JerseyShawn

You'd go nuts if you had to drive out here. In Berkeley, pedestrians are especially known for stepping out onto the street while looking as far away from the direction of travel as possible, just willing the law to ensure that all drivers will stop. In essence, they're refusing to lose a game of chicken with you by not giving themselves the chance to flinch. (yeah, how fucking stupid is that?) San Francisco has a fairly high number of pedestrian deaths, and by all means, a good number of them are from red light running assholes. But a fairly high number stem from questionable walking practices too. I live in San Francisco. I deal with the idiots everyday. People think since its law to "Yeild to Pedestrians" that they don't have to look crossing the street. People that drive cars are human too and don't always see them. I yell at them too when they walk in front of my car when im 10 feet from hitting them because they simply didn't look both ways when crossing the street! Don't they teach that in elementary school in California!? Where im from on the east coast people yield to cars. If you don't, you get hit. Why would anyone put their life in the hands of another by not looking when you cross the street is beyond me. This is why I yell at stupid people, maybe they'll realize how dumb their lack of awareness really is. Maybe it will save their lives one day.

The people that annoy me aren't people that are talking on their phones, they can see where they're walking. People staring at their phones texting/internet walking can't look down and see in front of them as they walk. I guess you didn't understand when I specifically wrote "I also hate walking down the street when someones looking at their phone" Sorry you didn't understand my rare English dialect.

If people are that stupid they deserve to get hit by a car. Maybe "natural selection" isn't a thing of the past! I was driving going through my green light at an intersection. Some guy was crossing the street against the red light. I dont care, whatever. At the speed I was driving and the pace he was walking I wasn't going to hit him, so I didn't slow down. He was looking at his phone the whole time. Then he decides to stop walking in the middle of the street to look closer at his phone. Locked up my brakes, "get off your phone and cross the street stupid!" He looked at me like I did something wrong! I also hate walking down the street when someone is looking at their phone. Totally oblivious to anyone around them. When they're about two feet from walking right into me I yell loudly "hey! Watch where the Fuck you're walking!" Scares the shit out of them. One guy actually dropped his phone and got mad at me! I told him where to go. Idiots. And the way people hold their phones as they walk just waiting for something to happen or someone to text them I find annoying too. Get a life! As for fines go crossing the street texting, no. I hate social control via government. Street justice via ending up under a car is much more amusing! And a lesson learned.

Nice vid dude.

I too am AFF, one class to go! I tumbled out my first jump, lost an instructor, arched an recovered fine. I understand losing confidence. You're just learning, and you learned not what to do. Try it again! All my classes since the tumble went fine. Every time is easier and im more relaxed than the previous jump. And its more fun! My advise would to go jump as soon as possible and correct what you and your instructor disscussed you did wrong, so its fresh in your memory. If all goes well, there's your confidence back! You just have to go get it.

Nice! I was just about to drop $500 on an order of Doubletap ammo. More Skydiving loot!

Very true about the 2 seconds between life and death via a firearm. I always carry my Hinderer XM-18 (Im a custom knife junkie). Through martial arts training I was taught how to fight with a knife (karambit), and that a knife is more effective than a gun in a close combat situation (robbery, being jumped, ect.). You just have to keep the fight box to the size of fighting in a phone booth to beat the gun, the same with fighting with your fists, most people can't and don't fight like that. I would always prefer to carry my knives over my firearms anyday. I enjoy the confidence it gives me if I ever had to use it. Being deceiving in a situation will prove to be favorable to you in a fight. Having an exposed firearm you aren't deceiving at all. Sorry to get off topic.

But you're allowed to have full mags right next to the firearm. 2 seconds to chamber. I don't see what's the difference having it loaded or not. I will never open carry, it always seems when people do in CA its negative publicity. Who needs encouragement for more gun restrictions. Forget about conceal carry in California too, it will never happen.

I pronounce "the" as "da". Like saying "whats the matter" is "whats da madda" Im a New Jersey idiot, but I never noticed how I talk until I moved to California and people pointed it out or they make fun of me. Then I make fun of them for putting 20 vegetables and ranch dressing on their pizza.

I first came to the sky as a private pilot. I just got into jumping. Both are just as great. Piloting and skydiving will always be there to do anytime in your life. I could afford to do both I would. If you decide to jump first and stick with it a while, maybe go up with a pilot instructor once in a while to get the best of both worlds. He/she wont let you take off or land the plane but they'll let you take the controls to fly it. I would do that. Alaska would be so pretty to explore from the sky. But you could pilot then jump once in a while also, with instructors. Skydiving is a bit cheaper to learn.

Nice jump dude! I hope you and your research encourage others to try flying! Have fun, blue ones brother!

Im just a student but would like to hear some opinions. After I get my A I plan on buying a new rig just so I have a comfortable custom rig. Out the door Im 210, 1:1. I've heard with a 190 ZP canopy will give me the same fall rate. Anyway, I don't plan on swooping with a small canopy or anything like that. I really enjoy the canopy ride down and Im in no rush to get to the ground. I currently have no attraction to do RW. Just bellyfly and freefly in the future seems like where I want to go with the sport. And the long canopy ride down is good. Two questions (Ill ask my instructors too). Is 210 or a 190 too big of a container to freefly with in the future with? And with accumulated experience have you had the need or want to downsize? Or was/is sticking to a larger canopy all you ever needed? Three questions, sorry I lied. I don't want to make a mistake of buying a larger container. Thanks in advance!

To the OP, learning to PLF will save your ass. Im a student too, so no advice on landings from me. All four of my landings I landed on my feet though. I used to fly planes so I know how to partial flare and take advantage of the full flare at the right time for a soft landing. When I was learning to pilot I've landed hard, then I learned to flare from trial and error. You'll get it soon enough! Just learn to PLF. Knowing how to fall will leave you with bruises rather than broken bones, hopefully. I have snowboarded, skateboarded, bmx/mountain biked for the past 18 years, done a lot of stupid and fun shit along the way with only bruises to temporarily show. I know how to fall which leaves me with many more years to enjoy what I love doing. Practice with proper instruction and you'll get it. And if you don't right away, PLF! Falling and knowing how to fall is just as fun as trying! It will make you feel more confident too. Have fun, be safe.

My friend does a lot of custom bikes. I have yet to get one chopped up. His site is c-51customs.com Enjoy.

Haha! Felt like I was 14 again.

I see that Tony Suits make a cargo pants. What kind of flying are they used for? And woulnt you need a similar top? I understand RW and FF suits, spandex vs. polycotten, size, ect. But don't understand the cargo pants. Sorry Im a newb, and my DZ is closed til the new year to ask my stupid questions to. I don't plan on a suit til around my A, just inquiring about my future options. Thanks for the replies in advance!

Thanks for welcoming me! I can't wait for Cat 3, they let go of me! I did a 10 minute block in the wind tunnel and was able to stay stable, do 360 turns and stop stable the last 5 of my block without touching the wall. I tracked foward and back too.[email] I think the tunnel will really help out me progressing. Ill post my first my first solo jump after AFF via youtube. I love how everyone at the DZ, instructors and jumpers, are all so positive and helpful. Really a great and unique group of life loving people!

Hi, Im Shawn. Just started my AFF. Cat 3 next, when the 10 plus days of rain move out of here! Blasted rain! Im just here to merely evesdrop and gather questions/ideas for my jumpmasters at the DZ (wont take advise on the internet). I bought an altimeter, helmet and goggles after my first jump being I know I love it. Other gear will come when I decide on what I want to do with the sport. I dont know what I like more, freefall or being under canopy! Coming from a pilot background I really do cherish the slow ride down. Cant wait to exit last and pull high! Ive always wanted to skydive/fly since I was a kid. In 3rd grade I jumped off the top of the bleachers belly first to see what freefall felt like (previously watching skydiving on the tube the night before). I ended up with a broken and fractured middle finger I executed jumps A and B just fine with perfect landing both times. Understanding flight patterns, elevation, and flaring from piloting probably helped with that. Didnt need the radio assistance. Even with 60mph uppers and about 13 mphs ground, I managed to land on target, with a few 180 degree turns. Sorry to bore you. Blue skies people!