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that turbo charged twin bo was the loudest plane! got to jump it at the nationals in muskogee. top Jump more, post less!

I thought the scam part was the lightning 113!!! top Jump more, post less!

I can just see Buster doing several jumps on Mythbusters now. Static line, of course! I got a few old canopies that I'd be willing to donate. A remote control to line up into the wind and a old harness- we'd be set! top Jump more, post less!

Something like this: (sorry for crappy quality, off of a facebook page) top Jump more, post less!

Yeah, I saw that post, but since most people wouldn't know a DC-5 from a DC-3, I figured expanding on it would create more confusion. It is up to the individual jumper to assess the canopy and determine the risks, benefits, and alternatives to landing damaged gear. I think this young jumper did an excellent job of doing an assessment and maing a choice he was willing to go with. Even if he had chose to cut away, I would back that decision. A lot of armchair quarterbacking here, but I give him a thumbs up just for being heads up and thinking. top Jump more, post less!

I see a canopy transfer as a low resort, not something to do in normal circumstances. I.e. dude crashes into my canopy at 800 ft., wraps up, and there is no way we are both going to survive landing under his main, nor can I cutaway and hope for a reserve in time. I'd fire my reserve and figure out the cutaway point as I got inflation. I really hope to avoid having to make that decision, however. I cannot recall a jumper doing a canopy transfer in the last few years. With the advent of square reserves, audible altimeters, skyhooks, and AAD's, there seems to be less of a need for it. Especially skyhook, that really gets the stuff out there fast! (Not to be read as an endorsement of one manufacturer over another, but the idea behind it!) Also, the spin that is part of most canopy malfunctions today is so rapid, it makes "transferring" more unreliable, in my opinion. top Jump more, post less!

VB, sounds like the pot calling the kettle black... A few hundred jumps in a few years, but several thousand posts to DZ.com!!! Over the years I have seen all sorts of damaged canopies landed safely and without any problem for the jumpers. Here, we only get the anecdotal evidence, but not actual numbers, and in a time-compressed fashion. My story is from over seven years ago. I think if more jumpers are getting hurt landing damaged canopies it could be two factors: smaller mains in general and PLF's are not taught like they used to be. Just my humble opinion. top Jump more, post less!

Ack. You got brasser balls than I do. For the record, anyone new/inexperienced out there, this is NOT a good idea, nor to try it with a main canopy. People much better than you have died trying it. Um, I only mentioned it in the story because it compounded my decision, but you get pretty good at it with experience. But for the record, it should never be done by those not experienced and only at an altitude you can comfortably cut-away if it causes a problem. I only catch with a hand, not teeth, lines or any other gear! Not noticing big hole in canopy- no problem to commentators Catching freebag- problem to commentators top Jump more, post less!

I've got to add this story, just so you can see how easy it is to get distracted: Several years ago, on a CRW jump I exited last on a four way sequential jump at 8K. As I turned and faced the formation I could see the base canopy had a huge hole in it where the retract system had torn out the top of the center cell. (Our canopies were getting well-used and new ones were on the way.) I flew along side the base canopy and told him he should cut-away when he was ready, the canopy was flying like crap. He chops, gets a great reserve ride, I go chase the freebag someone else is chasing the main. After snagging the freebag and stowing it between my legs, I know I'm landing out and start looking for a place to land. I look around to see where the rest of the team is heading and while I'm looking up, I see my canopy has pretty much the same damage in it that my teammate had! Now, I'm low, off, have a freebag between my legs, and no one knows that I'm contemplating cutting away. I decide to land it and realize as I am flaring that I should have flared just a tad higher!!! Apparently, the center cell provides lift or something. I got a nice skid mark on my jumpsuit and really impressed the people who saw me slide through their horse field. Lesson learned: if you think someone else is screwed, take the time to make sure you aren't also! top Jump more, post less!

+ 1 Should've used a dental dam. Til you find out one of you (or both) is allergic to latex!!!!

Actually, with regards to the incident in Lodi, one reserve was fired and the p/c, bridle, bag was wrapped wround the other jumper from the spin, keeping the reserve from leaving the bag. The rate of loss of altitude may have been enough to trigger an AAD, but it would have probably done what the other reserve did- wrap around the mess that was already there. top Jump more, post less!

I agree with Wendy's assessment, risks outweigh the benefits. top Jump more, post less!

Has there been a CRW fatality where an AAD would have made a difference? Not that I can think of, but I am willing to be enlightened. top Jump more, post less!

Do CRW! top Jump more, post less!

#13 Bring something to entertain yourself. There is a lot of time when you are not jumping but not leaving the dropzone. (It can be a book, a couple of dvd's, a goofy teammate who is socially intept, etc.) top Jump more, post less!

The sky didn't fall, but was there a benefit to all this? How did this benefit the skydiver, the membership, the association, and the dz? I can answer the first three pretty well for me after ten days here, but not the last one. Those are the questions that need answers for there to be an honest evaluation of the situation. top Jump more, post less!

Lets see... Leave work at 6, pick up daughter at volleyball practice, get home at 7:15 to 7:30. Feed 20 goats, herd daughter toward doing homework, sort mail, check messages, check in with wife, play with dogs, see if cats are around. Fix whatever is on list for most essential project, help wife start dinner, help more if she needs it. It's 8:30 or so and we might sit down for dinner, so yeah, I've got the TV on, because after dinner its dishes homwork and chores. By 10:00, our place is a graveyard. Gotta be up by 6 to feed goats again. We used to sit down at the table to eat, but our days are just too long. Besides, we all talk over the TV. the tv is where we gather, not why we gather. top Jump more, post less!

Gosh, the Nationals are not even a third over and you have said they did a great job. Maybe you can award them the Nobel Peace prize, too. There are many events to be run and many jumps to be done. I'm here all this week and next week, so I'll wait to a little bit. There have been glitches, and overall its been great, but .... I'm waiting to cast my ballot. top Jump more, post less!

I have been a dentist for 20, doing tmj work for the last fifteen of so, jumping th ewhole time. Tmj can definitely be aggravated by jumping, wearing a helmet with a tight chin strap, or even the effects of opening shock. Make sure you have a splint that is comfortable, allows you to breath, yell if necessary and can be removed fairly easily. I'd also like one that makes you hold your lower jaw slightly forward when you clench, to de-stress the joints. I think as you get more jumps and relax more, you'll find the you need it less. It may even be something wierd like wearing the rig makes you lean forward which stresses your neck, which leads to stress in your jaw joint. Why don't you just have your tmj evaluated and treated? I've treated plenty of cases and know it can be done easily and without surgery. top Jump more, post less!

I wouldn't mind it one bit- if the big sponsors covered my entry fees, hotel, food, gear, practice jumps, and gave me a large cash prize for winning (enough so I could live comfortably like a rock star; and retire after ten years on the circuit and do commentary). Then it would be like NASCAR or the PGA. I'll keep dreaming... top Jump more, post less!

Why? It won't change that I will be there. It won't change the fact that I am bringing stickers. It won't change the fact that the there will be other surprises for the competitors. The DZ has the right to host the Nationals as they see fit. I have personally talked with Eric and feel he is doing a great job hosting this event and trying to get this event recognized beyond our sport related media. But you are talking to someone who has seen some very interesting "antics" at Nationals and World meets for the last 20 years. I have earned the right to be wary of things like this. Do I think it will have a dramatic impact on my team competing this year? Nope, but it can lead to some problems in the future, that is why people are voicing their concerns, as they should. top Jump more, post less!

Having to wade through nine pages of this crap, without someone who is at the DZ defining "sponsored teams." Wondering if the stickers we hade made to commemorate our fallen teammates will be considered "ambush marketing." Wondering what other surprises are in store for us competitors when we get there. top Jump more, post less!

This is why my staff knows I will be really upset if we run behind schedule and leave patients waiting. Everyone's time is valuable and we need to respect that. If we know we can't seat a patient at the appointed time (emergency patient/procedure is running long), we try to call the patient and reschedule or let them know how long its going to be. If the patient wants to reschedule or leave and come back, it works for everyone involved. It doesn't happen often, but we have a way to mitigate the impact on the patients involved. I absolutely hate to keep my patients waiting! top Jump more, post less!

Actually, watching my wife go through AFF a few years back wasn't too bad. But it was much harder to watch her go to the DZ as a low-timer and try to get some jumps in. That stage where you have just under a hundred jumps, some skills, but no way are you getting asked onto loads. The loads she did get on with other low timers turned into zoo loads and scared her off a bit. Just be supportive, help her through those times where the sport is tough on a person. Being on a load and watching her have a mal in front of me was a very interesting experience, but she handled it great! Oh yeah, keep an eye on your gear! Suddenly, that spare altiimeter I had was being used, and my canopy was coveted for years until I finally gave it up! Get used to hearing the words, "love dive" from your buddies when you do a two way with her! top Jump more, post less!

Whole new meaning to, "Stick 'em up!" top Jump more, post less!