nightjumps

Hey drunken lady, You need to clean this or contact the manufacturer and get it replaced.

One gauge for future reference is to maintain your eyes at approximately 45 degrees to the line of flight. Many new skydivers have a tendency to look at the ground as they get closer to it, follow it till its between their feet and get target fixation. As they fly over it, they think, "I'm there' and flare. Keep your eyes fixed on the angle and not the ground. Then when you've reached the appropriate height, the key is to meet your toggle down presure with the rate of speed that the ground is coming up. If the ground is coming up slowly, pull your toggles down slowly; if its coming up fast, then match the faster rate equally.

Well, let's just say the primary staff at ANY of the Texas DZs are gonna be badass.

I've never had a reserve ride either.Hoping to make it to 2,000 without one.

I think three years of "time in sport" should be the criteria for ANY Instructor rating.

It had already been mentioned by Jimbo, so I assumed it would be rolled up in the information-gathering which may have been a mistake on my part.

1. Are the stows symettrical, 2. Are the bands the same tightness. 3. Are the risers even when placed in the main pack tray. 4. Is the suspension line slack tucked at the bottom of the reserve tray or is it at a 45 degree angle down from the reserve tray sides into the pack tray. 5. Are you a) placing your D bag in the container and rolling it so the suspension lines are towrds the bottom of the pack tray, or are you b) placing the D bag straight up and down (where the suspension lines would be at your back while wearing the rig). In either case, are the line stows a little too long so that they are catching the corners of the main pack tray upon exit?

6'6" 240# Hence...

Perhaps you will from now on. Maybe this was someone's way of giving you a little anxiety. Having said that, at some point everyone has a low pull wake up call in the first couple of hundred jumps. Rather than focusing on what you did wrong, just file it in your "Lessons Learned" folder and ensure it doesn't happen in the future. As long as you're in skydiving, you're going to continue building a knowledge base of these kinds of things. It'll be even better when you begin filing "Lessons Learned" based on other people's mistakes. Hopefully someone filed yours away in theirs.

If you are looking at it as a hobby, then all you'll need is your Private Pilot's License, about a month of time, 40 hours of flying time and about $2,500.00. As with skydiving, you'll need to decide whether you're going to rent or buy. Renting ain't cheap ~$50-70.00/hr. If you're looking at it as a way to fly skydiver's and have other things to do while hanging out at the DZ, don't waste your money or your time. There is a big difference between coming to the dz as a recreational skydiver and working at one.

PM Sent

Well, what I do know is if I need parts or equipment I call Bill, if I need to renew my rating or other administrative "stuff," I contact Jesse.

Me too. I was under the impression that SMB had purchased the Stunts Eclipse and was producing about 25 Eclipse rigs per year for explicit use. It would appear they rotate their stock annually as I get a picture and listing of what is for sale.

I checked with an attorney (well, a couple actually) and in Oklahoma a parent cannot sign away a child's rights. They can buy them a brand new shiny corvette at 16, but they cannot sign away their right to sue.

I just sent mine back in. Toned fine at 1000', varying tones on the way down, sometimes no tone at all. Replaced batteries twice thru the day to no avail. My favorite was the jump where it logged my exit at 13,500' but according to the ProTrack, I never deployed. Whew. glad I didn't know that, I mighta got scared.

Another scenario might be like mine where I actually started jumping for the military in 1980, started skydiving in 1981-1990 and tthen took a nine year break for college and such. So while I started jumping 23 years ago, I only count the actual years "In the sport."

MSW PNC TPP VAST

You've hit "The Wall." At some point, most skydivers somewhere between getting off student status and 75 jumps hit it. The "Wall" is the sudden collision between perceptual filters and reality. How much of your first dive did you really remember without coaxing from your instructors. What happens when the adrenaline kicks in is; your perceptual filters give you tunnel vision. You remember the exit, a couple of things, the opening and perhaps the landing, but very few remember every second of the dive. Factor in all the learning you've been doing regarding equipment, incidents, what not to do, etc. and after awhile it all sinks in - in one great big moment; about what you're doing, all the possible variables of what can or may go wrong and Wham, you hit the wall. For most, it is an individual choice. Some choose to push past it, others choose to feel "lucky" and walk away. For those who wish to push past it, my suggestion has been to make 10 more skydives that are "all about me dives." No complexity, no RW or a simple 2-way with one or two points, Hop N Pops if you choose, leave last, open high, enjoy the canopy ride, etc. Do whatever it is YOU want for the next few dives. IF you're jumping with a Coach, just tell them, I'd only like to do one of the learning objectives for this dive and then just hang out till pull time. Don't get pushed into anything you don't want to do. If someone presses, simply tell them, "This is an all about me dive." Most skydivers will understand what that means and leave you alone. If you choose to push past it, I wish you the best of luck. And for those who are telling you that this is the most dangerous phase, they are mistaken.

Each year I develop a list of skydiving goals and sub-goals (If I don't or can't achieve a goal, I have another as backup). How anal is that?

You could always write some code that only allows you access for 30 minutes in the morning and evening. Maybe you could do that for all of us.

Oh, please don't get me wrong. I wasn't trying to invalidate your agreement. I think any written instrument of understanding and a signature is better than nothing. Just sharing that my version is a little bit harsher. I take pictures of everything, send it to a DZ/Rigger only for inspection, they're welcome to jump it if they choose, just understand you burn it in any way... you've bought it. (now, I'm not gonna get pissy over a grass stain or something, but like tears, poor pack job that requires a reserve ride that you get to pay for....them kind a things).

Hence, my suggestion for the Incident's Form. Imagine the data that could be compiled.

I would not allow any damages to be repaired, but revise it to say that it will be placed back to its original state or replaced. Let's say you send someone a one-year-old H/C or canopy. It's immaculate. They put a tear on the H/C or canopy. You want a $30.00 patch put on it? How much will that devalue that component and/or cause you to miss another selling opportunity. You want to spend time arguing over value (your difference clause). Not me - skydiver rules... Short & sweet - You burn it, you've bought it.

Didn't both categories get wealthy by taking money, rather than managing it? Neither.

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/arjobs/bl92r.htm Magical things can be done with a waiver.