Time between jumps

[Slappie 9]

Let me start by saying "I know this has been brought up before" So don't even start to tell me "Search the forums" This is personal to me at this time so I wanted to share it.

This is kinda a split off from another thread where I answered an put in a comment about not jumping.

I haven't jumped from an airplane since July 20th 02` was a sit-jump with Ramon an I did ok. Ramon has other words for it Anyways, I have no real reason for not jumping except maybe money (lame) or weather wasn't always nice / condusive to jumping on a weekend when I had money and wanted to jump. I've been thinking very hard about my reasons for not jumping. I haven't lost the "want" to jump I've lost the motivation to get out to the DZ. I think the last time I was even out to Spaceland was for the JFTC benefit party. I know I have friends at the DZ ect... I really have no answers. I will get back in the air this year for sure. I dont make alot of money, just like alot of other people on these forums. It took me awhile to even purchase my rig. (big thanks to Greg B at Spaceland who let me pay him off alittle at a time) I still don't own a main. I have a loaned Sabre170. Which will soon have to find it's way to Scotland along with an Xbox an some other stuff Nacmacfeegle left with me when he went back to the mother country. No cypress either. I have no problems jumping without the cypress. I'll get one when I get back in the air. I guess I'm kinda rambling

I would also like to know about storage of my rig. It's been packed since the last jump. I took the pilot chute out of the BOC so it doesn't get a memory, but what about the main? How should I do it. I know the reserve is out of date an needs a repack and airing out.

I think reading about the Eloy "Gathering" made me start thinking more about not jumping. I could have made the trip. I didn't, I was afraid of not being able to jump with everyone else. GF would have been at home without me ect... I'm sure she wouldn't have cared much. Would've gotten alot of tongue lashing about going without her. She loves the skydiving community too. She doesn't jump but she supports me 110% with my jumping. Never really nagged much about going to the DZ every weekend. Money was involved also. (another lame excuse) I could have scrounged up a couple hundered for the trip. So I sit here wishing I had made the trip. I had alot of friends who showed up there.

What I want to know is how long was it you've gone without a jump? Why? and What got you back into the sport? You can send me PM's if you wish.

Thanks all for reading this.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[SpeedRacer 1]

Yeah, I'm the same way. Last time I jumped was I think September. I can only get out to the DZ on weekends, and there are always so many other activities/ family stuff to do, especially during the summer, that skydiving is just one of many things. I went to the DZ in October but they had retired their King Air for the cold months, & only had a little Cessna, and they had booked it all up for the day for students. And now it's too damn cold to jump. We got 4 inches of snow yesterday. You'd think since I'm unemployed I'd just fly to Florida & jump every day, but I don't feel comfortable doing that 'til I've got a job lined up. WTF sometimes life just gets in the way.

Speed Racer
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[nacmacfeegle 0]

2 1/2 years out due to femur injury and complications (it didn't heal). I guess I never lost the urge to jump, and playing with video editing kept my interest up.

As long as the gear is stored in a cool, dry, dark place (next to your wallet?) she should be okay, but make sure she is absolutely dry before you stash her. Better still is to unpack both the main and the reserve, and the PC, then bundle all the shit into a cardboard box, then seal it all up.

Aha, but I have a better suggestion, sell the steenkin' Xbox, and use the loot to get current again. I don't have the time or the inclination to make proper use of it, its served its purpose by keeping me out of Houston bars, so its more than paid for itself.

I was joshing with you about that sabre, I can't see me needing it till spring time, which is still a couple of months away here.....

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[sinker 0]

I appreciated your post, slap! For me, I chose to stop jumping in 96 when my wife got pregnant w/ our first child and she wanted to buy a house. I couldn't justify the expense at the time as well as the fact that I had only 30 jumps at the time, was still learning and couldn't afford a cypres. I told myself and my wife I'd return to the sport when we could afford ALL the gear that would make it as safe as possible. Wife completely supports me, which is awesome. She's done a tandem herself and, although she says jumping ain't her thing, she understands how important it is to me. So now, we have plan that for every credit card we pay off, I get to buy a new rig component. The first, a main, will be bought shortly. I was at Eloy spectating over Christmas and it totally reignited my love for this sport! I can't wait to get back N2D-SKY!

-the artist formerly known as sinker

[wmw999 2,589]

I've been there too, and just started jumping again last year after a long layoff. Made maybe 100 jumps 1984-1988, 2 in 1993, and then none until 4/2001. I was real active until 1984.

Skydiving won't go away just because you're not there. I don't regret the time I spent away from the sport, and I'm glad I'm back. As far as gear storage, I jumped my 1982 Rapid Transit Mirage with equally aged main and reserve until getting new(er) gear this September; no problems with storage or anything else.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[AggieDave 6]

You need a change of pace/change of scenery. That's what it took for me when I got burned out, it was due to the environment I was in at the DZ I was at. Take a trip and go to Waller, come up here to Aggieland, or to ASC or San Marcos or Dallas, or somewhere you've always wanted to jump. Meet some new people and have some fun jumps. That's what motivated me again a couple years ago.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[skymama 37]

I stopped jumping after 26 jumps for 7 months. At that point I had both an accident and then a cutaway, and I thought maybe I was one of those people who shouldn't jump. But every day I would look at the sky and judge the conditions, I started lurking on dz.com and I bugged my friend who got me into jumping to tell me about his weekend at the dz every week. Finally he said to me, "Andrea, just go jump out of the fucking plane again, you know you can do it." So, I did. And 200 jumps later, I haven't had any problems except a few landings that hurt my pride more than anything else.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Pammi 0]

That's very thoughtful of you Nac.

[Slappie 9]

I have to say Nac I would never think of selling your property. That's yours. I'll get back in the air this spring maybe sooner. Right now I need to get up the motivation to drive out an get my rig packed an up to date.

Thanks all for your help. I want to say I have thought of quiting skydiving. Deep down inside I can't I want that freedom you get from leaving the plane knowing your the only one in the world who can save your own life. Once you make the commitment to jump it's all on your shoulders from that moment on an no one or nothing is going to save you except for your training an gear.

Keep up the stories an pm's! I've got the itch.. Have had it since July 14th 01 (first tandem) Just need to nudge it back into the air..

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[wmw999 2,589]

Get Bill Lee to pack your reserve and hang out at his loft while he does it. Bring him a six-pack. Ask him what night there will be the most company around. It'll be well worth it, and remind you of some of the other people reasons you skydive.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)