Swooping.... No Thank You!

[Jabeln79 0]

I know I am still considered a newbie to the sport i currently have 113 jumps all on a canopy loaded 1.1 or lower. And I just want to say that swooping is nothing to even consider for me. I geuss I had a reality Check this weekend when i ventured out of my home DZ for the first time. I went down to the Mardi Gras boogie at Gold Coast and for the first time saw the diffrences from a boogie to an average day at the DZ.
Until this weekend I had always wanted to give swooping a shot and couldnt wait to get enough jumps in to down size and give it a shot.. THat all changed on Sunday when about 50 yrds from me a swooper hooked it head first into the Ground. It appeared that he was cut off by another jumper but that dosent justify anything. Despite people saying that he was dead, THis person was very fortunate due to soft ground that he only broke his cheeck bone or socket. another broke bones swooping it in this weekend too..

I am not saying that swooping should be band but i am just trying to let all the other newbies out there know that swooping isnt a necessity and is very dangerous without the proper training and experience. I geuss im just trying to say that skydiving can be fun with out it. I land every jump on my feet and awalk away from them all so far.. KNock on wood. I just think that as some people go to the dz and progress in there jump numbers that they too want to rush into swooping. You dont have to youll still be a great skydiver with out the hook turns and the swoops. Im just saying this so hopefully i dont have to see another person hit the ground one was enough to wake me up. I realized that i am perfectly happy with my canopy size because i will be safe, i will land safe and i will get right back on the plane fo rthe next load.
Please think about it before you do it listen to you DZO and S& TA if they think your not ready yet then wait. Better to jump and land softly than jump for your last time.
Blue Skies
Joe
"When they say jump you say how high" RATM

[Zennie 0]

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skydiving can be fun with out it

Absolutely. And I think most skydivers share your view. At least by my rough count of the people I know at the DZs I frequent. I'd guess maybe 10 - 15% of the people probably ever seriously consider learning how to swoop. Sure lots of the non-swoopers are on moderately loaded ellipticals, but most land them straight in. At least from what I see. YMMV.
"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense."

[n2skdvn 0]

i saw it to jablen(i was standing next to ya ) the guy that got hurt should be dead the only thing that saved him was the verry wet ground he hit another jumper that saw it had been thinking of downsizing i had told him to get a copula hundred jumps on the one he just got after he saw the accident
he came to me and said i see what you mean now
know your canopy FIRST learn what it can do know how it flies in diffrent winds. Take your time this sport is fast enough
ya dont need to rush things
my .02 cents worth
its not my fault,my mind was not clear
its all because of the heineken beer......

[karel 0]

Joe,
I couldn't aggree more, year and half in sport and I have seen three jumpers hitting ground due to hookturns (one dead, two seriously injured).
This is what DZ owner in Empuriabrava says:
"HOOKTURNS & SWOOPING? - YOU MUST HAVE TALENT OR THOUSANDS OF JUMPS"
That's what every newbie should consider.
Karel

[MarcusV 0]

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"HOOKTURNS & SWOOPING? - YOU MUST HAVE TALENT OR THOUSANDS OF JUMPS"

... or 131 and named Clay!
blues Marcus
*scnr* Clay
--
Perfect speed, my son, is being there. - Jonathan Livingston Seagull

[karel 0]

sad but true

[skybytch 273]

I agree that hook turns and swoop landings aren't for everybody... and I think most everyone here already knows that I think you needs lots of canopy flying experience and some good training before attempting those type of landings yourself.
That said, I can understand why people want to do them - I pulled off a couple of surfs on a Safire that caused permagrin. pull and flare,
lisa
--
What would Scooby Doo?

[AndyMan 7]

Swooping is not for everyone.
My mother tells me that skydiving is very dangerous without proper training and experience. My mother also tells me that life can be fun without it. She says I can be a great person without jumping out of planes. She is perfectly happy with her non-skydiving life, and wonders why I need to skydive.
Now what makes what my mother said any different then what you just said?
_Am
ICQ: 5578907
MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com
Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

[3fLiEr 0]

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and couldnt wait to get enough jumps in to down size and give it a shot..

You dont need to downsize to start learning the basics....... why not try learning the basics on your bigger canopy where mistakes are not so serious....... you dont need loadings of 1.7 upward and elliptical swoop machines to learn about swooping...... you need to learn about canopy flight.......... read about Risksta Powell... he started learning on some big phuq off canopy....... and slowly downsized........ take it slow dont rush and always do it for yourself - NOT to look cool....... would you hook and swoop if you land off (area permitting) and there is no one to see......... if not - you should not be doing it........... take it easy and have fun
bsbd
bsbd
"In a world where we are slaves to gravity I am pleased to be a freedom fighter"

[base698 20]

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It appeared that he was cut off by another jumper but that dosent justify anything.

Sounds to me like the poor bastard was trying to avoid someone NOT trying to swoop. There is a difference. You ought to learn it before you get caught in the same situation and do the same thing.
Brake, flat turn, flare... it could save your life one day.

[Jabeln79 0]

no it was a swooper to
Blue Skies
Joe
"When they say jump you say how high" RATM

[Opie 0]

"My mother tells me that skydiving is very dangerous without proper training and experience. My mother also tells me that life can be fun without it. She says I can be a great person without jumping out of planes. She is perfectly happy with her non-skydiving life, and wonders why I need to skydive.
Now what makes what my mother said any different then what you just said?"
Quoted from AndyMan
and seconded by Opie.
Opie
If your not on the edge, you can't enjoy the view!

[freeflir29 0]

I have to admit...I'm hooked on Hookin! I didn't even jump yesterday because it was too windy to swoop. I hooked it Saturday and actually backed up about 30-40 ft during the turn. I don't even like to jump anymore when the winds are up. Landing has become such a fun part of the skydive that I don't want to jump without the surf. Talk about a junkie????
No, you don't need an elyptical HP canopy or even ZP to surf with the big dogs. In fact....I think I get more attention because people are so shocked to see a big canopy fly like that. I guess it isn't something you see every day. After I ripped a 40-50 footer at Rome the 1 tandem chic was all kinda impressed...LMAO......"I only have 133 jumps, so I don't know shit..right?"-Clay

[alan 1]

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Swooping is not for everyone.
My mother tells me that skydiving is very dangerous without proper training and experience. My mother also tells me that life can be fun without it. She says I can be a great person without jumping out of planes. She is perfectly happy with her non-skydiving life, and wonders why I need to skydive.
Now what makes what my mother said any different then what you just said?

Well said Andy, very well said. I hope your point doesn't get lost in the thread.
alan

[MrHixxx 0]

At 150 jumps, I thought I would never do CRW, Swoop, or freefly. I do them all now...
I agree. Swooping is definitely conducive to a strong inner grin. Like the sport itself skydive for enjoyment, pick another sport if you do it for exposure.
Swooping at a boogie in traffic to me is more of a judgment error, than a peril of the discipline. I favor more of a slow carving front riser setup that is quickly recoverable (and still generates a lot of speed), when there is traffic. Keep your options open.
-Hixxx
"Sus ma tub, Dr. Suess ma tub"

[diverds 0]

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At 150 jumps, I thought I would never do CRW, Swoop, or freefly. I do them all now...

CRW...maybe I can vouch for that on at least one occation. Swoop...well that depends on your definition of a swoop so I guess I will "cave" and give you that one too. But freefly? Sorry Hixxx but I gotta call "BULLSHIT" on that one. I was on the dive last weekend remember? I guess if you define freeflying as rolling around on your back out of control taking video of the sky rather then the sit-flyers...then yeah...your an awsome freeflyer. Maybe you can open your own school at the dropzone. You could call it "Hixxx's School of Freefly for the Vertically Challenged"...oops I guess thats Joe's school...never mind.
-Dave
"Gas...Undercarriage...Mixture...Prop...Beer"

[GrumpySmurf 0]

"as rolling around on your back out of control taking"
Maybe it should be called the 'Maytag School of Freefly' As in lay back and go into the spin cycle?
Hey maybe we have a taker for a medal in Men's Solo FreeStyle next year - just flail around and call it a routine?

[diverds 0]

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just flail around and call it a routine?

If thats what it takes to win, Hixxx will be the next Tiger Woods of skydiving. You should see his instability on exit...that alone should be enough to give him the gold.
-Dave
"Gas...Undercarriage...Mixture...Prop...Beer"

[rhino 0]

Damn... lol
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!

[MrHixxx 0]

Okay, so I hadn't done a sit for three months and was a little distracted by the camera thing. I nailed the next jump (and I do have video evidence, fucker), then Joe corked as he was trying to transition. So, I amend my earlier statement to sitflying.
As for swooping, I'll see you on the battlefield Dave. You're just pissed that I smoked you with a non-crossbraced canopy under a lighter loading in our first annual swoop competion last fall...Step up, bitch...
xxx,Hixxx
"Sus ma tub, Dr. Suess ma tub"

[diverds 0]

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You're just pissed that I smoked you with a non-crossbraced canopy under a lighter loading in our first annual swoop competion last fall

The only reason you "smoked" me is because of the "make it up as we go along" rule making style. Ask anyone who was there and they will tell you I out-swooped you BY FAR! If it makes you feel better about yourself you can keep the gold, I mean they let the Russians keep theirs even though the Canadians kicked their asses. And the whole world knows who the real winners are.
-Dave
"Gas...Undercarriage...Mixture...Prop...Beer"

[skreamer 1]

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I didn't even jump yesterday because it was too windy to swoop.

See, now if you had said you didn't jump because the winds were too strong for your experience level and/or wing-loading I would respect that. But saying you wouldn't jump because it was too windy too swoop?
Geez, you skygods amaze me...
"Don't die until you're dead"

[rhino 0]

When you are entering the plane of your swoop at 60+ miles an hour and a little BUMP in the air drops you a foot that could be considered a bad thing :) I think not jumping on those days might be a good decision..
Blue Skies and Smooth Rides!!

[MrHixxx 0]

Actually, I cool it in strong winds because tugging on your front risers can increase that dive a little too much with a strong wind... Then you're an auger...
-Hixxx
"Sous ma tub, Dr. Suess ma tub"

[PhreeZone 20]

The thing is..... you don't HAVE to swoop.... If you are not capible of having a no speed induced, straight in landing on your canopy... then you might want to rethink your canopy selection. A low speed approach can be done on all most any canopy.
If Swooping is so important that you have to sit out due to gusts or other minor wind patterns (Major turblence is another story).... you probally need to get a second rig/canopy to jump on those days.
Cause I don't wanna come back down from this cloud... ~ Bush