Aug 6, 2012, 9:48 AM
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Hulahoop Dives
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Quick question... The only hulahoop dives I've ever done I was invited to come along, so I've never actually had to bring the hulahoop. I want to do another hoop dive - but if memory serves me the first couple I did we weighted down a bit before hand to make it a little easier to keep a hold of. Can anyone tell me if this is something I need to do - or can I just pick up an everyday hulahoop and bring it to the DZ and get the same results?
Just give me a hold of it, Ash. The combo of my buff arms and me falling like a rock (you know what I'm talking about) should keep it falling steady...
I formed a small metal rod (3/8" rebar) into a circle the same size as a hula hoop, then cut a regular hula open, slid the metal hoop inside and taped it back together. This one was durable and fell good, and became a DZ staple with a resume of its own.
For nite dives we just tagged it with three chem lights. Here's a pic of the girls playing with it...
If you are going to do a hulla hoop jump, choose a large rigid one. It will be more stable in the air and will be easier to go thru by jumpers. The hulla hoop should preferably be held sideway but near the bottom and important thing, ask the jumpers to go thru aiming at 1/3 of the diameter from the bottom and not go too slow. That will makes sure the legs and feet of the jumper will not rip the hulla hoop off from the the hand of the holder. Have a look at the picture included. This is myself going thru at Rantoul Ill. at the WFFC.
(This post was edited by erdnarob on Aug 7, 2012, 9:54 AM)
I formed a small metal rod (3/8" rebar) into a circle the same size as a hula hoop, then cut a regular hula open, slid the metal hoop inside and taped it back together.
I'm not sure how common this is, but on 1 of the 3 HH dives I've been on, 2 people both decided to take a last second dive at the hoop when it was getting close to break-off and got jammed inside the hoop together. Fortunately, the hoop broke as they and the people holding it struggled to free them.
Rebar would have been a bad, bad thing on that jump.
I formed a small metal rod (3/8" rebar) into a circle the same size as a hula hoop, then cut a regular hula open, slid the metal hoop inside and taped it back together.
I'm not sure how common this is, but on 1 of the 3 HH dives I've been on, 2 people both decided to take a last second dive at the hoop when it was getting close to break-off and got jammed inside the hoop together. Fortunately, the hoop broke as they and the people holding it struggled to free them.
Rebar would have been a bad, bad thing on that jump.
Skinny skydiving buddies would be the obvious solution...
I formed a small metal rod (3/8" rebar) into a circle the same size as a hula hoop, then cut a regular hula open, slid the metal hoop inside and taped it back together.
I'm not sure how common this is, but on 1 of the 3 HH dives I've been on, 2 people both decided to take a last second dive at the hoop when it was getting close to break-off and got jammed inside the hoop together. Fortunately, the hoop broke as they and the people holding it struggled to free them.
Rebar would have been a bad, bad thing on that jump.
Skinny skydiving buddies would be the obvious solution...
Or buddies that can fly well enough to get through the hoop before break off.
one more note: as you do not want to loose your altimeter when passing through the loop make sure you (and everybody else on the dive) wears) them way over the wrist :-)
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