Fullonmother

There is alot you can also do in post Most platforms like Sony Vegas, Premier and Final Cut have stabilisation that can be applied to wobbly footage. It's pretty impressive stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmqf2rORrDQ

OK - sounds good - thanks for that guys, By the way - if I cream in because of my RSL now - I'm going come back and haunt you bastads forever. Fullonmother

Hi all - heard about a reserve main entanglement and wondered if it was caused by the RSL. I am considering discconnecting my RSL - as I am concerned about this possibility. Can anyone tell me - Is the time gap between cutting away the main and the automatic deployment of the reserve definately long enough...I am absolutley sure that I would have no problem in deploying my reserve fast in the heat of the battle. I practise my reserve drills not once but three times on every jump and I expect a mal on every jump.

As far as I worked it out - my last check of altitude was at 4K - which is what I was instructed to do before turning and tracking. After that - at my level I find it difficult to check altitude whilst tracking. This is the final stage in my mind before opening - track off - neutralise and deploy. Can you check altitude whilst tracking ? Difficult I would think. Is there any point in checking altitude immediately brefore deploying ? what's the point - you're going to deploy anyway. But as a consquence of this event, I will hone my tracking skills, I will find out how far I drop whilst tracking for 5 secs, and I will stop manouvres at 5K not 4 until I have alot more jumps under my belt.

Just to say thank you for this composite reply Tom - I appreciate your help greatly, FullonMother

OK mate thanks for that - what I was saying about my tracking is that it probably was more like a vertical dive than a track - would this not have explained the large loss of altitiude ? I will do as you suggest and chat through this with my instructor

Hi - my tracking is crap as a newly qualified cat 8 diver. So much so that I tracked away from m y FS coach at 4,000 and after 5-7 secs was at around 1500. Obviously I couldn't check my altitude during the track and on opening the canopy I noticed I was down to 1200 ish. Got back to packing shed and recieved a gentle chat about altitude awareness and how dangerous this had been. I had been aware of my altitude - but the danger was more to do wih my tracking technique. If my AAD had deployed - (I have a dual cutaway system as well) would this have dumped the main at the same time deploying the reserve ? And if I had two canopies up - how dangerous is it ? I am inexperienced jumper - but I would have know to use the main toggles to steer etc. Thanks in advance

Hello mate - I am a beginner also. After 20 jumps - my legs were physically shaking with fear as we climbed to altitude. I had expected that after 5-10 jumps would go away forever and the adrenalin would turn to exhileration. If you have a lay off for a while the fear returns. I had a bad level and fell out of control for 3,000 ft - my next jump was another bottle job. I managed to overcome it - and as soon as you have overcome this next jump - it will be one hell of a lot easier on the next one. The worst bit I found was climbing to altitude - once out the door it's fine. Maybe the best thing you can do is go back a couple of levels and even repeat if necessary with one instructor holding on - practise pulls - do as many as you can - got to keep the head up and maintain the arch. It's a test for you in your life this one... But you have nothing to be ashamed of and everything to be proud of when you have done it. Good luck - I will watch this post for a success story. The Mother

I have heard numerous stories about end cells closing close to the ground and have stumbled across references to 3 types of turbulence - is it advisable to land well away from buildings and airstrips - (I realise that buildings and planes hurt if you hit them - but I am enquiring with regards to the sudden closure of the canopy at 90 feet odd.) We are a quiet DZ and I have landed 30 odd feet from the runway and a similar distance from the buildings. Maybe I am way off mark and this closure is caused by something else. Any advise would be helpful.

MANY THANKS TO ALL YOU GUYS AND GALS, Don't worry - I have waited too long to give up because of a few donuts. And certainly America is on the cards - I hear that Eloy in Arizona is a great DZ for some concentrated training - either there or Perris. Hell - I may even do both. Thanks again, Mother

Let's face it - we are all human beings and reasonably intelligent to boot. Intelligent things thrive on variety - and the instinct for man to procreate is as strong as for a woman to have a baby she's carrying and not to abort. Just look around the world and see how many people have cheated or have been cheated on - now tell me it's not human nature. It is almost a flawed concept (fidelity). Sad and hurtful I know - but alas that is mother nature. I do not condone and I lose respect for anyone who is running two relationships side by side - but a one off every now and again - well at least I understand why and if a girl I loved did this I would forgive for sure.

Well thank you guys - for your words of encouragement - I am hoping it is this one location -and so far, in truth, I have only been to one centre. It is apparently common in the UK clubs. There have been many helpful people and friendly too - but the very ones I would expect to be setting the best example are not. If this continues - I will do as you suggest shift to another club. Thanks again guys The Mother

I have to say - I have found this sport to be one of the most un-friendly sports I have ever come across. The senior instructors for the most part are so up themselves - that it has left me perplexed - apparently this is typical in the UK clubs and with the Brits - but not present in America or anywhere else for that matter. I do not get it - is it an insecurity thing ? That these guys have only one thing in their life to elevate them from anyone else ? Their experience. I have to say I am very dissapointed - what a damned shame.