Anyone Else Notice This???

[BigM 2]

OK dudes (and dude-ettes), just to get this thread back to where I sorta-kinda intended it to go-
A few people have said things like "this guy has more jumps than several of us combined"... and I have had my visual malfunction before"... and "I use a couple of audibles". My point/questions about all this is (again):
1- Does the ground care how many jumps Eli (or anyone else) has? I don't think so, therefore that is a non-factor.
2-I've had my visual altimeter malfunction before. I also have had my main parachute malfunction before-doesn't mean I quit taking one along for the jump.
3- I use audibles. But when I am under canopy fighting line twists, etc. I have a cut-off altitude to get rid of it. Audibles aren't much use there and don't tell me you're eyes are THAT fine tuned. Your overall best bet and consistently most reliable means of information input is a visual altimeter.
4- And last but certainly not least, I am still waiting for someone to explain what the benefit is of NOT taking one, regardless of how often you may or may not use it.

Blue 111-
Jeff

"When I die, I want to go like my grandmother, who died peacefully in her sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in her car."

[cruzit 0]

Okay...since 1, 2, and 3 are rhetorical questions I'll go straight to 4.

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4- And last but certainly not least, I am still waiting for someone to explain what the benefit is of NOT taking one, regardless of how often you may or may not use it.

You will always have a percentage of individuals who feel their (subsitute any of the following: AAD, altimeter, RSL, hook knife, etc.) is just extra stuff and not necessary for a successful skydive. Face it, the only thing you truly need to successfully complete a skydive is your parachute. Does that mean I would personally not take some kind of altimeter??? Probably not. I PERSONALLY feel an altimeter is a necessary part of my skydive, but I don't have a problem with an experienced skydiver, who is fully aware of what they are choosing, doing without.

It's about personal choice. Do you feel you should personally dictate what kind of equipment a person chooses to jump with. Where do you draw the line???

[motherhucker 0]

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4- And last but certainly not least, I am still waiting for someone to explain what the benefit is of NOT taking one, regardless of how often you may or may not use it.

I usually don't use a visual altimeter on camera jumps. I feel that it gets in the way of things like swoop cords and some gloves in the winter.

That is my choice--read: personal preference. I feel comfortable knowing where I am in the sky with relation to the ground...you don't. No big deal. I haven't done a *ton* of hybrid dives, but I could certainly see not wanting a wrist mount on a hand that would be on someone's chest strap, for instance...(not that Eli was under the flat flyers)
.0o2
mh

[nbblood 0]

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4- And last but certainly not least, I am still waiting for someone to explain what the benefit is of NOT taking one, regardless of how often you may or may not use it.

Also, I've given up my wrist altimeter in the plane to a newbie just off student status that forgot theirs. Done that twice actually. I've also seen other more experienced jumpers give up theirs for the same reason. He might have done the same, you never know.

Blues,
Nathan

Blues,
Nathan

If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute.

[mdrrus 0]

I know skydivers that have jumped 20 years without any altimeter, there is no substitute for altitude awareness. That said, I jump with one audible and one visual altimeter and nothing less. That's my choice, but if you feel more comfortable with one on each wrist and chest strap, go for it. Eli wears two audibles, that's his choice and the choice of many freeflyers who find that it breaks concentration to look at a visual altimeter since two audibles may even more safe.