grantunderland

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Posts posted by grantunderland

  1. I've always referenced back to Shannon's YouTube video on Hard Decks as I believe it is the easiest way to identify a hard deck. I've had to think about where in my pattern this is as my canopy flight has evolved over the years and pattern altitudes raise with increased turns.
    My current hard deck is as I'm turning base at around 1100-1000', and I still mentally call out my hard deck to myself
    https://youtu.be/SWyZrQvwolM

  2. The first two out I ever saw happened at 2k when a new reserve packjob had the closing loop break on deployment. I recall there being under 10 jumps (and maybe 1 week) on the packjob.

    I have also been at the DZ when someone broke their back after their RSL became entangled with the reserve lines when chopping a low downplane. He was smart to chop first as there was no altitude to disconnect the RSL.

  4. Let's not forget when a certain manifesting software does an update Friday night, now it's Saturday AM and the system is down, you have 20 tandems checking in, and that asshole 4-way team is wanting to put different amounts of money on their account then transfer $X to the coach's account and $Y to the video guy's.

    FWIW, TK isn't exaggerating. I wish my team had just made a team account as it would've saved us, and manifest, at least 30 minutes a weekend

  6. This was my setup for last year.

    Main video: Sony AX-33 - 4k, IBIS
    Backup video: GoPro 4 black. Both 4k, one @medium, 1 @wide. Used some 1080p120 during practice for SloMo for coaching
    Stills (not used at Nationals, hence two backup cams): Canon SL1 with either EF-S 10-22 or EF-S 24. SL1 with EF-S 24 is a super light setup, but the FPS sucks (2.5 I think)

    Setup I'm looking at if I come back from a car accident:
    2x Sony X3000 with Hypeye Alphas
    Canon M6 with EF-M 15-45 and EF-M 22. I'd mostly use 22 during RW, 15-45 for Canopy and other fun jumps

    It seems like almost everyone has a Sony a6xxx on their helmets these days and are getting amazing stills. To each their own.

  13. SDC Rhythm XP has a performance tracker on their website for 4/8 way that could probably be modified to your needs as it sounds like you have the skillset on the team. It's an Excel sheet with a ton of macros and formulas, but it works well enough.

    You can use it to measure each formation, hill time, key-to-key, and track a whole season. With enough repetitions and data, you can give the tool a dive and it will give you the score it thinks you should get based on hill and the different formations. So you can basically compete against yourself during practice.

    http://www.skydiving.how/resources/tools

  16. I've never learned how to properly pack, mine look like crap. I stuff fabric all over my UPT-stock semi-stowless with great success. YMMV of course, but I don't think the bag design is going to change the opening if you're stuffing random bits of fabric here and there.

  17. The last one (only clicky and I'm lazy) might have been a skyhook activation, but you can clearly see the reserve bag log not being connected to any main. I am not a rigger, but given the way that thing came out of the bag I'm surprised it was able to be salvaged. That oscillating RPC sure doesn't seem to be helping things either

  22. jrodrod

    ... to educate them about the charade of a faux-authority managed by non-current jumpers...



    National/Regional Directors:

    Jay Stokes, President
    In 2014, made 292 jumps in 12.5 hours. Weather prevented him from breaking his old record of 640 jumps in 1 day. He has almost as many night jumps in one night as you have in your career. His Record Attempts

    Albert Berchtold, Treasurer
    Just competed at the World Canopy Piloting Championships

    Sherry Butcher
    I jumped with her after 2014 USPA National Skydiving Championships. She had a lot of fun doing a regular fun jump with regular jumpers.

    Luke Aikins
    His last publicized jump wasn't a parachute operation according to the FAA ;)

    Tom Noonan
    Ever hear of Skydive Everest?

    Kirk Verner
    Very active at Paraclete

    Chuck Akers
    Organizer at Spaceland correct? His kid is a pretty current and competent jumper too...

    Mike McGowan
    He continually posts more kick ass photos than I can ever hope to take

    Josh Hall
    Just finished competing at the Mondial with Airspeed. Took 2nd place in the world with almost zero practice.

    Michael Wadkins
    I see many posts about the courses he runs and appears to be highly sought after and respected


    That's 10 of 22 people listed at http://www.uspa.org/About-USPA/Board-of-Directors. And that's just the ones that some thousand-jump-nobody from FL knows about first-hand.

    Could the USPA be better? Of course it could! Does being a bull in a china shop change anything? Nope, just pushes away the people that would otherwise support you. Good luck on your new body that the FAI will recognize so people will be able to do records, compete internationally, and jump all around the world on your new licenses. If you want change, running for office or opening your own DZ will be the best route.

  24. Those that have already replied to you have a LOT more experience than me so listen to them first, but I'll add that it depends on your team and coach. I've trained for a few years in Orlando (12' non-recirc), but we still got a lot out of it because our coach knows how to train that tunnel, and put us in the right mindset before we got in. Those blocks that don't fit in a 12' can still have the pieces broken up and have them practice their moves. If you go in with the right mindset, you'll get your value.
    That being said, flying to Chicago this year was worth every penny.

  25. UPT can call it loose fit all they want, but when I put an OP143 in my v319 it was an uncomfortable brick. This is my 4th Vector and the first time I have needed a "loose fit" to have a comfortable fit. That was with a XF2 114, so it wasn't a stuffed main tray that did it either. But now with an OP126 and KA107, it is one comfy rig!
    The rest of your post is spot on though!