phonics1981

Really? I didnt know that! Learn something new every day! ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

8!? I didnt know that was legal? ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

The pain I went through during AFF was BAD! I used to have big black bruises around my groin from opening shock, big bruises on the front of my shoulders from opening shock and a stiff stiff back probably from opening shock! It does get better. ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

I often get the feeling that ive forgot something as I approach the door! For some reason it feels as though my hands should have something in them! ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

I doubt very much that that nugget Lutz was trained (in error) to pull his cutaway rather than his main and to wrestle to JM who was trying to guide his hand to the ripcord. Thats pure stupidity. ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Thats exactly what I was trying to get at! Youve had a tame mal and got through it fine. Now you feel more confident about it. Thats all I was saying in the beginning, maybe I worded it wrongly? Beleive me I practice my reserve drills all the time and dont ever go to the DZ with a negative attitude. It was when I was sitting at home last night reading the post about 1000's of jumps and no cutaways when I thought about it, not at the DZ!! I hope I havent came across as an accident waiting to happen. I merely wanted to know exactly what Peej has told me! ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Thats probably a good idea, cheers I'm not looking to unneccisarily endanger myself, I know its sill WANTING to use my last chance, I'm merely stating that it would be a good learning experience so maybe trying it with 3 canopy is the best way to go about it. Thanks for all your input. ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

I think youve overlooked my point. I'm as safe as I possibly can be. I totally agree with everything youve said but at the same time mals happen to people who are safe and aware and those that mals HAVE happened to wouldnt call themselves unsafe. All i'm saying is that on average mals do happen to the majority after a lot of jumps and IMO i'd rather KNOW i can deal with it rather than hope I can. Please dont think i'm tempting fate or going into anything with an "attitude". I'm simply sayin knowing is better than not knowing. And maybe me comparing a rig to a car was not the best comparison but all i was trying to get across is that anything mechanical can malfunction regardless or preparation. I dont think that people who have mals are unsafe or unprepared (in most instances) and I doubt they do either. ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Yeah I see your point. I was picturing the skydiver going stand up while deploying. But me personally would hope to be flat on deployment of anything. I ALWAYS twist my body slightly on opening to get some air into the potential burble. ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

And also, do these people with loads of jumps and no cutaways become complacent? Do they think that "I plan to perfection everytime"? After 1000+ jumps and no cutaways most people would probably become TOO confident with their attention to awareness and detail. On the other hand, those with 1000+ jumps could think on every jump, "i'm due a mal" so could be more aware. ? ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

I totally agree with you saying that people who last a long time without a mal have awareness in the sport. But the same people who have this awareness may well have a mal tomorrow. Although planning and awareness can stop most mals, a canopy is a mechanical object and as such, will be open to a malfunction regardless of the planning. A car is designed not to fuck up, but they do. ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

I'm just wondering about peoples views on cutaways, particularly newbies. Ive got 17 jumps (1 away from Cat 8!) and was reading a post about how people have 1000's of jumps and no cutaways and got me thinking that i'd prefer a malfunction soon. Not a horseshoe or anything complicated but maybe a lineover or something. At the moment Ive got the thought in my head saying "can i handle a mal?". I dont really want to have this thought in my head for 1000 jumps. I would prefer the piece of mind gained from KNOWING i can handle a mal. I'm pretty sure I could handle a mal as i think ive been trained well enough to remain calm and go through the drills and come out of it ok but without having gone through them for real the thought is always in the back of my mind. Obviously id prefer to go through my jumping career without a mal or cutaway but chances are that it IS going to happen so i'd feel happier knowing soon that I can handle it. What do you think? ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Some politically correct terms arent THAT correct are they?! ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Maybe im misunderstanding but how would it be better to pull your reserve "head High" rather than belly to earth?? ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

My thoughts exactly!! ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

My heart bleeds! I dream about being able to afford to be on back to back loads all day! ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Is the 9th edition available now? ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Where did you get it? ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Ive only done five of em 1,5,6,15 and 27 ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Richard is George that lass who wears a blue jumpsuit? ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

I believe ya. Even more so after seeing Lutz try to deploy his main by using the Cutaway pad!! ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Sorry, i'm new to packing but arent the brakes set during packing? ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Yes mate it was I was referring to your earlier post when you were debating whether or not to convert and you didnt know what to do. Everyone advised you to go for it. You did, and you got a mal. Just bad luck! ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

This actually happens? Its not hard to just let go At my DZ all the AFF rigs are BOC Rip Cord so conversion is normally simple. Learning to let go isnt hard. Also, I only really relied on muscle memory when pulling during my first few jums. Now it is a concious effort. ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------

Well done mate! ------------------------------------------------------ "Ive given up on sigs cos I make a mess of them!" ------------------------------------------------------