Jeth

Hi Tigra, I have a PD 9-Cell. Its got 82 jumps on it, still feels very new. (But not as slick as soarfree's new Sabre2, thankfully! ) Ya, I would really like to do it with a packer there. After I closed it I was wondering if it was flyable or not. (I had my doubts. ) I know I'll get it eventually. And I really want to do it for myself, so I'm trying to practice now, before the season starts. But I will definitely have several supervised pack jobs at the DZ, too. I do have that video! I've watched it several times already.

Yup, as darrenspooner said - us "poor, poor newbies". But we'll get it eventually!

AJ didn't pack cause she knows how much i love packing for her.

Thanks, guys!

Skymom, Welcome to this sport we love!

Ok, I just spent the last 2 and a half hours trying to pack. The operative word is "trying". I think I packed a line-over, the bag barely closed and theres fabric hanging out. And I think I mis-routed the bridle and closed the flaps in the wrong order. AAAAAARRRRGGGGGG!!!!!! I really hope its true that it gets easier. This is only my 3rd attempt. But I have all these lofty aspirations of packing for myself this season. At this rate, thats never gonna happen!! Is the bag supposed to close completely, so the flap is touching the ends on the sides of the bag? In my pack job the bands are stretched way tight and theres canopy coming out between each of them. Definitely not pretty! But I can't imagine getting that bundle small enough to completely fit in the bag. I was freakin tired on this one so I just had to get the damn thing closed for now. Well, guess I'll give it another try tomorrow. p.s. Ok, AJ, I get it. Now I know why you didn't pack your rig last season! (But we'll get it eventually, right!

Thanks, Tom! Thats just the answer I was looking for!

Thanks for the info, this is great to hear!

Hey there, I was just wondering about these snowboarding helmets I found. They are so much cheaper than skydiving helmets, and look a lot cooler than a pro-tec. Does anyone know if these would be alright for skydiving? They have padding, a chin strap, and go down over the ears. I will attach a picture of one. Also, obviously they don't have a spot for an audible, but is there a way I could put one in it? Thanks. "At 13,000 feet nothing else matters." PFRX!!!!! Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109 My Jump Site

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

I wish! Gotta graduate AFP first... Only 70 days!

Ya, I've got this. Stretching really helps. Also I visit a Chiropractor and she does adjustments plus more stretches which makes a big difference. I haven't needed to take any drugs for it yet. As long as I'm limber it doesn't flare up. If I sit too long or get really stiff thats when the pain comes back. (But then an adjustment takes the pain away enough where I can handle it) Good luck! I'm trying to get myself all limber and healthy for the season, too!

Yippee!!! I finally got it!!!! My first rig!!

Me, Me, Me!!

This is a very wonderful offer! I donated $50 yesterday to the international red cross tsunami fund. I'm sending you a PM... I agree that as the richest nation we need to share. This disaster made me realize that for the first time. But I also agree that there is a lot of money pouring in, and these victims need so much more than money right now. I hope that the relief organizations can moblize and organize all the logistics to put these financial donations to immediate use. Thank you, Kev, for your generous offer to match. God bless and protect all the pour souls effected by this unimaginable tragedy. And may all the dead rest in peace... "At 13,000 feet nothing else matters." PFRX!!!!! Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109 My Jump Site

About $1500. Thats presents for myself and my hubby, plus family and friends. Also the rent on the cabin we stayed in over the holiday. I always say we're going to cut back on Xmas spending, but then we never do. Oh well, I love giving gifts. Its great when I can find something that someone loves but wasn't expecting.

My whuffo husband is so sweet! He got me.... a hook knife "I love the smell of jet fuel" t-shirt a closing pin necklace (with custom bead colors to match my new rig!

Yup, I am definitely going to make sure my instructors include the canopy skills that are in the syllabus on all my future plan/debrief's. I will also be taking a canopy course whenever its available after I graduate. Canopy skills are what will allow me to complete my fantastic skydive with a safe landing, to me thats the most important thing! I still have difficulties planning the approach, I can never tell where on the ground I'm gonna end up. *sigh*, I guess it just takes practice. I will look into those other sources of written info. Thanx.

Yes, Yes!! I was never taught how to PLF. (It wasn't even mentioned!) Also, it didn't come naturally to me as it did for others. So I always butt-slid my landings. But then on #10, I was coming in very fast and hard. I knew I didn't want to land on my butt at that speed, but I didn't know what to do. I was having an "oh shit moment". I basically did a face-plant, with my legs twisted around. That resulted in an injury to my MCL which has kept me grounded for 3 months. I have now made it my mission to learn the PLF and practice, practice, practice so it becomes second nature. I am not happy with the fact that my school is only concerned with teaching FF skills and they don't even mention the landing or canopy skills. But it is my responsibility to keep myself from getting injured again so I will learn it myself. (With help from my friends.

I will definitely be wearing a brace when I come back! I rolled my ankle in August. It wasn't horrible, I didn't break it and could still walk. But it has never fully recovered. Even now there is slight pain sometimes. Especially if I move it the way I hurt it. Then in September I sprained my MCL pretty bad. I was on crutches, couldn't move my knee, and thought for sure I would need surgery. Thank god I didn't. But it took 2 months of PT before I was back to normal activity. Now it has been over 3 months and I am still not 100%. It definitely feels better with regular exercise. I highly recommend getting PT for any ligament injury and keep doing the exercises! Since my DZ is closed now, I have another 3 months for rehab. I hope by then I am pain-free. But even if I am, I will definitely be wearing something on my ankle and my knee. My doc and PT said that once you have an injury like that, the ligament never returns to normal. So you build up the muscles around the area to make them stronger, and try not to injure it again! Good luck with your recovery! Hope you're back in the sky soon!

I agree. It was a great show, but Bill Coe was pretty bland. The host was a fun guy. Bill Booth did a great demo of how a canopy opens. I have it in my Tivo, I will try to upload it at some point. "At 13,000 feet nothing else matters." PFRX!!!!! Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109 My Jump Site

Wow, Dennis, way to stick it out! I hope you can do AFF and get back in the sky! I injured my MCL on jump 10 with a bad landing (I should've PLF'd). Best of luck with AFF! Stay safe!

Yippee!! It's gonna be so much fun!!

Yea!!