morris

I would have liked to add that - (even though some people will not like to hear that) - the accident statistics of the countries with mandatory downsizing rules prove them right!

I know... I knew as well... I dont agree with that - but for a reason. We are not jumping the CF Storms. Instead, we got "regular" Storms and have those equipped with dacron 600 lines and the so called "CF-kit" that gives you the retractable POD/bridle/handdeploy - and those flare very(!) well! Thats good to know...! But nice to have some kind of "reserve"...

Beside the fact that there are so many of ´em around? We got Storms for CRW and I´m far from being an expert, but to me the wing is very superior in every aspect. Am I missing anything?? If I´m behind and lower (a single canopy) I can still dock on the guy who is in front of me AND higher, closing the gap with rearrisers, closing in on my target like I´d be in an elevator. I dont think that this is possible with Lightnings, or is it? Been told that if I´m low and behind (under a Lightning) to switch roles, dont have to - under a Storm. If it comes to Frontriserinputs it seemed to me like Lightnings would first of all react by an increased descentrate and not generate that much additional horizontalspeed. Do you guys agree with those observations? For what reason but a lower overall descentrate should someone love/perfer flying a Lightning? I dont get it, please help me out...

Some pics would be awesome! And very welcome! If possible not just pics of the double leg wrap "in place", but also how you get into it, somekind of a step by step "how to do it" "picturemap"...

Does it already qualifiy being called deathstrap if I´m holding onto it only with my bare hands? Any reason why I cant let go at any time?? Where can I find detailed information on a reasonable kind of leggrip?

That´s what I though myself as well, but I wanted to make sure...! On that very jump the other guy had a "selfmade-velcro-thing" around his ankle I could get a grip on with my hands. We´ve been "connected" by legs as well (no way to describe how) but by far the most of the tension had been "taken" by my arms (especially the upperarms hurted so bad afterwards). While on that jump I´ve been completely upside down, on the jump before a little bit was missing to be completely "over the top" of my onw chute and on that one (the one before) I was holding on to his lowerharnes with just one hand, carrying most of the tension that way. Maybe that resulted in some very asymetrical tension on my body that as a result didnt like to do it again just an hour later...?!

I´ve been told that dragplanes could put too much load/stress/force on the risers. Is that possible?? We are talking type 17 here if it comes to the risers and 1.6 loaded Storms regarding the canopies. I only know that after the second dragplane of the day in that configuration I had to take painkillers because my arms hurted very bad, even thou it wasnt any kind of serious injury, I couldnt even get out of my gear on my own, so there was really some kind of "tension in the system", way more - compared to a downplane. Any expertopinions out there?

Wristmounted AltiTrack und Optima 2. From my point of view the AltiTrack combines the advantage of being digital with the analog face - which I prefer as I think I can read it very fast and I´m only using it while still very high up anyways. As I start my turns pretty high (on average ~1400ft depending on size, WL and location) Optima already comes alive for the first time at (~2200ft). From that point on I fly everything with nothing but the Optima. Last time a have a look at my AltiTrack might be on average at 2500ft...

I jump a Storm loaded 1.6 for dedicated recreational CRW in the first place. And its very fine with me/for me to use it on wingsuit jumps as well. Having said that, you should know that I broke Jays CP FAI-SpeedWorldRecord in 2008, loosing it later on to Greg Windmiller. I´ve also set the european record for CP speed and hold the national german records in speed and distance. I´ve set at least one CP record in speed or distance for the last five years in a row, every year. I got thousands of jumps on sub 100sgft x-braced canopies and - as I´m a heavy guy - I´m jumping loadings of 2.7 on a very regular basis. I´ve also XRW-experience, flying loadings of 3.2. If you got similar canopy skills - go for it! But keep in mind that I´m heavier than you are. Therefore I´m loading a larger sized Storm at 1.6, compared to the size you´ll have to be jumping to load it 1.6. As a smaller wing will handle the same loading not as well, expect the flight caracteristics to be a bit more demanding, compared to what I have to handle. So if your canopy skills are better than mine - go for it! But I guess that´s unlikely as I didn´t meet you at the PD BigBoyPants worldrecordbreaking invitational event... Sorry man, I for sure didn´t wanna sound rude or unfriendly. I just had to write those lines now as I´m just so tired of guys asking for more swooping power by higher loadings. And this isn´t even just for safety reasons. Can you fly/swoop a Storm at 1.4 to the maximum of the canopies abilities? Or at least 60 or 70% of that/those? With a bigger wing you will not just learn safer, but faster as well! Improving is all about your technique, not about higher loadings (at least not before you are a long way down the road). The latest swoopwing I´ve added to my arsenal was a bigger one... my recommendation if you decided to downsize: check out a Storm 135, you´ll love it! Hope that helps... take care...

I can understand that you love being challenged. But unfortunately I´m sure that at least 50% of the competitors (could be as well +90%) have already been challenged enough before. And at least in Europe there just isnt (almost) any possiblity to train on a pond in wintertime (~early November till late March). Lillo could be an option but its almost ever empty. So you´d need to fly longdistance, not just a two hour cardrive or a domestic flight. Something you just cant expect from the majority of persons (for example due to financial reasons)...

Now try to deny (with a serious face and without laughing, biting on your cheeks for blanking purposes doesnt count!) it would have been much more fun to go much, much farther!

Worst case scenario?? Best case scenario!!! Just close your eyes and think about it, no, dream about it... The location Dave is mentioning.... The conditions Dave is mentioning.... The 2011 rules....! Heaven!

Doing the superman in the harness on the pop up was fun three years ago when there were one or two people doing it. I also thought it helped a tiny bit plus it was different and I was trying something new. But we all have seen world record distance runs with non of that body language (Wuzi Wagner, Jay, JT, GW) so i think we can agree that there is little benefit to doing the superman in the harness, if any. Yes, we can. (regarding benefit) But fun! And first floor helps for sure (as long as your not fighting a headwind).

Not slammed, just been told that before I started training pop-ups, I sounded just the way you do right now. Since I got into it, there´s now way back anymore, at least not for me. Being in that bodyposition and sailing along in the first floor, to me is unbeatable, the very best part of the very best disciplin skydiving has to offer...

Just "discovered" those thoughts of Jonathan Tagle, he posted em public on Monday on Facebook. Just had to copy em here as I like em very much down to the last letter! JT: It's a very sad state of affairs. I can't believe we are actually thinking about retiring distance records. Distance should be preserved... As the main discipline by which most competitors or even swoopers at their home DZs judge themselves and their peers. It's the easiest event for pilots to gauge their power and performance, and used quite regularly during the progression of up and coming canopy pilots. All this talk about changes to the rules is so that more venues can host swoop events. It's only come up because of the event in Cali and the limitations there. I feel that we should give venues the option to modify the rules to fit the venue by giving these "Option B" events to choose from, but we should not give up the events all together. We need to preserve the distance records and continue to break those records by pushing the envelope in technology and skill. This is the main event we're talking about... It's the event used for tie breaking... The single most longest distance. As for the straight dragging speed course. I think it should also be an Option B for venues that don't have the capacity to host tradition speed. PLEASE DON'T KILL THESE EVENTS! Let's keep all the options on the table. We can then determine a reasonable amount of time before the event to announce what will be hosted to give ample time to train those specific events.

Lucky you! You can go and enjoy Freestyle all the time! But should we really give up this kind of stuff? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLCgGSdnoU0 Only because a handful of trees might be standing inbetween yourself flying down the course and a new worldrecord? Love it! Will keep on going!

For me, there are two key sentences in Als report: "With the new rules, finesse would be the way to a good score..." and "Before starting distance we briefed everyone that the angles and approaches should look like accuracy approaches, not the old distance approaches." I would like to argue that instead of one finesse and two power events, like in the past, those rules would kind of change the discipline into three finesse events. Maybe its just me, but to me it is all about power, generating as much as possible, using it for distance or speed, in the very first place! With ZA being the event where you have to show, how good you can controlle that power. But besides that, for me it´s "full steam ahead, please!" Frost, thoughts regarding "We do what we like to do and if we dont like it - hopefully we dont have to do it ;)": Fortunately no one has to do it. If someone doesn´t like the fact that the carving part drops out of the picture and its all only straight on stuff, he (she) can stop competing. Same goes for the fact that, with those rules being effective, with water being "involved" in all events, a pond is needed more than ever before - for training! And we are far from having them everywhere... And if someone thinks about touching the water at max speed being too dangerous, he can stop competing as well. How about the very same person wishing to keep on competing? Take the risk or stop competing? Should the "neverending hunt" for better and better performances really be over once and forever, only because Nick and Jonathan had some very nice runs? And because due to those runs someone at the IPC - I know him but I won´t name him - is worried about the event not fitting anymore in enough places/DZs?? That "problem" can be solved way easier. Example: The minimum length for distance before the PD Big Box Pants Event was ~230m (Nicks by the time valid worldrecord of about ~180m + 50m). If a DZs has more room, fine, if not, 230m will always ever be still enough. Worst case szenario: A DZ with only 230m of openspace is running an event and is located at highelevation and has some of the very best pilots attending and a strong downwind is blowing down the course. Rules just need to allow the chief judge to stop the event if there isn´t enough room and the downwind dangerously strong and we are "safe" again... The "hunt" for better and better performances is key to any sport I can think about (and mankind in general), cessation is regression... But maybe I´m just too much into downwind distance... :-)

But shouldn´t any competition (at least if it´s a "serious" one at a high level and not "just" some kind of fun event) be focused on achieving the highest/best performance(s)? (besides safety) It´s like someone would say "VFS is too technical (or difficult or whatever), I prefer the classic kind of Freefly". That person should feel free to enjoy whatever he (she) likes. But those who want to push the limits should have their opportunities to do so as well, at least in my opinion....

Is there anything good about em at all? Did I get it right? The idea is to a) reduce the performance and b) increase safety. (I guess a) is to make it more boring for spectators?). To compensate for a) it´s going to be way more dangerous as a lot of guys will likely skip off the water while they are trying to drag it at maximum speed. So we can expect to see wild crashes on a regular basis. Hopefully they´ll all end up in the pond and not on solid ground after bounching off the surface... Question is, what is more dangerous, a controlled landing after a pop-up or a crash in the water with a chance of ending up on solid ground... Now I got it, my fault, should have noticed it right away, the idea is to reduce performance and DEcrease safety, spectators will love the wild crashes...

...could you guys please focus on the great escape from Alcatraz? I´d really like to know how Morris and his mates kept on going once they reached shore, thanks! Not too long ago news surfaced that a car had been stolen that very night in the area of interest...

I just mentioned the wingsuitspeeds to point out that the trackingspeed needs to be faster. I´m still 100% sure that you won´t be able to reach the horizontalspeed that can be achieved by pulling out of a high speed dive...

I don´t know how fast I´ve been going. What I know is that those horizontalspeeds have been flown in wingsuits: http://www.paralog.net/ppc/showspeedcomp.php So without wingsuit you will for sure need to be faster to post an impressive result, topspeed at least exceeding 300km/h - without a vertical dive before to pick up speed! With a highspeeddive in advance the horizontalspeed that can be reached will for sure be waaay faster....

Hi Marc, while I like the idea, you´d need to specify what you are really looking for. Is it a) the average horizontal speed for a given time or altitude? Or is it b) nothing but the horizontal topspeed? If it´s b) you might encounter a problem! If you set any kind of record one of the best speedskydivers in the world might hear about it and like the idea to break it. So far 4 persons on the planet have been able to reach average vertical speeds (over a distance of 1000m) that exceeded 500km/h, worldrecord almost 530km/h (average!). Those guys are accelerating all the way till the very end of the 1000m distance that count for competitions and records and only start slowing down for opening because they are running out of altitude, not because they reach somekind of topspeed. On the very best jumps their topspeeds are close to 600km/h(!) by the time they start to decelerate! Most of them slow down by going on their belly to get rid of the speed asap. Can you imagine what would happen - from a "horizontalspeed-point-of-view" - if they pull out of that kind of dive into a track? My personal best average (by speedskydiving rules) is a bit less than 400km/h, the topspeed I reach on those jumps is maybe ~430km/h. I already gave it a try and pulled out of the dive into a track, the horizontalspeed is mindblowing! If you keep on going for too long you´ll risk not being able to make it back to the airfield under canopy. So if this kind of horizontalspeed would count for a record, you better get into SpeedSkydiving first and see if you got the talent (I didn´t) to challenge the best speeders in the world or otherwise any record will likely not stand for long. I´d take any bet that Marco Wiederkehr (former worldrecordholder, current worldchampion, number two on the list of the fastest jumps/persons of all times) would break it on first try... Moritz

Quite a lot about planed stacks coming in, but I still wanna know about unplaned stacks, what to take care about...?

For the record, I don´t have any metal either.