skykittykat

I know that HH has decided not to post a "schedule" as such, but would it be possible to post something here with a vague outline of when various special jumps will take place, ie, Steerman jumps, 4-way/8-way day, Cross Country, specialist wingsuit day? Some people would like to experience everything that Skydive Arizona has to offer during the boogie, so it would be helpful to those coming from afar to plan a little bit in advance.

Tim Tams and Burger Rings. Liz

Airspeed only do one 4-way and 8-way day - the rest of the boogie they are there load organising so the numbers of the groups can be anywhere from 6 to 20. If the weather comes in and there is only cloud base of about 7k a lot of people won't jump, so there is a good chance then of doing a 4-way. There is also more chance of getting in a quick 4-way if you are there and ready for first load. Liz Liz

I don't think there would be much in it. Also, Oddyssey can be thrown into the mix now after their fantastic result at the World Meet. So, who would be faster out of those 3??? Liz

Shows how long it's been since I was there! If you do speak to him, please say Hi to him for me. Liz

There's no hoolaganism in rugby by it's fans - that's reserved for football supporters (football is for wooses anyway). There is an old saying that goes something like this: Football - played by gentlemen, watched by hoolagans; Rugby - played by hoolagans and watched by gentlemen. Nice score today - All Blacks beat England. Shame I missed watching it down the pub, but back to Blighty tomorrow... Liz

Joe Rocks, especially his spiderman flying, although I have never flown with Carlos, I know his rep is awesome! Actually all of the Orlando tunnel instructors are fantastic fliers and instructors in both rw and freefly - Olaf, Omar, Mike, Dan, Rusty, etc. They are the best out there. Now that I live in AZ with the tunnel in my back yard, I miss Orlando and all the guys there - big hugs to ya all. By the way, Mike from Orlando is credited for spreading the very nasty flu bug to all of us here in AZ..... He definitely left his calling card when he left after training the new instructors. Cheers Mate Liz

3/10 - I thought it was one of those trick quizzes, ie those that were the most dinstinguished looking I thought were the serial killers! Belive it or not, but due to the nature of my business, I can spot the freaks/troublemakers/theives, etc a mile off and am generally 99.9% correct most of the time. My brother does not have the same radar as me, so I generally end up kicking out the freaks that he lets in! Liz

Yup, remembered his name this morning - late as ever! I saw him live in Tauranga, NZ and he rocked. The school kid one about wanting a smoko... Classic. Liz

Great news! Myself being an honourary Kiwi (long story) - that is awesome, especially after the debacle over the World Cup sharing with Australia a few years back (lying, cheating b'stards was what the Kiwi news was reporting every day about the powers that be over the Tasman). The All Blacks Rock Where are you living over there? Liz

The Australian guy (name is on the tip of my tongue!) - the song goes "Hey, Santa Claus, where's me f*****g bike?...." Quite funny, but not for kids! Liz

Good - it means that I finally get to check out that famous (or infamous) arse Liz

I started AFF in New Zealand and finished in the UK. It's totally fine and sometimes it can be beneficial. Welcome to the skies and good luck with the rest of your AFF. Liz

Actually, in this case Travis was wrong seeing as I was the inside centre and a girl and we all know that girls are always right Kodak moment, Shannon and I are doing our solo 270's during block 22 and track off halfway through leaving Brian and Travis to finish their piece move to find us girls gone. I scored the best one though - Travis, didn't you see a lot of green cordura and was glad of a full face??? GQ - I bet I would look better in your jumpsuit than you do Liz

Travis did say something about your arse... I will pass on the message/slap for you tomorrow morning at 6.15 am in the tunnel. Liz

Ummm - I moved from the UK to AZ for the weather soooo, why would I go somewhere that is colder than the UK Liz

OK, the list is looking a little scary

TDog and I are currently doing the Airspeed Skills Camp together and are on the same group! Travis is kicking ass in the tunnel! Tomorrow, we start actually sky jumping. Liz

It's interesting seeing other peoples' points of view on this, especially the poll results. I must admit to have been a bit naughty in playing Devil's Advocate in my original post Liz

Since the separate Womens' class was created and the sport has evolved, what do you all think about the Womens' Class? To compete in the Womens' class should it include a camera flyer who is female? The rules have changed in that after a cut of date, an all female team includes the camera flyer as well. Do you think that this cut off date should have been in place before now? I think it should have been. I know pleny of female camera flyers - eg, Russian 8-way team has a female camera flyer and the British Army 4-way team has one, to name 2, not including the women camera flyers at the US Nationals. Personally, since the women's class was created, enough women have come through the ranks who are top "Open" class flyers and there are more and more women camera flyers. The Womens' class at that time gave women a springboard to go higher. Today, women don't necessarily need that springboard to join the "boys" - their skill and talent shows through enough. I understand that when the rule was passed to allow the womens' class to have a male camera flyer until the cut off date was to allow more women to hone their skills as camera flyers, but at the time, there were women camera flyers out there that could do the job. Those that were learning would certainly have been ready for this year's World Cup. I think that the sport has evolved enough not to have a womens' class at world level now. Lisa Aune, Eliana Rodriguez, Natasha Montgomery, Arianna de Bennedetti, Elena and Alona from Russia, (sorry, don't know how to spell your last names!!!) - all are top level skydivers and kick ass over most male skydivers. One other point is that, and I will probably get flamed for saying this.... As a female team, what is the goal? To win Gold in the Female Class reaching a certain average which is way less than the "Open" Class or should you aim for the average that the "Open" Class are going for? I am not dissing what female teams have done, but I think it is time for equality. If there is going to be an all female class, then all teams should be all female, including the camera flyer - and the cut off date should be cancelled as of now. Liz

Exactly! The load organisers for both freefly and rw are top notch. As you are arriving on 16 December that is perfect to get in some coaching in and get to know other local freefliers. You certainly won't be "Billy No Mates". Liz

***What does teaching canopy skills have to do with it? I put up the numbers as of a few months ago but the hook turn numbers are down for this year and the unable to properly execute emergency procedures is up at a rate of double the hook turners. As of a month ago only 7/25 fatalities this year were canopy related and 2 of those were in the same collision. 3 were hook turns and 2 were avoidence turns. 6 people failed to correctly execute their Emergency Procedures and died.*** OK, you are asking what has canopy skills got to do with it... 7 were related to canopy flying and 6 were due to not executing their emergency procedures. Already canopy related deaths outnumber those of lack of EPs by 1.... Of those 7 that were canopy related, some were directly responsible for disregarding that old saying - "I am a pilot and not a passenger under canopy" As for those 6 people failing to properly execute their emergency procedures, well that is within themselves - you can teach someone all you can, but ultimately if those people panic, or whatever, in an emergency sitaution, there is nothing you can do. Were those people students? If they weren't - why did they do nothing about properly executing their emergency procedures??? If not, why did they not follow what they were taught from ground school, even before they got in the air. My point was that if STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT CORRECTLY... You can teach a student how to execute emergency drills, but ulitmately, whomever is under a malfunctioning canopy, it is their choice whether to execute those emergency drills or not. Showing a fatality photo/video is not going to make a difference as to how they react. Each and every student is taught how to IDENTIFY a malfunction and how to deal with it. Liz

Yeah Bryce, you and Jason BOTH ROCK!!! I haven't been out at the dz lately for certain reasons, so haven't had a chance to tell you this, but I think it warrents a mention in public. I was sitting with some of the judges and they were talking about competitors (in a nice way) and they all said that you and Jason were awesome competitors in that you were having so much fun, smiling, happy and such nice people (as well as good skydivers!) I take it from that and my own personal view, that you guys are an asset to the sport. GO FOR GOLD, but if it doesn't happen, even though I am sure it will, stay the same!!! Liz

Please PM me or add to this list for offering Airport pick-ups, wanting a ride from the airport, a ride from California or wherever. Put the times you are arriving/leaving depending on what you need/offering. Oh, yeah, any Duty Free runs as well. Offering Airport Pick-Up's available Skykittykat - before 23 December or after sunset 23 December. Duty Free Needed 1000 Benson and Hedges Special Filter Cigarettes (legal limit for US from Europe), Private Eye Magazine, Heat Magazine and Bizarre Magazine (UK) Liz

I'll put it out now, rather than start a list, coz I have to go back to the UK and work and won't have the time to always check, oh wait, work consists of sitting at a desk, checking people in and out and partying at night.... OK, will start a list now. Liz