if they are truly committed (in the US). I do believe that there are many capable of flying camera well under 200 jumps. With over five hours in the tunnel before my 200 jump I feel I was totally capable, but I just had to bite the bullet and deal. It sucks, I know, but I’m surrounded by reminders (in the form of people) as to why this minimum exists. But getting back to the OP I think everyone has a right to know about international rules and regs, but once again the focus shouldn't be on the jump numbers! it should be on the LEARNING -Cam

I've had the GoPro cut out in the middle of jumps a number of times on me, its a major bummer. You won't find any good answers about this camera on these forums, just egos. I would email the company, they are extremely quick with responses. I had to contact them (the black plastic top piece broke on mine) and they sent me a new part the next day free of charge. They will definitely help you out. Just throwing this out there: I showed up to the DZ this winter to see a recently A licensed skydiver with a CVS camcorder duct taped to his helmet. Maybe GoPros are not the enemy here? Good luck with figuring it out! BTW I started jumping mine at 180 jumps I hope you turn out as "lucky" as I did. hahaha -Cam

Anybody know the Aviacom email address? I can't get to their contact page on the website. I sent in a unit two weeks ago and want a status update. -Cam

Any coach courses coming up in the spring in the Northeast? DZs, prices would be awesome. -Cam

Huh. Looks like I hit on a pretty debated topic. Thanks to everyone who gave me their opinion and experience! However, I think I need to clarify. When I said "Learning to swoop" I should have said "At the MOST doing double-front approaches from a long and high final to start to learn how the canopies recover". But, like I said like I said in the first post, thats a long ways down the road after canopy courses and local coaching. I have demo-ed canopies the next size down and stood them up on target, but I'll wait for a while until I downsize. I think what I'm collecting from this post is, I was entirely right about coaching and canopy courses and not yankin' on the front risers with low jump numbers. Its also being made clear that any canopy will have a short recovery arch at a low wing loading. And since the rig I buy to go with it will last me longer, I'm stickin' with the pilot. -Cam

This summer I will hopefully be learning alot more about canopy flight and beginning to learn how to swoop. I will talk to EVERYONE at the DZ, take as many canopy courses as I can (between packing tandems) and be as slow and safe as possible. I will also be trying to save up for a rig of my own, and buy some new gear. My Question is: Is the recovery arch of the aerodyne pilot too short for swooping? (I want to be as safe as possible) I am currently jumping an aerodyne pilot (and I love it), but I was told it has too quick a recovery arch and it wouldn't be a good idea to learn to swoop on it. Is this true? (It does recover quickly) Most all of my jumps have been on the Pilot (with the exception of demos like the pulse, sabre2, sabre). I love the pilot's openings and I have been on some loooong spots and got back fine with the pilot (knowing the difference between toggles and rears helps too) I also like the fact that if I buy it in zpx, the rig I buy will last me a LOT longer. Any input??? -Cam

Sounds awesome, especially for skydiving altitudes. However, there is one problem with a "space elevator." Running a wire through even the slightest magnetic field in space will create loads of electric current, just as an oscillating/rotating magnet does in motors. There is a fair amount of magnetic force in space, and the elevator "tower" or whatever you'd want to call it would be going extremely fast to match the Earths rotation. The tower would have to be made by something other than metal, and have no wires running the length of the tower. But if it stopped within the atmosphere wouldn't winds be blowing that thing all over the place? I doubt you'd get out over the DZ. Every dive would be a "track for your life" dive -Cam

I'm Cam. Just got my license, and I'm headed to collegiates tomorrow with the rest of the UConn Club team! I'll be jumping at CPI and jumptown in the future. Hope to meet some people and practice RW with other newbs! -Cam