mdrejhon

Just wanted to say.... CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I am halfway through saving for my rig. I would like to make sure I do get some really good canopy instruction after I get my own rig.... I hear really good recommendations for courses such as Scott Miller and Brian Germain. Now, there's an interesting twist, since I am hearing impaired and I don't function too well in a classroom setting without help... Scott Miller: More emphasis on video debriefs Brian Germain: More emphasis in classroom theory etc. By this logic, it would seem a Scott Miller canopy course would be far more effective for me as a deaf individual. However, there's also advantages of going the Brian Germain Way: I purchased the book "The Parachute and Its Pilot" by Brian Germain based on many recommendations and that it was also appropriate for new jumpers as well. So soon, the book will arrive and it would be an excellent supplement to any classroom training I may get in the future. There is also a Brian Germain canopy course coming relatively nearby to Skydive Burnaby (7 hours driving distance) on July 8-10th, but I won't have my own rig by then, so I may have to skip this one since I'd need to rent a car and rent a rig, all big financial drains I'd rather spend towards a rig with the same canopy I'm buying, such as Sabre. (However, if someone from Ottawa is going and can carpool, that could tip the scales in favour of me going....) So I'm wondering if there are any other deaf guys who has taken a canopy course, whose, at which stage of your skydiving career, and how was it? Any other alternatives to a canopy course, too as well? Just keep in mind I'd rather that "femur" not be a verb in my vocabulary I don't want to learn swooping yet (maybe only after several hundred jumps if appropriate), just I would like to take the highly recommended novice piloting instruction that is offered by these canopy courses. (Note: The guys at the dropzone will definitely be a big help as I progress but I'd like to supplement things with these highly recommended canopy courses that so many people recommend.) Important note: I use cued speech instead of ASL. So the easiest interpretor method would be somebody using a laptop, or having one-on-one training, or primarily video-based debriefing

Cessna 182, 206 and Twin Otter so far. I can't wait to try a Casa later this year!

My dropzone told me to flare at person height (about 6 feet) rather than the 10-15 foot height I've been reading somewhere. I think it was because it was the most appropriate flare height for my particular situation and canopy. I only flared high occasionally (About 2 feet too early), and have never flared above 10 feet (yet). It's hard to resist that temptation to flare too early at first. My bigger problem now is resisting the temptation to unbend my knees and reach out for the ground, rather than waiting for the ground to reach me. My landings are much softer if I am mindful of this. Praticing, praticing...

I think spiral turns get more addictive when you're off the student canopy. As long as I stop doing it above 1500-2000ft, the dropzone's happy with me.

You can have my x86 processor when you can pry it from my cold, dead hands. Didn't you hear? Mac can now run on x86 processors now! (The new Mac OS X coming next year runs on Pentiums!)

Generally, I try to aim at +/- 5 years, but realistically, my age range is much wider than that. 18 to 45 depending on looks. (I'm in my 30's.) Personally, I'd rather have somebody intelligent and adventurous who's a young-looking 39, than somebody not too intelligent who's 29. It's all in the package deal...

That's me. I'm kinda of a geek. My website's the proof.

Here are a couple of mine. I thought I should probably introduce my face online here now.

Use that one please, when I have my 100th jump.

During the an Otter boogie weekend, I had a hard time finding coaches to jump with me (I still had some fun solos at higher-than-usual altitudes).... but two weekends later, I got 7 volunteer jumps (coaches and instructors) and did funjumps and training jumps with them. Keep talking to people, keep making friends, stay at the dropzone's own camping site, get to know people... I also heard of a London skydivers group that meet for beer....try that too....funjump with them and learn at the same time...

I'm now flying the size that I want to buy (and it was a size given to me by the instructor when it was time, not one I pleaded for, and I've verified it's a textbook 1:1), so it's a moot point for me... I now have a few options that I will discuss with the dropzone on June 18th then I'll decide whether I want to jump for a new container + used canopies, or go wholly used. (These are the most likely two routes I am going to take) I received excellent arguments for getting a new container, at least.

Never happened with my previous Manta. It didn't mind. (docile student canopy)

Thanks for the correction. I knew an expert jumper would hop in if I said anything incorrect.... Yeah, you're right. That never happened with the earlier Manta, regardless of what I did at play altitude.

Silly game. I got 93. Has anyone beat that?

There's still time for me to do that. I didn't buy the helmet or jumpsuit yet, but I have already bought the altimeter/gloves/goggles. Problem is, I really like the color scheme I want to go for. Interesting that the best canopy pilots have done a thousand jumps on their first container. Hmm. Anyone want to buy my Star Trek DVD collection?

Unless you eat it only once in an entire week, and eat nothing else

A cheetah helmet with furry ears is not out of question. Bonehead does do custom requests... And of course, a furry spotted PC pud ball as the tail tip.

The money matters over the longer term. If I am spending thousands on a new rig, I'd want the rig to last 5 years at least. But I have a suspicion it is not going to, at 100-150 jumps per year... Basically 500-750 jumps for the lifetime of this rig.

I learned something very educational in a dramatic way... When the dropzone put me off a student canopy (Manta) and onto a novice canopy (Sabre), and I opened higher at 4000 to test it out, I attempted a test hard turn at 3000 feet sometime after controllability check, wind direction and flare tests. Ooops! One 360 degree spin and line twists. Kicked out of it fine though, and I was at 3000 feet. (I opened high which gave me plenty of time to play) Never again I'll just pull a toggle like that. I was warned to be gentle with it, but I didn't even think I jabbed it....It was just twitchy compared to the Manta. ALWAYS gradual motion, I learned, when starting a spiral... You can linetwist a canopy just by toggle turns alone if you're too aggressive!! So from now on, I always start my 3000 feet->2000 feet "fun spirals" by gradually pulling down the toggle very slowly as the G-forces build up a bit... and stop by letting up very slowly when it feels too scary. Don't do spirals before your instructor says it's okay to do so. I had the airspace all to myself and everyone else was almost landed by now, but your dropzone may not allow it. (Don't worry... at 1000ft it's always the traditional approach pattern and my landings were standup that weekend, a couple of minor 1-foot-early flare mistakes but still softer landings than the Manta... so my praticing up high REALLY paid off. On a canopy change, always a good idea to pull high like 4000 and notify the dropzone & load about this in advance...) I don't want to be a 100 jump wonder... no way... but please don't make the mistake I did... This is simply extenuating circumstances of the "please don't make my mistake" so I am posting anyway. Be gentle with that canopy after your first downsize from student canopy to novice canopy. (And even on your first canopy. And subsequent. But you develop habits on your first canopy that needs to be modified for the next canopy. I knew that, but I got unexpected linetwists!). And always... listen, listen, listen to your dropzone!

My colored altimeter is on its way, and soon there'll be a colored bonehead and then either a bev/tony suit in the same color scheme. I am thinking of buying my first rig used. (Dropzone has greenlighted the 190 sq ft size for me... Sabre1. that's what I am jumping now. So I have been shopping around for anything novice friendly that'll still be fun after 200 jumps is good, once I've cleared it with the DZ) However, at the same time I'm tempted to buy a custom made container just to match the color scheme. The extra price wouldn't be so much a problem as the fact that I'll have to kick it out of the door if I get bored of the same rig after 400 jumps...need new canopies and new container...and go through the same expensive cycle too soon! Does any skydiver buy custom made rigs new ... and jump their first "new" rig for many years? Or just buy a used rig for now, and jump to a "new" rig after a few years when they've stabilized to packvolume they'll be sticking with for a long time? If I buy used, the rig will clash with my nifty color scheme I have in mind. I'm debating my options.... options.... options.... Hmmm.... Tough choices...

Reposted in this thread, as the other one is locked due to other members. This post is on-topic ("giving good vibes") so I am reposting here That was my best guess.... :( Regardless... don't sell yet. Write down a reminder for August or September "SELL RIG" on a calendar date two or three months from now. Keep an eraser handy. Put the rig away in the closet. Lock the door. Enjoy time with your kids. Soothe the nerves of your hubby. Reflect on your own mistakes. Spread the blame sparingly (take a little blame for yourself and a little blame for an inadequate FJC). Life is valuable. You may wish to revisit skydiving once you're ready. If you eventually decide to jump.... I don't think you'll ever forget to flare again. I hope! Pain has often been the best teacher. Retaking the FJC may be a good idea too. Fun tip.... While you're on the ground and undecided about quitting, get a highly recommended book "Parachuting: The Skydiver's Handbook". This will compensate partially any half-assed FJC or excellently supplement a superb FJC. It really helped me because I already roughly knew what "landing pattern" and "flare" meant before my progressive freefall training, and it helped me ask a few more questions about things. Definitely read entire book cover to cover.

That was my best guess.... :( Regardless... don't sell yet. Write down a reminder for August or September "SELL RIG" on a calendar date two or three months from now. Keep an eraser handy. Put the rig away in the closet. Lock the door. Enjoy time with your kids. Soothe the nerves of your hubby. Reflect on your own mistakes. Spread the blame sparingly (take a little blame for yourself and a little blame for an inadequate FJC). Life is valuable. You may wish to revisit skydiving once you're ready. If you eventually decide to jump.... I don't think you'll ever forget to flare again. I hope! Pain has often been the best teacher. Retaking the FJC may be a good idea too. Fun tip.... While you're on the ground and undecided about quitting, get a highly recommended book "Parachuting: The Skydiver's Handbook". This will compensate partially any half-assed FJC or excellently supplement a superb FJC. It really helped me because I already roughly knew what "landing pattern" and "flare" meant before my progressive freefall training, and it helped me ask a few more questions about things. Definitely read entire book cover to cover.

That's totally and completely ridiculous. If that is the way you are treated in life, then you need to change your behavior. But.... What about compounding it with her being the wife of a jumper? I know people who are nervous of giving aggressive coaching/instruction to the wife of a friend that plays in the same sport. (regardless of which sport -- not just skydiving!) Especially when it comes to the more introverted individuals. It's an unfortunate thing....but it seems to happen sometimes. Didn't know it happened in skydiving too :(

Just my name. mdrejhon = Mark D. Rejhon I'm wondering if I should have chosen a more interesting name