Shayna Richardson West back in news...

[dgskydive 0]

I guess the thing that bugged me the most and I think other jumpers as well, is that she was so shameless about asking for money.

Also, if you believe one version of the story. She and her boyfriend did everything that they should not have done. One version (that I happen to believe) is that her BF was on some sort of probation at his home DZ for not following the rules and then took her somewhere else and this happened.

I have seen many jumpers get hurt and none of them have begged money for there injuries. Most of them (if they are worthy) get help from there fellow jumpers and family. If they got hurt and werent offered help it was for a reason. Mostly because the caused there own problem and had most likely been told they shouldnt be doing what they where doing.

Old news I guess, but read through the other threads and make up your own mind.

Dom

[dgskydive 0]

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As to cutting away a premature brake release - good job on her. Students of that experience level are/should not be encouraged to extensively evaluate a malfunction.

I guess this part of your post should be in forum, but.... A brake release is not a malfunction. Pump your brakes. Everyone is taught that in the FJC. She also talked about hearing a "snap" I have had many brake releases and have never heard a snap when it happened. Has anyone else?

Dom

[airtwardo 7]

Please point out one thing wrong with the article in this thread.....

Probably the main thing that's wrong with the article in 'this' thread is the continued linking of her name/incident and the sport of Skydiving.

Most of us would never wish ill or injury on another person, especially a n00b or student.

What irks many in the community is the blatant disregard for common sense & safety that her SO/Instructor displayed in this instance, which was most certainly a factor leading up to the injury.

~then to follow up with a nation wide, major media buzz with the sole apparent agenda of passing the hat in order to pay for the damages from the event...just kinda leaves a bad taste overall for those of us that try to observe & practice minimum safety standards, as well as understand innately that skydiving is both dangerous AND a personal choice.

If someone were to jump out of an airplane oblivious to the fact each and every time they do that, there is a possibility of being seriously hurt or killed...and haven't made some kind of contingency plan to that end - they're an idiot in my opinion.

It's a matter of personal responsibility regarding the choices we make in life.

It's supposed to be:
~Pay your money and roll the dice...NOT roll the dice, lose, then ask someone ELSE to pay the money.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Baksteen 84]

Spence, I have, mainly the thread that was linked earlier in this one. I also tried searching, - but too much of what i found was along the lines of "fuck the bitch". It gets tiresome after a while

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I guess this part of your post should be in forum, but.... A brake release is not a malfunction. Pump your brakes. Everyone is taught that in the FJC. She also talked about hearing a "snap" I have had many brake releases and have never heard a snap when it happened. Has anyone else?

I agree, I did not choose my words carefully. I'm not advocating people should cutaway premature brake releases (if recognised as such), what I meant was that a student got into a situation she didn't recognise and acted accordingly.

In my FJC we were taught a litany:
Open
Square
Going Straight
Twist
Pump the brakes
Slider down
End cells open
Check handles
Check altitude
Check for other jumpers.

If you have to say "no" to any of the first three, you are to immediately cutaway. So I can imagine how a student would think that "My canopy is not going staight [anymore] - Cutaway NOW!"
One other thing, everyone is taught a LOT in FJC - and if I look at myself, a lot of that immediately went out of the window as soon as I went out of the plane. Point in case, I'm sure the batting signals were discussed in my FJC, but I don't remember the instructors talking about it. I never even knew someone was there to guide me in until I saw the video of my landing.


EDIT: As to the shameless begging thing, suppose you'd have an accident like that and no insurance.
That kind of surgery is sorta expensive.
Would you keep walking around with your deformities, hating what you see in the mirror everyday? Or would you perhaps do your damndest to get the surgery paid for in whatever way you could, with money from whomever was willing to make a donation?

"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

[dgskydive 0]

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As to the shameless begging thing, suppose you'd have an accident like that and no insurance.
That kind of surgery is sorta expensive.
Would you keep walking around with your deformities, hating what you see in the mirror everyday? Or would you perhaps do your damndest to get the surgery paid for in whatever way you could, with money from whomever was willing to make a donation?

I would not have handled it the way she did. Family, friends is the route I would have went if in that position. For me it comes down to personal responsibility. She chose to jump with no insurance and then wants others to help her pay for her injuries. Doesnt sit well with me. She should have either had the correct insurance of not made the jumps. Or excepted the responsibility and lived with her choice.

Dom

[JohnMitchell 16]

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Family, friends is the route I would have went if in that position. For me it comes down to personal responsibility. She chose to jump with no insurance and then wants others to help her pay for her injuries. Doesnt sit well with me. She should have either had the correct insurance of not made the jumps. Or excepted the responsibility and lived with her choice.

Sounds like you both would have someone else pay for it. She did it by selling her story, ad nauseum. You would simply beg off your friends and family.

A lot of people in this country have no insurance, yet get injured doing almost anything. It's a big problem. I still don't have much heartburn with Shayna. Sure, her story reflects poorly on our sport. But there is plenty of that around. The public eats it up, living vicariously, and the media can sell all their crap with those stories. It's Scott Lutz I want to meet in a dark alley.

[tbrown 26]

I think I'm in love....

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !