gingerjo

Jesus Em!!!! Ouch is hardly the word! From the vid it looks like you were very lucky although it probably doesn't feel like it right now Hope that boyfirend of yours is looking after you and bringing you lots of cups of tea thanks for posting as i've learnt a few things i didn't know about dust devils etc...like you say, every day is a school day. and thanks too to billvon for the really clear explanation of dust devils. Is the book you mentioned aimed purely at skydivers or what? I really struggle sometimes with skydiving explanations but i found that one really clear and straightforward and wondered if the rest of his book was just as clear. hey em...maybe you could buy a couple of copies with AU money? worth looking into if it explains things like that so clearly. glad you're kind of ok, sending you lots of love and hugs, heal fast chick sunny blues mama jo xx

i believe they have the super duper fast porter (F-GODZ) there from now until september. we were going to go team training there this weekend and check it out but i've heard they haven't got clearance from air traffic control for the additional height for another two weeks (apparently air traffic control have been snowed under with all the paper work associated with doncaster airport opening). so they are only getting 10,000feet at least for the next couple of weeks anyway.

I first went to the tunnel a few years ago post RAPS (yep some of us still do it that way!) i'd done some WARP stuff but hadn't got my FS1. It made such a difference and have been again since and looking forward to going again in June to Paris (not quite as far to travel as the states). IMO now would be a great time to go as it is easier to learn skills the right way now rather than try to un-learn 'bad' habits later on. The last time i was at the tunnel i was watching guys with over 1000 jumps trying to re-learn how to do turns, unsuprisingly they were really struggling, then us less experienced guys would get in and do it more or less straight off as we hadn't been doing it a different way for hundreds of jumps! One thing I would say though is make sure you have enough time (and cash) to plan lots of jumps when you get back to consolidate what you have learnt in the tunnel and get the most out of all your hard work (also things do feel slightly different in the sky). Also prepare yourself for a potential battering. The best way I can describe my first few minutes in the tunnel is like being a rag doll in a giant washing machine on spin! but you soon get used to it and the improvement in your skills is unbelievable not to mention that it's really good fun. be prepared for hard work though and don't go booking a load of time for your first shot at it as you could end up wasting money as you're too knackered to perform well and learn. Have a fab time though...enjoy!

hey, i have about 150 jumps but like many other people i've spoken to (many girls it has to be said) am not happy under canopy. i don't want to go doing any massive swoops or throw my canopy round the sky but just want to get down to the ground (preferably on the dz) and land safely. i live in the uk and have already attended the chris lynch canopy piloting session which was useful but i feel like i need something more. i was wondering if anyone could recommend any other canopy schools etc. i've been looking at brian vacher's 3 day course out in spain....has anyone been on it? any thougts? i think there are a number of jumpers i know who would love to do something like this to help improve their confidence, knowledge and skill at canopy handling and safe flying/landing so any comments/advice is more than welcome. cheers and sunny blues ginger jo x

hey guys, the bunkhouse at hib is now fully booked for freshers (although there was talk of reducing the number of rooms that some uni's had so that every group could have at least one room as a base). I'm sure hib will open the classrooms for people to crash in too but just a heads up to bring extra bedding/airbeds etc and lots of warm clothes! looks like it's gonna be a good one though with good attendance from all over! see you there x

for portugal try skydive algarve. they take one G92 from hibaldstow in the uk and one from germany and we all get together and jump! fab scenery, cheap flights and car hire, loads of people (including lots of brits) and mega cheap accommodation (22 Euros for an appartment sleeping 4) see http://www.skydiving.co.uk/ for more details

hey, ended up at lillo this summer after skydive spain was closed temporarily by the military. fab dz, really friendly heplful people, good bar, canteen and small pool, wicked swoop pond which makes for some great sites and photo opportunities but make sure you take insect repellent for nights hanging out round the bar. brian vacher canopy school is also a huge bonus and (speaking to people who have gone on it) is well worth it for people with 20 or 2000 jumps! spoken to people who have been there since and the place keeps improving. have a feeling this place is on the up, can see it being the new empuria pretty soon. enjoy!

hey, i also had this problem of having a high max speed (still fairly high), like you i was worried that i wouldn't get the separation i needed at the end of a dive. i summoned up the courage (think i was nervous about having my crap track exposed to the world) and went on a baby tracking dive. we have a couple of guys at our dz who are really good at being the rabbit and after talking to one of them, he gave us a brief of how to go on - awareness of where the others are on the dive, how to control fall rates etc, we went on a mini tracking dive (along with my other team mates) i actually did a lot better than i thought i would, i wasn't that close to the rabbit but i didn't sink out like i thought i would and it was really good to be able to spend some 'quality time' on my tracking instead of just the last few seconds of a four-way. i got the piss ripped out of me for going on a trakcing dive wearing booties but i explained that i was on the dive to improve my tracking for four-way and not to go chasing the rabbit. so go and grab someone experienced in tracking dives, get them to wear a camera if possible and get up there. Good luck and sunny blues

nope, maybe they don't want to scare the freshers off right at the beginning? seems a bit of a shame tho as half the fun of going to bcpa events is coming up with some weird and wonderful costume (by the way, anybody got any ideas for halloween?) will post more details as i get them as the bcpa site is a bit slow sometimes (didn't even have the date and venue confirmed when i checked it)

hey, yep freshers is at hib this year. see below for e-mail from Tim cooke (BCPA Chair). Hib is fully equiped with up to 4 turbine aircraft and the little cherokee (all cleared for students) also canteen, late bar, bunk house, showers etc (although accommodation does get busy at this time of year so best to call ahead and book in advance, failing that the classrooms will probably be open to sleep in for free). to keep up to date with bcpa events, join the discussion list from the website bcpa.org.uk for help, advice and directions either e-mail me back or go to hib website targetsky.demon.co.uk sunny blues jo Good news! We have now secured a dropzone for our first event of the year! We are pleased to annouce that Fresher's will be held at Hibaldstow Airfield on the 13th and 14th November. Many will be arriving early on the Friday night, starting the drinking early...and maybe ready for first lift the next day! Remember t bring your BPA membership etc if your optimistic about the weather and want to jump. Entertainment will be laid on, on the Saturday night (NO FANCY DRESS). In case of bad weather there will be activities organised. More info to follow nearer the time. Tim Cooke BCPA Chair