Safe jumping with newbies

[Jessica 0]

I've just recently started jumping with people who have less experience than me (mostly because before there wasn't anyone with less experience than me). It's really gotten me thinking about safety issues in a way I haven't before, because most of my jumps have been with people of my experience level, or people with a lot more experience than me. I'm not used to being the one who supposedly knows what she's doing.

I'd like some tips on staying safe when working with low-timers.

For example, I was jumping with a low-time jumper who was a LOT bigger than me. On one jump, he wanted to practice swooping, so I said okie dokie, and I left first and watched him do his thing. Oh my GOD he hurtled at me at a million miles an hour. I got out of his way, then on the ground we talked about how to slow down before reaching the formation.

Before we jumped, I had made a point of telling him he'd better not smack into me, but I was mostly kidding because I assumed he had the skill, at around 40 jumps, to control a swoop. That was stupid, because I remember now that *I* certainly couldn't do a nice swoop at 40 jumps.

Is that the key? To assume someone doesn't know what they're doing until you'e jumped with him and he proves otherwise?

Another example. On the first jump I did with him, I set breakoff at 4.5K. He suggested 4K. I said no, it's 4.5K. We jumped, he practiced forward movement and docking on me, then at 4.5, as I was about to wave off, he zoomed at me and grabbed my arm. Pissed off, I shook him off and turned and tracked. On the ground, he told me he'd forgotten I wanted to break off at 4.5.

This kind of spooked me, cause this guy is obviously a lot stronger than me. What if he'd held on? I can't think of a reason why he would, but I guess people can freak out and do crazy things. What do you do in a situation like that?

Just some ramblings from someone who wants to jump with newbies, but keep herself safe doing it.

Skydiving is for cool people only

[Jiggs 0]

Throw the pilot chute at him, that will get his attention

In all seriousness the only thing is to talk about the jump before hand and have some sort of plan. Making sure they stick to the plan is of course another matter

"Don't blame malice for what stupidity can explain."

"In our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart and in our despair, against our will comes wisdom" - Aeschylus

[TomAiello 26]

It may not really apply on skydives, but our rule for multiway safety is:

Worry about everyone with less experience than you.

So, the most experienced guy on the jump has to stay out of everyone else's way. The least experienced jumper just has to do the same jump he'd do as a solo.

Then, the most experienced jumper gets to make the call as to whether the jump proceeds. If he's not happy, he calls it, and we break down into smaller jumps until the most experienced jumper on each jump is satisfied with the safety/difficulty of that jump.

To translate into your situation, I guess that would mean that you (as the most experienced jumper) have to be confident that you can safely stay away from a potentially zooming newbie. Otherwise, call it, and do it later, when you are more confident in your ability to avoid the collision. That way, it's entirely dependent on the variable you control (your skill), rather than the one you can't (his skill).

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[tigra 0]

Jessica,

You did the right thing by keeping the dive small. You were able to watch him and get out of his way. AND, later, although he didn't pay attention to break off altitude (bad) he got the point when you shook him off, which was good.

You are right to be concerned about safety, especially when you are jumping with people you don't know. But, there is nothing wrong with giving someone the benefit of the doubt and making a jump with them. People did this for you, and its a way of giving back to the sport. (I'm thinking small RW, not FF here....) If things go wrong on the jump and you have some safety concerns, then you need to address them in the debrief. And, if you weren't comfortable with his/her performance in the air, OR his/her answers/attitude on the ground during the debrief, you might need to make a decision not to jump with him/her til he gets a little more experience. Or, if the person seems genuinely concerned, recognizes the mistake and seems willing and able to learn from it, give him another chance. Again, keeping the dive small (like a 2 way) and putting yourself in a control position on the dive.

Does that make sense??

Another thing to do, before you go on the dive, is talk to the AFF/AFP jumpmasters if you can. If they know the person you'll be jumping with, they might be able to tell you things to look out for, so you'll be prepared. I've had jumpmasters caution me about EXPERIENCED jumpers I was jumping with when I was the newbie.

Good luck with it!

maura

[coconutmonkey 0]

Jumping with lo jumpers can be a great time if you put a little thought and planning into the jump.
1. Assess the skill level of the jumper(s). Know what kind of experience they have and what skills they need to work on.
2. Plan the dive together. Make it something which everyone can learn from with the priority being the basic skill building drills. (fall rate is a good way to start with a new group) Select a reasonable exit and break off. Review the landing pattern. Spend some time talking about what to do when the whole thing goes to hell and where are the decision altitudes. Emphasize that if they want to continue to jump with you, then the group sticks to the plan and look to you for any emergency changes on the fly.
3. Rehearse the dive. Run through the entire dive from loading the plane to the review on the ground afterwards.
4. Safety, safey, safety! Double check gear checks and emergency procedures. Keep you eyes open and watch out. Make sure everyone is clear that everyone landing safe is better than making one point on a jump.
5. Have fun! otherwise, what's the point?
When you're the senior jumper in a group of lo kids, you pretty much assume duties as a coach for the group by default.

Hearts & Minds
2 to the Heart-
1 to the Mind-
Home of the Coconut Lounge, Spa, & Artillery Range

[ernokaikkonen 0]

>I'd like some tips on staying safe when working with low-timers.

Feel confident.

If you're not sure you can take anything the low-timer can throw at you, don't jump with him/her. Looks like you handled the jump with the big guy just fine; You managed to get out of the way of his swoop, and you managed to shake his grip off at break-off.

With your relatively low jump-numbers I wouldn't take a third newbie into the equation. If you wan't to jump bigger formations with lowtimers, try to get experienced people on the jump. You don't want two 200lbs guys holding on to you at breakoff-altitude...

In short: Keep the jumps small, be ready for anything, and have fun

Erno