Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: notesfiles - hp 1.2 08/01/83; site hp-pcd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!qantel!hplabs!hp-pcd!kas From: kas@hp-pcd.UUCP (kas) Newsgroups: net.rec.skydive Subject: Lurk Me Not Message-ID: <41800043@hpcvlo.UUCP> Date: Wed, 2-Oct-85 21:41:00 EDT Article-I.D.: hpcvlo.41800043 Posted: Wed Oct 2 21:41:00 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 6-Oct-85 14:46:19 EDT Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Corvallis, OR Lines: 39 Nf-ID: #N:hpcvlo:41800043:000:2348 Nf-From: hpcvlo!kas Oct 2 17:41:00 1985 While making a jump last weekend, I ran into an interesting problem that I think is worth addressing. It has to do with "lurking" too close to a formation while waiting for your assigned slot to materialize. The game plan for the jump was like this: first form a snowflake, then change to an accordian, then to a catapillar, then finally to a donut. It sounds difficult, but the transitions were planned to minimize grip switches. In fact, the only moves which required some of the jumpers (but not all) to drop both grips was the transition from 'flake to accordian. I was one of the few who had to drop both grips, fly to a new slot on the end of the accordian, turn 180 degrees, and take new grips. One other person was then supposed to do a similar manuever and dock on me, thus becoming the final "end" on the accordian. This process was being repeated on the other end of the accordian, so in all, only four out of the nine jumpers had to do any free-flying after the initial 'flake was formed. The problem developed when the person who was supposed to dock on me lurked too close to my end of the formation. In effect, he was already sitting nearly in position, free-flying close to his slot without benefit of grips. As I moved into my slot from my previous position and began the 180 degree turn, I backslipped a little so that my legs passed over him as I swung around. This, of course, caused both of us to suddenly drop 8 or 10 feet below the formation, and although we got back up, we ran out of time before we could get in again. Needless to say, he blamed the mishap on me for backslipping over him, but I maintain that he was "too close for comfort" and didn't allow any tolerance for my manuever. The moral of the story is this: Whether you're a skygod or a novice RW'er, if you have been assigned specific slots and your "target" is not there yet, keep a few extra feet away so that others have room to work. It won't take THAT much longer to get in when your time comes, but it WILL take much longer if you bump into each other and go low. * / \ |---/---\---| Ken Scofield C-9355 | Gone | Hewlett-Packard PCD | Jumpin' | Corvallis, OR |-----------| {ucbvax!hplabs, harpo, ogcvax}!hp-pcd!kas Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com