Cloudi

We aren't jealous...we're waiting for beer, sucka! **quote taken from AggieDave's post on "10 Things Skydivers Hate The Most" on Bonfire. Can I hear a "hell yeah"? Lighten up and enjoy the whole ride. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

You guys are making my brain hurt! This is a great thread with lots of usable info for those of us who are mathematically challenged... Where else but in skydiving can "separation" be such a good thing?! Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Troll or not, you are a scary individual. Get some help. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

More like PERRY'S MISSING ASS!! That boy ain't got no butt. I heard a rumor that it went into hiding during an especially scary opening--it's been all pucker ever since. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

That's him! Thanks so much. You ROCK! Why didn't I think of that? Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Looking for "Tall Guy" and can't for the life of me remember his real name! Can anyone help a forgetful bird out? I'm thinking Ken, Keith, or something with a "K"? Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

"He don't know us very well do he?" Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

#75 Under canopy, focusing on the tetrahedron instead of the wind sock like I was used to. "Eat the carrot" doesn't work for those and they are just unreliable peices of sh*t! Scared many people on my final, myself included when I quickly realized that I was heading downwind (wind was probably 5-10) but I ran that unintentional downwinder out! I responded to every instructor who approached me with "I was looking at the stupid arrow" and every single one said, "ahhh, don't do that, look at the windsocks." Lesson: stick to your plan or at least follow traffic if a wind indicator confuses you! #148 Intended 4-way fell apart and turned to 2 2-ways. Lost sight of other 2 (one had recently recerted after 13 years off and was a back-sliding machine). Turned to track at planned break-off...hello! Inflated pc directly underneath me! Tracked like crazy! Video from other half of that 2-way doesn't do it justice. Lesson: Plan your dive and dive your plan. Know where everyone on your dive is at all times. Everyone is trying to kill you. Pre-#224 You know how you hold onto something when you're putting your legs through the leg straps? There's a good reason for that! Nothing like getting your leg caught in the strap, losing your balance, and injuring yourself before you even get in the plane. Doing it in front of a BMI you just met makes it even more special. Don't worry, his hair was not damaged in my incident. LOL! Sorry, couldn't resist! Chuck started it! Lesson: I am the poster child for how NOT to gear up! By the way, I'm a dork and it's a wonder that I've survived! Conclusion: It appears that I do something idiotic about every 75 jumps, so stay away from me at #300. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

I hope you didn't think I was slamming you or making light of your question. I replied to Fergie's post to have a laugh with his smart-ass self while very discreetly slipping in some info to people who may not know what to do about excess cable. Not subtle enough, eh? I'll work on that! I guess the stows are like so many other things in life: If you poke at it often enough and long enough; it will eventually get worn out. Or broken in, depending how you want to look at it. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

My God. You're a genius! Oh yeah...if the Fergie Magic doesn't do the trick and they're still too long...trim them, use a lighter, candle, Florida climate in August, or any other available heat source to soften (not melt) the coating just enough so that you can "round" and "smooth" it over any exposed metal. Just remember to leave enough slack for sitting in and moving around in a small A/C where you may be packed in like a canned fish product.

They like you, Perry! They really, really like you! So...how much is he paying you guys for these glowing reviews, anyway?! You are da man, Perricus Scaricus! Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

THAT ROCKS! Take your time and enjoy everything you get to see, learn, and do along the way. Skydiving offers so much to so many people. Every jump offers new lessons, every skydiver offers new friendships and experience, and every discipline offers new rewards. Just a few reasons why we love our sport SO MUCH!! Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

I PM'd you... Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Sounds like excellent advice to me. I think this has less to do with skydiving and more to do with just realizing he might be too young to handle compromising. Compromising can seem like giving up your independence and dreams if you don't know the difference. Knowing you can have it all comes with maturity, experience, and the right SO.

Thank you for this information. Many of us have been waiting to hear how we can pay our respects to Chris and his family. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

sniff...sniff... Is that (future) beer I smell? Why, I think it just might be! I'll take mine when I see you in December! Have fun! Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

...because when you work alot, you often have more $ than time or patience. I injured my knee (playing beach volleyball of all things!) right after I took the packing class. 3 weeks and a knee brace later, I was able to jump again but kneeling down to pack was simply out of the question. It's amazing what a little knee injury can do for your canopy skills though. I may not pack for myself, but I have very nice landings! Insert new job which has dominated those weekdays I would have spent jumping and packing and you have someone who has over 200 jumps and has only packed for herself twice. We have excellent packers at our DZ who I trust with my life every time. I have wonderful openings every time because our packers rock! I'm sure it doesn't hurt that I tip them well, either. They deserve every dollar they get and then some. Oh, and I'm lazy. I'm not proud of the fact that I depend so heavily on the skills of others to enjoy skydiving, but for now, it will have to do. I do know my gear very well and I rely on no one else to make sure it is in good shape (well, except for those pesky re-packs). One of these days I will brush up on my packing skills, but for now, I prefer to make the 3 jumps I'm able to squeeze into my busy week. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

If you would like to calm down, re-read my post, and detach yourself from speaking before thinking...you might see that what you just "screamed" about was actually addressed. I'm not disagreeing with any of your opinions. If you really read what I said, you can plainly see that. Please don't take what I wrote out of context. It doesn't really express your opinion in the intelligent manner I'm sure you want. I wasn't arguing with VectorBoy, and I won't argue with you either. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

3 Other individuals that have only called or requested via Email to be placed on the list without any evaluation of skills whatsoever. Being in the last category doesn't make any guarantee as to that applicants suitability to conduct anything on behalf of bird-man in regards to wingsuits other than promotion and sales. The only thing it does prove is the applicant is an effective telemarketer. QuoteI simply can’t take it anymore. What the heck are you talking about? I’ve sat quietly for several weeks while a few people have argued back and forth on the merit of BMI’s. Your statement above is just complete BS and I can’t believe you would spout it on a public forum. Do you really think you are “encouraging more Birds into the flock” with comments like that? The only people who are added to the BMI list are those who have been approved of by Jari, Robert, Chuck, Scott, and the few other BMCI’s out there. If someone made the list and didn’t have to go through the course, his/her knowledge, experience, and teaching technique was obviously already there. I would imagine if Jari or Robert considered someone to be capable without the course, they would know better than anyone and they wouldn’t allow it unless that person had truly shown his/her ability! No one just calls up and gets put on the list. If you know something I don’t, please enlighten me. I think I know what you meant to say: We have given Dealerships to skydiving related businesses who aren’t BMI’s because: 1. There is a BMI at their dropzone. 2. The dealer himself/herself is scheduled to attend a BMI course in the near future. No one is preventing “mentors” from giving some pointers. All they are saying is that it isn’t always the best situation for someone completely new to wingsuits to learn this way, especially someone on the lower end of the 200-500 jump spectrum. I have enough jumps to fly a wingsuit and could learn from the best BMI around—Jari. I also have enough sense to know that I’m not current enough (because I work at the office all the damn time!) to take on a new discipline which is truly meant for skilled, experienced, current, and “heads up” skydivers. I do qualify for the “heads up” part. Do you really feel comfortable putting a wingsuit on someone and giving them some instruction if they might be exactly like me, except with a huge, hungry, reckless skydiving ego? Maybe you do. If that’s the case—who are we piddly manufacturers to tell you anything? You obviously have the whole skydiving thing in your pocket. That’s fantastic. Just remember that you could be sending a message to others who don’t have it all figured out and who really have no business passing out wingsuits or advice, that it’s ok. You are also sending a message to skydivers who don’t fly wingsuits that we don’t care about anyone else in the sky. We’ll just put a wingsuit on whoever wants to fly it and everyone else will just have to stay the hell out of the way. I’m one of those skydivers, and, I have to say, the thought terrifies me. I am fortunate enough to jump at a dropzone where that is unlikely to happen because there is usually no less than one BMI around at any given time. I realize now just how fortunate I am (not to mention that I am surrounded by world class skydivers who don’t hesitate to answer my stupid questions and are truly wonderful people!). Should I be cautious about visiting other dropzones where it is common practice for wingsuit flyers who learned from “mentors” to be in the air above me (or in my airspace if they really don’t know what they’re doing)? BMI’s receive training on the correct information regarding wingsuits (not what they heard from some 20-flight wonder), they learn the best way to pass along that information (thus the “instructor” in BMI), and they have set aside their time and money to be educated. Anyone can learn along the way, but BMI’s offer the most current and accurate information. BirdMan is a new breed in the skydiving world. We not only put out the products, but we actually give a shit about the people who buy them. We want them to learn the right things the first time, not have to re-learn to be rid of bad habits they got from someone who had good intentions. We also don’t want them dead. It’s not about money, it’s about Jari’s passion for flight, his dream of sharing his passion with as many skydivers as he can, and about making it as safe, challenging, and, well—as “flocking” fun as possible. The BMI course fee is to help cover the time, transportation, lodging, materials, and expertise of the person who traveled to conduct the course. Jari has been known to waive the fee to locals: when he has the available time and is at our home DZ and not traveling the world. Why wouldn’t he give special treatment to people at his home dropzone if he has the time? He's the President--he can do that. BirdMan has never been and never will be the “wingsuit police.” Obviously we are interested in pushing the envelope too! I think the mere fact that skydivers are able to fly wingsuits and live to tell about it is a testament to that. BirdMan is looking to the future all the time. Not only for our benefit, but for the benefit of all who wish wingsuit flying to grow and succeed. We welcome competition and you should too. It always works out best for the consumer when there is, you know.

Nice ending!! The entire movie was HOT! Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

***Shouldn't the spotter for the load cough up some too!? *** Last I heard, you are your own spotter...Look before you leap and any other such cliche' that may apply. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

BEER!! You guys are slipping... Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

This is sooo great! How much easier my life would be if this were to be the new suit! No measuring--tighten the string, sorry, only one color per suit...wing...flap...err.. Oh and by the way, orders will take 6-8 semesters. Those 2nd graders work sooo slow! Payable only by peasant labor--no credit cards, checks, wire transfers, or empty promises (most common payment attempt)! Oh yes, order changes will be punishable by flogging, tar and feathering, and whatever other indignity I might come up with. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Hello Bird-peeps! Yes, I am the new employee at BirdMan. I'm the chic that you talk to on the phone, the one who processes your order, the one who ships it into your eager little hands,... It's been awesome working here in a skydiving-related place! It's great to work with such positive and energetic people (co-workers & customers alike)! I am also a waitress & bartender on Fri & Sat nights at the Ocean Deck in Daytona. I have been skydiving for over 2 years and absolutely LOVE it! I am so lucky to have a great man, Bob C., a great sport to be involved in, 2 great jobs, and many wonderful friends.

Sorry Tall Guy, had I climbed into that suit, they never would have found me again! Hope that you're having a blast! If I ever look up and see something blocking the sun, I'll know that it's you! Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.