hongkongluna

I did only 1 for each level. But, i had done 5-6 tandems since 94, with friends, just for fun and that made me real comfortable in the air once i started my training. Dont forget, jumps are like pizza & sex, even when theyre bad, theyre still pretty good

Hey, Talk to your instructors about what happened so you understand why you landed out. Spot, winds, your piloting skills, etc. I'm very new also and i get excited about getting up too but if experienced jumpers are playing hacky due to the winds, i'll stay down too...you can always jump another day.. Be safe & have fun .... you're gonna love this sport! -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Friends with anyone in power in that town or down at the traffic dept ? Nice high speed bumps. -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Hey Bill, With your "what if" type personality, I can't believe you dont have backup copies !!! Enjoyed your skydiveradio interview re North Pole, great stuff & great job on the invention of the heated toilet seat! blue skies... -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

...because i sleep and go to work :) I may be rolling the tail too much, thats what i meant. I'm not rolling the nose but i'm definitely grabbing some material in there when i make my tail roll & probably moving stuff around that i shouldnt be. (I will definitely talk with my packer before i jump again, my next time out, & discuss/show what i'm doing) btw, PD's manual says Roll or dont roll according to your opening preference! It doesnt say dont roll the nose. http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/MainUsersManual.pdf Thanks for the suggestion, I will put my feet & knees together & see what effect that has. And, I have been watching my brake lines to take out twists as i see them, almost every jump. thanks for all your input... -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

I've been having that issue and, stupidly, didnt consider it more than an annoyance. But it seems logical that more inflated cells on one side than the other would cause a turn. I kept trying to concentrate on body position & careful packing. -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

I'm rolling the nose when i pack. I plan on having one of our packers watch me pack nxt weekend to critique me. Also, I'm concentrating on keeping my body as symmetrical as possible during opening so i dont think its me, like it said everything looks nice & straight during the snivel & initial opening. How sensitive is my canopy at THIS stage to body position? Could i be turning with my hips, even if theyre just slightly turned? -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Hey all, My last few deployments have turned me 90 or 180 degrees, once i was in the saddle. I look up at line stretch and everything looks straight and clean. Lines all straight up, slider evenly spaced, canopy looks fine. But, when my canopy finishes opening, i get turned right away, at least 90 but usually 180 degrees. Can my packing be the cause? The 180 doesnt worry me as much as the 90 which is up or down the line of flight.. Jumping a Sabre2 210 w about 260 jumps on it, WL ~1.0. Just got this canopy used & my rigger did a full check on it & everything was in great shape & within tolerances. -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

thanks for the input. Tom, I'll have to try that. I have been very conscious of how my canopy falls to the ground in relation to my rig & lines, when i land. Trying to prevent this stuff when i pack. I imagine that i would notice a step-thru when i flake my canopy out, look back at my lines, put the bag in the container, secure the risers. Will have to sim this & make sure tho... -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

The thread about freq of canopy malfunctions got me thinking about this... How can you possibly pack a step-through? Just wondering how you let it slip by so that i dont do it. It SEEMS like it would be difficult considering all the opportunities during your pack to notice something as apparently huge as that. Wouldnt you notice at the very least when you put the bag in the container? I'm very new myself so i'm sure theres something i'm not considering... -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

How can you possibly pack a step-through? Just wondering how you let it slip by so that i dont do it. It SEEMS like it would be difficult considering all the opportunities during your pack to notice something as apparently huge as that. Wouldnt you notice at the very least when you put the bag in the container? I'm very new myself so i'm sure theres something i'm not considering... (sorry guys, i hijacked this thread inadvertently. Perhaps mod can start a new thread on step-thrus?) -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Do they do x-country jumps at the Ranch ?? -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

I was really affected by Tom Aiello's post and also saw the obvious direct relevance to skydiving. My family & friends wouldnt think BASE was any different anyway, all they would see was that a parachute was involved. In fact, when i mention canopy instead of parachute they think i've switched to talking about camping & tents or something. I did exactly what he wrote about & gave a few people, some in my family, sealed letters to be opened in the event of my death from skydiving & i also spoke to them about it. I also left a sealed copy in my glove compartment, just in case. My family & friends are aware that i skydive and that i'm aware of the risks of death & serious injury. They are aware of my wishes if one of these should happen. Interestingly enough, the conversation doesnt make them approve but at least the cards are on the table & they know i'm serious. When they hear that i'm taking a canopy control course & getting coaching, those things also tend to put them at ease a little bit. -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Funny thing, with my Mom, is that she got off the "when are you going to get married, settle down & have kids" routine, once i started skydiving regularly last year that was a pretty cool unintended effect. the skydiving she pretends doesnt exist. either way, i dont hear much about anything anymore.... -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Any riggers out there have any info on when the Argus units will ship again and if they resolved the issue? -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

I did a 3way yesterday and we did a Horny Gorilla exit. :) that was alot of fun... -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

I work as an outside consultant so i work for myself and for 2 bosses but theyre not wankers. I'm also not on the wanker list :) -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Got a term life policy from John Hancock for 250k for 1200 yr. -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

I'm in the 16-20 something range. I'm new at packing, and slow at it, but i'm using this as incentive to get on more loads. The better i pack, the more i can jump. :) Got some great packing tips from people at the Ranch & i open soft & on heading (almost) every time. My biggest challenge is just getting it in the bag. Physically, I'm whipped at the end of the day from wrestlin' that damn thing. Feels good to jump your own pack though. -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Anyone know how i can contact this guy? I'm looking to get my hands on a print of his cover foto for Parachutist in Oct 1990. It showed a freestyler over NYC with the twin towers in the background. thanks. -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Hey all, Will the photographer of the cover photo of October 1990 parachutist please stand up ?? Its a shot of a freeflyer with the NYC skyline below. Interested in a copy of that photo to frame. thanks r -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Damn, i always forgot how much cooler everyone else on here is than me. Thanks guys for also pointing out my jumper numbers & post numbers, i'd rather post alot and live than wonder about something & die. hopefully one day i can get a D license and act superior too.... (ahh, that felt better :) -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

sucks except SKYDIVING.... -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Funny. I was Pond Boy up at the Ranch for a while this past summer. Landed in the swoop pond. not waist deep though. 15-20 feet of water. Aff Level 5. Freefall had gone excellent too. Ruined that ! The walk of shame, back to the student area, past all the experienced folks lounging on chairs, was sweet. Water squishing out of my sneakers, drip, drip, drip. (A few weeks later, Pond Boy #2 came on the scene, btw. We water lovers seem to have a long & glorious history) -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere

Hey Bro, Hope you're feeling a bit better since you posted this. Sometimes thats all it takes, getting it out. Can i make a suggestion? Go volunteer dude. Some people with endstage AIDS cant breathe! You can fly ! I know that when i'm stuck in my own shit, helping somebody gets me right out of it. Look up AIDS hospices & go help out. Write a gratitude list every day and you'll get out of this funk & be able to live & let live. feel better. -Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere