love2drop

I will do that. I am not concerned about being denied treatment, I am concerned about being denied coverage for a major medical event and then my family being wiped out by the medical bills. I would rather have the DZ drag my broken carcass off the property before calling 911. If I do get hurt and I can leave DZ without 911, you can bet skydiving will never cross my lips. Ill request the exclusions on the policy but dont know why my agent would give me bum info, it doesnt mean anything to him other than I may have to find a new agent.

Student here, I currently have medical insurance through Florida Blue but it does not cover skydiving. My agent doesn't have any insurance companies that will. \Is anyone aware of a company or organization that offers major medical or accident insurance to skydivers? Is it possible to purchase insurance that only covers you for skydiving and nothing else? Like a supplement to my existing medical. I live in Florida. It really scares me that my insurance wont cover me if there should ever be an event. Thanks for any suggestions.

Thanks everyone for your input. After reading your responses I believe that muscle memory was not so much the major concern for me, more concern being the correct procedures for handling different situations. The EP's seem pretty straight forward for a HS MAL as does identifying the HS MAL. I feel that as a student pulling at 5500' I could handle the EP's in a HS situation. The LS MAL's, in my inexperienced opinion, seem like they would take more thought process to determine the correct course of action. Being in a violent spin with an open canopy, or a 2 out, seems to me to be a more stressful situation to deal with then say a bag lock or PC in tow at 5000'. Or at least the HS MAL seems to me to be very clear cut as far as the response. The LS MAL doesn't seem to be that clear cut. Line twists, line overs, break fires, broken line/s, un flyable canopy, 2 outs, etc. would most likely take place at a lower altitude than a HS MAL and would seem to me to take more time to analayze before coming to a decision on how to react. Can I land it or not, should I disconnect the RSL or not, can I kick out of these twists, should I pump the brakes some more to try and drop the slider etc. all of which is eating up my altitude, some fater than others. Maybe I am over thinking this stuff and should just go fly and let the "on the job training" take its course? On a side note, I spent the morning at the DZ waiting for clouds to clear enough for Cat A jump which never happened. Been waiting 6 days now for weather to clear. At least a bad day at the DZ (weather wise) is better than a good day at work. Will try again tomorrow. Thanks again for all of your suggestions and coaching and for the links to some awesome information. CJ

New to skydiving, wondering if anyone has input on honing EP muscle memory skills. Not easy to practice "in the environment" in a sport that moves so quick. I have been SCUBA diving for several decades and procedures are easy to train for in real time while engaged in the sport. Does anyone really know what a chop feels like until it happens? I mean, does a cutaway and reserve pull in a rig feel the same as a cutaway and reserve pull on a training harness loaded with string? I do technical SCUBA diving and am new to skydiving. I like to have as much knowledge as possible in a sport that has very little if any forgiveness. I would think that I have just as much chance at a MAL on my first AFF jump as someone does on their 1000th jump. I would like to be as ready as possible, I don't like "trust me" dives in SCUBA or skydiving. Thanks, .. CJ

Not to hijack the thread but how does a newbie identify said Skygods? What is their common trait?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/03/AR2005120301211.html "His professional honors include the Federation Aeronautique Internationale Air Sport Medal and the Parachute Industry Man of the Year Award in 1984." "He leaves no immediate survivors." Probably why his awards are being sold and not with family.

Thanks for sharing your poem, The first time I was on a jump plane was in NH about 1981 or so, I was 12 or 13 and was getting to ride up on a load (and ride back down). They tought me how to use the parachute and I was fitted with one. I remember them telling me that if the plane goes down and I have to bail to jump out the door say " one two buckle my shoe" and then jam the handle to my foot. I got to sit in a bucketseat mounted right inside the door and 8 or so of my dads SF friends brushed my knees on their way out the door at 10k. It was an awesome experience. I am not 13 year old anymore so the day my sons and nephews informed me we were going skydiving I called a buddy who runs fishing charters and tried to book a trip with him instead, he had no availability. I still have the text I sent him telling him "thanks alot, now I have to go jump out of a plane". I really wasn't looking forward to it. The day we arrived at the DZ, it was around 10AM. We ended up on I think loads 8 and 10 so there was alot of time to hang around and watch landings, faceplants, swoops, relative practice, the elusive early full flare body slam drop from 8 feet (only saw 1), packing and the interaction between everyone, also got to see the bar :). It felt very comfortable, except the early full flare body slam (is there a technical name for that). Even when a tandem cameraman came back and they were discussing his cutaway and location of his main...it added to the excitement. (I am so happy that we weren't just in and out, I think we would have missed so much). The expereince hooked me and also my nephews and one son, my youngest son is smarter than the rest of us and the tandem was good enough for him. My oldest son, 2 of my nephews and my niece will be starting AFF in late May when their schedules clear up. So here I am 32 years after taking that first ride on a jump plane and I am starting AFF on Thursday. I told everyone that as the "adult" in the group, that I was not going to influence their decision to skydive or not skydive so I would take the class alone and the "kids" could all take it together if they wanted to. In reality, its just some BS that I came up with because I don't want to wait until late May to get back up there, not my problem their schedules are busy

Made 2 tandem jumps over the last month and now I gaze into the sky when I should be working. So looking forward to this ride.