MrGrumpie

I would suggest timing your tunnel time to coincide with a couple of days spent down the DZ. Tunnel with your coaches, and then jumps with the same coach/coaches in the following couple of days will make a massive difference to getting your FS1 quickly!

If you just go down the DZ to do the odd jump, you'll find yourself with a different coach every time and you'll find progress slow.

Oh and as soon as you get FS1 it opens up your skydiving world...so much fun

The fact that this is his one and only post, and he hasn't responded to any follow up posts on the thread kind of sum it up.

Sounds like a troll to me...

Thanks for the responses all - made me feel a bit better about my Sabre2! I've already got used to the amazing flare power, so I can forgive the weird openings

Snowcrash

As long as you've tried them a few time and can live with being thrown anything from 90 to 360 degrees off heading in the later part of the opening they are in my opinion great canopies.

Interesting you mention this. I've recently got a Sabre2 190 with about 250 jumps on it; my body position is pretty good on deployment, and I've always been rock solid...but with the Sabre2 I consistently get anything between 90 degree and 360 turns on deployment.

I'll look up to see it snivelling nicely, but right at the end it decides to go nuts on me. The slider typically stays up a long time (often have to use rear risers to bring it down), and I almost always have end cell closure on the left side.

Some of the 360s are quite violent, but once it settles down it flies beautifully. The toggle pressure seems much higher than other canopies I've jumped, but the flare is endless. Where people find themselves running off nil wind landings, this can stop dead. Although I'm also finding I can push the flare just a little bit too much and have the canopy "pop up" right at the end.

Anyone else experience these characteristics?

obelixtim

******
It seems I hit a nerve.

Your own nerve?

I'm not the one getting all defensive here.....

All you're doing is ranting.

obelixtim

It seems I hit a nerve.

Your own nerve?

Wow. Just wow.

Aside from the fact that this is becoming way off topic, let me say that as a UK jumper (and someone who's recently returned to the sport after 15 years out), these negative comments do not reflect my own experience.

Firstly - I have come across instructors up their own arses, but to say that's a UK thing? No, it's just humans in general.

Secondly, RE: FS1. To obtain your FS1 you need to do alot more than a 4 point 4 way. That is the check out dive, but you have to demonstrate that you can fly safely with other jumpers (so control descent rate, lateral and forwards/backwards movements, turns, diving to formations).

In terms of slots? Yes I think alot of DZs state you have to pay for the other slots, but I didn't because the other jumpers were willing to pay for their own. And I will do the same in the future if I ever get asked to go on someone's FS1 dive.

You don't need to fly to the states to do your FS1, unless there's a consistent spell of bad weather here (which does happen).

I think there's a guy who jumps in the UK who has aspergers - Jamie and Ricard? (think Ricard is Jamie's carer). Really good story and some good videos of his first 100 jumps or so (IIRC).

Jamie's mum has posted before on UKS, so might be worth looking on there :)

That happened a mile from my house

Backintothesky

Though it's going to be a bit ironic if he stops skydiving to stay safe and then dies because of:

- cancer
- car accident
- commercial airline accident
- heart attack
- ebola
- trips over and bangs his head
- skiing accident
- DIY accident
- murdered
- etc; etc

Not saying you are wrong, but death is waiting for us all. It's going to happen and unfortunately it doesn't care whether you have a family to support.

Non jumper's fear of skydiving is typically irrational based on the perception of danger.

Yes it is dangerous, but so is having a private pilots licence but you don't see many people freaking out over their partner flying every weekend.

Everything we do in life is dangerous - I was on a ladder the other day, lots of people die falling off ladders each year.

***It's just skydiving... That's all. You're doing it for fun. Not to put bread on the table. Not to solve world problems and you know that it's expensive and dangerous.

Ask yourself who's being unfair.... her for not liking you doing it, or you for doing something that's dangerous and expensive while you have a young family to support?


Try explaining to us why putting yourself at risk 2 days a month is justifiable, because if this isn't a friendly audience, I don't know what is!

Is there any room for compromise? If not, what it comes down to is simple - are you going to resent her if you stop jumping because of her? If so, you're probably done. Skydiving is more important than your relationship at this point. (Just remember, most people don't stay for the long-haul... the thousands of jumps, and decades in the sport are the exceptions).

Is she going to resent you if you continue jumping? If so, you're also probably done.


Keeping her amused 2 days a month is easy. Calming the fear that you're going to get badly hurt or die, and leave her with two small kids isn't, because that's a reality.

The sky isn't going anywhere. It'll still be there when the kids are older and more settled.

Personally, I'd step away from it for a while and find something else for a bit.

This is exactly what I think!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27588210

I struggle with the idea that I could die falling off a ladder or in my car, but yet these things aren't perceived as high risk. Anyway, we all know that any statistical arguments are flawed and we read into them what we want!

Thank you all for the comments, there's some food for thought buried in there (and no I don't mean me taking up BASE jumping ), especially that the sky will always be there. I know it's true, but I find that line of thought a little depressing as I really don't want to stop jumping again!

The thing that's really hit home after such a long break, is that currency is everything. My wife can't even get her head around the fact that I do more than one jump when I'm at the DZ, and I'm sure she thinks my argument about currency and safety is a bit of a line.

I've really realised this is quite important though. Complacency kills, but I see uncurrency as a big danger too, especially around being under canopy. And not only that, but I need to be current to really progress my skills.

Ah well, lots to consider, but in the meantime I'm praying for good weather on Sunday as I'll be jumping my ass off

Hi all

One of my first posts, but I've been a lurker on the forums for quite a while! I quit skydiving over a decade ago, really due to money and cold english winters...and just ended up moving onto other things, before I even hit a 100 jumps.

Importantly, my previous jumping days were before I met my wife and the kids arrived (2 young daughters). After so many years out, this year found me hankering for the skies again, and I've started jumping
And wow. I love it. I've only been 4 days since June, and got in a few solos and finally a helicopter jump :) This weekend I plan to properly start my FS1, but there's only one problem...my wife is just giving me loads of grief.

She thinks that ;

a. It's dangerous
b. I should be spending time with her and the kids
c. It's expensive
d. I'm going to end up jumping every weekend
e. She doesn't agree with me doing it (see a b c and d).

Sheesh. I don't know what to think, apart from the first three are all true! In truth I debated long and hard about jumping again (should I with a young family etc, am I just being a selfish prick etc), but I'm never going to be a hardcore every-weekend-down-the-dropzone type of guy. She's giving me grief about 1 day every other weekend!

So...is anyone else out there in this same boat? Is there anything you did to help your other half understand? (I don't mean divorce either! ).

Any tips would be appreciated!

Thanks

Stumpy

For me, Skydiving was FANTASTIC as a single guy. Now I have a 6 month old boy, and time with him (and my wife) is waaaay more valuable to me than hanging out at the DZ. That said, if he wants to get in the tunnel and start jumping when he's old enough, I'll likely jump back in with both feet.

I've just returned to jumping after a 13 year layoff. I was in my 20s and single then (only got to 72 jumps before I quit due to funds, UK winter and the fact that I was bored of solos and couldn't afford to do FS1). Now I'm 40, married, and have 2 daughters of 3 and 5 years old...and I've just started jumping again!

I read posts like yours and wonder if I'm just plain mad for coming back!