dguy

I am feeling rather down at the moment, let me explain why. I first became interested in skydiving in 1999, we gave our son his first jump in February of that year for his 18th. I did my first static line jump in September 1999, by December I had reached freefall, but suffered an entanglement on Jump Number 7 (dislocated knee, severed ACL, damaged PCL, MCL etc etc) Since then various events have prevented me continuing my skydiving dream - (detached retina, redundancy), but at the beginning of this year everything looked good so I booked an AFF course at FFU Lillo, Spain for the first two weeks in June. Then a few days ago my dream was totally shattered!! Following a routine checkup, I have been diagnosed with an enlarged aorta and the British Parachute Association medical adviser has said that I should NEVER skydive. Static line jumps would probably be OK, but freefall is definitely NOT. I understand the reasons behind the BPA MA decision, but it still hurts to be told you can't do something that you've dreamed about for 6 years. I'm still thinking about what to do; I'll probably do some static-line jumps, and just be a permanent student, or perhaps have a go at something different - paragliding perhaps. Is there anyone out there in a similar situation as myself - i.e. only allowed to do static line jumps? Blue Skies "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

Congrats on fulfilling your dreams and aspirations. I am feeling rather down at the moment and was going to post a new thread, but having read yours I thought I'd post a reply instead. I first became interested in skydiving in 1999, we gave our son his first jump in February of that year for his 18th. I did my first jump in September, by December I had reached freefall, but suffered an entanglement on Jump Number 7 (dislocated knee, severed ACL, damaged PCL, MCL etc etc) Since then various things have prevented me continuing my skydiving dream - (detached retina, redundancy), but earlier this year everything looked good so I booked an AFF course in Spain for the first to weeks in June. Then a few days ago my dream was totally shattered, following a routine checkup, I have been diagnosed with an enlarged aorta and the British Parachute Association medical adviser has said that I should never skydive, however static line would probably be OK. I understand the reasons behind the BPA MA decision, but it still hurts to be told you can't do something that you've dreamed about for 6 years. I'm still thinking about what to do; I'll probably do some static-line jumps, and just be a permanent student, or perhaps have a go at something different - paragliding perhaps. Blue Skies "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

The UK weather isn't very reliable, you could take a week off and not jump at all. Thats why I've booked to go with Freefall University, based at Lillo in Spain. They seem to get excellent reports and recommendations. Good value for money. Flights are cheap from Gatwick, I got mine with EasyJet for £40 return. "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

Yes of course it is!!!! And if they all belch at the same time they'll take off again. "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

I've just booked to do my AFF with Freefall University at Lillo. I did quite a bit of investigating before making my choice. I havn't found any bad points about the FFU at Lillo, it seems to be highly respected by a lot of people. Their website is http://www.freefalluniversity.co.uk/index.asp "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

It may help your cause if you complete your profile. Not sure this post should be in this forum, moderator will probably move it.

Try Symbiosis Suits based at Headcorn, Kent. http://www.symbiosis.suits.btinternet.co.uk/ "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

Isn't that why semen's white and urine's yellow? "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

Sorry Justin, I was being facetious! My son uses a pro-tec, it was easy to fit his pro-dytter, and as you say they are cheap(ish). As a point of interest how much is a pro-tec in the States. Over here we pay just under £40 ($70)

Anything is cooler than a pro-tec! I'll be interested to see what comments you receive, I've always thought skiing/snowboarding helmets would be more than adequate. "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

Hi Liam, Careful what you say on here! Your dad might be looking! "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

Congratulations on your Licence!!!! I'm averaging 1 every TWO jumps, but thats another story................

My point exactly!

IMO no! What I was trying to say was that surely it is better to have a reserve that flies slow and responds well so that you can land it where you want without harming yourself. I'm sorry if I didn't put my point over very well, as you can see from my profile my only experience is 8 jumps on 280 square foot student canopies.

As a student, am I missing something here? I thought a reserve was something you hope you never have to use, and if you do, does it matter that it flies like a Manta? Surely, reaching "terra firma" safe and sound is the important thing? "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

QuoteThat 'Click me' thingy is NOT funny dude

It is better to have a good look through the forums before posting. Have a look at this thread: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1384544 "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

Thanks everyone for the recommendations, it certainly seems FFU @ Lillo is the place to go. Blue Skies Dennis "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

I am considering doing my AFF with Freefall University, Lillo, Spain. Any comments from recent students would be most welcome. "Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

Thanks for the welcome, hopefully do AFF June 2005 (if finances permit!!)

Hi, just discovered dropzone.com, so thought I'd introduce myself. Did my first RAPS jump back in 1999, progressed well - 1st Freefall on Jump 6, then disaster struck on Jump 7 - deployed on my back which resulted in left leg caught in front & rear risers and being pulled up my back. With the words of my instructor "if you get an entanglement don't cut-away" going through my mind I just pulled on my leg as hard as I could - I managed to free myself by 1800' but had severely injured my knee in the process (Snapped ACL, rupture PCL & MCL). I got back in the air in 2003 and did 1 static line descent, the next six visits to the DZ resulted in no jumps because of the naff UK weather, needless to say I got a little despondent. I've now decided that if I'm ever going to succeed (before I'm to old) I need to go somewhere warm to do AFF - probably Freefall University at Lillo, Spain. Thats enough about me! Blue Skies Dennis