Ow.

[CornishChris 5]

So I hurt quite a lot after my one jump yesterday and spectacularly poor landing. My right shoulder has limited movement without pain, my neck is stiff as a bitch and I twisted my right ankle. The picture:

Windy day down in Picton. Just about to get on the load when they called a break to see what the wind was doing. After 30 mins we get a 5 min call and so off I go. My first mistake I feel - I, on just under 50 jumps, should have grounded myself in these conditions - just because I can jump doesn't mean I should.

Anyway great free-fall, just a solo but great to get out in the fresh air. Dumped at 3K, control check then turn into wind to see what my ground speed is - not good, going backwards. Turn back and head on the extremely long trip back to the DZ. A about 1K (feet) I am still not over the motorway that lies next to the DZ and not going as quckly as the wind would have had me think - the rig I am jumping has a shitty glide plane. I start to worry that I am not going to make it back the landing area with sufficient time to turn into wind (or at all) - but I don't want to try for an off landing on the other side of the M-way (as Jasmines central reservation landing is singing in my ears) as is my backwards movement when facing into wind - I did not fancy landing on the M-way either. So I decide to go for landing area.

Come over landing area at about 200 feet (big motorway then some crappy bushes etc.), I turn into wind by about 20-30 feet and in panicked state start to flare straight away. Canopy stops all forward moveent abut 10 feet off the ground - backwards movement starts. I hold legs together and try a sort of backward plf. Bang. Bounce. Bang. Ow. Oh good, now I am being dragged backwards by the canopy - just what I need. Finally got it under control and had time to catch my breath - after hopping madly after canopy for 50 metres - just glad that didn't land on other side as hopping across motorway with errant canopy probably not good.

Felt pretty shit all yesterday - kind of sick but put this down to minor shock - and badly banged. Have chiro appointment tomorrow to ensure no major damage done.

Lessons learnt:

1. If in doubt, don't.
2. Get some canopy training - I know that you can improve glide with a bit of rear riser but no sure exactly how.
3. Flare lower and less in higher winds

I feel now that there is not a great deal more I could have done in the situation that I was in and I walked away with bruised body & ego so not all bad. Just wanted to share with you.

Anyway I will be grounded for a week or two until ankle, shoulder & neck all recover.

Blue Skies, light to moderate winds.

CJP

CJP

Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people

[ThighMan 5]

First, you are alive, congradulations. Second, "Second Rule in Skydiving: Better to wish you where in the air while on the ground than wishing you where on the ground while in the air." Just remember this the next time you see the winds like there where. And more importanly, if you see someone with low time experience, you might want to pull them aside, alone, and say, "I remember ..." Mentoring, it goes a long way.

Airborne
Blue Skies, No Wind
Feet and Knees Together

[Michele 1]

Hi, Chris...really glad you're o.k....I have a concern, however...

Quote

1. If in doubt, don't.
2. Get some canopy training - I know that you can improve glide with a bit of rear riser but no sure exactly how.
3. Flare lower and less in higher winds

Where the heck does "DON'T TURN AT 20-30 FEET" or "LAND OUT" come in there? How about taking a downwinder, even if it's hauling ass?

Thanks for sharing your experience. And sorry if I come across harsh...but I am really getting sick of people turning low to avoid taking a downwind...

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[CornishChris 5]

Michelle

I apprecaite any comments - even if they are harsh. I had "no low turns" drilled into me as much as any student - on the last day of my AFF a lovely girl called Vicki did a low turn to avoid landing in the car park and broke her C4 - she has not moved from the neck down since. I am still in touch with her regularly.

I turned in brakes from about 200 feet and was into wind at 20-30. It was a slow turn and I was prepared to take a landing at whatever direction I had come to by about 40 feet. The wind was doing about 20 which is why I took the decision to turn in. My mind was awash with 'do not turn too low' but for me it was the best option available. I honestly feel I would be in a worse situation had I made any other decision. Immediately after I landed I spoke to several people on the DZ and not one chastised me for the turn being too low. The banging was more due to the shitty landing than turning too low.

Land out - I explained that I felt that attempting an off landing was likely to put me more than likely on a motorway than actually off as I had backwards movement into wind. This decision was made at c. 900-1000 feet.

Thank you for your advice - it is much appreciated.

CJP

CJP

Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people

[robskydiv 0]

Brother, your'e going to have to flare at a lower altitude toward he ground. (It seems like) You'll know how much lower with experience. Harry

[andy2 0]

[QUOTE]Oh good, now I am being dragged backwards by the canopy - just what I need.[/QUOTE]

I was under the impression pulling on one side of the risers, rear or front, will collapse the canopy in high winds. Of course, if its abnormally high winds, cut away, and chase your canopy after your stable. This is things you do once you're ON THE GROUND, not during the landing process. Am I getting this stuff correct? Thanks.

---------------------------------------------
let my inspiration flow,
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm...

[racer42 0]

Glad to here you are OK. Did something similar last year in April and ended up with a nasty open fracture. Nine months of recovery and a lot of time to think. You have a list of lessons learned I see....so do I. This is a very unforgiving sport sometimes. The hardest thing for me to do is walk away from a jump, but you are right just cause you can doesn't me you should. Have fun, be safe!!

L.A.S.T. #24
Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team
Electric Toaster #3
Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor
Co-Founder Team Happy Sock

[Casch 0]

I believe you're right, if in high winds you should plan on PLF'ing and as soon as you are safely on the ground, do a hard toggle turn to try and collaps the canopy if it's still in the air above you, or you can pull on the front risers. Once it's on the ground, run to it. If the winds pick up and they're dragging you across the field towards any dangerous obstacles (i.e. a busy road ) I think your best bet is to cut it away. Better to have to chase it down than to have it drag you into traffic. But all this is easily avoidable with good judgement and even better self control.

[bch7773 0]

don't feel bad man... im sure everyone has to have one hard backwards landing before they learn the lower flare in high winds. It happened to me too this weekend... thank god for my butt, or my back probably woulda been hurting.

One thing I learned from the instructors is, if the winds are high, after you open and check the canopy, disconnect your RSL. That way, if you are getting drug by the wind, you can cut away without the reserve popping out. In fact, on the same jump that the instructor told us this, one of my friends was being drug backwards and he cut away.
its better to chase a canopy down then it is to have it dragging you, damaging the rig and possibly you.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[Quincy 0]

Quote

My mind was awash with 'do not turn too low' but for me it was the best option available.

It's amazing how many people don't know about, or, how to perform a 'flat turn.' For everyone who stays in this sport, at some point in time, it can be a bone/life saving technique. Performance Designs has a great article covering low turns and flat turns on their web site. http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/98_low.pdf
If nothing else, you should go to their Home page, select 'Support' then 'Education.' They have a number of other great articles offered there as well. The next time you're in the air, practice them. Learn how they feel. Sooner or later, you'll be in another situation where you're low and want/need to turn. Doing it instinctively will quite literally save your day.

Quincy
C-32880
Coach

[lurch 0]

Jeez, I use flat turns every time I want to turn but don't want to sacrifice any real altitude or position, even up high, and especially when coming in on final in iffy winds. I'm still a lousy judge of final and tend to overshoot/underestimate my glide, but far better to overshoot than turn hard, chop through my last 200 feet, and eat it. I had top notch instruction.

Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

[Quincy 0]

Quote

I use flat turns every time I want to turn but don't want to sacrifice any real altitude or position, even up high

Perfect situations for the use of the flat turn.

Quote

I had top notch instruction.

Yes you did...!!!... More should have the same kind...

[CornishChris 5]

I did do a flat turn - it was the crap flaring too high that caused the injury. Anyway I saw a chiropractor and I have torn some of the muscles in my shoulder and I have whiplash in my neck. Nothing too serious.

Why is it that the first question skydivers always ask when they injure themselves is : "When will I be able to jump again?"

Blue Skies.

CJP

CJP

Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people

[JoHawley 0]

Just consider yourself lucky and try not to jump before you are feeling confident and well again. I am trying to take that advice myself. I landed badly on a runway recently and was gutted that I had scuffed my brand new rig and helmet and am really frustrated to be grounded. I have a dodgy foot and know I should let it heal properly before I jump again. I was feeling annoyed about all this, then a mate of mine had an off landing and broke his back and leg. He will be ok, but will be out for a while, but it certainly put my own woes into perspectives!
Take care. Hope you have a speedy recovery.
Jo

[DYEVOUT 0]

Quote

I was under the impression pulling on one side of the risers, rear or front, will collapse the canopy in high winds.

I was taught to reel in a steering line - the toggles are already in your hands, just reel one in. This pulls the tail of the canopy towards you, and deflates it. Unfortunately, I've been on a load (student) when the ground wind cranked up during the ride to alt., and needed this advice - it works.

----------------=8^)----------------------
"I think that was the wrong tennis court."