Joyner

I got my 107 today . I sort of bought it blind, never tried it, but I needed a new cannopy for this season, tried both the Stilletto and Ven 107, and thought what I have read about the Katana was what I was looking for, so I figured what the h... If the weather here in sweden cooperates I will try it this weekend! If it doesn't I think I'll turn into a nervous reck! I got my new Odyssey RSK today also, so I REALLY want to try them both this weekend.

Here's mine. Drive it year around with a lift off hard top during the winter!

Here's my TJN, I just got my RSK in the exact same colors. Not packed yet so not much to look at.

What about organized loads? Is that available all over every day of the week? I went to Z-hills a few (6) years ago on a Tuesday in July and there were like 12 people around. Were would the bulk of activity be? Me reasoning is, where there is a lot of people, there will be opportunities to do either organized loads or lurk a slot on a dive.

I won't be driving, I'll be flying. I know the geography, I know what is close and what is not. What I don't know is what type of skydiving I'm to expect at the different locations!

I'll be going to the States in March on business, and I was planning on bringing my gear. My plan is to be jumping March 10-14. Now my question is, were do I go? I would like some sort organized formation skydiving. What I don't want is to show up at the DZ and end up doing solos for 4 days. The location is not a big issue, I can go more or less anywhere but would prefer Florida, Arizona or California. I'll end up in Santa Fe NM after the weekend for my business part of the trip. I've been looking at different DZ's home pages and haven't found anything. So I'm trying to get a feel for if there are any good quality "drop in" organized loads during this time. Thanks!

What happened to this? I was really looking forward to some hard facts about this elusive canopy. Any news?

Right on!! But I do enjoy bigways too, it's just that it gets old pretty quick! I've done a couple of bigway camps, and by the third day I've had about enough. Don't get me wrong, I'd jump on an opportunity to be on the 372 way!

I agree with others that previous experience of big-ways is probably the best way to get on BIGGER ways. BUT!! My take on bigways is that it's not all that difficult from a skills point of view. You don't have to be a skygod to be on a bigway. Basic skills needed are diving (floating), flying your slot and TRACKING. Other than that the MOST important thing is DISCIPLINE!!!! Flying straight in approaches with no "red zone" violations (crossing someone else's path close to the formation), "sheep doging" your grip (not flying as fast as you can straight to your slot, but instead flying as close to your grip as possible, following that person to the formation). Keep on flying your slot after you take your grip. Being able to think and act as a team also requires discipline. Keeping your cool, even if you know that there are 371 others depending on you to do your job might be a though one! And then of course there is the "under canopy" part. Most important here is to follow break off procedure, deploying at the correct altitude, and then flying defensively (just as driving your car). All in all, most of the "skills" many skydivers have at less than 1000 jumps. Discipline is the part many are lacking more than the actual skills. And also when it comes to bigways the saying "It's not WHAT you know, It's WHO you know that counts!" is more true than ever!

People just have to much time on their hands! Pretty cool!! http://wtf.fragzone.se/view.php?linkid=583

Say what you want about them all. But I got my Odyssey the exact day they told me I would get it. The downside was that the day they told me and actually delivered on was a little more than 6 months after order! Military orders or not, I think Sun Path have to change their approach to civilian customers. Even if they in my opinion have a superior product, people wont wait that long in the long run!

There will be additional sizes available later! They are quote "In the latter stages of development". He who waits for something good.....

Do you think he knows that in that moment? I'm pretty sure he's thinking "Oh Shit, Oh shit, Oh shit....."

Think this guy would be able to squeeze out a diamond?

Just received word today. My 21 weeks of waiting are over. My Odyssey RSK is ready!! Wooohooo, now all I have to do is wait another 4 weeks to have a friend of mine bring it to Sweden. None of you guys traveling to Scandinavia any time soon? Atleast they delivered EXACTLY on time! I was told Jan 8 when I ordered it about 6 months ago!

Actually the label states that "Even when properly, assembled, packed and operated, you risk serious injury and death each time you use the system". They NEVER state that it WILL work. They tell you how you can increase the chances that it will. But they actually tell you that they will not guarantee that it will work. I'm quoting PD's reserv manuall here "......It's sold with all fault and without any warranty of fitness for any purpose..... ". The TSO only states that it HAS worked under the parameters of the required test. The TSO never states that it will do it again! They even offer you your money back in full, if you do not want to play by the rules that they state! It's like loosing a football game, and filing a lawsuit against the winning team for playing by the rules you both agreed on before the game. The fact that equipment fails even when packed..... and so on has to be part of every skydivers calculated risk taking in skydiving. If you don't take that into account, it's a poorly calculated risk, and should the manufacturer be responsible for your bad math skills?

Here's one from today (New Years Eve). Temperature was a not so hot -20 centigrade at 3000ft. Did two jumps! Happy New Years!

In Sweden a jump ticket is around 19 USD. There are discounts available. Last year I jumped at an average of 12 USD per jump. I some places you can even buy a "one year jump ticket". At my DZ it costs about 2100 USD, and you get to do as many jumps as you want during a year. Some guys do 300 - 400 jumps on those tickets, then we are talking 5 USD per jump. I haven't heard of any DZ in the US that can compete with that!

I looked at the list of participants and imported them into excel. They have over 1.6 million jumps between them!!

"Mean people suck! Nice people swallow!"

The guy with the video has a Velocity, other than that you are right! Edited for spelling.

Jezzz! "Most of my rides......" How many have you had?

I can only agree with PhillyKev here, give it some time! Doing a tandem is one thing, getting out there on your own is completely different. MANY people start the SL course, few graduate! Do you think that any of those starting the course, think they aren't going to finish? As a SL instructor, I've instructed my fair share of students. I always try to guess who will graduate and who will not before their first jump. I'm almost allways wrong! Just to finish this with a positive note. I think it's great that you are hooked. Take the course, but I think waiting with the gear purchase would be the wise decision. BUT!!! If you are like me, an impulsive buyer, I know this wont stop you. So if you are going shoping, PLEASE do as you said and consult your instructor first!

27:16

Actually no. We only got applause and cheers. Not that many people around, maybe 10 or 15 people that saw us land. The greenkeeper came up in his cart and offered us a ride back. So what can be learned from this story? ALLWAYS check the spot when you are going nude! I wonder how I learned that leason .