From: jan@stout.atd.ucar.edu (Jan Stewart)
Subject: canopies
Organization: Atmospheric Technology Division/NCAR Boulder, CO
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 21:08:37 GMT

From jan@athena.esig.ucar.EDU Mon Nov 16 14:06:51 1992
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Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 14:04:54 MST
From: jan@athena.esig.ucar.EDU (Jan Stewart)
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To: jan@stout.atd.ucar.edu
Status: R

Posted for Brent Finley:


>Second I am really gratified to hear that Bullet Bob is still active and
>is still Bullet Bob. Now *there* is a unique mind and imagination. I still
>have a book - Tao Teh Ching - that he gave me.

I jumped in Eloy this weekend and went out to lurk with Russel Calkins, the
local skyboard god.  He says that he had a tracking contest with Bullet Bob.
Man vs. Machine.  Bullet Bob beat the board (sorry about that heavy
alliteration there) hands down.




>   I'm fairly new at this sport with only 50 jumps.  I made the mistake
>   of asking my instructor to choose what he felt would be the best
>   begginer rig.  I ended up with a Racer Elite(which I like) , a Raven 3
>   Reserve(1987), and a Glide Path Mavarone( New 248 sq ft) which I don't
>   like.

I'm with Barry on advice to stay with this nice slow main for now.  I'm 188
pounds and bought a Mariah 220 7-cell right off student status.  The
landings were a bit fast, and I only stood up on half of the first ten.
When I finally got used to it, it was ok, but I didn't have much room for
error.  I jump in Eloy, and the weather hadn't been warm yet.  Well during
the June 2 for 1, we had just gotten the Otter, which was considerably slower
than the turbine Westwind.  People weren't giving enough time between groups,
and a no wind day made for lots of criss cross landings.  I made a last
minute correction on approach to avoid some people in front of me, and that
7-cell turned on a dime and dropped me face first in the hard packed dirt.
I didn't even have time to flare before I realized I was going to bite it.
Luckily I wear a helmet, so I had no concussion, but I took all the skin off
my left leg below the knee to the left of the shin, and I still have problems
with my right knee since my right leg was straight when it hit the ground.
DON'T underestimate the need to experience alot of seemingly boring canopy
handling before you go for something more *fun*.

Brent

ps - BTW a friend of mine that usually jumps a Manta (293 or something)
broke his hip at Nationals on a demo rig with a 190 in it.  Low hook turn
for an upwind approach, but guess what... that ground is coming up aweful
fast!

___________________________________________________________________
 Brent Finley                                       _._._._._._._
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 internet: bfinley@apsc.com
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Thanks Jan,

Brently


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