sraja

I can admit that at one point of time (not long ago) I was one of those guys who would not jump in no wind conditions. I can relate very well to the article. I know of several jumpers who are very cautious about jumping in no wind conditions. I have improved my landing capabilities over time to adjust and even enjoy no wind days but the fear I once had of the speed on final is very much reflected in this article.

Was browsing your website - absolutely beautiful!! Do you ship out demos to the US? Just curious to know - I just brought a new container and wont be changing this year at least. And your prices are pretty high for US customers. Nevertheless, these rigs are very pretty and seem to have interesting innovations.

Huh? I am not sure what you mean but my riser covers look very nice and snug. I have a pretty new rig (4 months old) so maybe I don't get what you are saying?

-Sorry not an instructor here - but have some info that might be useful! A "big" friend of mine did his AFF with gear purchased even before he began his course. I am not sure about the specifics but I think it was something like a military container. Call Para Concepts at Skydive Chicago - they will be able to help your friend.

I was reading this month's edition of the British equivalent of Parachutist - 'Skydive the Mag' and I noticed something interesting. A European equipment manufacturer (Seven???) has created a new container system with several magnets. Magnetic riser covers, magnetic pull out pudd, magnetic d-bag. I'd be interested to know if anyone has actually jumped one of these on a regular basis and what their experience was. I have magnetic riser covers on my Vector and I love them from a packing standpoint and also from a deployment standpoint. Thanks in advance for your insight.

You make a good point. However, without blatantly generalizing it could be considered that sometimes people do come online and ask for pointers even after consulting with their instructors. Case in point - spinning on AFF level 4. Several students have a problem with spinning on their release dives and sometimes no matter how much their instructor tells them to relax or raise an arm or a leg (or whatever) it just so happens that it doesnt click. I was one such student (failed level 4 four times). Someone on DZ.com mentioned that I should hit the tunnel - I did - and aced 6 levels the next weekend. Even now, I learn from non-instructor qualified experienced fun jumpers at my DZ. They have the experience and more importantly the time to help me out with my problems and questions. DZ.com is a tool - it can be used to educate within its own limits. Just like sometimes people use a DVD to learn about free flying or whatever - like any other instructional medium DZ.com has its limitations. Nothing, I repeat nothing, is better than personal coaching and instruction but one could gather useful pointers here. When a student (or anyone else for that matter) asks a question on these forums, we could evaluate the question for a moment before putting out the blanket - "ask your instructor" statement. If there is a possibility of sharing a personal experience or pointer that may prove to be useful (without being harmful) why not? If on the other hand, it is blatantly obvious that the question requires deeper attention than these forums can afford by all means make that blanket statement.

Anyone here going to the Langar boogie between Sep 8- 14? I just happen to be in the UK at that time and decided to stop over.

I think its more complicated than that - for instance, landing comprises of 1. You have a landable and properly functioning parachute over your head 2. Identifying your current location relative to the desired landing area and other skydivers under canopy or in freefall 3. Locating your pre-determined holding area or atleast calculating your landing pattern quickly 4. Identifying the current landing pattern if other canopies are below you or the wind direction if you are the first one down 5. Locating possible outs in the event you will not be able to make it back to the dropzone 6. Locating possible hazards in the chosen landing area and planning alternatives or plan b 7. Implementing your landing pattern and making your final approach 8. Finally slowing your canopy down to a soft landing Now, I have written the above from my perspective - that is conservative landing. Swoopers, CRW jumpers will have more items to the above list. As a low time jumper I am always learning new things and / or encountering new things in the sport. For instance, I had my first off-DZ landing on my first jet jump. This was at jump #95. As soon as I was in the saddle I knew I wasnt going to make it back and began looking for outs. My coaching upto that point had been 1. Have a decision altitude - 2000' - look for outs if its clear you wont make it back 2. Identify outs - my option was corn field and more corn fields. My coaching had definitely covered the art of landing in corn and I had plenty of experience doing that However, I noticed fellow jumpers squeezing into a narrow patch of grass between the road and corn fields. I evaluated it and noticed the power lines next to the road. I decided I would attempt to follow the fellow jumpers down but would error on landing closer to the corn than power lines. As I approached this patch, I noticed that it was a sloping patch as well. This is where a post by Bill Von on DZ.com kicked on. I had read that when landing on a sloping surface land across it rather than up or down - vola!! standup soft landing. Not everything can be taught on DZ.com - and likewise not everything can be taught in your 25 jump course. Somethings are picked up through discussions with fellow jumpers on DZ.com or at the DZ etc. My point is, how different is the advise you offer on DZ.com to the advise you offer at the dropzone. If someone asked on these forums as to how to identify a landing pattern - the answer is simple - talk to your instructors!!! However if someone asked how can I stop my canopy from dragging me on a no-wind day or how can I improve my depth perception to time my flare - we can definitely give some suggestions. Let me make it clear, I am not saying I am as qualified as you but I certainly can relate to that challenge the jumper is facing. Hope the above ramble makes some sense.

I dont intend to debate your point of view - you certainly have a lot of experience and are qualified to instruct. But here are some of my observations as a newbie 1. The points that most people share on this board are tips given to them by qualified instructors or well respected canopy pilots. For instance most of the pointers I gave were directly obtained from my instructors and a canopy seminar 2. When I had problems with my flare, I used to walk up to a world famous skydiver and ask him about it. He would give very valuable tips but something was missing - he just couldn't relate to the problems a new comer was having. After 20+ years in the sport he simply didn't have the problems I was having and his challenges were something else. A 100 jump person can maybe relate and understand the problem another low timer is having. Now I am not generalizing but I think you may understand what I mean here. 3. I'm not sure if I missed something here, but in all the posts above I have not seen something blatantly dangerous. 4. Don't all instructors go through the 100 jump wonder phase at some time in their skydiving life? I mean they don't just go from 99 to 1000. Certainly, you have a point that well mentioned advise can be applied incorrectly and cause harm. But then why do these boards exist? Why ask a question? I think the disclaimer to all advise is well put in Bill Von's sticky as soon as you enter these forums, do we need to repeat it every time someone asks a question? Personally, I have benefited from asking questions on this board. When I had an uncontrollable spin on level 4, when I was looking for tips on landing on a no wind day, when I was looking to buy a new canopy, when I was afraid of doing a rear diving exit and it goes on. I don't know about you but what I read here was pretty close to what my instructors told me when I asked them the same question later on at the DZ.

I'll share my own learning and experience but I'll also warn you that no matter how many instructors, coaches and fellow jumpers you ask it finally boils down to your own abilities. Others can definitely give you pointers and tips but this is one aspect of the sport that takes practice to perfect. After a biffed no-flare landing, I began to doubt my ability to flare and flared either too high or too much. Finally after about 50 jumps or so, I have regained a lot of my original confidence in flaring. Some tips that may help 1. Look at the horizon - doesnt mean look straight ahead, but instead look at a point that includes the ground and the horizon so you can judge your height 2. I try to land in proximity to objects like wind sock, flag poles etc so that I can judge my height and apply the flare appropriately 3. Get a ladder and put it out on the landing field and climb it. Memorize the view of the height at which you want to flare. Note the size and appearance of objects in the horizon. 4. Have a friend / instructor tape your landings and review them. 5. Practice flares up high and realize how your canopy swings back when you apply the brakes. There are several ways to flare a canopy to stand still and yet several more depending on the wind conditions. I dont want to educate you on those as your instructor may disagree. 6. Practice - Practice - Practice. If you search these forums you will find a post of mine where I admit shamelessly how I loathed no-wind days. Now, I look forward to them. Practice made the difference. Hope you do well on your next jump.

Thanks - this clarifies.

This probably sounds silly but I have been wondering - When people do an ash dive do they really take ashes of the person or ashes of their prized belongings? I ask this because it is not common to cremate a person in the christian religion - so what exactly are these ashes that get released?

I have searched and read up on the posts regarding traveling with rigs so I am aware of the standard advice to US travellers. However, can anyone shed light on travel from the UK to US with a rig? On my last trip to UK (without a rig), the UK security folks seemed more rigid especially with their one bag policy.

Ok - I get the point... its not worth it for the sponsor. But here is the deal, take a large event like say summer fest and say Bud Light is the official drink after hours - and bud light gets a sponsorship logo on every aircraft at the boogie - wouldn't they throw in say 50K towards the event? They will recover a lot of that through exclusive sales of the drink and secondly it costs less than 5 seconds of TV time. I checked up the Annheuser Busch site for details on sponsorship - apparently, they delegate the decision for sponsoring local events to the regional distributor. Who I think would definitely be interested in the 1000 or so people at a single event for 10 days. Still doesnt make any sense??? I guess I am just a "rookie.."

Like someone told me - there are old skydivers and then there are bold skydivers - very rare to see an old, bold skydiver

Haha! He is the pilot

Just wondering - all the sponsors I see at most places are either Skydiving equipment manufacturers or the energy drinks. Considering the largest liquid consumption at a DZ is alcohol, has anyone approached Heineken or Annheuser Busch for sponsorship? I mean even if they throw a measley 20K for an event in return for exclusive sales of their brand at the Tiki Hut - and all the publicity, wont it be meaningful? Has anyone approached them before? I'll wear a rig and a jumpsuit painted heineken green if they'll buy both.

Every one who wants a ride - please contact manifest of skydive chicago. They have a person scheduled for pickups - they will able to tell you more about price etc.

Andy You are from CSC - at summerfest, there is a EG suit tent. I saw some freefly pants with the very same thing you are looking for. These pants had some thick padding on the knees. If you get a chance stop by that tent and check them out.

I am dropping a couple of other jumpers at ORD on 5th - you can hop in for free. Ask for someone to point out the 'Taj Mahal' when you get to SDC - you'll find me there.

Alright!! The fun starts tomorrow - and you have no escape!! Be ready for 9 days of the 8th Wonder!!!

No problem - PM sent with information on how to find me

I can give you a ride back to ORD on Aug 5 - PM me for information on how to find me.

This may not suit the OP but just as an FYI for others - I will be making an airport pickup at O'Hare on 1st August around 10am. If anyone here needs a ride to SDC from the airport around that time please PM me with details and I'll see what I can do.

How did they recover footage of his exit shot? Did the balloon float back to earth or was footage from transmission? Not sure if such high quality color video transmission was available in 1960.