uhuru10

You can choose to address their perspective "you're crazy" or you can attempt to explain your perspective. My take is something that I discussed on the first date with my (now) wife, who at the time had about 1200 skydives [me = none]. The "Crazy Line" Theory: Each person has an ingrained line, beyond which is generalized as 'crazy'. For myself as a triathlete, that line was drawn this side of doing a full Ironman distance event. For her, she thought ANY triathlon was 'crazy' (she has now competed in a dozen including World Championships for Duathlon). Take away is: we all have things we think to be 'crazy', but to others that may seem acceptable, even FUN!! Understanding what they feel acceptable, you can identify something they do that you believe is on the other side of your crazy line (i.e. eating ghost pepper hotwings). EDIT: *April 2013 Parachutist* has an article by my wife (Beth Victor nee Athanas) that touches on the topic. I will try and find a link. http://parachutistonline.com/feature/all-about-perspective

You can contact Joe at: [email protected] They have a whole bunch of them on hand for their camps and I am sure they would be more than helpful in getting one to you.

I personally have not (male)...but one of the skydivers here in Dallas is an iFly instructor and worked at the tunnel throughout pregnancy.

Just a few of the options that Google provided for "custom parking signs". http://www.myparkingsign.com/ http://www.buildasign.com/ParkingSigns http://www.safetysign.com/custom-parking-signs

Having done this jump 6 weeks ago, I can't recall any gusts. Here is the data from my Garmin Forerunner 310xt which I use primarily for triathlons, but decided it would be 'neat' to see a skydive mapped. The elevation graph gives an idea of the slope/glide with no change in altitude (increase) relative to direction of travel into/with wind. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/470605967 Last note, the three larger "blips" on the elevation graph (if looking at distance, not time) are the exit, my track, and my canopy opening. Later there are 'steeper' descents for practice flare or steep turn.

A more clear explanation of what I posted yesterday: E. Choose your canopy size by reflecting on your impression of the canopy sizes and models you have recently flown, combined with your desire to go faster or slower. Choosing a canopy this way is much safer than using only a chart published by a manufacturer. Such a chart may be a rough guide, but cannot be used effectively without applying your own experience. If you don’t want to go faster, don’t go smaller than what you are using! From PD: http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/wingload.pdf

DISCLAIMER: I am not an instructor, nor very experienced (with just over 80 jumps). My advice is this: your current exit weight and canopy put you at a .79 w/l. This is inline with many suggested student w/l practices. If you 'jump' down to the 188, the w/l increases to 1.01. That is a 22% increase (downsize) in your main canopy which is large when making the first canopy move. The manufacturer charts will give suggested exit weights for canopy size, but don't do the w/l math for you. PD may give a conservative chart, and 1:1 is not a hard rule on the books. Depending on what you want to do, that will guide you to your decision. My caveat is, if there is a 220 or 210 for you to rent for 10 or so jumps give it a try. You will see what the change in w/l carries in the way of canopy performance, rate of descent, and flare...which may be more than you expect or less than you were hoping for...YMMV

Here's a link that will address a number of the other questions I saw you have posted. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3613326;search_string=skydive%20relaxing;#3613326 Also, I should respond to your question here: I find skydiving relaxing, but not in the 'recliner'/'picnic' way. It is liberating and helps me to destress from other areas of my life.

As a recently registered user of this site, you may find the small search box in the upper-right of the forum windows useful to answer your questions. (located just below the "My Stuff/Logout/Help" icons)

Here is a thread on tracking cutaways: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4314023;search_string=tracking%20cutaways;#4314023 IIRC the Tile App can only track items within 50ft. I did see it in one of the threads about 10 months ago, and it did not sound like a plausible solution. EDIT: clicky link

FWIW: During the course of regular skydiving, you expose yourself to relative wind resistance for ~40-60 seconds. Your muscles quickly develop to handle this 'short-term' loading. In the tunnel, even broken sessions of 1:40 (100 seconds) greatly increase the load experienced on muscles and therefore have a more pronounced impact on soreness/muscle fatigue. I won't venture to say that this is simply how 5 minutes of combined freefall at one time would effect you, but having a doctor check it out if things worsen or linger isn't out of the question.

What is your current wingloading? I jump a Pulse-190 at .92 and only have penetration issues in winds >25mph (22knts). By my calculations, you are flying the Pilot-170 at around .95 which should give fair penetration, unless you are facing winds in excess of 25mph. As others have stated, speak with your instructors as they have a better understanding of your abilities. My observations from experience show I can handle higher winds without issue. Anything above 25mph and I don't get in the air in the first place.

Something not mentioned is landing. Whether the FF goes well or not, you still have to land that canopy. Don't forget the basics of a predictable landing pattern and looking out for others under canopy as you descend. I have seen many fellow students get caught up in dive flows and forget the need to preserve their bodies with focused control under canopy. Down wind, base, final...landing priorities: (1) wing level (2) land in the clear, avoiding obstacles (3) flare. REF: SIM Sec. 4 Cat. A.1.Solo: E.

For my post-AFF, pre-A license period, I didn't spend many jumps "solo". Primarily it is the supervision aspect, but also that you don't know how 'good' that turn was or how 'on heading' the track was. I did a solo right after I graduated AFF to get that feel of having COMPLETE responsibility for my safety, but my next 5 were coach jumps. Those jumps had specific goals and skill progressions that made me feel like I was getting better and made me more comfortable with others in the air. After those coach jumps, I did a few on my own to practice the new skills and also to make those fine adjustments that only another EXPERIENCED person can observe and give knowledgeable feedback. Only 6 jumps were 'self-work', then I did 4 more coach jumps to put everything together. At that point I was close to my A-license, so I worked on those items that are on me (e.g. accurate landings). Spend your money and time wisely, but after all it is your money and my (novice) advice is free.