2009-07-31 Mounting a fucking camera!

Ok, so maybe in the olden days, when a video camera cost more than a helmet, a mount could be a third of the price and if you could afford the camera, you certainly could afford the helmet and mount. But with the smallest full HD camera (the Sony HDR-CX100 ACVHDHD Camcorder) costing about $420, it seems crazy that a helmet setup would cost another $1000. I have to say that's just crazy! But it'll be here some time late next week or in the week that follows.

2009-07-29 The camera arrived. Next steps.

Fuck yeah, I got my new video camera today. I'm impressed. The Sony HDR-CX100 ACVHDHD Camcorder w/Smile Shutter & 10x Optical Zoom (Red) is about the same diameter as one of those asceptic packs of coconut milk, but shorter. It's full HD, so the image quality is really good. I got it though
the link to Amazon on my home page.

The price was reasonable and I got it in 2 days with Amazon Prime. I actually completed the order with 1 second to spare before their cut-off for delivery today, but they guaranteed it would be here, so they sent it FedEx next day. *Yeah for Amazon!!!

My next step now is to figure out how I want to mount this thing. I figure it's probably best in a box, so I have to see what's available. I also need to look into wide-angle lenses and the remote indicators. Oh boy, another expensive start to a new adventure :)

2009-07-27 Camera decision made.

I made the decision to buy a Sony HDR-CX100 video camera for skydiving. The thing is fucking tiny. I'll be expecting it on Wednesday. I'm starting a new adventure.

2009-07-26 Jumps 101-104 Helicopter Jump

I was so amped from yesterday's jumping that I decided to go again, and it was an incredible day.

I got to the DZ around 1:30pm after doing a bike ride in the morning and making a few stops on the way. There was still a lot of time left to jump, so I went about making it happen. I downsized to a 199 today, and it worked well for me. No hard landing. The next time I rent it, I need to remember to visually check the brake lines to see how bowed out they are so I can get an idea of how long the brake lines are so I can hopefully use that as a reference in the future.

Jump 101
3-way head down hastily arranged and not very well executed. Shane and I asked this other guy if he wanted, while on the way to altitude. We broke apart and this guy was doing a back-fly spin above us while we waited for him to come down. I was concerned for a second that something wasn't right.

Jump 102
2-way head down with Shane. We weren't as stable and I think that the difference of me in my suit and him in t-shirt and shorts gave us problems.

Jump 103
Solo jump, but the ride was worth it. My first helicopter jump, and Shane M. was piloting. The ride was absolutely incredible as we skimmed along the ground and just over the tops of trees. A bit of aerobatics worked into the ride too. Very very very cool! For the jump, I climbed out on the skid, waved good bye, and fell backwards. I was holding my camera the whole time and the video was pretty cool. I'm working on editing it now down into a fun show rather than just a documentary.

Jump 104
I lurked on Brian F's and Kathy Lynn's docking attempts. I flew above them the whole time. I started to see myself in the position of a camera flyer which was pretty cool.

2009-07-25 Jumps 95-100

Today was destined to be the day I hit 100. I was talking it up with a bunch of people, but when everything came together, I thought about doing a helicopter jump for the 100th. That would have made it really special in a selfish way because I would have been with a small number of people. Instead, Yoyo went through the effort to organize an ambitious 17-way snowflake. In the mean time, I had 5 jumps to do before the 100th, so I was jumping like a mad man.

Jump 95
This jump started off with the intention that I was going to lurk, but I ended up solo. I did some back and sit practice and got into a straight down delta. The head down position was really cool because I could tell my lower body was in the slipstream of my upper body. It got really quite too which was really cool. A good landing at 10'.

Jump 96
I decided to try the head down position again and again got into that slipstream. It felt very cool. 206mph. A good landing at 10'.

Jump 97
A tracking jump with Travis and Shane. It was fun, and we were able to keep together and on the same level. I felt pretty good about my track stability. Long landing at 30'

Jump 98
Another solo head down. It would be nice to see what I'm doing. A good landing at 15'.

Jump 99
2-way back flip exit with Heyka. We did several flips then to belly. Tried to do a propeller, but couldn't get it to work. Long landing at 20'.

Jump 100
Yeay, the big #100. Now I can feel like a hotshot. :) Yoyo organized a 17-way snowflake. I was in the base, so there wasn't much for me to do to make this happen other than not screw up the exit. Well, I didn't screw up the exit, but still only 12 people were able to get grips. I guess one problem was that we were fairly dearched in the base, so it was flying really slowly. Tracking was kind of crazy with so many people in the sky. A good landing at 15'.

I got to watch the video that Donald and one other guy made of the jump on the big-screen. It was way cool.

2009-07-19 Hot and Sticky! Jumps 90-94

It was a hot and sticky day for sure. The temperature must have been over 100°f, and even hotter in the backdraft from the propellers while waiting to board. But that didn't stop Cindy, Matt and I from jumping the whole day.

Jump 90
I met up with two guys on the way to the plane and we decided to try a  3-way head down then to belly and 2 360's.  We managed it which was cool. I had a great landing within 5' of the target.

Jump 91
I got to lurk as Matt and Cindy did a linked tracking jump. In the middle they did a  flip, together, and it worked very well. We reversed direction and tracked again. They waved off, tracked and went in for the landing. Again, I had a really great landing within 5' from the target.

Jump 92
 3-way hybrid attempt with Matt and Cindy. Matt was supposed to come in, dock and grab chest straps and go into a sit. He was too slow in docking, so we never got to have him go into a sit. Good landing, 10' from target.

Jump 93
3-way belly with Cindy and Troy. We were just going to do 360's and docks. We actually got three 360's and two docks before the clock ran out. Good landing, 10' from target.

Jump 94
5-way  sit train attempt. Heyka and I stayed linked because I forgot to let go of her harness. I enjoyed the spin we got into. I don't think she did though. We were falling faster than the rest, so I was able to see one other group of 2 still in the sit train above us. Heyka and I got into a belly and waited to see if anyone else would join us. The landing was a bit long at around 30'.

2009-07-04 Emily's Tandem jump and other fun. (Jumps 85-89)

I had decided to go mountain biking at Hollenbeck Canyon with some friends on Friday because I knew I was going to be taking my friend Emily to do a tandem jump on the morning of the 4th. I packed up my tent and my air mattress and all the trappings of home, along with my bike and headed to Jamul. After a beautiful late afternoon ride with Bryan F an, and dinner with Gardner, I headed back to Skydive San Diego to set up my tent and go to sleep. As I was laying out my tent, Max came out of his room, and I offered to share a bottle of vodka with him if he helped me set up the tent. In short order, the tent was erected, the air mattress was inflated and everything was laid out for a good night's sleep. The bottle of Belvedere was opened, and the conversation was flowing. After about 8 shots, I was ready to lay down, so I bid a good night and headed to the tent. I awoke early, as usual, took down the tent and packed everything back into the car. I then headed off to Eastlake to get some coffee before Emily and Blaze would arrive. They got there just before 9am, and I sent Emily off to fill out the waiver while I performed the financial side of the bargain. Blaze was the nervous one. Emily told me that Blaze had come into her room to wake her up and was crying and gave her a little speech about how if she something happened to her that she was loved. While I was waiting for my CC to be processed, Blaze was mentioned how charged everyone seemed to be. I looked around, but really, the only one who was charged was her--it was kind of funny.

Jump 85
For this jump, I just played by myself. Flips and turns and the like. Got to wave to Emily before jumping. Great landing.

Jump 86
2-way with Dave. Linked exit. Belly 360 L, Dock, 360 R, Dock, Side-body, Track. Bumpy air. Soft landing. First jump on new suit.
Jump 87
2-way head down w/ Ausie Matt - 231mph!

Jump 88
Solo sit practice.

Jump 89

Solo sit practice.