slingerapie

Agreed!! I am certainly going to keep this one As for the gear: the Atom was if I remember correctly from '93. Before this accident no problems, it was well maintained and updated. But, as pointed out, reserve flap not tucked in. And, if we had taken more time to plan our exit, we might have stumbled upon the problem of me not reaching my BF's legs. Since I never found my freebag, and the costs of a replacement would have exceeded the amount the rig was worth, I decided that it was time for newer gear :-) (ofcourse 3 weeks after buying other gear a farmer brought the freebag in) Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Atom Indeed it is an Atom, thanx Deyan :-) Since I am the girl in the video a short reply. The plan was to do a wagonwheel exit with my boyfriend. (who is actually the one pushing me out of the plane) I couldn't reach his suit whilst standing in the door, and shuffled a bit backward. While doing that, my reserve flap got wedged in the door opening. (kind of "peelded" off) resulting in my reserve activation. And yes I am forever grateful for my boyfriend, if it wasn't for his reaction of pushing me, I think me and the others in that plane could have been a lot worse. Grateful that it only cost me a long pretty long ride down (9000ft) and a new repack. Oh and it was my 454th jump. Hopefully others can learn from this. Greetz illona Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Welcome to the forums and the sport!! Enjoy, it's the best thing out there if you ask me :-) (even beat skymama here... LOL) Blue skies! Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Have fun on your jump, as well as your mom!! Very brave she is going with you!! When I did my tandem I didn't tell my mom till AFTER the jump because I knew she'd freak out. She still doesn't like it when I go jumping, but she's getting used to the fact that she has a daughter that likes to jump out of planes for fun. Also wish that i'd started jumping younger. Got a tandem for my b-day 3 years ago at 28.... Got me hooked forever!! (so also suggest to get a job and start saving up :-) Have fun!! Come and tell us how it went :-) Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Hi, Everyone who has a shoulder dislocation once, has a higher risk of having it again, even with therapy, and waiting 2-3 months. The muscles have been stretched while it was dislocated, creating more room for your shoulder to "pop out" a next time. Training your muscles in the gym, as mentioned above, is a good thing besides your therapy. Also agree with the windtunnel thing... Try to avoid having your arms going behind your head. This can happen in belly flying if you don't put enough strength on your arms, especially when flying in a box-man. Mantis flying might be better, but I don't know if you will be thought this in France. I am no docter, but have experience in people with shoulder dislocations since I am an ER nurse. I do know a few skydivers who have had this happen to them, and after therapy and keeping muscle strength it didn't happen. But this is a personal thing, and you will have to experience it for yourself. If you have " weak" ligaments in your shoulder, or had prior dislocations there is a greater risk of it happening again. Hope that this was a once-and-never more experience for you, and great that you have been able to pull and fly your chute !! Heal well! Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Here are some vids for you JumpTeigen, my "own" youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/slingerapie And the one where I post my FS-4 team vids. (we are rookies, started in april so don't laugh... LOL) http://www.youtube.com/user/teamMACH4 Should keep you busy for a little while ;-) Illona Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

First, congrats on your first jump! Second: shut up and go for another Just kidding... If you feel up to another go, just show up at your DZ and go for it! It is normal to have nerves. I still do, after 250 jumps. Just like the comment above, nothing compared to what they were with my first jumps, but I still feel it. Sometimes a little more than other jumps, depending on what I'm planning to do Let us know what you do, and when you jump, tell us how it went. Relax, and have fun!! Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Can you describe the actual incident in a bit more detail than just "hard landing' ? How did you hit the ground, what part hit first, how did the rest of your body absorb the momentum (roll, controlled or not?) If it was only sprained, after this time it should be better in my opinion. You should be able to walk normally. If I understand your problem correctly, I think you should reconsider going back to your dr. As I am no dr, but only an ER nurse, I can advice you and say what I think, but it is difficult ofcourse from overseas and without x-rays :-) Anyway, it might me possible that you do have a fracture, in your talus. This is the bone that connects your leg to your foot, and also connects with your heelbone (calcaneus) Since you do have full range of motion, I don't think it's the ligaments (they've healed) Did you have swelling, and is it still tender as well? (when you push on the spot where the bruising was) A fracture of the talus is often missed on x-rays, especially if it is a small (hairline) fracture. A CT-scan will show more. But, once again, I'm no doctor, and I don't want to scare you, and yes, this is the internet, so if you want real good advice, go see your dr. (as would you see your instructor, for advice on jumps, and not some newbie like me) Let me know what you do, and what the outcome is! Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Just a question, where does it hurt when you do walk normally? Because you say you can't put pressure on your big toe, but you have a sprained ankle.... Does it hurt in your toe? or does it hurt on the sides of your foot? or somewhere else? can you move your foot from left to right while keeping it 90 degrees to your leg? (stand on the floor, lift your foot a little and "wiggle" gently) Do you know what kind of trauma you sustained? (inversion, eversion?) If you damaged some ligaments, it can take up to six weeks to heal with treatment, (like sportstape) and longer if you don't treat it. Also, after that it will still be a little weak spot, and you can feel a little pain whenever you misstep somhow. (in a hole or something) I'd recommend wearing shoes that support your feet and ankles, like jogging shoes, or even better, lightweigt walking shoes. also when you go jumping, have someone, or if you're able to do it yourself, put tape on your ankle / foot, so you can't twist it the wrong way. (ofcourse you'll first need someone to show to you how) Anyway, this is how we treat sprained ankles at my work. ofcourse it is better to keep from jumping for six weeks at the least. But you did a good job taking 5 weeks! (I just taped myself once, and kept jumping because of teamtraining.... not a very good example here... but since I kept on taping for six weeks and wearing the right shoes it "only" took me 8 weeks to say, hey, it's over... but kept on jumping though....) Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

you've seen the shape some of the planes are in? You WANT to get out.... (but then they say, why get in then?.... so I just say... because I can.) Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Yes, I've always wanted to jump since I saw jumpers on the DZ near my house. Even have a picture of me in a harnass that one of the jumpers was kind enough to put on me just for the fun of it :-) Just never got to do it. Since at least once a year I would say that I wanted to jump "some day", my bf gave me a tandem for my birthday two years ago. That was the beginning.... LOL Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Welcome to the forums! After I did my tandem, all I could think of was going back up there. Due to working in weekends it took 3 months before I was in groundschool, but since my first solo jump it has been very addicting. It's not just another hobby anymore for me, it's a bit more. Can't explain it very good I'm afraid. All I can say is that when I'm not jumping, I'm thinking about jumping, or watching video's, prepare for my next teamtraining etcetc..... So be prepared edited to add: never had regrets !! Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Welcome to the forums! And good that you started again! Fun isn't it to jump with your hubby!! Makes jumps that little bit more :-) I started jumping 2 years ago, my bf followed 1 year later, and since about a month we are allowed to jump together. (rules here in the netherlands are a bit different than in the us) THe only problem we have with two jumpers is the same you have experienced.... My bf has his own material since 3 months as well, that is a big relief. Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Was thinking the same thing...

+1 My Vigil pull up broke last week, and wasn't happy with that. Have used it for over a year though. Just got an email back from Vigil saying they'll send me some new ones, also like above, free Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Big zero here... nighshift... But then again, on friday I leave for a week jumping in France. Why was your cutaway, and how did you respond since it was your first? Just curious, I didn't have to use mine (glad to) but am wondering about the state of mind people get in to after their first cutaway.... Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

ditto here... When I first started skydiving I couldn't eat all day... not even breakfast. Now I eat 1-2 sandwiches, and during the day try to drink enough, and maybe eat a cracker or 2. Drinks: red bull & water. At the end of the day when the adrenalin wears off then I get a little hungry... LOL Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

I agree with pretty much everyone here. Don't stop because of this, especially if you loved it! When I did my tandem I got nausea as well. To the point I felt I got to throw up. Fortunately it didn't happen, when I was on the ground it took a while to wear off though. Then I realised that since I am carsick since I was a little kid, it might have to do with that. Whenever I drive with someone in the back or the passengers seat, I get sick within 15 minutes. But when I drive myself, there is no problem! It has to do with your motionsensors in your brain. When you drive yourself, your brains know where you're going. Under canopy, when the tandeminstructor steers ('drives") your brains realize too late where you're going, and messing up your sensors. Then you get sick. As a kid I used medication to prevent this happening in the car. When jumping solo, (only did 1 tandem) there wasn't any problem. Never got sick. Sometimes I used the same meds as a kid to prevent getting sick in the plane, depending on the pilot..... I think this will happen with you as well. Some already said so... jump solo and the problem is probably gone. If they really insist on another tandem, you might try something for motionsickness you can buy in a pharmacy. Or ask the instructor if you can steer for a while.... LOL Go out there and have fun!! It only took me 1 tandem to realize that I waited way too long to start this sport. Blues!

Since a lot of reviews about the FreeZr also include that the one who bought it has a big head, I decided to write one as well, but this time that it fits as a glove for smaller heads as well! When I was looking for a fullface helmet I tried on a few. When I put on the FreeZr, I immediately felt comfortable with it on my head. Lightweight, and good vision all sides. Even tried it on with my rig, could see my handles no problem. Tried it with my sunglasses underneath, because in summer that is what I would do. No problem! Paratec offers 3 different outer scales, and 6 different padding sizes. So I guess for each head there is a fit! I thought I had a pretty big head, but the XS had best fit. When I put on a Z1 to compare, I immediately took it off again because it wasnt nearly as comfy as the FreeZr. Had to wait a bit till I could try it out, but now with only 4 jumps with it I have no regrets whatsoever. The first jump I even forgot to fasten my chinstrap, and it didn't come off! (belly flying) Maybe in due time the stuffing around the chin will become less stiff and then maybe it will come off if I ever forget the chinstrap again, but I have no intention in trying that again. While flying no problem with fogging, under canopy a little bit, but fixed by breathing out trough my mouth or open the visor a little bit. (tried it while it was -2 degrees) Opening and closing the visor is a little tricky at first because of the two pins at the sides, but not annoying difficult. Hope to enjoy my FreeZr for a long time!!

I'm not a parent, but yes I think I would give it to them. When my birthday came up last may, my mom asked me what to buy. She wanted to buy me a Nintendo DS, but since my boyfriend already has one I didn't need one more.... So I kinda told her that there was something called an audible altimeter, wich was at that time the same price as the DS. She hates it that I'm skydiving, and is scared every weekend that the weather is great. And she didn't really like it for a birthday present, but she bought it anyway because she knew it would make me happy, and because it is a safety thingy. Ok, it is not as expensive as an AAD, but it doesn't have to be a brand new one does it? Anyway, if I could afford it the anwser would be definitely yes. Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

I did a tandem jump in 2007 on my mothers birthday. I didn't tell her till after the jump because I know she'd freak out. After that I didn't tell her that I was going to the SL course either. She was mad that I didn't tell her, couldn't understand why I love it so much. She made me call home after every jumpday for about six months. (I have been living on my own for about 3 years before that) Anyway, she got used to it somehow, but talking about a skydive I made in front of her, that was out of the question. When I was going to make my 100th jump, and first demo jump, she did come to watch, including my inlaws. I was last to land, and everyting went very smooth. She did see how much fun I was having, and that I knew what I was doing, but she still thought I came in fast. (flew a PD 190 then, WL about 1.1, not that much wind) One thing did good, I don't have to call here every jumpday, she automatically assumes if a day in the weekend is good, that I will be hanging around the DZ.... LOL. My brother doesn't understand and doesn't want to know. So I don't tell him anything. My boyfriend is jumping since about a month now as well, we didn't tell his parents and brothers either, because they are a bit more frantic about him, since he was in a weelchair for about a year after an accident 10 years ago. Think they still don't know... LOL. But they do love stories about me jumping, and my father in law even fixed an FS jumpsuit so it would fit me. Both sides of the family love to watch video's though my mom still thinks I'm crazy and so on...

Not sure what you mean by this reply? ......................................................................... If you are already a nurse, you should understand local laws concerning IVs in your state. Laws vary so widely from province to state to nation that generic advice on this forum is worse than useless. Guess you didn't read my post very good than. I am not even from the united states. And yes I know the laws in my own country about IV's. That is why I said that I don't know how things are handled over in your states. Just wanted to say that in my opinion there shouldn't be IV's in a DZ first aid kit. So I agree that if laws in every state of the US vary so much, it is useless to say something about it. But one can always give an opinion.... Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

Not sure what you mean by this reply? Don't try to live forever, you will not succeed!

I don't really understand why these things are recommended on a DZ? These stuff are sterile. If not used prior to the date, you can throw it away. Not sure if an IV starter kit is different, because I am not from the states and maybe you have other stuff there. And, what are the chances that if an accident happens and a person should need an IV, that there is actually someone around who knows how to use it? I am an ER nurse here in the Netherlands, and am authorized to give a person an IV acces. But I am not at the DZ all day every weekend! I do keep the emergency kit up to date so in case of minor injuries (scratches, small cuts, distorsions etc) that person can be helped at the DZ. But then again, maybe you americans have different rules about this. I think, if someone needs an IV, just let the paramedic (ambulance) do it, it is his/her job, and I think they would be happy if the person needing the IV isn't already been poked a few times.... But this is just my opinion, as said, haven't been on an american DZ (yet) so not sure if the rules are very different....

If you can't figure the above out, i use pretty simple programs for my videos to youtube format. Usually youtube accepts .mpg but I use .wmv (wich is a windows movie file) First, you need to copy your entire video from dvd to your harddrive. Just take the entire folder from the dvd. Then I use a program called Movavi, to convert the video in a workable format. This is a program that you don't need a study for, it is pretty simple and speaks for itself when you open it. Convert your video to .avi or .wmv When this is done I use the most simple program there is: windows movie maker. ( I hope american windows has it too ) You open your .wmv in there, and you can play with your video. Add some music and stuff, and when done, you can choose a number of ways to save it. After that, you can upload it to youtube. Search on youtube for slingerapie and you'll see my videos. Did 7 of them myself