mdowling

Video of Joe D's 10,000th jump while doing a tandem may be found here: JoeD's 10,000th Video Still pictures may be found here: Joe D's 10,000th Still Pics

Channel 6 ABC interview on Flyers skydiving ticket This aired last night. If you experiece problems, you may need to turn off the popup blocker on your browser. It's also the sixth video down on the main homepage: www.6abc.com under the video on demand section. Click on Favorite Flyers Photos The skydiving picture appears on the Flyers home opener ticket on Oct. 13.

Quote Girls in raft Layly Rosier Eliane Doering Amber Fernandez J Schrimsher Mark Futch Ryan Bonham Trae Miller Josh Greene Does this sound right??? Quote Last person should be Matt (not Josh) Greene (silver full-face, far left of the raft picture.

Hey guys, It's great to hear Lead handled it well, is okay and got to keep jumping. I hope to see hee you guys at the dz sometime soon. Hey Lead, who packed your reserve? Someone at SJS? Matt

Everyone's going to have criticisms about an event the magnitude of the WFFC. I have a few, but I'd rather offer a post that highlights the positives, which are many. For me, the WFFC (I've been to the last 4) is my favorite 10 days of the year. If there are folks who've never been and are considering whether to go this year, here's my take on the best things about the convention (in no particular order) 1) The people -- I can't stress this part enough. Over the last four years, I've gotten to know a great bunch of folks just by jumping on organized loads. I only usually see them once a year, but when we arrive in Rantoul it's like time was suspended those other 355 days of the year. We pick right up where we left off and welcome newcomers into the fold. 2) The RW organizers - Super nice folks with tons of skydiving knowledge. I can't recommend the RW tents enough for everything from low pressure 4-ways to the bigger, more complex stuff. 3) The facilities - The place is huge. There's plenty of outs and the volunteers are the friendliest folks around. It's pretty well maintained for an event of its size. 4) Lots of Jumps -- I live within 2 hours of 6 turbine dzs, but there's no where that I can make more jumps in 10 days than the WFFC - hands down. Calls are almost always under 20 mins. Last year I did 82 jumps and we had a few weather days. 5) Socializing -- Finish jumping at sunset, grab a shower and bite to eat and head to the entertainment tent for a bit. The music isn't always my style, but what could be more fun than hanging out with a few hundred like-minded folks who love skydiving. 6) Aircraft -- Specialty aircraft provide a fun diversion and something to talk about. I know people want more of this, but a few variety jumpships fill the bill for me. Everything else is a bonus. It seems fashionable to be down on the convention this year. Some of the gripes are quite deserved. I've been to several other boogies, large and small. They all have their merits and shortcomings. But the overarching theme I've found at the WFFC that keeps drawing me back is the overwhelming feeling of friendly camaraderie. It's nobody's home dz, and everyone's home dz at the same time because it only exists for 10 days a year. For those who've seen past the nay-sayers, I look forward to meeting you there. I'll be in the RW organizing tent, just before 8 a.m. on the first day, waiting for those awesome songs to play (national anthem, then "over the rainbow".) Hopefully, I'll have just landed from Mullin's dirty-bird load.

Thanks Rick. Just the answer I was looking for.

http://www.xperiencedays.com/ Need to know immediately if this is a skyride affiliated site. This site is about to get some publicity from a rather large newspaper I work for and I want to make sure it's legit. It's being promoted as a NJ-owned company. For those more tech-savy at tracking down ownership of websites, please advise. Thanks.

About the spots, I have made roughly 300 jumps in the last four years the convention has been at Rantoul. Outside of specialty aircraft, I think I have no more than 4 or 5 out landings. All of these have been on the airport. Spots were tough this year because there were a ton of downwind jumpruns. The reason was that they didn't want us running jumprun toward the practice field for the University of Illinois football team (so I heard). They didn't want us landing there by accident. As a result, ground speeds were swift and people failed to adapt. I was on several loads where a 5 or 6 way was the third largest formation load and we counted 20 to 30 seconds between green light and the first group exit. Lots of these times, (I hate to point a finger), but Arizona Airspeed was organizing. They hosed everyone else regularly. Then the airspeed guys swooped the organizing tent and put everyone walking to the planes at risk. That's not setting a good example, in my humble opinion. That being said, I love the WFFC. I can't wait till next year. And I'll be a regular at load organizing tent 3 with the good friends I've made there since Rantoul became Rantoul. Best, Matt

I have read a lot of your posts and respect your opinion. Please explain the last one.

Here's the story I wrote on the same killing for my newspaper today. It offers more details than 1010 WINS version. Newark Star-Ledger Story

FYI, the link I provide is to a lense for $380.

Wade, I bought a 15mm Sigma lense and for my digital rebel and couldn't be happier. I bought it on this site and the shipping was fast: http://www.tristatecamera.com/lookat.php?sid=1wvvusc1&sku=SIGAF15S&cs=find.php&action=search&target=products&keywords=sigma&search_method=all I also jump a .43 lense on my video camera. Good luck.

To specifically answer your question: I cutaway at 600 feet after a canopy collision with no RSL and had a reserve at about 100 feet. It should be noted that the opening after such an event is subterminal and may take longer. I landed without injury in a clump of trees and walked away. As for what's actually recommended -- I'd go with what Bill said.

Who knew there was another skydiver in the audience at that show Friday night? I bought the exact same gift for my girlfriend for Xmas and we went on Friday too. If you had dinner at Asia de Cuba (great food) in mid-town before the show and had a beer at the Irish pub next to the theater while waiting for the doors to open, then it's just too damn weird. It is a very funny show for all those in the NY area looking for something different and entertaining.

Couldn't agree more! This lunacy of spiraling over the pattern nearly killed me about 2 years ago when I got blindsided from above as I started my downwind leg. (Check this thread from the incident forum: Canopy Wrap if you're curious what I'm talking about.) Head on a swivel folks, please!