ChadFlorian

I was having alot of trouble getting my brand new Saber2 in the bag, then I came across a post that mentioned doing the S-Folds in reverse like so: http://www.packingparachutes.com/techniques_tips/greed.htm This has been a godsend! I can now get it in the bag every time and with practice, it just keeps getting easier. My question is this. Are there any drawbacks to this method? Seems like it still ends up in the same state at the end. For me it's just easier to keep the larger S fold under control while I bag it, also keeping the lower end (slider, etc) under my knees. Then its easy to fold it into the larger fold since the lower end has less material and doesn't try to fill with air so much. I spent most of last weekend and this week practicing and haven't jumped it yet. Going to do that this afternoon... Any input appreciated... I'm just so happy to be able to pack my own main!!! BlueSkies! -Chad

I am going to be taking my B written this weekend.. Shouldnt the 2005 test go in effect in 2005? Is the cutoff date documented somewhere? I just want to make sure I take the correct test. Thanks for the heads up on this! Blue, Blue and more Blue! -Chad

If you're primarliy looking for goggles that are like sunglasses, you might want to also check out http://www.wiley-x.com/. I got the XL-1's and love em... http://www.wileyx.com/xl1.php fwiw.... Blue Skies!

Cool... Thanks Oren... I'm due for a reserve repack in a few weeks. I'll probably have sally add those top stows then... It's not a critical issue as I'm getting nice openings. I just liked the way they pack the lines all on the bottom and don't wrap around the sides of the d-bag. FWIW.. I spent a good deal of last weekend practicing packing my new sabre2... Getting better! It'll be nice to not have to wait for all the tandem rigs to be packed before the packers get to mine.... BlueSkies! -Chad

This makes it sound like he's talking about the way the bridle "lifts" the bag, not the way the stows resist the lift. Seems like a combination of both distributed lift and having the "resistance" (stows)centered would provide the best result. Of course none of it really matters without good body position...

Ah, so it has more to do with how the bridle attaches to the d-bag... Not how the lines are stowed... So such would likely require a whole new dbag/bridle/pilot chute?...

The student wings I learned to pack on had these type of stows... My new (used) odyssey has the edge of the bag stows. I like the way having all the lines on the bottom of the bag packed alot better... How hard is this type of mod? Obviously I would have my rigger do it. Maybe on my next reserve pack.

I use napster... I buy songs in bulk so they run about .80cents a piece.

The bunker is over behind Sunshine, right?.. By the mock-up otter door? Seems like I also see alot of freeflyers hanging out by Paragone... I'll be out there this Saturday and possibly Friday and I'll look you up... I've gotten some RW caoching from Sally in the tunnel and air, but I've been trying (playing more like it) with sit flying when I solo and it's been fun. Need some coaching, though... I already have some jump tickets that I bought in bulk, but they say non-transferable, so I guess I just need a ticket for the coach and the fee after the 1st free coach jump? Nice looking web site by the way! Blue skies! -Chad

Been jumping there a couple months... Got my A... working on my B (1 more jump + written). I work from there most Thursdays (jumps instead of coffee breaks) and am usually out every Saturday... Plus a few odd days here and there. Look me up and we can do a 2-way. Already trashed a couple of 4 ways, but haven't kicked anyone's head in a 2 way.. yet....

GOD!.. I'm dying to go jump. Our otter has been gone since before frances (z-hills). Hope the weather holds out for Saturday!

Oren is a great guy... Our 2 way (my first besides coach jumps) quickly grew to a 4 way which I promptly trashed on exit. Apparently hitting Oren in the head so hard he saw stars. Still not sure how I hit him as I didn't feel anything. But I have no doubt it was me. I was so focused on the points, I completely forgot my exit. He was very gracious about it.. Think I'll stick to 2 ways for a while...

I'm going to be staying downtown for some work in the financial district in a few weeks. Are there any DZ's that are easy to get to in the area? Preferably by rail, but I might rent a car for one day to go jump if I need to and the DZ is not too far away. TIA, -Chad

Finished my A today at Z-Hills! Feels great! Of course the case of beer helps... ;) Thanks to all the great instructors, packers, staff, etc... Z-Hills is a great place to jump!

Ah, but that's my point. You still view your healthcare as free, when it is not. Free for you, yes. But everyone else who pays taxes is picking up the tab. That's the government taking money from others to pay your doctor. I'll be honest in saying that I truly don't know what the ideal solution is. I agree that everyone should have access to the best medicine available in an ideal world. I just know that the government is NEVER efficient at running anything and anything they run will cost more in the long run. I have no problem with a portion of my taxes going to pay for healthcare for those who can't afford it. That's already happening. But the system itself needs to stay in the private sector. I think the core of the problem in America lies at the other side of the equation. The cost. It's become totally outrageous. For a couple of asprin in the hospital, you could be looking at fifty or a hundred dollars. For the same asprin that costs five cents at the local drug store. A one day hospital visit for something as simple as a broken leg can cost ten thousand! The reason for this is the lawyers. Malpractice insurance is so high, doctors can afford to operate without raising prices for everything including asprin, cotton balls, etc. We need to limit punitive damages. I fully understand someone having a legitimate claim and suing for whatever it will take to fix them or take care of them (compensatory damages) for the rest of their life, but the punitive claims have no cap. You an sue for whatever you desire. Or more likely whatever your greedy lawyer thinks you can get. But of course most of the politicians are also lawyers. So punitive caps will not likely happen anytime soon. I think if we could keep costs at a normal level, it wouldn't be such an issue to have tax money subsidize healthcare for the poor. But socialized medicine across the board is not the answer. Just my 2 cents... Blue Skies..... -Chad

Been lurking here for a while, but with this thread, I had to sign up and jump in. Nowhere in the world is health care "free". Just because you pay for it up front in the form of taxes, does not make it free! "Free health care" is just silly! Let the government handle our health care system and watch the beurocracy and and costs skyrocket! That said... I will be looking into my provider's "fine print"... FWIW, -Chad