Airviking

Yeah, but this is $1,200! The difference buys a ton of jumps! I believe you have my stapler.

My budget for used gear is

Yeah, until someone you think is your pal runs to the end of the runway, grabs your clothes and hides them while you're climbing to altitude. I believe you have my stapler.

Thanks!

Well, the formula is straightforward, but what do I use for a weight figure? I'm shopping for used gear, and I'm looking for 1:1. I'm about 195lbs in my birthday suit, and I don't expect to need weights. I believe you have my stapler.

Because it's by far the most God-damn fun you can have with your pants on, and second place isn't even close! I believe you have my stapler.

+1

Yeah, they look look like a serious and dedicated group of skydivers. Unfortunately on the wrong coast. Maybe they'll let me open an East Coast chapter?!

Thanks all, So, if I understand correctly, F-111 canopies get used up quicker, not because F-111 is less structurally durable than ZP, rather because they increase in porosity at a higher rate than ZP. What then signals the end of life for a well-maintained ZP canopy? Is it porosity for ZP as well, just further out in time? I believe you have my stapler.

I'm just getting back into the sport after a 22-year layoff, and I'm shopping around for some used gear. It seems that canopies are much more durable now than back in the '80s. IIRC, 800-1000 jumps on a main (like my Pegasus), and it was toast. Now, it seems that mains can go 1,500 jumps no problem, provided you maintain them. 1) Do I have my facts right? 2) If yes, is this due to softer openings, ZP fabric, or what? I believe you have my stapler.

Sounds like a good place to drawi the line. I believe you have my stapler.

Our plan-B was always ZOO-DIVE!!! Everybody flys up, down and in circles chasing each other around the sky like bees in a box. Of coarse, it woulda made sense to pick one guy from the base that everyone should go for in the unlikely event of a funnel, but what's the fun in that? I believe you have my stapler.

Well, here's another one that must resort to violence and doesn't have the social skills to handle a problem in any other way. Congrats, dude. Your post captures both cocky AND arrogant. NOT cool. Ohhh Jeezzuss fuckin Keeerist...we need a sarcasim Font, It was a fucking JOKE,, get a grip.... Yeah, even I got that. And I'm stupid. But yeah, we need a crapload of smilies not currently on here. I believe you have my stapler.

I just received my very own personal copy, and might I suggest that any type of free flying shall henceforth be referred to as "gaydiving". I believe you have my stapler.

I started watching the video, but started getting this uncomfortable feeling. It's like watching Blades of Glory. I believe you have my stapler.

Yep. Big time. But worse is that I let it get to me. Not any more... I believe you have my stapler.

No, I didn't go into it uninvited. Nor was the jump beyond me skill level. The issue for me, is that I was invited on the jump, and then uncerimoniously bumped off the jump, without so much as a "sorry". This is no doubt because some pal of the organizer showed up late, and the organizer would rather get his pal on the load. To me, if you are on, you are on. If the organizer really wants to make late changes to the roster, he should at least talk about it, explain his reasoning, and get some buy-in. It was just a case of the standard yuppie attitude:"I want what I want, and I don't need to explain myself to anybody." I believe you have my stapler.

OK, I apolygyse. I was out of line. But I see people every day treating each other like they don't exist at best, and like shit at worst. This is wrong in general, and to say that "It's skydiving" gives you license to be an a-hole as though the skydiving community is just a brotherhood of a-holes is wrong. It's a 2-sided problem: 1. Newbies need to learn to not take things so personally. 2. Experienced jumpers and organizers need to treat newbies and each other with respect, and perhaps listen to how they come off sounding. With just a little bit of effort, we can all get what we want. -Cheers! I believe you have my stapler.

You're the guy I'm talking about! I'm betting you were the playground bully. And, I may be going out on a limb when I say you can't think of a single reason to let someone merge into your lane. You can't claim this entire sport as your own, just because you aren't mature enough to behave decently. But you certainly have the option of surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals at the DZ. I believe you have my stapler.

(I'm trying to get work done, but I'm so friggin fascinated by this topic...) It's an interesting sociological scenario: an adult going up to another (stranger) and asking if he can "play". I know I used to have issues with with those scenarios, but I found a reliable group of guys to do most of my jumping with. We're all a bunch of kids in a sandbox, of all different backgrounds, personalities, and life experiences and values. It's amazing it works at all. I believe you have my stapler.

Here's a pretty picture of a 10-way exit. Looks like 4 floaters, 4 base and 2 divers. I believe you have my stapler.

After 25 years of marriage, I no longer have an ego - I just want to have some fun! And just in the skydiving sense, right? I'll take it wherever I can get it. I believe you have my stapler.

Amen to that, my friend. It was an error made in younger years, when ego got in the way of good judgement. After 25 years of marriage, I no longer have an ego - I just want to have some fun! I believe you have my stapler.

Yes, it did suck, and being younger and perhaps less wise than now, I let it affect my view on skydiving up to when I finally packed it in (for various reasons) in '88. I think the real reason I got bumped was because he spotted a late-comer who he prefered for the slot. I believe you have my stapler.

I'm sure there is more to the exchange than you describe, personality clashes etc. There was a guy, a young doctor who used to show up at the DZ with his trophy girl friend, and basically take over the place. He'd organize biggish dives and grab the more experienced jumpers. It was basically The Jeff Show. I disliked everything about this yuppy scumbag, but still wanted to get on his dives in the worst way, because when he showed up, it was the only thing going on. One day, I was manifest on one of his 16-ways, and during dirt dive, he said something like, "oh you're on this? That must be a mistake." And I got bumped off in the middle of the dirt dive! I left the DZ fuming, with my finger in the air. People come up with all kinds of excuses for rudeness and lack of consideration, but there are very few valid ones. If a skydiver has a set agenda, such as 4-way team practice, that's one thing, but even that can be handled tactfully. Set a good example by being kind and curtious to your fellow human beings in general, and your fellow skydivers in particular. The attitude spreads quickly. I believe you have my stapler.