Pammi

LOL!! You're cracking me up Diva! I had to get Cyber to fix mine for me...I looked all squished when I tried to do it!

Speedracer- You're right, I *am* a new person to skydiving, however, I wasn't just talking about myself. The guy coaching me and I had a discussion about this just last weekend actually and he said he always gets checked and checks others' in the plane that allow him to. He's got over 2000 jumps. I'm not saying that it probably doesn't happen on occassion, but I think I'm still safe in saying that people, at our DZ at least, are more apt to get checks then not. After all, while sitting there all day waiting for my jump, I don't have much else to do but sit and study the 'skygods' on how they do things :) Pammi (Oh, and if you only want to hear from 'experienced' skydivers, you shouldn't say "I'd like to hear comments from everyone..." and I'll know to hush up. I was only honoring your request by saying what I see at our DZ, the same as you gave YOUR observations.)

Out of curiousity, why? That's just how I was taught for the student canopies I've jumped by the DZO...how he prefers them.

Hmmm...I think I hurt my ankle, um....stepping off a curb. Yeah, that's it!

I thought she only had bruising and swelling to her face? But then, I only read the first article that was on the 'no comment' thread...didn't realize she'd been hurt that badly. Even the most experienced people make mistakes too. If I have an accident and hurt someone while in my car, I would feel bad enough without being thrashed by others for my mistake. Like when I rolled my vehicle while passing another one on a slick road...absolutely stupid move on my part I see in hindsight assuming the roads were just wet and getting in a hurry. Thank heavens I didn't take out the other car in the process, but if I had, I certainly would've known exactly what a dumba** I was without someone from the outside who wasn't there pointing out what I did wrong. I wouldn't be so presumptious as to try to say what might have happened...whether it was something unforeseen that the diver was unable to control, he was 'in over his head', or who knows what else without knowing the full story directly from him. I also don't think I'm experienced enough to be judgmental of anyone's abilities, and actually don't think I ever will be...it's an entirely personal issue that we all have to deal with and preferably, not get others hurt/involved in the process. We're humans, we screw up and hopefully we don't hurt anyone in the process and learn from it. I feel for her and her family and hope the diver DID learn something from what happened.

Not going to end up on any of those 'The Girls of Spring Break' vids are ya? I'm sure the guys here will want to hear about it if you do Have fun!

Are you daisy-chaining the lines? Other then that, you just wad it up and carry it back

Actually, everyone is pretty good at our DZ about doing gear checks for each other. I even do them on occassion *gasp*

Jumpergirl I'm with you...without getting into how the thing happened...it's hilarious to watch *grin* Pammi

I agree Diva...I took some severe pride thrashing when Merrick got off student status in 14 jumps (IAD) and I'm still getting coached now at 18! But I've gotten used to it and I can still land closer then he can *grin* (and even on my feet lately! lol!) It's sssooo incredibly nice to be able to share that with the person closest to you! Plus, you always have someone to talk to about it without their eyes glazing over! Congrats Matt...I'm sure you guys will have a ball together! Pammi

There's actually people who can see without poking their eyeball? Amazing! I've been wearing contacts since 8th grade, so it's just a given for me. I am not unlucky enough to be like you, though, Freaksis with the hard ones. Merrick finally got contacts just a few months ago after I kept telling him how much nicer it is then glasses under a helmet and such, but had to also get those hard ones because of his stigmatism. Those are so thick! My eyesight is pretty bad, but I still have soft ones, plus the throw away kind that you can dump after a couple of weeks if you want or need to. It's great, because I can always carry a spare set with me to the DZ, just in case! It also is nice for if you spend a lot of time in smoky places and it builds up on them, you can dump them after a while. A real lifesaver when I was working part-time bartending! Pammi

Well Lummy and BW, I don't know how to explain exactly where I am in a standard progression

Kick a**! Glad you had a good time Skreamer! I'm supposed to work on some flips this weekend myself...although I'm not sure why. They say it's so they can see me unstable then get back stable...I haven't been truly stable since I started for gawd's sake! LOL! Although I can track already...what fun! Pammi

I have to agree with you Zennie...pretty lame comment there. It gave me a chuckle though picturing it though. Pammi

I've discovered that I will jump in much colder weather then I thought. Hey, after 5 months of no jumping, you'll do just about anything! I'm trying to get in there before all the students start pouring in within another month or so. Even now it's hard enough catching a load with the ones already showing up! Except for one person I know who got three two weekends ago and 4 last weekend..... But hey...at least I'm back in the air! Woohoo! And now, with my new jumpsuit being made, a helmet and gloves...bring it on! (And if I'm lucky, maybe I'll get to jump my rig this weekend or the next!) Pammi

I get what you're saying Diva. It's something I hadn't thought of before. Heaven forbid something should happen from you skydiving, could there be legal repercussions I wonder? And I agree with the forgetfullness factor! I swear I had a 'normal' memory before my two kids! Now I wrote notes all over my hands! I'd love to have a child with Merrick but I don't think I have any more brain cells to kill off! (Plus I think I'm in my 'selfish' phase where skydiving just sounds more fun to me...it's hard enough getting out to the DZ as much as I'd like with two older kids!) Pammi

There's a guy at our DZ who hurt himself a couple of months ago on a bad landing and had to have surgery on his ACL (and something else to..don't remember). He tried doing a skydive last weekend, under a student canopy even, landed really well, but was trying to hold up the injured leg a bit then ended up stepping forward onto it for balance. He just basically fell over. Now I think he's going to be out for even longer then it would've been had he not tried to start again to early. Take care of yourself while it's a little colder then you'll be ready to go when it's warmed up! Pammi

I think I'm going to make even better friends with our camera man..just in case! Geez! Along the lines of the falling unconscious...how many tandem passengers actually go unconscious do you suppose? I hear that it sometimes from the leg straps being a bit too snug or something..but we had one last week and I don't think it was the straps...I believe that he went as soon as they exited the plane almost. Guess that means they won't be coming back eh? Thank goodness they didn't do AFF! Pammi

Thanks much lummy...I'll try that! Pammi

How'd you get a pic of me? ROFL! Pammi

Oh gawd Zennie...you live in Houston?? You are maniacs down there! I've only been down there once for work and was driven from the airport to the office by another employee...thank heavens! They finally told me to close my eyes and shut up because I was about to freak out. Absolutely insane..I don't think I could handle driving there. They asked hubby and I if we would consider moving to Houston with the companies we work for (I work for a company who works for the company he works for...get it? LOL). We gave a definate "No!" to that one! Humidity and crazy drivers!

LOL! Yeah, I def'ly hear 'arch harder' a lot! I think you hit the nail on the head with me, though, that relaxation will help me out in all ways. Here's the deal...after FINALLY getting up to altitude 3 jumps ago...first one was a very violent spin. I was pretty nervous because this was my first freefall after my low-pull, and second jump after not having gone for 5 months or so. So...extreme stiffness I'm sure. So this last weekend, got video and did two more jumps, this time more of a two-way sort of exit with my coach/JM. We went out with him holding on to me in an AFF sorta way while he worked around me helping me with my form. The first one you can see how friggin flat I am and fairly tense, but better. Second (next day) was quite a bit better, more relaxed therefore a bit more arched (but still a very slow fall from still being more flat then I should be). Moral I guess is that I think with me relaxation will help the arch which will help the spin and all will be good! I've gotten over my low-pull scare I think (plus the stress of worrying that I'd do such a thing again as not look at my alti enough! That won't happen! Even pulled on time in my violent spin.) so relaxation is getting easier :) Pammi

So where is the best place to find the t's? There are some you guys have mentioned on here I've never seen!

Thanks Shark! That's what I keep hearing, is that they are really great at improving your track and turns (hopefully my unplanned turns will stop first before I use them

I put a post under 'patch jumpsuits' on the other thread for these guys. Not meaning to sound like an ad, but they are good...their suits are a bit higher then I originally intended to pay, but I figure I paid more then that for a wedding dress and prom dresses in high school, and I'll be wearing this way more! LOL! (they are about $190-$250 US dollars on average) Gotcha Covered Pammi