kneepuff

We didn't use radios in my AFF training. I think this would have helped me find the proper flare point for my landings...

RB,

I'm so sorry to hear this happened but so glad that you are okay.

Since you and I took the AFF together and got the same instruction I am very interested in the responses here. Tne more I think about it and the more experience I get jumping the more I realize how much more there is to learn. Seems to me that the closer you get to the ground the more important the skill base is. Turning flips and maneuvering in freefall is a blast, but I sure wish I had more training on landing and everything that goes with approaching the landing.

I'll be looking into a canopy control class as soon as school gets out!

Good luck RB! See ya at the DZ!

Okay. So I went to the Eloy DZ on Sunday. Much bigger than my home DZ. More expensive. More crowded, bigger operation. Kinda get lost in the crowd. I didn't plan on jumping after everything I heard. Anyway, I checked the place out and watched the "show" for quite a while. It was fun to watch so many skilled skydivers in one place. The landings were FAST and pretty amazing.

I also went to Marana on Monday. Much more like my home DZ. A couple of groups of jumpers were practicing accuracy landings (is that what it is called?) for an upcoming competition at Eloy.

Both places were interesting and I would like to jump at both of them. On my next trip to Tucson to visit my dad in the summer I'll give it a go.

Yep. That's what i would do first - check the aerial map, watch some jumpers....then give it a go

I'm in Tucson right now so we'll see. I'll have my A before long so I'll jump next time I come out if I don't get to this time.

Thanks for the responses everone.

No, I don;t quite have my A yet. But I'm working on it.

Well, I'll see what happens. I'm going to visit even if they don't let me jump.

N/A

Hi All,

I'm headed out to Arizona to visit family and I thought I would take the opportunity to get myself over to the Eloy DZ to do a jump or two. Anything I need to know? I usually jump at the Parachute Center in Lodi, California.

Thanks!
Mary

Good for you, hosehead! I can relate. I'm just back after 3 surgeries from a shattered right wrist - also not jump related. But, it sure is nice to be back in the swing of things!

Have fun up there!!!

Congratulations on landing safely! Congratulations on recognizing that you needed to cutaway and then doing it.

I'm another low number jumper with a low number first cutaway so I understand what you felt and are still feeling. Glad to see that you are processing everything and going over it with your trainers so that you can learn from the experience. Smart!

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Then I went to release the brakes and the left toggle came off in my hand!

So what happened!?!?
The toggle slipped out of your hand? How come you didn't think to reach back up and grab it. I'm all not for judging some one else but there was one at my DZ a couple of weeks ago where the lady explained after LANDING a LINEOVER that she didn't want to pay for the handles because she was afraid of dropping them.


You must be the opposite if I understood your "malfunction".


.

No, guess you didn't understand my "malfunction". My "malfunction" as stated in my original post was that the toggle came off in my hand - as in completetly detached itself from the line. Not that it slipped from my hand. I did plenty of thinking. I thought of exactly what I was taught in my training and executed the EPs accordingly.

Wow! Yep. You have me beat. Glad it turned out okay for you.

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It's nice to know now that you can handle the situation, now never get too relaxed in your EPs. I had a friend who had several hundred jumps without incident, and maybe that made her too indifferent. She was involved in a messy canopy collision, cut away high enough but never pulled the reserve...

You're right. It is nice to know that I can handle the situation. But I also realize that it was a really easy situation this time. Next time could be hairier. I'll not get too comfortable with myself up there.

I had my first cutaway during my AFF training. Yep. Jump 6 of the training. Exit and freefall were excellent. Chute deployment beautiful. The chute opened beautifully. Then I went to release the brakes and the left toggle came off in my hand!

Well, I remembered reading something about another way to steer the chute, but we had not covered it in training, and I had no expereince with it, so, I thought to myself, "Good parachute? Bad parachute? Can I steer it? Can I land it?"

Nope - not on jump 6 of my training. I made the decision to release the main and deploy the reserve. I did it all calmly, without panic, and had a nice tidy landing, too.

I guess it is pretty unusual to have a cutaway so early. I wasn't expecting to use my emergency training so soon but I am happy to know that I can handle it. Thank you Bill, for being so tough on me that morning before we went up. You'll be glad to know that I shouted all the commands out loud as I released and deployed. ;-)

So, how many jumps did you have in before you had to do a cutaway? And what's your story?

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None of the gear stores in Nor Cal have such a vast array of demo equipment that you can try "one of each".

With a proper gear consultation, it will take some of the mystery out of your choices, and give you an idea of you options.

At that point we/they can arrange for you to demo some equipment.

Start local and work your way out. I would love to help you if Bill doesn't have what you need in the way of fit and function. Feel free to PM me with any questions regardless of who you buy from. Gotta keep all the Nor Cal Girls looking good and flying safe.

Thanks GravityGirl! I appreciate it!

Thanks everybody for the info.

Ed - I didn't realize that he would sell the gear that I learned on. I did know about the jump and rental rates. I'm planning on dropping in at the DZ on Tuesday so I'll be sure to ask Bill some questions.

Thanks again!

I live in Northern California. Anybody know of any actual stoes in Nor. Cal. that sell skydiving gear? I want to be able to try on a couple of different suits and get the feel of some equipment before I buy. I've seen tons of gear and suits on line, but I'm shy about purchasing on line. My DZ has limited equipment and clothing for sale.

I'm willing to travel a couple of hours to the right store. Thanks!

Hi freakyflyer!

Great! Hope to see you there! The DZ is open 365 days a year! That's right. EVERY day of the year.

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Do you have any idea where we can find it? Thanks!

http://www.bigairsportz.com/

Thank you!!!!

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It's called a LOGBOOK...

Get one of those biguns, and by the time you finish it you will have learned a lot.

-

Haha. So true, I'm sure.

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This is pretty far from the original post subject, but how many jumps do you have? In my less than experinced opinion the best way to improve your landings is twofold. First have an experinced instructor tape them and break them down with you so that you have some idea of what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. Second do your practice flares up high, they will really help.

I have 9 jumps. Just completed the AFF training. Each landing was video taped so that we could study and learn from them. I tended to flare too high so I'll work on that. Plus I did the fanny landings which I want to change.

I looked on Amazon.com for the book you mentioned but couldn't find it. Do you have any idea where we can find it? Thanks!

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You need to be more specific...

If I had to pick the best book that I have read it would be Brian G.'s book "Parachute and its Pilot".

There may be books out there that contain concepts or instruction that will make me better in freefall, but I think safely landing my parachute and being able to jump again will have a better overall effect on my ability. That is where the knowledge contained in this book, along with practice, comes in.

hmmm...Good point DougH! Personally I need to improve my landings. This may be a useful read for me.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Welcome back!

First of all - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

I recently did the AFF training. The advice I have read in this thread is pretty much right on. I went into it with no advice - just desire, common sense, and a determination to please my instructor on every jump and then to learn what I could from the result of each of the jumps.

Pay attention to the instructors.
Be serious about it.
Have some fun.
Stay hydrated and eat as needed.
Know the procedures.
Ask questions if you need to.

Good luck! Can't wait to hear all about it!

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Thanks for all the responses and advice. I will deffinetely sign up for the USPA and call a DZ close to me and talk with them (2hrs away). I should note that I have done two tandem skydives (Davis, CA). I have zero fear of hights and in fact I find them to make me feel extremely relaxed. The first time I did a tandem jump was around 10years ago. All my friends chickend out, so I ended up going by myself. The instructor noticed I was yawning on the plane ride up and took my pulse and was surprised it was normal. The acceleration was the coolest part of the first tandem jump. I really liked it and I'm sure my pulse raised on the way down. Then I went back two years later with my new wife and did it again. I was totaly bored the second time. I'm sure if I was jumping solo I would enjoy it more.

I recently saw a video on www.jet-man.com and pray that there is a version of that wing to buy 5 or 10 years down the road and I'd like to be ready. Then I saw this video of a wingsuit base jump and it is all I have thought about for the last few weeks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6szK0yo2mrI

The thought of actually flying has me hooked. I know it is dangerous but I think being able to fly like that is worth the risk. For over 15 years I have been involed with sportbikes and have seen alot of my friends die or get seriously injured, so I know what that is about. I even broad sidded a car myself at an impact speed of 50mph, 3 years ago and thought for a few seconds I was toast. Luckily I flew over the car and had minimal injuries due to the full saftey gear I was wearing. That was the closest thing I remember to flying for a hundred feet or so.

Hey Catz - How far are you from Davis? I just did my AFF training in Lodi at The Parachute Center. Seems like we can find a DZ closer than 2 hours away for you.

Are you still into sportbikes and do you race? I'm familiar with the AFM. The two friends that I went through training with are racers in that organization.