grantunderland

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Everything posted by grantunderland

  1. Concur. I've got about 300 jumps on my current batteries, and only because I changed em right before Nationals last year just to be safe
  2. So some people can't read it fast. I can read mine as I'm doing a head switch during a block move without interfering with our 4 way. Maybe some people are focused on getting the exact altitude? During 4 way and fun jumps, I check it really just to make sure the altitude starts with a 4 or higher, the same as making sure the needle is still in the white. I've had a digital since I got my A and it's easier to read for me than an analog. But I understand how it could be different for others, especially if you have hundreds or thousands of jumps with an analog. Maybe for some, the extra precision offered makes them want to read the full altitude? Because 6.53 is so much higher than 6.something
  3. I recall reading my coach's N3 in freefall because, to me, the digital readout was easier than analog.
  4. And now you have us getting the chemtrails turned on correctly, takes a bit of work!
  5. For the N3, you'll probably have to cut out some of the padding to get it to fit. I never got around to that since my N3 seems to have a shorter-than-average battery life. Leaving it in during the week may help shape the padding around it some to make it more comfortable.
  6. Next time you're dirt diving, take a P, and have everyone drop the leg grip. You now have a F
  7. We have video and coach for every jump. She explained it over, and over, and over. I just never managed to get it right, but then I got a tear in my left shoulder and we abandoned most "left grip only" exits for the rest of the season. 18 was nice since I could easily pick up point as I was starting the count. We start training next month, with healed centers, and B is one I'm hoping to get right early
  8. There was a video circulating Facebook last fall of them testing a canopy that looked to be a mix between VK/VC and KA, non-xbraced. With what both companies have learned from their ultra-class, and Leia/VK, development, I'd assume that they would bring that into their "xbraced feeder" canopies. It just makes sense IMHO. It seems to me it would probably take more time/engineering to apply those principles to non-xbraced, so we may have to wait longer :( Hopefully I'm wrong. (I have never flown a xbraced, so my opinion is...uneducated)
  9. I'm new to OC and for whatever reason, I just couldn't launch a B right last year. So we took out 18 for a B (our alternate B) and it worked quite well. Very solid launch with no real "hinge"
  10. This is what I use. I'm happy and comfortable with it, but will listen to anyone that has constructive input. Decision altitude: If I don't have a good canopy at 1800', I'm chopping. Hard Deck: If something happens between having a good canopy and entering my pattern, I'll chop. If I have entered my pattern, it is reserve only at that point. I enter my pattern around 1200'. I chose pattern entrance after watching PD's video on hard decks with Shannon Pilcher. For me, it eliminates the requirement to check/verify my altitude. Getting the reserve out right away without having to verify if I'm above/below 1k may give me more altitude to deal with "what happens next". If I chop at 1200', there won't be much left, and I'll want every last foot. I do have a MARD on my rig, but that has never factored into any of my altitudes. To me, that MARD is something that may give me a few extra feet if I need it.
  11. I'm currently jumping a v319 with an OP 126 in it. I had an OP 143 in it, but it was WAY too tight. My rigger was a lot happier when I switched them around. The UPT sizing chart is weird. I put my OP 143 in my V308 ("Full fitting") and it was a much better fit in my V319 ("standard fitting")
  12. I keep it on more to keep the other files from being written than anything else. I have no desire to clutter up my card with a shitty res copy and a thumbnail pic
  13. Skydive City just lowered theirs to $23 each if you buy 10 or more.
  14. My newest Vector wanted to have toggle fires when it came from the factory. My rigger ran a quick stitch down the hood and fixed that right up. How loose is the top of toggle if you try just putting that in the hood? In my case, the Trulock pin stayed put in all "fires", so even though the top came unstowed maybe 6-8 times, I only had one actual fire.
  15. For a Vector, a V349 might be a better choice assuming you're going with a PD176/OP193 or another "Standard" fitting reserve. I had a V351, which lists the same Std/Full fitting mains as a V350, and a 150 wasn't the best choice when fitted with a "Standard" fitting reserve. A Pulse 170 was ok, but a regular 150 just didn't quite fit right.
  16. I just got one back from SSK. Two and a half weeks door to door for mine.
  17. When I started skydiving, I had "lazy legs" and my tracking was almost non existant. Then I spent 10 minutes in the tunnel working on leg awarness and tracking. The tunnel instructor crouched with his back against the wall and put his hands on my shoulders. When he nodded, I went into a track position for ~5-10 seconds until he nodded to me again. It didn't make me track like a pro, but my tracking WAS immediately better that day.
  18. I switched to UPT's semi-stowless around 150 jumps when I was on a 170@ 1.2. While I wasn't as aware then as I am now about my deployments, I did notice smoother and more consistent openings then. I went back to regular dbags for a few hundred jumps when I swapped containers, and just got one back. I notice the difference even more now. Easier to pack, and more consistent and on heading opennings. Well worth the investment IMO
  19. Is there a reason a swooper couldn't put dive loops on their rears? I've seen that most either grab the rears with their whole hand, or press them out to the side. Is there a reason not to treat the rears the same as the fronts in using just 2 fingers?
  20. You might want to try this option, given your penchant for landing with the gliders at night
  21. I used this one when I was tenting it at the DZ. My phone and tablet lasted Friday PM through Monday AM on it with no problems. Only downside might be that it has only one 2.1A port, so if you have two iPads or something could be an issue
  22. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like I was one of the guys he cut off at ZHills (we have a lot of orange Pulses). I remember a guy cutting me off and talking to him, he "didn't see it the same way I did". He said the same thing when he cut off an organizer and was talked to by staff then. Didn't really see him after that. My memory sucks, that's really about all I recall
  23. I have to get a pic of my Viso showing 994mph on that jump...I guess I was wearing a bit more lead than I thought