turtlespeed 220 #1 July 20, 2004 You would be so proud. I searched for "sharing camera step" and "share camera step" and "shared camera step" no results. SO - here we go - Last weekend I was given the opportunity to film some bigway stuff. Fun - neat - great - I loved it - what an opportunity to begin to round out my ongoing education in flying a camera. Anyway, I ended up sharing the step with someone. All the exits that day went off without a hitch - save one - the one where i had to share the step - What do you do when you have to share the step? What do you do differently on exit and getting out the door? Do you leave earlier - if so - how much?I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #2 July 20, 2004 When the door is that jammed I rarely leave early as I have no idea what the dork infront of me is going to do. After they leave I find myself a window a split second later and leave on anywhere from a 40 degree angle to a slight peel. Unless ofcourse I was a trail camera and then I might wait for the divers to leave and come off with the last one, get the shot of them going into their swoop, turn, and dive for the base myself. Damn, so many ways to have fun!---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,027 #3 July 20, 2004 Get a decent sized step that two people can use comfortably. Two decent handles help too. And while on the topic, a handle up front helps front-front float: hanging on the flap hinge is bad juju.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 220 #4 July 20, 2004 Quote Get a decent sized step that two people can use comfortably. Two decent handles help too. And while on the topic, a handle up front helps front-front float: hanging on the flap hinge is bad juju. Sure thing - I'll just run to Home Depot. Be right back.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #5 July 20, 2004 I have one foot on the step, one on the plane to push off. One hand one the bar, the other pulled into my chest to keep the wing closed. Same exit as JP. Plenty of room back there for me and someone else. Not to mention that I can hang out far enough that I can actually see the start of the count and time it to pull back towards the plane to allow the rear float a clean exit.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #6 July 20, 2004 Camera steps come in various sizes from freekn' huge running for several feet in length to freekin' small about 4x2 inches. The large camera steps, in my experience, seem to be mostly located east of the ol' Miss with the smaller ones favored in desert climates. I'm almost certain this has nothing to do with the weather. But I digress . . . The large camera steps allow for easy sharing, perhaps too easy in some cases with extra rear-rear-rear floaters. When people used to this arrangement then find themselves with little step to share, then have a tendancy to want to share it anyway. As a big-way camera flyer, you're usually not too concerned with a perfect leading exit, so, it is usually not too big of a deal if the rear^3 floater lightly rests his foot on top of yours. Chances are if the door is that loaded up with floaters, there isn't any way for you to see the count anyway, so trying to time your exit is probably going to be a bit frustrating anyway. In my opinion organizers would usually do far better taking out a standard competition 8-way type exit than load up the door with extra floaters. Again, just my opinion.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 220 #7 July 20, 2004 So the fact that Mouth took me out or vice versa directly after exit makes little difference? Wouldn't it be prudent to leave just a hair early so as not to affect the flying of the people actually doing the work?I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,027 #8 July 20, 2004 QuoteQuote Get a decent sized step that two people can use comfortably. Two decent handles help too. And while on the topic, a handle up front helps front-front float: hanging on the flap hinge is bad juju. Sure thing - I'll just run to Home Depot. Be right back. You can always mention it to your DZO. I know Quade has used the SDC step, which is big enough for 2, and having 2 handles above makes it really quite comfortable out there (everything being relative).... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdhill 0 #9 July 20, 2004 Spaceland's two otters have two very different Step and Handle set-ups... MF (the Blue and White one) has a big step, set low, and really big handle... SF (the all white one) has a small step, set fairly high on the side of the plane, and a small handle... Some setups are better for sharing than others, and no two are alike... if you have to share, figure out the game plan ahead of time, or you will end up fighting over the handle and with someone standing on your toes. JAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #10 July 20, 2004 Quote So the fact that Mouth took me out or vice versa directly after exit makes little difference? Depends. Are you both OK? Did you take her out or did she take you out? Is there anything -you- as the camera flyer could have done to prevent it? Is the LO willing to have you repeat the scenario? First -- do no harm. Second -- stuff happens. Occasionally, there will be incidental contact on exit. Third -- if the LO -requires- you to perform a particular exit, you -must- perform the exit, but I think it gives you a LOT more leverage in negotiating for the sole ownership of the step. Now, going back to my original reply . . . I said I had no real issues with a rear^3 floater resting his foot on mine (we have the tiny 4x2 inch steps), but if he does, that means that if I exit first . . . then his foot is going to come off the step as well. So, it all depends on the situation. I don't think bumping into a rear floater is that big of a crime -- funneling the base, however . . . that's not good. As a camera flyer on a big-way, you really, really, really don't want to do that. If you're not 100% certain you can't pull off a clean leading exit, consider a peeling exit unless the LO requires otherwise -- then just do the leading exit and pray. quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #11 July 21, 2004 QuoteDepends. I don't think bumping into a rear floater is that big of a crime -- funneling the base, however . . . that's not good. As a camera flyer on a big-way, you really, really, really don't want to do that. If you're not 100% certain you can't pull off a clean leading exit, consider a peeling exit unless the LO requires otherwise -- then just do the leading exit and pray. wings help prayers... i've had people stand on my foot on the step, it wasn't that big of a deal. They typically slightly lead the exit also, so we went at the same time. peace lewhttp://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydance1954 0 #12 July 21, 2004 So far, all the camera steps I've used have been more than large enough to accomodate two people. Peeling off IMMEDIATELY after the person sharing the step has proved effective for me. They are about 1 body width below on exit, and i'm able to focus on the base without worries of interference from them. Additionally, the wings put me above the mass of people in/and coming out of the door pretty quickly.Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #13 July 21, 2004 When sharing a little-bitty camera step with a rear floater I tend to put my foot angling against the back edge of the step (like _/) and the floater angling off the front edge (like \_ ). That way nobody gets stepped on and nobody is trapped. No foot is on the exact top of the step. I can push back, they can have the leverage to keep their push forward and at the door. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zee 0 #14 July 21, 2004 That's one big bonus when you're 6'4 - I don't really need a step (when floaters are absorbing the prop blast for me that isThen again, I do tend to bonk my head in the plane alot Peace, Z Action©Sports Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cwhitchurch 0 #15 July 21, 2004 I did primary video for some bigway camps last year. Organizer wanted me off early but tight & facing jumprun. My best luck was to time my exit on the outside center. (I'm tall enough to see over all them folks). Find out if the jumper you are sharing the step with plans to drop straight down, or go out. Make him promise to one or the other, you get what's left. If you can take the hole between the floaters leaving and the base exit, and either drop or hop depending on what the share-guy does, you'll get clean air 90% of the time. If you make contact, just grab the rig and push them aside gently. It's understood, it'll all work out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #16 July 21, 2004 Yeah, I've tried that a few times and more often than not, the guy knocks my foot off the step and I end up having to hold on with no step or he steps on my toes anyway. I'd much rather have something I can predict.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #17 July 22, 2004 QuoteYeah, I've tried that a few times and more often than not, the guy knocks my foot off the step and I end up having to hold on with no step or he steps on my toes anyway. I'd much rather have something I can predict. Yeah, I understand you're reasoning....but I -thought- you -liked- tracking uphill....hanging on with one hand....(if your wind is blocked by the multiple floaters). ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #18 July 22, 2004 I've done it and it has a limited amount of fun associated with it, but it doesn't actually make for all that good of an exit.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #19 July 22, 2004 See the face? I guess I have more luck in the step sharing department and not getting my foot stepped on. Perhaps it's my feet not being as big as some cameraflyers....or perhaps I'm a girl and the rear-rear floater actually looking before stepping out. They don't want to hurt my poor little tootsies! ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zee 0 #20 July 22, 2004 QuoteI've done it and it has a limited amount of fun associated with it, but it doesn't actually make for all that good of an exit. Yeah, the fun factor isn't really high but, as long as I can see the count and leave a hair before the floaters it works for me. If you miss the count it can certainly get jacked Action©Sports Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
