skydivecat

^now that is just funny

Most people do counts however works best for them or their team. As long as it is communicated to everyone and practiced in the mock up beforehand, I've never had any problems. I fly IC for my team in 4 way, I do the count that in most comfortable for me and works best with my team. If I try to change that when jumping with others it leads to more of a mess as it will go against my muscle memory that I have dialed in for the majority of my jumps. If someone else is giving the count, I adapt to however they are comfortable. Whoever is giving the count should do whatever they are best at/most comfortable with for the launch to be successful. That is my very low level experience at any rate

Well Ski... to be fair, we ALL know what an asshole you are. Can you really blame them?

Sometimes you just have to say "fuck it" and throw yourself out the door. If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough. ALWAYS trust your gut. Just because something is "enough" for some someone else, doesn't mean it is/has to be for you.

"But have not yet received a comprehensive training on the rig. Ground school did not include any time reviewing the rig... I want to see and touch the canopy the front and rear risers etc. how does this thing work" Have you asked? Most students are dealing with enough brain overload that programs usually wait until beginning packing classes before getting into this. If you ask, I have a hard time believing that someone won't sit down and explain/show you. It is best to do this on a weather day or on a non-busy not middle of a beautiful jumping weekend day, a case of beer helps too. "Would like to feel what the cutaway and reserve pull " Cutaway you can do no problem with INSTUCTOR SUPERVISION while doing the packing/learning about the rig. Reserve pull, if you're willing to pay for the repack if it isn't due, I doubt you'll get too many arguments there either. We don't know where you jump so we can't give you opinions of their program/how they do things/reputation. This is an adult sport though, if you want to learn/understand more, then ASK. if you are refused, then it would be fair to think that you aren't being given the information you need.

"It seemed that the dropzone I was getting my training at paid all the attention in the world to me while in my AFF progression and once I was on "solo student" status the accountability fell out. At the dropzone I started at, after the 7 AFF levels it became MY responsibility as a student to ask the coaches to jump with me. The DZ would help on occasion, but for the most part it was MY job to find a coach, let them know what I needed, and get the jumps done. If all the coaches are working staff it can be tough, but you try to catch them first thing in the morning or last load at night. If you are willing to make the effort, more likely than not, they try to help you. "I need more experience in the air before I can start learning more advanced maneuvers" Yes, you do need to learn the basics before doing all the advanced stuff. You need to have a solid skillset on your belly and you will not have that at 23 jumps no matter what else you have done via static line or anything else. You have to learn to walk before you can run. There is a progression for a reason. At 23 jumps you haven't even begun to scratch the surface. "I have jumped at 4 different dropzones and have had overwhelming conflicts with the bravado and cocky attitudes that most of the skydivers I have met carry" Yes, skydivers can have an attitude and an ego. I find it VERY hard to believe that at 4 DIFFERENT DROPZONES you met nothing but complete assholes. This sport is full of amazing people who will usually bend over backwards to help each other out. There are the occasional DZ or person with a problem, but I find this description very unlikely. "put on a weather hold (funny that tandems were still going up and coming down)" Welcome to skydiving. As a student you have much stricter limits than a licensed jumper. Tandems can/will go when there are D license holds. You will spend a lot of time on the ground. Get used to it. Its for your safety. If you can't wrap your head around that, then this isn't a sport for you. "At jump 23 I honestly cannot find the "fun" in belly flying and doing backflips until I am "cool" enough and can afford a pair of $300 freefly shorts(capris) to learn more advanced skills." If you can't find the "fun" in this, then why do it? We don't care what you wear, but until you have the skills to safely do the basics, you shouldn't be doing the advanced skills. This isn't bowling, this sport can, and will, kill you. If you don't like it, then don't jump, and why bother getting your A license? Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Back to the OP and question at hand... Asking the safety officer or instructor at hand with a "I'm confused" or "could you please explain X so I understand" is the best way to handle these situations. I do it still when I see something that I don't agree with, and sometimes even know is flat out wrong. Approaching it with humbleness on your own part, even if you know you are 100% right, can go a long way toward fostering a conversation and avoiding negative reactions. Definitely don't ignore, but change the approach on the confront/report, it still gets you the answers you want, and you may learn something too in the process!

They did multiple skills and tryout camps all over the country in the months leading up to the record. If you want to be on one, show up, jump, and earn you spot.

16 in just under 4 years. MI-3, OH-1, GA-2, FL-2, CA-3, IL-3, TN-1, MO-1

Also, pilots flare very differently than sabre 2s. I have 400 jumps on a pilot, 100 on a sabre 2 and they land VERY differently. In my experience the sabre 2 should have a much stronger and more reactive flare. I don't know how different a sabre 1 would be to that. if it doesn't, I would definitely have a rigger look at it.

People pass out from nerves. People forget to breath. People don't eat/drink enough. Harness can be too tight restricting circulation. None of these things are unheard of. Is it SAFE for you to get trained... only you can decide that.

Landing priorities (in order): 1. Wing level over your head/not turning/diving 2. Avoid obstacles 3. Flare AT LEAST halfway 4. Prepare to/PLF notice: landing into the wind is NOT a priority, it doesn't even make the list. Just saying, I've seen too many people do dumb things to land into the wind. It's nice, but not something to worry about, especially when landing off. Not saying you did anything wrong but understand what your priorities are and aren't. Good luck with your continued progression!

I had this to a much lesser degree. Talk to your instructors, and if you can afford it ask to just go to a "relax" dive with them. No tasks, just jump, freefall, relax, overcome the fear. For me, the moment I hit the air again my fear evaporated and I remembered why I loved it and why I was doing it. I just needed to get over that bump. Review what you know, about skydiving and about the gear. If you trust yourself and trust the tools you are using, go for it.

I heard that a lot as a much lower number jumper, and still do from time to time. I made the personal decision that when I ask an instructor/more experienced jumper a question and that this is the answer I get then my decision is a NO. If that is the best they can come up with, no further explanation or response, then I need to reevaluate whatever it is I was considering, or I need to find a better source of information first.

I went and saw this Saturday night and had the privilege of getting to be involved in a Q&A after, as well as meeting both Marah and Jean. I really enjoyed the entire experience and would highly recommend this film. Hats off ladies, and thank you for sharing your story.

These are things that now that I am dabbling in CRW that I am learning and am so grateful for the knowledge. Simple things like the difference between and entanglement and a wrap. What steps to take. How to evaluate, who should do what when, ect. ect. Even as a pup with less than 10 CRW jumps, my canopy education and emergency preparedness has increased drastically for these types of situations. There isn't enough focus on it, there needs to be more. CRW is providing me with a way to learn and better educate myself. Awesome mentors, thanks Dawgs.

I drive 3.5 hours EVERY weekend April-Oct (jump season) to jump at my home DZ/DZ of choice which is a large turbine DZ. There are plenty of smaller Cessna dzs that I pass along the way, but they just don't have what I want in terms of coaching/training/events and opportunities. As a student I'd say absolute maximum of 5 jumps in a day. You want to brief/debrief properly and not overload yourself physically or mentally. Once you get your license, its totally on you and the type of jumps you are doing as to how many is reasonable for a day. When fun jumping I usually do 6-8 as I don't want to be rushed and I like to enjoy the day. Organizing 8-10 depending on size and experience of group. Team training we usually do 10 as we try to do 5 rounds, each jump in duplicate. Great thing about this sport is you get to decide the pace of your own progression. If the DZ that you are at doesn't offer what you want, find another DZ, even if it is farther. 1-2 jumps/month just isn't going to cut it in terms of moving forward, so if that is what you want to do, then find a place that allows you to do that.

Same with mine with Allstate.

I can. Used to work with him at Skydive Tecumseh. Good guy.

Fantastic. Good friends, new and old, fun times, some drinks and LOTS of sleep. 2 jumps Saturday, 7 yesterday, organized all weekend. Beautiful weather, peaceful drive home, gearing up for Nationals. Can't wait!

Anyone know what alti he is jumping from?

I saw a flying pig today too! Happy for you bud! First round is on me next time our paths cross.

Adding to Vader's points, I have worked at my respective home dzs since I started jumping. It isn't fun to get bombarded by everyone and anyone just looking for the gory gossipy details whenever something happens simply because they know I work there. There is a right way to ask if you are personally affected (as Vader outlined above) and completely inappropriate ways. Do not post things publically on FB, do not repeatedly call/msg after being told you that you are not affected, do not ask for play by play or gory details, and have a little bit of freaking decencey, respect that a loss has happened, people are affected and your morbid curiousity may need to wait. Rant over. ETA-HMU if you are around this year buddy. Miss you.

"There's a reason I stay out of the "Woman only" section" I KNEW YOU REALLY LIKED MEN!!!!!

Jumped after a sinus infection, extreme pain a day later as it clogged, ear was partially clogged for about 2 months, it sucked. Got the OK from the doc to start jumping again after verifying that there was no fluid built up in the ear. After 2 weekends of jumping, ear was back to normal.