I don't either, and I take it off for other things too. I already had those pics in my mind when I made the decision. It looks pretty much like I thought. Graphic, but worth it, if it wakes anybody up. One more: I heard of a guy that shorted out a gold ring on a car battery. It welded itself in place and he only got free when it melted. Ouch!
Ouch, gruesome pics. However, I've jumped with my wedding ring for ~1500 jumps without any incident. I attribute the lack of any incidents to two facts: 1) The ring was a little too big for the ring finger hence I resorted to the stinky^T middle finger - for which the ring is slightly too small so that it doesn't "bulge" out. Me growing a little more subcutaneous fatty tissue within the last 28 years also had its share (No, I'm not fat, still BMI of 23 ) 2) I always wear gloves. Even on very hot days. But it's never too late to reconsider things.
A fellow student of mine was fined twelve euros for losing his ripcord. He didn't agree with the fine and payed grudgingly...only to land on top of the ripcord he'd lost when he made his next jump.
He almost RAN to manifest in order to reclaim the fine
About ten years ago, maybe 15. Busy student day at the DZ, packing after a working with a student, quick formation load (C182 lead, C296 trail). I'm last out of the trail 206. As I'm moving forward, I hear a seatbet buckle bouncing off the side of the plane, know that the pilot won't be able to reach it, don't want it smacking the paint all the way down. I'm focused on grabbing it and bringing it inside as I made my turn at the door. The pilot said my rig hit his seat so hard it almost threw him through the windshield, but I never felt it. I dive and see a mess of lines over my left shoulder, think "no, I didn't really see that", look over my right shoulder and..... yes, I have a horseshoe. Throw my pilot chute immediately, now I'm upright looking at a bag lock. I grab both handles, pull the cutaway, get belly to earth with my hand on the reserve ripcord, look down and... The formation is building about 200 feet below me, about 50" horizontal, my slot is right there, perfect angle for a swoop. I'll always remember that view and the fact that I actually paused and thought making that swoop. Stronger memory than the whole horseshoe thing.
About ten years ago, maybe 15. Busy student day at the DZ, packing after a working with a student, quick formation load (C182 lead, C296 trail). I'm last out of the trail 206. As I'm moving forward, I hear a seatbet buckle bouncing off the side of the plane, know that the pilot won't be able to reach it, don't want it smacking the paint all the way down. I'm focused on grabbing it and bringing it inside as I made my turn at the door. The pilot said my rig hit his seat so hard it almost threw him through the windshield, but I never felt it. I dive and see a mess of lines over my left shoulder, think "no, I didn't really see that", look over my right shoulder and..... yes, I have a horseshoe. Throw my pilot chute immediately, now I'm upright looking at a bag lock. I grab both handles, pull the cutaway, get belly to earth with my hand on the reserve ripcord, look down and... The formation is building about 200 feet below me, about 50" horizontal, my slot is right there, perfect angle for a swoop. I'll always remember that view and the fact that I actually paused and thought making that swoop. Stronger memory than the whole horseshoe thing.
Shoulda taken your dock with your cutaway handle in hand... That and the missing main from the container would've gotten some interesting looks.
About ten years ago, maybe 15. Busy student day at the DZ, packing after a working with a student, quick formation load (C182 lead, C296 trail). I'm last out of the trail 206. As I'm moving forward, I hear a seatbet buckle bouncing off the side of the plane, know that the pilot won't be able to reach it, don't want it smacking the paint all the way down. I'm focused on grabbing it and bringing it inside as I made my turn at the door. The pilot said my rig hit his seat so hard it almost threw him through the windshield, but I never felt it. I dive and see a mess of lines over my left shoulder, think "no, I didn't really see that", look over my right shoulder and..... yes, I have a horseshoe. Throw my pilot chute immediately, now I'm upright looking at a bag lock. I grab both handles, pull the cutaway, get belly to earth with my hand on the reserve ripcord, look down and... The formation is building about 200 feet below me, about 50" horizontal, my slot is right there, perfect angle for a swoop. I'll always remember that view and the fact that I actually paused and thought making that swoop. Stronger memory than the whole horseshoe thing.
Shoulda taken your dock with your cutaway handle in hand... That and the missing main from the container would've gotten some interesting looks.
That's eactly what I was thinking about for about a second. How cool would this be.... Then I got over it and pulled the silver, followed my trash, and landed 5' from the freebag and 50' from the main.
(No, I'm not fat, still BMI of 23 
