kpipes22

You have 23,000 jumps? Oh my God. Never heard such a high number. Wish I had 1/1,000 that experience. Do you know the highest jumps number? "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

I agree with the first responder: I am too new into sport and should be paying specific attention to what my instructors are teaching. And, that I do not have enough experience to be thinking "too far ahead." And, I certainly agree with Chuck, when he says "how come I am not thinking about cutaway?" As soon as I posted my original question, I realized I had not mentioned cutaway, and I should have. I was just asking a question that I thought was interesting from seeing a Post back from 2002. Thank you all for generous, helpful discussion! I have a lot to learn. Keith "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Regret if this question/issue has been raised many times previously; I did do a Forum Search on "line over" and found helpful info from 2002. I read a Post from a guy, that received advice from a Rigger in Eloy, as follows: "in line over situation, leave brake lines stowed, and pull down vigorously on rear risers" [although not stated, assume release rear risers quickly, too?]. Is this, as stated above, current-thinking? Understand one could also release, and vigorously pump, brake lines; though someone suggested this could create canopy-line-burn. Also, understand a handy hook knife could be used to remove the offending line. But, frankly, the overall goal is to take swift, appropriate action for safest possible landing. A cut line, or a canopy burn, can be easily repaired. Other advice for handling line overs? Thanks. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Other things to do; I see someone suggested "hanging out" at the DZ when you have no money for jumping. Usually, lots of different personailty-types, and many can be very helpful - - seek those folks out. Watch folks packing chutes, and ask questions. Introduce yourself to the pilot, ask questions. Study all of the printed materials around your DZ, review the overhead photo of the dropzone, and about what the big numbers mean at the end of the tarmac. Watch all of the videos being played-back on the t.v. by camera-flyers. If you can't afford buying your own copy, the USPA SIM (Skydiver Info Manual) can be downloaded for free from USPA.com: lots, and lots to study. I have found many helpful articles and gear-specs/manuals from manufacturers websites--chutes, containers, AADs--for free download, and lots of articles about safety, turbulence, air-lock versus non-air-lock canopy designs: all Internet free. The dropzone.com Forums are a gigantic/vast resource of information about many aspects of skydiving. So, lots and lots to do when not jumping. Blue skies to you! "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Hi Katie, My name is Keith; I responded to your recent post "Newbie Skdive Chick!" and congratulated you on your recent "A" license. I am Kpipes22. My writing to you is spontaneous/frivolous as I saw your blog section and was interested to read what you wrote. I am 56, soon to be 57, and am pursuing my lifelong dream of skydiving since 1968. I was a paramedic for 12 years in Fresno, and I saw your remark that you are training with Dave's DZ folks in Madera; very good people. I am just reaching out for human contact. I used to be an avid rock climber, and have recently taken my 19 and 21 year old sons to Yosemite Fitness in Fresno; teaching them the basics. Nice folks there! I will read your blog in greater detail as time permits. Just wanted to say Hi, and suggest we share some email-conversations. I have been married 25 years, I am struggling with a third round of cancer treatments, and despite our vast age difference, again, just wanted to reach out to you as a kindred spirit. I first jumped in 1968, and didn't go back until January 2009. On my AFF II, I had difficulty controlling my long legs. So, I plan to do some Tunnel Time before I go to AFF III; believe that will help me. Cheers to you! Keith Pipes [email protected] "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Congrats on your "A!" Something to be very proud of! Wish I had stayed with it so long ago; at my rate, only a few more centuries and I'll be acught up to where you are right now. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Hey there Jack, By chance do you know a guy named Ron Diaz? He was jumping a BlackWidow ParaCommander back in 1968 near Los Banos, CA (Santa Nella). Then he opened his own DZ at Eagle Field (near Firebaugh, CA). He was my jumpmaster in '68. Thanks. Keith Pipes "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Thank you. I just figured out there are many prior posts, AND, I just learned how to use the Forum Search feature. Sorry to ask pre-answered question. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

I just learned how to "Search" Forums using key word. Duh I have always know I was a little slow. I found lots of answers. Thanks. I will be smarter in future. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Still "newby" after all those years; just curious - - I see a number of advertisements for some seriously big, carbon-fiber, or plastic, chin cups on various helmets. Advantages? Disadvantages? "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

17 Back in 1968; DZ no longer there; at Eagle Field, about 10 miles west of Firebaugh, CA. I flagged for cropdusters there when I was a kid. One year after USPA changed its name, to USPA (forget what it was called before that). Jumpmaster: Ron Diaz. Did two static lines on round chutes out of a Cessna 182. Forgot to turn into the wind for landing; crashed and burned. Hey, I'll bet "that's" what's wrong with me. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Gabe Ionescu Americadirect 866-710-0995 xt 9765 gabe.ionescu@americadirect "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Good questions, good points: 1) yes, accidental death-only policy; 2) yes, a term-life-only policy (otherwise no cash-value); 3) policy available to me until I reach 80 years-of-age (I am 56); 4) it is not "specific" skydive policy-only (it is, as said above, accidental-death-only); 5) interestingly, there is exclusion "for airplane pilots learning to fly airplanes;" 6) it could be that someone younger than me "may" enjoy a different/better benefit (maybe the monthly premium would be "lower-for-younger," or, maybe someone younger could get a higher POD (payment on death): mine is $300k, and that's OK for my needs. Good questions. Thanks. Keith "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Just FYI for my brothers and sisters in skydiving. I have been researching (for years), looking for a life insurance policy that would pay benefit to my family in event of accidental skydiving death: I found it. Fidelity Life; $300k death benefit; $30 per month premium. Expensive, but it meets my needs. No physical exam required. Please contact me: [email protected] for contact info. I get "nothing" for bringing in new clients; and I am not the insurance agent. At first, and selfishly, I thought I might enjoy some sort of value for bringing new clients, but "that ain't happnin." And, I no longer care about that: but I would like to make new skydiver friends and have conversations with folks interested in skydive accident insurance. Who knows, maybe someone else out there will help me find something even better that what I have now! Blue skies to you all. Keith Pipes "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

I liked your Helllloooo, or however long it really is; longest one I ever saw! Yes, they are not stupid, and neither am I: I am covered two ways - - I have $500k coverage if I "go to the great beyond" from cancer; and, I have the $300k coverage "if I burn one into the ground at 120 mph." I work in healthcare (30 years) and I researched it (the policy) with some docs and attorney friends. Conclusion: if skydiving accident produces death, and autopsy reveals demise from traumatic injury, doesn't matter if I have cancer, vitamin deficiency, or Ebola, they pay my family. However, this little story is only "about me;" I am excited that I have found an accidental death policy for my colleagues in skydiving "so, this is for them." Thanks. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Hey Baum, And to anyone else out there that may be interested: I have been searching for "life insurance for accidental death/skydiving" for several years, and recently found a policy. No special physical-exam required; POD (payment on death) to family is $300k, for credit card charge approximately $35.00/month. No scam. Please contact me: [email protected] and I will give you agent name/number. Selfishly, I am trying to bring the agent clients one-by-one, because I just found out I have cancer, and I am hoping if I bring this guy some additional business, he won't drop my policy. Cancer or not, I don't wanna stop jumping, and I do want my family covered "just in case." I am not an agent: I don't get paid under the table; as soon as I'm off chemo, man, I'm back at it! Blue skies! KP "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

like others, when I first saw the "post title" I was shocked, and drawn immediately to defend the fabulous folks at Lake Elsinore. Then I had a great laugh. Very intertaining Post. Well done. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

A student, here, getting back into sport from first two jumps in 1968. 2009 jumps at Bay Area Skydiving were a tandem and AFF's I and II. Great fun! Long term goal, someday, of jumping with camera, but not for a long time. I am having great fun reading all the postings; special thanks to the excellent moderators. Don't even know enough to ask intelligent questions; the yellow sticky, and so many other "advice to newbies" is much appreciated. All I really wanted to say is - - Thank you all. Blue skies to you! "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

16 (in 1968; jumping military chutes and the new para-commanders; at an old dz called Eagle Field in central California). Was in high school; parents signed a waiver for me with jumpmaster, for S/L. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Thanks to all. I contacted the folks in Spain, skyscience, and they are going to work up a cost estimate for me. Appreciate the comments about "do I want to see, and/or do I want others to see;" this helps me question my motives, needs and wishes. Special thanks to moderator: PhreeZone; the concept of artwork on slider would put my son closer still to me; without your suggestion, I likely would not have "gotten to this idea" for some time. Again, thanks. Blue skies. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

I admire your willingness to discuss your experience with depression; good for others to see and hear; hopefully, good for you. Sorry if this shocks: I lost my 21 year old son last week to suicide; he had been depressed many years, and tried numerous meds. He was a wonderful, gentle man, and I regret not getting him up for a first sky dive before we lost him. My experience with Zoloft is that undesirable sexual side effects did not diminish with time; however, not everyone is the same. Urge you to discuss with your doctor; there are many different meds. Most importantly, urge you to not depend solely on meds; highly recommend you find and use a trusted counselor. Combination of these two can be much more helpful than one alone. Keep jumping: the wonderful people in sky diving are, by themselves, a delicious and heady elixir, with many healing properties. Blue skies. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Am aware of insurance available for D-license, and special events (at least some years ago). Am looking for life insurance policy that does not exclude accidental demise from sky dive accidents, regardless of experience? Wife says: no insurance = no jumping. Thanks. - Keith "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Hey Kipp, and Erk, My nickname is Kit. Thank you my brothers, for your advice, suggestions, and experience with this topic! I do not, yet, own my own rig. My question was in a context of "when I buy used or new, how might I choose to go about selecting a canopy that will meet my needs for applying some artwork?" I think Erk's advice is helpful, unless I have LOTSA money, and I don't, I need to be careful about my expectations for applying artwork to a future canopy, assuming I want that artwork to last through many jumps. So, unless anyone else out there has other advice, and I welcome any/all suggestions, I am now thinking about the possibility of designing a four foot tall, three foot wide, photo-on-fabric and having a rigger sew it into the center of a canopy. How might this concept affect opening, canopy flight, aggressive turns, etc? Thanks much! Blue skies. Kit "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~

Want to put my son's photo, recently deceased, on a canopy, so I can "see" him. Is there a particular manufacturer--for canopy artwork process pre-build--or an after market artist that can help apply a black photo on a white canopy background? And, does fabric need to be zero-porosity, or can this be done on any fabric? Thanks. "You can't overcome weakness by fighting it, or by thinking your way out of it: Evolution doesn't work that way . . . You overcome weakness by leaving it behind you!" ~ Stuart Wilde ~