Hi all, I'm a newbie with only 11 jumps (3 tandem + 7 AFP + 1 high solo), this is my first post, although I've lurked for abt 1 mth. Instruction has so far been like "You must do this. You must do that..." I have never been explicitly told what NOT to do. Except I guess the recommended L-shaped landing pattern implicitly forbids low turns and other risky canopy flying. But beyond complying with the MUST-DO's, is there any thing that we should not do? My fear is that experienced skydivers may forget to mention the should-nots to newbies because of the extent to which skydiving has become internatlized as second nature for them. For example, #1 Is it safe to hold down one or both steering toggles beyond say 20 seconds. (assume you have lots of altitude and clear traffic) Can a canopy ever be irreversibly messed up from some toggle operation? I have read of not getting enough blood to the brain from spinning. Anything else? #2 Is there any body position that a newbie should never assume in freefall? Is there any circumstance when arching will not work to get you stable? I'm also thinking of body positions where the wind might undo container flaps... any such thing? #3 Is there any exit method that shouldn't be attempted? Thanks very much!
