arlo

Our DZ is kinda in the city so there is a lot of reflection from Ambient(sp)(is that the word I'm looking for?) light...I mean we practically glowed up there..so I dint know if this made the diff in being able to go with no moon....however a DZ in the outskirts without all the lights would probably make a difference.....am I right in this thinking!!??? jason yeah,dude. :) You're all good. As long as you can see....pitch black is NOT a good situation to be in while doing night jumps. But if the lighting was there, then yeah baby! I just say that because I made 4 or 5 jumps one night (millennium) and the lighting wasn't all that great. Anyhoooooo, glad you had such an outstanding time with them. :) They can get a little freaky at first, but once you exit the plane, it's an awesome sight. :) (hint:) you should check out the fireworks somewhere like Disney on new years eve from the air....from many miles away, of course. :) phenomenal. :) arlo

pay really close attn to the briefing you get for the night jumps. these should include things like "land in the direction the headlights are pointing," don't stare at your chem-lite," stay out of artificial light before you go (so you don't screw up your night vision)," shit like that. These are just examples, so pay attn to your jumpmasters for the load. I read one post on here that said there was no moon on their particular night jump. I wouldn't recommend that. I think that night jumps especially your first few, should be done with a full moon or a very bright one. Your first jump is supposed to be a solo, too. also, (and this happens to alot of people...even those with many night jumps) watch out for the "dude in black" closing in on you while you're about to land. :) THAT dude in black is your shadow and be careful not to do a low turn because you're trying to avoid your own shadow. Tendency is to flare a bit high, too, so gauge by what's around you: windsock, roof of a building, etc....something that gives you a height reference. You will think that someone swapped canopies on ya while you weren't looking, too, because landings at night seem WAY faster than the ones during the day. Oh yeah, make sure to jump during the day and really, REALLY familarize yourself with the area....the outs, the powerlines, fences, stuff like that. Uh, one more thing. :) Sorry, i'm on a roll. On the ride to altitude, find the dz. find it, look away, find it again. be able to pick that mother out because you will get disoriented on opening..even if only for a short time. with that said, night jumps are cool-ass as long as you have fun and be safe. :) arlo

...prepared to win..period. (of course, having fun while you do it) regardless of a 1 round meet, 8 round meet 10 round meet or 15 round meet...it's your job as a team member to be switched on and stay switched on whether your fatigued, brain-dead, whatever. Of course, this is only applicable if you are competing to win. arlo edited to remove double negative...DOH!

Are you talking about any particular event or record attempts in general? arlo

donating our time on simultaneous weekends for something like Habitat for Humanity or Big Bros/Big Sisters? FlyHi's post about charitable donations got the wheels turning. There are a lot of folks on dropzone.com and with a combined effort amongst the lot of us, I think we could have a significant impact. It would take mass organization skills, but I think we could do it. We could all set aside one weekend for fundraising at our respective dropzones, then make a mass time and money donation to the cause. Would anyone be interested at all or is this a pipe dream as I tend to have on occasion? We could even do something for Christmas if we put our heads together fast enough. You guys game? arlo

I don't have a "favorite" per se, but why not something to take care of fundamental needs like food or shelter? Meals on Wheels is a good one, your local food bank or homeless shelter, or maybe habitat for humanity (time or money). Or for the non-perishable charity, how about Big Brothers/Big Sisters? Kids need someone they can count on or look up to. Okay, so maybe that's not the best thing with some folks. good on ya for donating... arlo

I would prefer to have the full 10 rounds for a meet as well. I think it's awesome getting to cover most of the randoms/blocks (unlike nats where our fav #14...was drawn for round 11). But I don't agree with your logic regarding the 3 rounds possibly being your weakest blocks/randoms. You lose because you don't have the highest score after 3 rounds. You should be equally as strong in all formations so as not to use "first 3 rounds were our weakest" as an excuse for losing a meet. If you're consistently in the low end of the scores after 3 consecutive rounds, then your team, most likely, isn't the strongest at that meet on that day... blues, arlo

[replyThis wasn't with TrakPantz, right? no, the people that died were not wearing the birdman pantz. (generally speaking now...this isn't directed at you Macaulay, it was just on my mind...) People, listen to what you're saying. Having a wingsuit or tracking pantz or a high performance canopy or a shit-hot car or whatever doesn't cause you to have an accident in most cases. Quit trying to find reasons to blame inanimate objects. WE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS. If someone misjudged their abilities on landing or whatever, it's not the ground's fault or the canopy's fault...it's our own. Accept that responsibility. If you are continually blaming someone or something for your mistakes(winds were too strong, or the packer did this, or my left ass cheek is .074 lbs heavier than my right and that's why i have a constant left hand turn), it WILL catch up with you and you will never even realize why. Overconfidence will kill you,but being overconfident and not realizing you're of that mindset will kill you even faster. This is an awesome sport...and it's much better when you're not watching your friends dying left and right because of one bad decision or over confidence. have fun...be safe, arlo

whatcha looking for?

hmmm, now that ya think about it that way...:) I guess I could go out and buy some cordura and a couple of friction fasteners, slap it together, and make a h/c system. LeRoy, you should try making a pair and see how they turn out. Or maybe even get a set of cover-alls add a couple of flowers and make some dakine freefly suits... it's totally how you look at it. BUT, last time I checked, freefly pants cost around $200 anyway. I'm not saying that the price isn't high, I'm saying that the price is consistent with other skydiving "apparel." Guess you get what ya pay for. :) have a good one, arlo

That is the first I've heard about the "50 jump" trial run. Everything I've heard or seen indicates quite the contrary. It seems that bookoos of people are chomping at the bit to get a pair of these pantz...me included. :) I DO know that there is a list of people already waiting on Oct 14th to send in their orders. I also found out today that I'll be one of the people orders funnel thru. :) Hope this helps, arlo

Hi Enrique...what Dave said. :) He's spent his fair share training in the wind tunnel as well. I can't quantify how long it takes for you to learn something. Some things just come easier than others, so it's based on your learning curve. That's why Dave's advice is really good. A coach is paid to pick that stuff out and give you the feedback you need. Guess I made that clear as mud, eh? :) arlo ...and Dave? depends on who you ask. ;) you're not so shabby yourself, hun. :)

Since you've thrown yourself on that hand grenade... ;) If memory serves me correctly, I've seen ya in a lingerie before and you looked QUITE comfortable. Remember the one? White with the lace-up front? :) As far as thongs go and having your awareness raised...it's that what you're calling it these days...Awareness? ;) cya, arlo

I'll let you guys know what I think about them once I get to fly a pair. It'll be a few weeks though due to other commitments I have (cali for 10 days, yadda yadda :). Anyhooooo, these pants are also made with instructors in mind...more power in the legs for AFF, tandems, etc. The feedback from those that have used them in these different realms is all positive. They're being sought after in the BASE world too. There's a BASE version of the Pantz too, which has reinforced knees, groin ventilation (have at it, folks! :), and they are solid black...mesh too. I think they're gonna be bad ass, not because I'm friends with Jari, but because they make sense. I can't wait to go try some flying in them...may even try them in the tunnel. ;) It'll definitely bring a whole new light to tracking dives... blues, arlo

Game on! :) California here I come...Lisa...Lori...see you girls in a few days. ...and Paul's right. that pink is obscene. ;) blues (to offset the pepto pink), arlo

You should be able to shoot an email to birdman at [email protected] They will tell you what measurements are needed. :) These things are pretty cool-ass. :) arlo

I feel your pain. When beckoned, it's with..."oh pepto-girl..." see ya in a few days...and thanks for finding the news blurb... kate sent me the url. arlo

hmmmmmmmm.......is that so? arlo

No way dude. :) One thing you'll find out about me is that i pretty much say what's on my mind and I don't sugar-coat anything for ANYBODY. :) It just so happens that I like playing in the tunnel and have reaped the personal benefits of training in there. :) blues, arlo

way to go roomie!! ;) arlo

yes, got it. now how about that tasty kahuna burger? Say 'what' again.... arlo

Yeah baby! The new Bird-Man Pantz are going to be on the market in a few. Jari and Robert designed some cool-ass pants that have a mesh inlet which pressurizes the legs and airlocks to keep them that way. Theory is that they pressurize the legs allowing more surface area and subsequently more power/drive. There's a cel phone pocket too (if you know Jari, you'll understand! haha!). I saw the ad in Skydiving today as well. The website doesn't have the hype up there yet, but I think that the base board has it advertised now: [http://www.blincmagazine.com/cms/article_304.shtml] I'm looking forward to checking out these new ones first hand. Chuckie B...have you flown these yet? arlo

I think that there have been several "demo" versions out there. The folks that have them are not just freeflyers or base jumpers. AFF instructors and tandem masters have had them as well. The pantz are supposed to give you more leg power in whatever attitude you fly in (butt up, butt down, belly flop, etc) and ALL the feedback from the people using them in Europe and some here has been nothing but good. I'm looking forward to getting a pair for myself as soon as I can afford a pair. :) blues, arlo

Yeah baby! The new Bird-Man Pantz are going to be on the market in a few. Jari and Robert designed some cool-ass pants that have a mesh inlet which pressurizes the legs and airlocks to keep them that way. Theory is that they pressurize the legs allowing more surface area and subsequently more power/drive. There's a cel phone pocket too (if you know Jari, you'll understand! haha!). I saw the ad in Skydiving today as well. The website doesn't have the hype up there yet, but I think that the base board will soon.... looking forward to checking out these new ones. :) arlo

I've read alot of the comments regarding the wind tunnel in Orlando as it pertains to skydiving and I would like to give my personal view on it. Yes I work there and yes I skydive. I was a paying customer LONG before I started working there. Those that know me know that I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass or anything like that. I will call it as i see it. (these opinions are MINE and MINE only...they do not reflect the opinions of other skydivers or the staff at the windtunnel) 1) the tunnel is a substitute for skydiving. BAHMMMMP, no...gross misconception. The wind tunnel is a TOOL. It is a wonderful, valuable tool to help skydivers from AFF level students to 10K jump folks hone their skills. The wind tunnel does not teach you how to exit the plane, land your canopy, or do a horny gorilla. What the tunnel provides is an incredibly close simulation of your body's aerodynamics in freefall. Pushing air in the tunnel is like pushing air in freefall. It allows you INSTANT feedback and the ability to correct your body position in more than 70 second intervals. If you're learning to do knee turns, you can watch yourself screw it up a few times in the mirror and repeat it until you have it down (which could take months ;). It allows you to do the majority of the blocks in the dive pool. It allows you to nail down 17s (danish T-Murphy). It also teaches you to fly in close proximity...keeping the formation tight. I don't believe anyone has implied that people should go to the tunnel instead of skydive. But if it's cloudy out, or if there is a problem block to work on , or if you just want to try a few new things that you've been kicking around in your head for a few, the tunnel is a great place to do it. A few years ago when I first heard about "the tunnel," I was like, "why in hell would i pay to do simulated skydiving when i can just jump?" I found out you can do both and improve your skydiving ten-fold. it's awesome. Do you REALLY think you do center point turns? It's humbling the first time in. If you don't believe me, check out Thomas Hughes or Eliana Rodriguez. Thomas was a tunnel rat and after a few hundred (note I said HUNDRED) jumps, he is now on the British National Championship team Sebastian XL...doing a 20+ average...in his first year with the team. Eliana (and what a cool chick she is...love ya hun!) went from about 600 jumps to joining the US Womens 4-way team to having a World Meet GOLD medal...and is now a member of Airspeed Zulu. These are results. So before anyone thinks that the tunnel doesn't help...I beg to differ. I think that the tunnel is an exceptionally good compliment to skydiving. And on those rainy days when you can't jump, you bust out some moves in the tunnel. The tunnel coaches we keep talking about are people that understand the benefits of tunnel flying and have set up curriculums that combine the two. I can just tell you from personal experience how much better my body flying is because of the tunnel time that I have with my team. Again, this stuff is MY opinion and does not reflect that of anyone but me. :) Now I know that alot of people would agree with it, but it's not my place to speak for anyone else. on that note, i have some work to do and i hope this maybe sheds some light on the good stuff that you can gain from the tunnel. FYI: I don't get a dime for talking anyone into going to the tunnel to fly....so for the skeptics? I have no vested interest in singing it's praises or not. :) blues and have a great weekend, arlo oh yeah, this was too long to proof-read, so if there are typos, the heck with it. :)