Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!linac!att!ucbvax!ucdavis!ccjoan
From: ccjoan@aggie.ucdavis.edu (Joan Gargano)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: CRW / license requirements
Message-ID: <10617@aggie.ucdavis.edu>
Date: 21 Feb 91 20:35:52 GMT
References: <2944@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU> <1991Feb18.121056.16982@hellgate.utah.edu> <2956@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU> <1991Feb19.114224.19554@hellgate.utah.edu>
Reply-To: ccjoan@aggie.ucdavis.edu (Joan Gargano)
Organization: University of California, Davis
Lines: 42

In article <1991Feb19.114224.19554@hellgate.utah.edu> wtm%gr.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Thomas McCollough) writes:
>In article <2956@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU> mspurgeo@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU (Mike Spurgeon) writes:
>>In article <1991Feb18.121056.16982@hellgate.utah.edu>, wtm%gr.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Thomas McCollough) writes:

The skill that needs to be demonstrated by licensing is canopy control
to ensure it reflects the skydiver's ability to avoid hazards and not
present a hazard to others while under canopy.  This can be
demonstrated by a series of maneuvers and accuracy requirements.  CRW
isn't really required here.

I have done a little CRW.  The first time was at Pope Valley under a
Unit when CRW was just becoming popular.  With about 150 jumps under
my belt, I watched half of my canopy collapse and wasn't amused.  At
that point I decided it was more important for me to have an open
canopy.  To me, my canopy is a system to get me safely to the ground,
not a vehicle I wanted to fly to its limits.  I choose not to actively
put myself in a situation that may compromise my functioning safety system
and require me to activate a backup system.  (I did actually practice
CRW for a while once I was more experienced and performed very simple
maneuvers at demos.  It gave me a real respect for the skill required
and reinforced my belief that it was not for me.  I appreciate style
and accuracy and CRW but it isn't the same for me as relative work and
freestyle)

I have the same attitude towards my cars (a Toyota stationwagon and a Honda
Accord).  I don't drive a Porsche and take it to trials on a speed way.  While
those skills would greatly enhance my ability to handle emergency
procedures, they involve what I consider an unnecessary risk and they are
not required for me to be an experienced driver capable of operating within
the vast majority of situations I will encounter.  The same goes for
skydiving.  I don't think it is required to be experienced at CRW to be
safe within the vast majority of situations you will encounter.

As a side note, Bill and I had a great time watching a style and
accuracy meet at Antioch.  Slam Factor was practicing CRW and decided
to enter the meet.  They came in as a stack and broke of in sequence
at about 100 feet.  They all came within about of the foot of the disc
on each round and a couple of them hit it often enough to place in the
meet.  The dedicated S&A competitors were not amused but the rest of
us really enjoyed watching it.

Joan Gargano


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