Do you think someone who wants to jump only a few times a year, should even bother?

[Nightingale 0]

hey, that's just me, right now. Maybe later on, I'll feel more comfortable going longer between jumps. I was just commenting on how I feel, for myself. Others need to do what makes them comfortable.

[VanillaSkyGirl 6]

Kris, honey, I hope that my response didn't come across as harsh. :( I just wanted to share that as more time goes by, you will feel more comfortable, even if you don't jump every weekend or even every other weekend. In a perfect world, jumping every weekend would be all of our preference, wouldn't it? ;)

[meatmissile 0]

I have just over 300 jumps and I jump about 20 times a year now, due to time constraints and distance to the nearest DZ. I also have other interests like flying and extreme bagel eating.

I jump an elliptical canopy at a medium wingloading.

To my learned colleauges out there who would have me (and other people in the same situation) do tandems only, I respectfully submit that your opinions are as farts into the wind. I know I am a safe skydiver. Carelessnes and over-confidence is what causes accidents.

I hate wize-asses. (en snotkop skygod laaities)

If I wanted a 100 percent safe sport I would have taken up macrame.

--
ZZZzzzz....

[JVig 0]

Why give a shit what anyone else thinks??? Just follow your heart and be safe.

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Just remember.....if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

[jlmiracle 7]

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If that's all they want to do, they should just do tandems. Only jumping a few times a year is very dangerous.

Judy

I never did a tandem until after I had over 500 jumps. In fact my first jump was a solo jump from 3200'. There are few instances where somebody should be forced to do a tandem as opposed to any other type of jump.

I did my first tandem as a passenger with over 500 jumps. The question/poll was very vague. I took it as if someone wants to skydive (start) and only WANTS make a few (2-3) jumps per year, then I suggested a tandem, as to 5-7 hours of training each time you show up at the dz. There is a big difference between only wanting to make a few jumps a year and only able to make a few jumps a year.

Judy

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[jlmiracle 7]

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I think what some of us are having a problem with is that some people are so elitist that they would ectually treat someone as unwelcome just because they are only able to make a few jumps a year (insert your definition of a few here).

And most of us seem to think that as long as a person plays by the currency and safety rules, they should be welcomed into the sport with at least a little kindness. At least they are jumping and not looking at us wondering why on earth we are not touching the earth..

There is a difference between someone who ONLY WANTS to jump a few times a year and those who are just unable (financially, time, injury, family) to make a few jumps a years.

Again, as I interpreted the questions, I thought it was for someone who wants to skydive (start) and only make a few (2-3) jumps per year. Now if we are talking about a fun jumper (licensed) as long as you do a refresh, if you are uncurrent by the USPA standards, and don't fly a small canopy.


I have no problem with expecting anyone who has been away from jumping for exteneded periods of time having to follow recurrency rules, and as long as they are willing to do so, then I think we should welcome them to the DZ at least. We should ecnourage them in the few jumps they do each year. Maybe by doing so we might actually inspire them to come out more. Who knows? I am just speculating here anyway.

There is a difference between someone who ONLY WANTS to jump a few times a year and those who are just unable (financially, time, injury, family) to make a few jumps a years.

Again, as I interpreted the questions, I thought it was for someone who wants to skydive (start) and only make a few (2-3) jumps per year. Now if we are talking about a fun jumper (licensed) as long as you do a refresh, if you are uncurrent by the USPA standards, and don't fly a small canopy.

What I've seen as a problem, alot of people think they are the exception to the rule as far a currency and shouldn't have to pay or even do the recurrency jump.


Judy

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[Faber 0]

how much is a few times a year? i had 37 skydives last year,and i can still do the same(after abit repractice) any day you want me to.

I use skydive as a playground and a place to practice to BASE. and i see no problem.

I really think its up to the person and the instructors at a dz to deside if a jumper needs to get a breef or so.If people want to jump 1 time a month then let them,as long they aint in danger to them self or others..

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[Faber 0]

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those why fly with less that 400 jumps at 1.5 and jump maybe 10 a year are those that scare me.

it wouldnt be safer if they had 1000jumps,loading your canopy while you aint current to it will give trouble one day,no matter that you have 1 or 1000000000000000jumps.If people just would realize when they cross the danger zone called winload.

i sure miss my xfire99 but i never going under 135 by the status i jump now

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[Unstable 9]

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sure miss my xfire99 but i never going under 135 by the status i jump now

Good move dude........ There was a fair-weather jumper from Salina who jumped maybe 4 times a year, flew a Velociy somewhere around 1.8 with less than 500 jumps...... this is the scary shit...

=========Shaun ==========

[Faber 0]

mate its that simple..i cant run it up anymore after a acsident at this time i flyes a Omni 149 which seems to be a great canopy to me at this time,but i sure miss my swooooooooops(i dont swoop anymore as it just will give me the speed that i cant run up.)

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[sdgregory 0]

Judy,

I agree. I have seen a few times on here that someone has seen a person get pissy about having to do recurrency jumps. I just think that whether you are just a person who only wants to jump 3 or 4 times a year or someone who is only able to jump 3 or 4 times a year, if you are WILLING TO FOLLOW currency rules and fly conservative canopies, you should be allowed to jump. Hey it is your money. I do think that if you expect to not have to do recurrency jumps then you should pick up bowling. You know the rules concerning safety and currency and youhave to folow them just like everyone else. (You being the person who only jumps three or four times per year.) Not you personally.

Of course this is all probably void if the person shows blatant disregard for the safety of others. We do have a responsibility to look out for one anothers safety by being aware of our surroundings and being safe.

[CrazyThomas 0]

I was going to write something longer, and more idiotic, but I will keep it short and idiotic.

my mis-informed, misguided opinion?

Currency leads to complacency.

look at accidents vs. jump numbers, and maybe some interesting stats will arise.


later,
Thomas

[PhreeZone 20]

Duh.. .the times you do something the higher the chances are of screwing it up. If I never skydive I can't get hurt doing it. If I do it once i can only get hurt that one time, if I do it 1000 times I risk getting hurt each time.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[quade 4]

Actually Phree, he does have a point.

When people do something several times with the same results, it trains the brain to expect it to turn out the same way.

If you were sitting in front of me I could demonstrate this to you in as few as 10 seconds.

There is also a problem of incrementally putting yourself in a very dangerous position over time.

For instance, a skydiver takes one short cut packing, lives to tell the tale and continues to use that shortcut until, for him, it's SOP. Then he finds another shortcut, then another. Eventually, he has changed his procedures enough so that they have no meaningful relationship to the manufacturer's procedures.

Then, he has a malfunction and wonders, "why?"

So, it's important that people continually review their emergency procedures and not get caught up in deviating too far from standard operating procedures.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Pammi 0]

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Currency leads to complacency.

look at accidents vs. jump numbers, and maybe some interesting stats will arise.

Good point. There are a lot of factors that can make one unsafe besides just currency as well. So should someone who has a balls-to-the-wall, I'm indestructable attitude be told to find a different sport? I consider them pretty unsafe as well. That's just one example.

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Why give a shit what anyone else thinks??? Just follow your heart and be safe.

Another good opinion. I really don't care if I'm stuck doing solos indefinately until our situation changes and I can jump more, no matter how long it takes. I'll never quit completely. Deal with it. I do it for fun, and it's always DAMN fun. Simple :) I'll stay as far as possible away from you if it concerns you, no problem. Yeah I want to be able to jump my ass off one day, and someday, I will. (and it has nothing to do with weather...I've jumped in January while it actually snowed in the airplane at altitude.)

Pam

[Malfunction 0]

One argument that has been touched on but never brought to the foreground is the fact that current jumpers have statistically as many injuries/fatalities as less current jumpers. There is no way to make this a completely safe sport unless everyone quits jumping. It is unnatural to get out of an airplane 13000 feet in the air, and it is just as unnatural to do it willingly. Injuries, Fatalities and Incidents will happen, no matter the currency or not. And to be completely honest, I am not the most current of jumpers (since it has been -10 degrees and snowing for the last few days), but it is some of the hot-shot current "experienced" jumpers that scare me...the ones with the "sky-God" attitude that go head down 20 feet from a deploying tandem ... experienced, current, and just plain stupid.

I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it.
- Voltaire

[jlmiracle 7]

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how much is a few times a year? i had 37 skydives last year,and i can still do the same(after abit repractice) any day you want me to.

I use skydive as a playground and a place to practice to BASE. and i see no problem.

I really think its up to the person and the instructors at a dz to deside if a jumper needs to get a breef or so.If people want to jump 1 time a month then let them,as long they aint in danger to them self or others..

I consider a few times to be 2-3 times.

The USPA has currency requirements which we follow. I don't care how good you think you are, if you are uncurrent you WILL be going through a refresher.

Judy

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[Faber 0]

in DK you´ll need min. 2 jumps per 6month,if you aint jumping more than that,then i think you will need a instructor by your site,and deafently needs a refresher

Stay safe
Stefan Faber