freeflydeeva

I agree that safety is a serious issue in our sport today. We have more knowledge about our gear, canopy design and flight, and how our bodies fly. The fatality numbers have decreased even in a sport where the population jumping has increased. However, I agree that there tends to be a decent number of people who tend to get the blinders on under canopy. I have seen the most safety conscious skydivers in freefall, cut people off repeatedly under canopy and not even realize that they do it. I am not saying everyone does, but there are people who do. One thing that disturbs me is the number of canopy collisions/and or canopy related injuries in the sport today. That number is increasing. Just take a look at the last year. We have had what? five canopy collisions? maybe more, with at least two fatalities. It saddens me that we are losing our fellow brothers and sisters to the sport when they are under fully functional canopies. It seems like such a waste. If a single post in any of these forums or threads makes one person think and become a little more alert, then that is one less likely brother or sister that we will lose to this sport.

The gear dealer at my DZ was able to get extra backs, springs and screws for the Protrack. I don't remember if they were free, but if they weren't they were very inexpensive. He gives them free to people who need one. If you have a dealer nearby, you might want to ask him/her about it. We have given out a handful or so. That way the jumper isn't without their protrack (from having to send it in) D

I have to agree with you there. I just ordered my new odyssey. YEAH!!!!! My first new rig! Go Javelin! I just happen to have a friend who has both the G3 and G4. I do like the looks of the G4 better. However, $1800 is expensive!! And that doesn't include options. Dee

He jumps a spectre 135. He had a new G3 with the same canopies. Comparing the two, the G4 is shorter and is deeper, however it is more aerodynamically designed. The reserve tray is shorter and the bulk is pushed upwards a little more. The bottom of the main tray is curved more to reduce drag in the sit position. I personally like the design a lot better. It just isn't as flat looking as the G3, in my opinion. Dee

I have seen it. A friend of mine has one. From what he says, it is more comfortable on him. Over the shoulders and around the back. The looks, now that is a different story. It looks like a short pregnant version of the G3. However, he does think the rig is more comfortable overall over the G3. Dee

If I may offer another line of thought on this. The general consensus of the skydiving community is that a skydiver with 70 jumps should be considered a novice to intermediate skydiver. Yes there are expceptions to every situation. Another opinion has to do less with jump numbers and more with skill and specific situations. What I would like to share is my perception. When we train our bodies to do something new, especially in skydiving, we train our muscles to perform certain functions. We create muscle memory with repetition. I don't remember how many times my instructors made me repeat the pull sequence until it was ingrained in my head and within my muscles. The same is applied to formation skydiving, freeflying, landing, etc. Yes, someone with 70 jumps may have landed in each one of the situations that billvon outlined. But once is not enough. Not even twice. Those situations need to be done so many times that it is ingrained in our mind and body. Perfect situation: Someone cuts you off on landing. People tend to revert back to the norm when any situation arises that is high tension, high stress, etc. You are going to do the one action that you have done repeated times in the past. Muscle memory takes minimum of 20 repetitions to achieve. There is very little chance that all of those situations could have been jumped 20 times each with only having 70+ jumps to your name. The chances that you will handle a situation in the best possible way under a canopy loaded 1.4 has been substantially decreased without the benefit of experience and repetition. Once again, just my .02 Dee

I had a professor whose name was Benjamin Dover. No joke! He got kinda mad when we called him Ben

When I learned how to dive, my instructor told me to put my feet on my butt for one simple reason. When most students first imagine diving from a plane they think about relating it to diving into a pool, which is arms stretched out in front and legs out straight. The instruction of putting the feet on the butt is simply to change the students perception of body position. I know once I hit my first dive, I relaxed and then the instructors told dive out with the legs in the neutral position. It worked great. But that is only my 2 cents worth.

Jason Fitzsimmons: Memorial Service is to be held on Friday, August 30, at 11am at Skydive Dallas. Words from family and friends are to be said with an ash dive to follow. Please send any flowers or sympathy cards to Skydive Dallas 1039 PR 438, Whitewright, TX 75491 Brad Walk: Funeral service is to be held on Thursday, August 29 at 10am at the Temple Beth Elohim 10 Bethel Rd, Wellesly, Massachusetts 02481. His family as that donations be made to either of th following organizations. SPCA of Texas 362 South Industrial Blvd., Dallas, TX 75307 (214)651-9611 or Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America 280 Hillside Avenue, Needham, MA 02494 (781)449-0324. Blue Skies, You both will be missed! Deanne

Quote ------------------------------------------------------------ How in the world can you drink 16 oz of that s$#T! ------------------------------------------------------------ By adding 32oz of vodka ==================================== Red bull + vodka = no memory of the night before except the grass beneath your head LOL

Welcome to the forums DJ. Dee

BIG CONGRATS TO THE FREEFLYING CREW AT SKYFEST!!!!!! They got the state record of 9 on Sunday! WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I have just obtained the information for Zara Sunday's Visitation and Funeral and am passing it on. Visitation: Tonight, Tuesday, from 6:30-8:30 in Saginaw, Tx at the United Methodist Church at the corner of Bluebonnet and Green Funeral: Tomorrow at 10am

Plowed cornfield to the north, plowed beanfield to the east, plowed cornfield to the south and plowed cornfield to the west. Take your pick.

Longest out landing I had was 2 years ago. We landed about 3 miles out. We had decided to do a cross country jump. We had a brand new pilot and we told him we wanted to go about 8 miles. Problem #1. He took us nautical miles Problem #2. Winds died down. We landed out 3 miles from Rantoul in the middle of a plowed cornfield. Luckily 2 of us had cells. Problem #3. We called to tell them where we were and they couldn't find us. (Now mind you, anyone who has seen Central Illinois knows that all the roads are in 1 mile squares) You think that if you tell them go 3 miles east and 1 mile north they would find us...nope) However, the funny part is that as we are trudging down the road, a car approaches. Low and behold... it was my mom and step-dad out visiting friends of theirs and on their way back home. LOL Go figure. Dee