boxhead

It is impossible to say without knowing the details of your medical situation and tunnel experience. I can say that most tunnels are flexible and will TRY to safely accommodate an injury or disability provided it doesn't involve the neck or spine. Having issues with my knee (moderate pain and swelling that comes and goes), I find that sometimes is not worth flying when it is flaring up, but most days I fly fine as long as I take extra care to protect it. If you are already a semi competent flyer, it may be worthwhile to test the waters by flying a short session and sticking to what you can already do. If you are a complete beginner to the tunnel, I would hold off, as the first steps in the progression can be especially bumpy. Good Luck!

I have the same approach. However, for me it applies mainly to tunnel flying. I work at a tunnel and hence, have the opportunity to fly a lot. It is awesome, but from time to time I have periods of lower motivation. I found that taking a short break is the cure. After a short period of time away, I get excited again and usually come back a better flyer. Doing this helps me break through plateaus in my progression. Forcing yourself to skydive or fly when not in the mood, because you feel like you should be, is a fast way to get burnt out on a sport you probably love. If after a break, you don't get re excited enough to justify the financial sacrifices, well. . thats ok! Pick up a cheaper hobby, you can always come back to skydiving in the future.

Pm sent

Perhaps the jumper thought he may have had his pc dislodged and in tow?

I can see how that can be true, but only to a very minor extent. I don't see how the use and availabilty of a Cypres or other modern AAD has or can impact the skill level of skydivers as a whole. Technology can be blamed for the "dumbing down" of humans in many cases. Most of our automobiles are extremely riddled with electronics and mechanisms that stop us from learning about the mechanics at play under the hood. Learning to drive a car with power Steering and an automatic transmissions makes it difficult to lean how to correctly handle and corner an automobile. Also, our reliance on GPS devices for driving, flying, and hiking greatly reduces our navigational skills. I doubt my kids will know what to do with a map. . . However, the argument that a modern electronic AAD has similar consequences on a skydiver's skill levels is kind of weak. Most of us never experience an AAD firing, and therefore are not really relying on it. In the end, one can really only argue that the feeling of security one has because of an AAD may alter his or her behavior while using one. I believe and hope that most skydivers just turn their Cypres on and forget about it - apart from knowing and being prepared to having to pull silver when pulling way too low. Those jumpers that have waited for their AAD to fire because they could not find their reserve handle or do very stupid things only because they have one are foolish, most likely suffer from some mental illness, and are not a proper representation of the AAD using population as a whole. Boxhead

I happened to come across a video on youtube where a reserve lead seal was possibly threaded through the closing loop which effectively stopped the reserve pilot chute from coming out of the container. I have never seen a rigger do this, but was wondering if anyone else has. Seems pretty scary! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrgSVIryvtw&feature=related

I don't understand why it is not the owner's business? I strongly disagree with this. You are not badmouthing the other rigger by telling the owner about the Kleenex or anything else out of the ordinary. I would be quite pissed if something like that was kept secret from me due to some unwritten "rigger brotherhood" rules.

You probably are leaning in your harness in the direction you are drifting as a result of the tightening one of your leg straps too much or too little. Next time you are in the air, try leaning in one direction and notice how it will give you a slight turn. On final, you can counter this by putting more of your body weight in the opposite side of the harness of the direction you are crabbing. Also don't be scared to give a slight toggle or rear riser input to keep you flying straight. This is necessary on crosswind landings if you want to fly straight.

Nothin to do with a skyhook bungee, but I recently had a premature reserve opening due to a frayed closing loop caused by a nicked grommet. Scary shit.

Forgot about the videos. Got me.

Maybe because you're always jumping out before the tandems exit. . . .

Paraphrase and give some sort of citation. It reads really awkward, especially after reading the posts you took the info from.

So walking around school with a copy of parachutist in my hand isn't gonna help get me laid? Bummmerr

sounds like a good jump.

your story sucks. you just made dropzone.com's forums a little shittier. . .