Stevetaylor

I actually "like" sitting at the door. Chuging along at flight speed wtih one leg dangling out the door is quite liberating. My only problem was falling "off" the plane. I was the first out in an 8-way. I reached out to grab the bar and hold till the rest of the group was in place. (4 out the door and 4 just inside). Of course, I slipped my grip and the wind blew me from the plane. I remember falling back-to-earth, watching the others looking down at if to say "WTF". My wife happend to be at the DZ that day (not a jumper). I pulled high (about 6k) so that I could make it back to the DZ. The others in the group walked by my wife and said "Well, we lost him...", and kept on walking. Needless to say, my wife was not very happy as I landed a few minutes later and walked sheepishly into the hanger. Oh well, it was a fun learning jump.... (g) Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Just a few cents worth from a hopelessly flailing newbie who started jumping on the older side of 40. (g) My first solo after AFF was a hop n pop. It was a bit unnerving exiting the plane at the point I was used to deploying (4500'). I was in such a rush to get nylon overhead...well let's just say that it wasn't the prettiest jump in history. I started going head down a bit on exit (early exit stability problems still lurking around). Had I waited 3-5 seconds, I would have been fine. But... rached back and grabbed the pilot and deployed. Er...forgot to bring my left hand in for stability, so As I deployed I flipped over onto my back. It's quite unnerving to see the lines going out in front of you (back to earth), and away past your legs (45 deg head down). As I saw the lines reach stretch, I though to my self "Shit! This is gonna hurt". I was flipped onto by belly again, and had a rather "crisp" swing upder canopy. Given the "position" that I deployed in , no wonder there were line twists. But was able to kick out of them without too much problem. But on my first solo, seeing the line twists, my first thought was "where the hell is my cutaway handle"... My second thought was my instructor telling me that "line twists are really just a nusiance that you can get out of", especially jumping a 260 canopy at about a 0.7:1 loading... The experienced jumper who was sitting next to me and watched by fiasco just shook his head and smiled at me on the ground. But in the essence that even the worst fuck-up while jumping still has lessons to be learned, one of the packers told me "See, even when in less than perfect position, the canopy still 'wants' to deploy". Oh, and still flared too high and too hard... but got some practice on my PLF (grin). I did so many of those that one instructor actually wanted to video me "landing" to show students how a PLF in done. Somewhat of a left-handed compliment. Other than sharing my first jump off of AFF, any "advice" that I could give would be inappropriate, foolhardy, or downright dangerous coming from someone who had had 50 jumps in 2 years. Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Looking forward to that skills camp! What a great opportunity for a newbie like me to get to work with such nationally-know jumpers. Its; like a little-leaguer working with the Yankees (or fill in your favorite team) starting lineup! Only hope that I don´t make a fool of myself by funneling the exit or crashing into them... (grin) Counting the days... Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

> OK, silly newbie question here. What is the advantage of doing the demo jumps as Hop & Pops? Is it so that one can concentrate on the canopy handling rather than the freefall? And if so, would it not be better to jump from a normal altitude and pull higher (i.e. 7-8k) so as to get more time to evaluate the canopy up high? Thanks, Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

I'm edging up there myself (27 jumps) and still have several items to complete. I think one more coaching jump, having a packer supervise my first pack job and jump it, the test and then the checkout dive... As for why it would take so long...in my case I wasn't very good with my stability after AFF, so I did a few solo dives just to work on that, turns, flips, etc. Did poorly on the last two required coach jumps, and retook them. Got into trouble in changing winds (mis read the strength and direction totally), and nearly landed off-field in the trees. Retook the ground school class, and did a few more solos to get over my shaken nerves (and ego). Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

I've managed to "finally" keep that adage in my head. Was a bit windy at the DZ today, but we weren't on a hold for A licenses (yet). I'm really itching to do my last coach jump and be ready for my A license checkout dive. I was all set to go, and we were just over the 20 minute call, when I took a long hard look at the conditions. Between the wind, the gusts, and that the wind was moving around more than I was comfortable with, I took a third look at the situation. I was going to be doing a tracking dive, and realized that there was a good possibility of getting to an opening spot that my abilities (or lack thereof) would not let me make it back to the DZ, risking an off landing. All things considered, and that I had nearly landed in trees a few weeks back because of winds and stupidity, I tucked my tail between my legs and drove home without jumping. Still believe that I made the right choice, and didn't want to have another entry for "stupid things I've done", but I'm starting to wonder if I'll "ever" finish my A license... Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

OK, I'll add my stupid thing here that I just just about 2 hours ago. Jump #24, just doing some relax jumps until an instructor was available for the last two coach jumps. Winds at takeoff were out of the south at about 8. While in the air, the ground winds picked up, and were now about 15-18 on the ground as I set up my pattern. FU #1- Didn't look at the wind sock to see if the winds had increased, just assumed that they were the same as when we took off. FU #2- Was watching the landing patterns that other jumpers were taking, and assumed that I could take the same track. Never mind that the two I was following had more experience, different gear that my 260' mushroom, and WAY better piloting skills that I do. FU #3- Went WAY to wide on the downwind leg, as well as too long. So when I turned onto the base (west) leg, I was both wide (east) and long (north). Not a good situation for a newbie flying around with his thumb up his butt... So here I am, under 1000' and over areas I do not want to land on. At 200' I was over trees, but at least facing into the DZ. I cleared the edge of the tree margin by about 30', and ran smack into turbulence that bounced me around. I pullled into 1/4 brakes to absorb the turbulance, as well as extend my glide. I saw my landing area was going to be a small patch of gravel and weeds adjacent to the DZ, with a paved road on one side and some iron roof trusses under tarps to the other. The space I had to set down in was perhaps 80' wide from the road to the tarps. I let up on the brakes at about 75' to get some forward speed. At about 40' got bounced to the right by some rather hostile air, and corrected with a wee bit of left toggle to stay away from the iron trusses. On the good side, I flared well and did an excellent PLF, and walked away from this fiasco. Got a well deserved lecture from some of the staff onsite, reminding me to stay within the boundaries of the LZ when under 1000'. Shortly thereafter, the DZ restricted jumps to those with A licenses or above, which left myself and several other students sitting. Not sure if the restriction would have happened anyway, or if my actions caused the restriction, but I would not be at all suprised if the student groundings were a result of me (and certainly warrented). Feeling rather dejected and stupid today, and having second thoughts about skydiving. Not that I love it any less, or that I'm embarressed out of the sport, but I don't want to hurt anyone else or cause the DZ (and skydiving in general) to have negative press because of my actions. At the very least, I'm thinking of sitting through the ground school course again, and then taking the canopy control program the DZ has to offer. Although I'm at 24 jumps, I'm nowhere near ready to be licensed.... No blue skies for me....just sitting in the blues... Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Hi All, Jumped yesterday with a wee bit of a headcold. No major symptoms, but it's hard to be a pediatric ER nurse and not have a case of the sniffles. So I took some sudafed and a bit of Afrin before I went...cleared things up nicely. Anyway, after my second jump, I felt some pressure in my right ear, and tried to equalize with a nose pinch and blow. Felt a rush of air equqlizing the ear, and then "WOW", I got really dizzy. I assume that I kicked the semicircular canals in the ear around a bit. Needless to say, that was my last jump that day. I didn't need a bout of vertigo as I was staring to flare on the next jump. Lesson learned.... Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Need I say it??? Post Pics !!!!! Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

IMHO, talk with your doc and physical terrorist. Each person is an individual, and the varied factors make every situation unique. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. Cyber-advice regarding healthcare is a recipie for disaster. Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Hehehe...thanks for sharing. OK, here's my contribution from my "long" career of diving (15 jumps)... Low solo...scared as all get out, even though the exit was from 6k (not really low, I know). But looking at the ground from the plane at a level that I wasused to pulling from, the sphincter-scale was pretty high, as my stability on exit wasn't the greatest. So I exited, and promptly veered to the left and went a bout 30 degrees head down. I just wanted to get some damn nylon overhead, so I reached back and grabbed the handle. Silly me, I didn't bring my left hand in to compensate, so as I pulled I went into a roll to the left. So here I was, head down, looking up at the sky, and seeing the line stows deploying in front of me. I thought to myself, as the chute came out of the bag (and me watching it do so), Damn, this is gonna hurt. It actually did't hurt too bad, but flipped me up and over rather violently, and the resulting riser strike to the helmet (thank the gods for that), ripped the (new) Dytter off and into the sunlight. (Damn) So the lessons learned was to trust the training, get better at stability on exit (which I have), and that the parachute really does want to open...

Egads! (Ok, pick jaw up off floor, Steve..) Rookie jumper here (all of 13 jumps), but I'm a bit of an expert with regards to healthcare (15 years ER/Trauma nurse). I'm very glad that your teammate was back jumping after 6 weeks, but each person (and therefore their healing process) is an individual. Le the doc (who has actually seen the person and their leg, make the call on when to put weight on the leg, when to get off pain meds, etc. Being on pain meds will allow the person to function a little more comfortably, but nothing short of IV dilaudid will allow someone to push a broken femur to the point of causing damage. The body's pain tolerance is a great indicator of just how far to push it. (Ok, getting off soapox/nurse mode here...) On the good side, I'm getting off work early tomorow to get in 4 or 5 jumps. (Yayyyyyy) Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Reminds me of a line from that really bad movie "Armageddon". As they are getting ready to launch the space shuttle, one oil rigger said "Its like 90% fear and 10% excitement; or maybe its 90% excitement and 10% fear. That's what makes it so intense". The only good part of that movie... Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Ohhhhh...I love that quote!

"may not" = "don't do it", IMHO Steve I know our English languages have diverged, but I think you're kidding yourself here just because it used the word 'may' instead of 'must.' The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein