SkydiverRick 0 #26 August 5, 2003 lowest main (intentional) 1000' . It was a long time ago. Would never do it again. lowest reserve 1800' never pull low......unless you are Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,406 #27 August 5, 2003 1000 feet on a 4-way. 200 feet on a BASE jump (freefall exit.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #28 August 5, 2003 Once at a Rumbleseat Meet we broke off a 10 way at 2500 ft. I sat in just above 1200 and had to do a really quick riser turn to avoid a collision. Gawd were we stupid! Sat in at 1700 ft after El Capitan (had a permit), but that was a guess - we'd set our altimeters to 3000 ft at the top before we jumped, it was still reading 200 when I landed. Then I packed a canopy soaking wet (dumb and dumber). It opened just fine, but a steering line was so swollen it wouldn't release, dicked around with it down to 1200 ft (and dumber...) before finally cutting away, did a quick "one-two" punch with the handles and the round reserve opened pretty quick. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattyBoy 0 #29 August 5, 2003 A bit boring, but the nice, (safer) way to experience a bit of groundrush is to do a bungy. Personally I can recommend any of the 3 Hackett operations in Queenstown, NZ. A bit lame I know, but something to raise the heartbeat a bit whilst grounded! For your stats, lowest pulled, about 2500... 3rd solo...hop n pop... couldn't get stable... shit myself ! I may be gullible but at least I have a magic fish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattyBoy 0 #30 August 5, 2003 Post the vid for us all to learn from / laugh at then! I may be gullible but at least I have a magic fish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #31 August 5, 2003 Quote Lesson learned though, when one person decides to break-off, it is problably time! i was just recently told two stories of low pullers. one had a premature opening during a big way (20+) which caused everyone to pause, look and break off a bit high... another.. (apparently notorious for pulling very low consistently) whos pilot chute slipped out during a fairly large dive was 'infamous' enough that the rest of the formation assumed they must be dead and pulled right away with at least two going directly to reserves...____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #32 August 5, 2003 We have much in common. Ever hear of "The Magic One?" I've had a couple around 700 ft, and over 1000 in the 1200 to 1600 range. These days I'm closer to 4000. Lowest I've had a reserve open has been 1200, and I've had a few of those. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 0 #33 August 5, 2003 Planned, using a BASE Rig out of a plane from 1300, pulled around 500 feet. Much lower off a fixed object. But that's not skydiving. Unplanned, on a skydiving rig, I found my self in the saddle at about 350 feet. Since this was over the hills, the AGL was actually lower. The ground rush was indescribable since the horizon was no longer in view. During the pilot chute toss, I had a conscious thought of wishing I'd pulled the reserve instead. While the canopy was opening, My instints were to pick my feet up higher and higher... It was very strange. To top it off, the person I was video taping, was video taping me as well. (another story). We pulled facing each other in a stand up. Surprisingly, we didn't run into each other let alone hit the ground.My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgoper 0 #34 August 5, 2003 asked and answered about twenty times in the last year!--Richard-- "We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drewboo 0 #35 August 5, 2003 Not exactly sure..a few times below a 1000'..back in the old wild days exited an airplane at 1100'...try and stay about 2000' for the lowest these days Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScottishJohn 25 #36 August 5, 2003 1200 ft I fucked up and lost alti awareness didn't realise that the number on the end of the runway were big. CCI and DZ owner were queuing up to ground me. I got grounded for 2 weeks for being such a dick head. I then bought an audible alti . done a hop'n'pop from 2k , and done a cut away and reserve pull from 2k.---------------------------------------------------------------------- If you think my attitude stinks you should smell my fingers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crutch 0 #37 August 5, 2003 Were these really the good old days?*** Ron, they were. When one of the best skydivers in the world asks why can't we break-oof a hundred-way at 4500' and everyone doesn't have a problem with it. We actually broke-off about four due to the massive industrial haze we entered at 7500'. Hell, once down in the hills, the Southern Cross lost a motor at 1000', the pilot said he was making one pass over the DZ, does anyone want out. Well, he was able to lighten the load by half (everyone on their mains). These days, maybe four or five would have gotten out. Those were the days when we weren't scared of our equipement and had cofidence in our fellow skydivers.blue skies, art Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymick 0 #38 August 5, 2003 Approx 1800ft - open at 1400...got a bit too eager tracking away from a large formation Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skypuppy 1 #39 August 5, 2003 Gotta go with Ron on this - I liken ground rush to throwing a pebble into the water - there is one spot right under you that stays put, and concentric circles rushing out from it in waves... Actually saw my girlfriend's face in that one unmoving spot. Time expanded - realized I was going to die, and was a bit sad, thought about what the other people on the ground were thinking about me (did they just figure I was a dumbass or would they actually miss me) but there was nothing left to pull... Broke off formation at 700', missed handle, in the saddle somewhere south of 300'. I think the video timed it at somewhere around 11-17 seconds (two of us). Took me an hour or so for my hands to stop shaking, not from fear, but adrenaline... Would I do it again? Not bloody likely.... And besides, it sets a poor example.If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tombuch 0 #40 August 5, 2003 Back in the day...I was an idiot. For my 700th jump I opened at 700 feet. For my 800th jump I opened at 800 feet. For my 900th jump I opened at 900 feet. For my 1,000th jump I made a BASE jump from a 279 foot cliff. After that I continued the established trend with until I passed 2,000 jumps. Now, I'm an S&TA and I have to "talk" to people who try foolish things like opening low. Keep in mind that back in the day we were all a bit crazier, and the fatality rate was much higher. The sport is better off now with more conservative flyers who open at reasonable altitudes. Tom Buchanan Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and EasyTom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 7 #41 August 5, 2003 QuoteBack in the day...I was an idiot. For my 700th jump I opened at 700 feet. For my 800th jump I opened at 800 feet. For my 900th jump I opened at 900 feet. For my 1,000th jump I made a BASE jump from a 279 foot cliff. After that I continued the established trend with until I passed 2,000 jumps. At least you were getting safer!"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 7 #42 August 5, 2003 QuoteThe Cypres is responsible for this death of that attitude. We now fear what will happen if we take it low. I personally don't think its just the CYPRES. But its the people who do jump now that never would without things like the CYPRES. Being low is not something to be afraid of....Being afraid of going low IS something to be afraid of. But thats a different story."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 7 #43 August 5, 2003 QuoteI liken ground rush to throwing a pebble into the water - there is one spot right under you that stays put, and concentric circles rushing out from it in waves... A damn fine example...Im stealing it. This is true ground rush... Another type of ground rush can be when you come out of a cloud or just look down and the ground is A LOT bigger than you though it should be. This is like when you are driving, and look down at the radio just to look up and see the really fast comming bumper of the car in front of you that hit his brakes while you put in a CD."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 7 #44 August 5, 2003 QuotePost the vid for us all to learn from / laugh at then! I'll look for it...I think I know where it is...But I am not tech savy enough to post it..."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
motherhucker 0 #45 August 5, 2003 PC extraction 185' AGL.still had time for a 10 sec. canopy ride. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 0 #46 August 5, 2003 Quoteasked and answered about twenty times in the last year! I'm not searchin for it... what's your answer? My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #47 August 5, 2003 Being low is not something to be afraid of....Being afraid of going low IS something to be afraid of. If you end up low, below 1000 ft, and you are not scared, you do not have a good grasp of the situation. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 7 #48 August 5, 2003 QuoteIf you end up low, below 1000 ft, and you are not scared, you do not have a good grasp of the situation. Sparky I had complete grasp of the situation....If I freaked out..I would have been a small dent in the planet. If you are so worried about going low...chances are that if you get there and don't have a DRILLED plan on how to deal with it, you will flip out, and become your own piece of the planet."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stuartjl 0 #49 August 5, 2003 I had a 600ft opening after a 2000ft cloud base jump. I was the last out and first on the ground after my helmet came unlose. Stupidly I tried to tend to my helmet and didn't get my hands in the toggles until around 300ft! I had an uncomfortable interview with the CCI afterwards and now and don't pull below 3000ft now. There's no macho crap with this story as I was very embarrassed about the whole thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #50 August 5, 2003 QuoteQuoteI liken ground rush to throwing a pebble into the water - there is one spot right under you that stays put, and concentric circles rushing out from it in waves... A damn fine example...Im stealing it. This is true ground rush... Another type of ground rush can be when you come out of a cloud or just look down and the ground is A LOT bigger than you though it should be. This is like when you are driving, and look down at the radio just to look up and see the really fast comming bumper of the car in front of you that hit his brakes while you put in a CD. very nice example.. quite honestly i LOVE that feeling and the adrenalin kick it gives.. anyone interested in some serious ground rush (perhaps greater than that in BASE which i havent acquired all the gear to experience yet ) should come out and try some inverted trust falls from 300 ft or so... rappel out the edge, lock off, roll over onto your head and let your belay take control...the ground comes up awwwwful fast...and you cant grab the rope at that point or it will burn right thru your hand...how much do you trust your buddies???____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
