Mad_Jasper

Yeah, it is great. On my AFF2, my bag got caught in a burble ( I think because my main side instructor didn't track away). I was about to go for the red handle when I saw my reserve side instructor hitting my bag over my shoulder. Needless to say, it was a very hard opening with quite a few line twist and a slight spin. I kicked them out to an awesome sunset and enjoyed the ride down. Best jump I've had so far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-7mQhSZRgM&feature=player_embedded

Straw man

Girls, less makeup puhleeze. I like the natural, kissed by the sun look.

Nah... my first marriage destroyed my soul years ago.

Politicians aren't serving the public, the public is serving them.

Been doing some thinking about it. I'll probably get someone, maybe a coach, to jump with me next time as I work on my fall rate. I'm thinking the most likely scenario was that I bent my legs too much and as I spread out to slow my fall rate, I didn't extend my legs. Having long legs and arms... I have to be very aware of their positions. I may have been a little complacent due to my recent successes.

I kinda see where you're coming from. Between weather and life, it's a bitch to find the time at a DZ that's only open weekends, and drive 110 mile to jump. I jumped last Sunday and dreaded the trip... until I actually got to the DZ... then I was glad I did. But I'm already stressin' on finding time and finances for the next jump. However, I'll have sex with my GF all weekend and it costs me is a dinner and a movie.

As a 17 jump student, I often misjudge my base and final due to changing wind conditions, canopy size (due to rental gear availabilty) and jump loads. I'm still amazed at how a 3-5 MPH wind variance can shorten/lengthen my final approach, but I'd hardly consider myself stupid. Inexperienced is a better word. Fortunately, I jump at SDA where I can stay clear of traffic. Even when I'm the first out, I'm often the last one down and rarely land in the main landing area. Smaller DZs don't afford me that luxury.

I got into a car accident when I was 21 (1992). Ruptured 3 disc (L2-L5). After a year of PT, I managed to be fairly active until March 2009. I was in constant pain and my spine would rarely straighten (lean to the left). My neurosurgeon told me I was "shit out of luck"... too many levels that needed to be repaired. The remaining disc had long degenerated and I had stenosis. One day, my ex-wife noticed a small lump in my back 1/2inch from L1. When I touched it, it was like a pain button throughout my lower back and legs. The orthrorpedic doctor and my neurosurgen played it down but being prone to lipomas and after a little research, I was able to convince the neurosurgeon to reluctantly give me an local anesthetic. Pain free for almost 24 hours. She refused to remove the lump, but I was able to get a general surgeon to remove it. It was deep enough to require going under, but once removed, I haven't had the slightest pain since. I felt better the night after surgery than I had in 18 years.

Did my 16th and 17th jumps today. I'm only able to do a couple a month because of my new job, divorce, etc. The only problem I've had is a slight spin that I worked out after jump 8. Anyway, I was practicing my rate of decent my moving my arms in and out. Nearing my 4500 ft pull threshold, I tumbled. Don't know why... didn't feel unstable. Actually felt very smooth and in control. I just tumbled, turned on my back for a brief moment, and righted myself. I pulled around 3800 and under full canopy at 3000. While not a big deal, I don't know what the hell I did wrong, thus I can't work on correcting the problem.

No, but there's a reason men don't usually hit their financial prime until around 40. Dad told me that if I had started jumping 15 years ago, I'd bounced by now. stupid is stupid, it doesnt matter how many years you have had to perfect it. edited to add: i am not disagreeing with you about the infallible 20something's, just that stupid doesnt have age limits.

Completed AFF last December at 38... the same day my dad did his first tandem on his 79th birthday. He'd love to do AFF1 just for the solo canopy ride, but not sure any DZs would accept him.

Mine does too... but she's only 9 so it ain't happening. So my goal is that by her 18th, she tandems with me.

The skies were there long before your girlfriend and will be their long after she's gone......

Missed you last weekend Don. Too cold for you? May go back Sunday if the weather is cooperative. Hope to see you.

Ted was rubbing my leg right before my graduation jump....

How many airports have the left or been forced out of?

I have and understand that the owners are frauds. We enjoy the crew and have become friends with most of them. That's really the only concern I have.

I hope this is not true. I know that ASC is not popular, but I've enjoyed the hell out of hanging around with those guys. Did my first tandem and AFF there. Plus, it's great to have a weekday off and drive up to jump. IF true, at the very least, I hope that the next occupant keeps most of the same guys around.

Completed AFF7 and a fun jump yesterday. I have a grapefruit sized bruise on my upper arm and I have no idea how I got it.

My last instructor at SDA wanted to me to do a practice jump to practice heading maintenance and turns. I tried for the last two weeks to get back up there but weather and other obligations were putting me in a situation that may affect my ability to maintain current. The family gave dad a tandem for his 79th birthday so dad and I decided to go to ASC for his tandem (SDA was closed). I also decided to do my practive jump and AFF7 (hopefully). After explaining the situation to my instructor, the decision was made to jump AFF7. I didn't argue. You know you had a great jump when the only thing the instructor logs is "Kickass skydive"!!!

http://www.albanyherald.com/home/headlines/79779737.html He had a great time!

Agreed. A back flip... easy. A 45 degree turn... not so easy.

I probably deserve it. After reflecting on it last night, I realized that I not only put myself in danger, I put my instructor in a position where he might not have been able to get to me had I lost stability. There's been more than one instructor that died trying to save students. I have to be smarter than that. I'm physically paying the price today. I had a hard opening, probably because I didn't give myself enough time to slow before pulling. I feel like I had the hell beat out of me yesterday.