CKSCUBA

I wonder in the future if there would be a fair way to incorporate a anemometer in the speed and distance events. Some how use multiple anemometers and some how grade on a curve to create some handicap or averaging and go from there. The wind is way to much of a factor and those who jump when the its slack tide in the lull of the winds get such a great advantage. Then the next group gets 10-14 knots. There just isnt any equalization there. I wonder if some how a formula could be developed with the sum of the winds speed of each persons run and graded somehow with a grading scale for fairness. Especially when you see scores and the separation of the places is very small a few points then the luck of the winds could make all the difference. Chris

I love the velo fastest thing i have flown. I fly the Xaos 27 for a few reasons along with openings that I am used to. To me it is not fast as the VX & Velocity. The Velo feels the fastest to me. I have flown the Velo at 2.4 and that was very fast in compared to a Xaos 27 - 84 at the same loading. i love the Xaos 27 since it is a few steps down from the velo but I came from Crossfire's. I have my xaos opening the way I love and i also like a loading of 2.0 to 2.2. The risers both front & rear feel perfect to me. So I fly the xaos 27 for comfort & feel even if it is not as fast as the Velo or Vx. The only thing Xbraced i have not flown is the JVX. Sure in the right hands right? I know Jeffro is the bomb on the Xaos & others. i would love to see a few top pro pilots take the 4 Crossbraced Canopies ( Velo, VX, JVX, & Xaos27) for 10 Swoops consecutive each with the same wing loading. Average all the data out. It would be cool to see Velo guys pushing other canopies & visa versa. Have like in MotoCross we called a shoot out. Where the top riders road all the factory bikes a few laps on the track. I let my Velo friend fly my Xaos27 - He wasn't that into it. I know why. Velo is fast at 1.8 - 2.4 because that is all it know how to be. Chris

Congrats on the I rating Very nice You-tube Videos of the PIA Event. Well Done, informative, entertaining, and great continuity. Great! Chris

thats why they call it my space. It is a bio page you dont have one? i am glad you wasted time counting. I's Who else am i supposed to speak about on my my space? nice try

Cant say i like the way you moderate never have. Cant handle any criticism of your article and misuse your moderator self. You forget this America with the freedom of speech thing ( which allowed you to write your article in the first place ) You cant handle rebuttals that way it shows no character or security. Your profile pic says it all, you all alone out for your self. You semi abuse and use your moderator status for your own gain or protection. You should reflect why you didnt make the team and wonder is it the way I moderate the forum and the perception others have of you. Some of your trust issues you spoke about in your self reflective time in your article can be translated into other issues. example you don't trust anyone but your self, or you think your too good to jump with other who are not as good as you, or you don't want to jump with other afraid others may have more talent then you. locking the thread and moving into another non swoop forum so your peers don't have to read any criticism is a bit cowardliness. You wrote it you should be able to defend it. It is however just one persons opinion and i guess you dont want anyone else to share theirs on the process. Is everyone supposed to love your article just because you wrote it? You cant pick and choose and hide and move and delete things you don't agree with. I hate to bust your bubble no Pulitzer prizes for your article. It was well written but it was quite a kiss behind puff piece. I am not saying that wasn't the truth and i did like some of what you wrote but read it again and think of others reading it and imagine what is thought. read your comments like your plotting your revenge and the amazing part where you guys formed an assembly line to load wood in the truck like that was some amazing feet you couldnt have done with out the xproject. read it alowed and see how cheesy it is. I for one seriously think a reality type show and competition would have been something that may have been sold to the net works like spike tv or something . think of the exposure. Alot more then your well written article. In my opinion you should have made the team. taking away nothing from jessica she is an amazing talent but diversity they really need a women on the team in this day and age. If they were so split then they should have just added you and the other guy because it would have been the right thing to do. You have to have courage, character and conviction, to speak the truth but also to unselfishly serve others. If your going to be a walking self proclaimed ambassador for the sport you have to first have to start here and moderate more fairly and respect others who disagree with you or have a counter point.

Shut up Eric!! i would direct you and buzz having the fist fight over Strong - Vs - Vector on this reality show. As Director of this reality show i would have buzz wear one of his yellow bandanas and a matching yellow Sumo Wrestler Thong with the " Strong " Logo on the waist band You would wear the bathing suit that Borat wore sunbathing with the Sigma/vector logo on it with a Non-Sail Jvx Ball-Cap. then it you both wear your tandem rigs and the bell rings and its 3 - 1 minute rounds. first guy who deploys the others drougue first wins. are you in? I have a high def camera and 3 Hc sonys. we can get every angle. Chris

Ian’s article was well written but only reflected one opinion and one perspective. PD knows Ian and trusted him to write a positive reflection of the Xpansion. It was written very politically correct with nice things said about all. Overall Ian was very gracious in his winning and loosing selection. Very hard thing it must be to write about. “ Sorry Ian we are not choosing you now ( so you lost out ) but you are on deck for any other expansions and projects in the future ( so Ian didn’t loose he kind of won also) thanks Ian we will call you if and when we need you.” Ian and the other guy are in a strange boat, I would call them winners. Calling everyone one a winner, or saying that anyone of the candidates would be good picks and writing this stuff- “ After breakfast the introductions began, lead by the PDFT and John LeBlanc (who blew off a meeting to spend more time with the group!). I would expect Ian to write his article the way he did but would love the perspective of others and what they thought of the process. I know 100% that someone in the group of 15 didn’t like the process and thought the team had their mind made up before or had about an 80% idea. Then what of the competition was it all real or not. How fair did competitors find it and does everyone feel it was fair. How could have it been different and made better. See with Ian writing an article for PD and I think he is restricted in what he can say from his heart and how truthful he can allow him self to be without jeopardizing his on-deck position. Others who came and went from the project can freely express themselves. So Ian wrote a very nice article but that’s what I call a corporate puff piece As far as reality tv shows go and calling me cynical is a bit off. I don’t mean the way reality tv is done today. I don’t mean the backstabbing and plotting and nasty competition like survivor and all those stupid games they play. I am talking about the transparency and reality and behind the scenes and the complete coverage of every angle. With cameras in the bunk house, during the interview, on the plane, in the shower, around the camp fire, during the deliberations, during the meetings ect.. Have exposure complete and a camera everywhere and open it up reality t style. Not about money but about exposure and not about negativity but about truth. that type of reality show it would have been awesome for the sport and of course paint it all in a brotherhood of skydiving light and good will and positive and safe. You guys got to have some TV show vision here. I think a perfect opportunity was missed to turn the Xpansion project into a cool sport reality show, and with prize money. Friendly competition, a bit of drama, no fighting or pulling hair, exposure for the sport, cool stunts and swoops, and the best man or women wins. Make it 6 episodes of competition and interviews and or skydiving challenges. No eliminations or alias or backstabbing crap. Every episode do a short expo on different disciplines of the sport also to take up the time slot. Freeflying, rw, CRW ect…. At the end award some prize money, award the 4 slots and 2 runner up’s PD sells more canopies and the public positive exposure to the sport of skydiving increases 50 times. Ian is a fine chap and wrote a nice article and is a fine ambassador to our sport and always has time to answer swoop questions and share his knowledge. My dream would have been not to be on the PD Team but be the Director of the Reality show it should have been. chris

I would have loved to make it and film it in a whole reality show were multiple cameras following everyone everywhere with challenges ect.. not a survivor but a bit of amazing race, American idol, survivor, and that model show with Tyra Banks. Then every jump, every swoop ect.... give us like 12 camera guys it would have been informative funny entertaining and give the sport huge exposure. the OCC Chopper show is about them fighting and building motorcycles. This show would be about extreme athletes viaing for spots on the most exclusive & prestigious skydiving team around. i think it would have been awesome. Everyone is being kind to the folks who put it together but it could have been done much better and could have been put together as a product to sell as a dvd. if they video it impromptu and just shot it here and there and didnt get paid for it and did it for kicks then fine. it just sucks there was in my opinion a chance for some serious media exposure and possibley a unique extreme realilty show. i appreciate the footage and people taking the time to post the videos to youtube. I just think it could have been so much more. I would also love to have several candidates write a few paragraphs in reflection of their own experiences, at least here on Dropzone.com Ian's article was a nice article but it was more of a well written corporate puff piece with not one negative reflection. i think it balanced more on the feel good positive exposure then the true reality of the event. It is not like we want the dirt but would love to read a few more peoples account of their experience. It would be great to get a recount of the experience, their own personal story on how they arrived at that moment in their lives and their skydiving career. What they thought of the competition and Selection process. How challenging it was and what did they learn from the experience or how it changed them. How the competition stacked up and how fair did they find the process. Some of the candidates allready know the member of the PD team and i am sure it was the first time for some of them also. Then it would be great for the candidates to poll and score every other candidate to see who they thought was top or would have made the best selection. Hopefully some others will share and write hear about the good, the bad and the interesting. I know everyone here would read every single word. This was a definite first for the sport. It would be fastening reading everyone's separate account of the whole project and what the truly thought

will they release a Full Video of the whole thing with all the swoops ect..... I honestly thought the Video narration was somewhat of a parity at first or something not serious. They kept showing a person who i assume was the pilot sitting and drinking coffee. kind of a strange edit. I dont think that everyone would have a desire to join the PDFT. Some of us have families, many of us are not good enough, and I am sure their are many that dont have the desire. I am also sure that it would be a dream of many to be part of the team. I bet it would be unanimous that everyone would love to watch a total video of it and learn what the process was and the inside information in how people were picked. Chris

I like to first say that he had a Xaos 27 which gives you a super soft opening when your bailing out of a plane to fake your own death and then the good swoop to get again away from law enforcement. be a great commercial Chris

anyone try the different lens here and which one is better. i have the royal but got a huge scratch on it so i need to buy another one. so has anyone tryed the different lenses???? the royal was good it didnt let in alot of light so its kind of dark but the hc40 sucks for that anyway any thoughts?? thank you \Chris

no vignite at all. when i use a crapy .6 lens the picture is brighter if then if i use the .3 royal lens. what do you think???? thank you chris

Hey guys help me out please. I have a royal lens .3 for my hc40 its great small nice picture no distortion ect.. problem is that the hc40 dont let alot of light in. kind of dark and not a great bright picture. i put a cheap sony .6 lens on the camera and it brighten up the picture dramatically. so of the way cool lens the liquid lens and the royal lens what would let in the most light for my camera. i think the hc40 series camera is small and ok but it sucks for white balence and letting light in. also how is the hc90 series for letting light in i may just scrap the hc40 and get an 90-96 and get a royal lens. so will the hc90 series give me a much brighter picture even when using a .3 lens. So please yall help me out. The hc40 camera with any of the other lens's or the hc 90 series. i fly a side mount system. i fly an canon 10-22mm lens so and i set it on 14mm and i fly very close. to the tandem. any thoughts on this? i am open to any sugestions on flying a sidemount friendly system and low profile wide lens thanks chris

i would buy the used one, easier to pack and the gigs worked out. Plus your jumping it allready. I have two - a xaos 27-118 i load at 1.8 and the xaos 27-98 i load 2.03. i have jumped at 2.35. 1.8 is min to load and 2.0 is realy great. the 2.0 flares better then my 1.8. The 2.35 was faster and had a great flare. but 2.0 is great i say min with 2.0. Yes the xaos 21 is a great canopy but its not the 27 in performance. you would be disapointed. The 21's openings are the bomb like a crossfire super soft. The 27 openings are soft but weird, not as soft as the 21. I roll my nose split tight 4 and 4, i pull my slider over the nose and i wrap the tail like 12 times. you have to fly the opening but its not bad and never hard for me. the 2.0 loaded canopy opens much better then the 1.8 loaded canopy. I dont know if the 2.35 loaded will open better, sometimes they open better as you load them. i am no pro swooper if i competed in the cpc i would be in last place. i have about 500 jumps on the xaos27 i love them. the VX, JVX, are faster but i dont think they open as nice, the velo is also faster but some open great and others are trouble. the xaos27 is faster then the xaos21 and has a deeper flare and shutdown. you can load the 27 more then the 21, at least i think so. but the xaos21 opens like a dream and its fast. So i go with the 27, but i would demo the Velocity you may love it. i would also demo a vx and jvx. i hope that helps just my experience. chris

I know this has probably been beat into the ground but i need an answer please. Ok i hear everything about this i just want to know the truth. 1. If I am up wind and need to get back to the dz, i guess this would be if i was way long how to make it back. i have been keeping my brakes stowed and pulling down my rear risers. is this right or whats best? please? 2. If i am down wind and need to make it back i guess i would call this way short i have been unstowing brakes and holding half brakes trying to make it back. Please school me in the best way to make it back from both, I hear so many opinions on this. Thanks Chris

oh last thing i was not a good canopy pilot till 300 jumps. i was never going to swoop it wasnt for me. it is amazing that i am doing what i am doing now. I was not a natural at it. My son on the other hand was very good of aff and is a great canopy pilot early on. So i think swooping can be learned and one can get good at it no matter where they came from or how fast they learned. it took me longer and i am 40 years old but i am doing ok at it, and have a long way to go.safely! chris

yes i recommend dialing in the gears also. ha ha ill share with you I am not giving advice but sharing how my son and I have done. build a good foundation and slowly build on that. the basics and the advanced canopy skills and coaching!!! we started with 45-90 carving front risers not full hard dives but like a carve and get greater speed and then concentrate on the plane out. from there take it real slow dont scare your self don't rush. my son started doing a toggle carve from say 200 ft like a 90 toggle carve not a whip and planed out. then he did the riser carve and planed out. then he would do the same thing and plane out on his rears then right to toggles so even in the beginning he was using his rears. if but briefly then to toggles. so when he went higher and higher slowly and a bit at a time he was using his rears and toggles. now he does nice 270's and great swoops and he has not injured himself at all either. he progressed as slow and safe. he is so good on his rears. i did a bunch of coaching and took a while but was on toggles for so long. then i have the hardest time no incorporating rears in my swoops which i do now. i do a 270 at 750ft and get ok distance but embarrassing using toggles. so relearning the rears is bad i should have built that in at the beginning. listen to the guys here i am giving a little helpful but i am giving you what happened to us and how we did. i have seen Ian and aggie dave and others kick ass but also talk and teach and share. also i think go digital like a viso and have an optima. I think Ian gave me the best advice and best direction and philosophy. on how to build consistency. Please listen to these swooper's again i am sharing. both my son and i never had a crash or have been injured swooping or landing for that matter. Thats my testament in taking it slow and smart. also practiced a lot up high and i even called out on my video camera how much i lost on a 90 dive a 180 dive and a 270 dive. getting to know my canopy. i think your sabre2 is a perfect canopy to start with, dont rush downsizing and dont rush to a faster canopy and till your coach says you are. remember resist the temptation to push it because its easy to think your self better then you are and then get into trouble. have the discipline to restrict your self and not rush. dont try to compete with anyone or show off just compete with your self. i takes eyes and brains to swoop i dont think it takes balls sorry for the long ramble. good luck Chris

i dont say the xaos27 is the fastest just because i fly it. It is not.

i fly the xaos27 in my opinion it is the slowest of the xbraced swoop canopies the velo or jvx and vx are faster then the xaos27. i love the xaos27 openings. so my choice of my canopy is for the openings. chris

garywain wow you went from a velo to a mamba?? they you must have been surprised about the twitchy mamba compared to the velo. and the lack of flare well compared to a velo. if you load katana, crossfire2 and a mamaba at 2.0 there is no way in hell!!!!!! a mamba will out dive a crossfire2 or a katana. sorry its a fact as far as an overall fun canopy i think the mamba would be the overall fun canopy. its like a diablo, a stileto, a little like the vision, and like the blade. the mamba opens good. the crossfire2 opens the softest another fact. the katana dives harder then any other noncrossbraced thats a fact. mambas lines are shorter then the crossfire2 or the katana. if i like the velo style i like the katana. if i like the vx or the xaos27 i like the crossfire2 i think the cobalt is close to the mamab. i can out swoop myself on a cobalt then i can on a mamba. mamba opens better then the cobalt half track two stage opening but ill tell you the cobalt and the mamba are right behind the crossfire2 and katana as far as pure swoop competition performance. you never see a mamba at a swoop competition you do see katana's and crossfire2 for the non crossbraced. the mamba and cobalt are very reactive twitchier fun canopies that you can swoop the hell out of. again you put jay moledski on the 4 canopies and gave him ten swoops each on each mamba, crossfire cobalt and katana like a motocross shoot out the crossfire2 and katana would be ahead.

ok the katana and the crossfire2 are close for swoop distance. i would say the katana edges out the crossfire2 but its close. i prefer the crossfire2 the blade is nice but it has a super short recovery arch but it flys and swoops well it wont swoop as far as a katana or a crossfire2 anyone saying the mamba out performs a katana or crossfire2 is way on the bias side. the mamaba no way will swoop as far as a katana or crossfire2 impossible. they dont tolerate the higher loading and they loose lift big time. now they do whip you around and are super reactive if you love that performance then sure mamba does that. mamba is a fin canopy and they open pretty good and you can swoop them but they recover short and they dont have the distance or the flare the katana or crossfire2 have. if you put jay modezki on a crossfire2, a katana, and a mamba and gave him 10 swoops on each it wouldnt be close. it would be the katana, crossfire2 and distant mamba. the best opening is the crossfire2 by far, best glide in the swoop crossfire2. best dive and speed the katana and you can flare a katana and crossfire2 to your ankles and it will still fly dont try that with a mamba. rear risers on crossfire2 and katana big time, mamba dont push them to far or to long. One thing is someones flying style but you put a good crossfire2 or katana pilot against a good mamba pilot no contest. i went from crossfire2 to a xaos27, if i came from a katana i be flying a velo. chris

how do i post them?

my friend blane is a true professional photographer he took a bunch of shots. he is a amateur swooper not ready for prime time players like myself and from skydive tampa I took some photos with my new cannon xti but i suck at it but ill email anything i have. my camera does better when its stuck on my helmet by itself then when its in my hands. but its a xti so even i cant screw it up to bad. his email is blainebardendesign@yahoo.com i am not sure what he has but email him tell him you were in the competition. One other thing I fly the xaos its my first crossbraced and i am not that experienced so the xaos 27 is great for me. i have flown the Velo and wow is that thing something. i was amazed at how many people fly velo's i see why. i not rating canopies i just didnt know the ratio of velocity pilots out there. i thought i see more jvx's per say since its new. i saw a couple xaos's and i am not sure if i saw a vx or not. so i didnt see a great variety of canopies like i thought i would what i did see was a veriety of people. You can stereo type swoopers you look at jay-mo. I am like he is perfect size and weight for a swooper. So i thought i see a lot of aerodynamicaly shaved hair on the sides and long in the back like jay mo, obviously for less drag right. I saw rocker, tatoos, jocks hippie clean cut. the swooper who was running it did a great job and he looking like an accountant. Some of the guys are short and weigh like 130lbs and were hauling butt and landing hard and flying 10ft tall. then there were a few really big guys there loading out and flying hard and sticking landings. i was like man these guys are all great athletes. There were really young there and older guys in the 40's like me. I thought it was only a young mans game also. I mean to be funny about the different people swooping but when i showed some people my photos and videos they were like, wow that guy is a big guy like me i can do that. it just made the swooping thing more real but also inspiring. I was so impressed with everyone ability and that everyone was so different. also impressed that so many flew velos. I learned a lot that day. From different setups, turns, loading techniques, people and results. Chris Chris