CanuckInUSA

I guess I could have worded things a little better. I pretty much knew the people giving you flak were your peers and not the canopy control instructors. As far as the people who gave you flak are concerned, what business is it of theirs? You obviously wanted to better yourself and any good canopy control class should be able to give the students individualized instruction. So kudos to you for taking the initiative. Now if only more course were made available and if only more people would realized they could benefit from the instruction, we'd have less issues with people hurting themselves (in a perfect world of course). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Welcome to DZ.COM and the wonderful sport of skydiving. We're glad to hear that you had a good time and one of the most dangerous aspects of this sport is that you'll enjoy it and want to do it again and again and again, etc, etc, etc. Heck look at me, 10 1/2 months ago I was a whuffo. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

That's just not right. I don't know about the curriculum of your canopy control course, but I took one given by Hooknswoop (mother nature messed with our weather so we never did do all that we wanted that day) and Hook was very good about trying to cater to the different skill levels of the students in the class (ranging from people with a handful of jumps off of AFF to a few with a hundred or more jumps). Hooknswoop ... if you're out there and reading this. If you do hold another canopy control course sometime in the not too distant future. I would like to try and pick up from where we left off. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I just don't see lengthening the AFF course happening. For sure everyone should be taught and then practice slow flight and flat turns. Slow flight is taught to airplane pilots so why not canopy pilots. I was forced to use my slow flight skills yestderday while flying a Cessna 172 (some guy needed to cut in front of me while I was on downwind in the pattern and without even thinking about how to do it, there I was flying along at 70 knots maintaining 1k AGL). But I digress ... I would love to see more canopy control course opportunities for every one at anytime in their skydiving career. But they are just few and far between. One thing is for sure, anyone (regardless of experience) who flies a highly loaded canopy has a much smaller margin for error and we should not be all that surprised when shit happens. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Flying a 1.9 elliptical wing at 375 jumps (if that number is accurate) does seem aggresive. But I've never seen you fly so I can't say for sure whether or not you're asking for trouble. I do know that any highly loaded wing is risky whether the pilot is experienced or not (I mean look at Duey from SDTRs a few weeks ago). The margin for error is much smaller. So have fun but be safe ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I want to visit Coolidge in AZ and jump with a watermelon. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Okay it's time for another fun (yet totally useless poll). I was inspired to make this poll only minutes ago because while I'm stuck at work, I actually got out and had a nice (yet very expensive lunch) today. So I guess I'm still hypnotized thinking I'm somewhere else other than work. I've been a licensed private pilot for the last few years and was one way before I became a skydiver (I only started jumping in July of 2002). But I've been having the time of my life ever since I started jumping out of airplanes. But my father is a retired air force jet fighter pilot as well as a retired air line pilot, so despite the fact that he divorced my mom when I was young, flying IS in my blood. Anyway, my flying has taken a back seat to my skydiving lately. I really enjoy flying airplanes and I worked too hard on becoming licensed to just forget about the joys it's given me. But it's more expensive than jumping and it's hard to do both as much as I'd like to do them. But today I managed to sneak out and do a lunchtime flight for the first time in two months. I went to Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield CO where my flying club is based (ironically I also ran into Hooknswoop today as he works at the airport several days of the week fueling airplanes). I took off, flew to Longmont and did 12 touch n' go landings before coming back to Jeffco. It was a good day to be flying (nice smooth air, but kind of hazy skies and I even watched a couple of canopies land while I was in the pattern) and I obviously managed not to scare myself nor kill myself despite the fact that my airplane flying skills are rusty.

It's on my Calendar of boogies to attend. But lately I haven't been able to commit to any trips until the very last minute. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

It seems that every week there's a new thread, but the same topic. On one hand I do think constantly bringing up this topic of canopy choice is good because it reinforces the seriousness of the topic (and maybe a new person will come along and the light will go off in their head). But on the other hand it gets a little old hearing the same thing over and over again by the same people on both sides of the table. I don't know what the solution is, but I think peer pressure from our friends, instructors and coaches to NOT downsize too quickly is likely the logical answer. If more canopy control courses were offered, people would be more skilled and less people would be getting hurt. But those courses seem to be few and far between. So we are pretty much left to fend for ourselves and learn through trial and error. One thing is for sure, skydivers with years of experience have been getting hurt under these pocket rocket canopies. So the problem doesn't just lie with the inexperienced. Of course the experienced people are less likely to put themselves in a dicey situation. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I think you guys down in NM as well as us in CO (because of the high altitude at which we jump at, the air is thinner and our canopies snivel longer) must be going for silver if we find ourselves at 2k with nothing out (especially if we're jumping a cypres). This is very true and all the more reason to reherse going for silver every once in a while so that it's in our brains. Because our bodies want to do what we've trained it to do jump after jump (initiating our main canopy pull sequence). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Under normal circumstances, I would think that it would be nobody. But all rules are out the door if some milestone occurred during a boogie with friends looking for trouble. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

But look on the bright side Patrick. You can now try and freefly with us (when you're ready) thanks to that new container of yours. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

You're in one of the pics. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I once stayed at Wingnut's pad when he was in the Springs and he just wouldn't stop smoking. Doesn't he know that it's hazardous to his health? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Job opportunity for Michelle? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Does the C-130 make multiple jump run passes? If not, one would think the majority of the load will be landing off somewhere in Indiana, Missouri or Iowa. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I stand corrected ... in fact there's two things that prevent me from downsizing at the moment. The first is that we're entering the hot density altitude months. And the second is that I haven't done all of those tasks mentioned above on my current canopy (mainly landing on the rear risers and mastering the flared turn). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

You're jumping to conclusions here (which may or may not be true). The jumper in question said that they have 70 jumps on the canopy loaded at 1.4:1 but they didn't mention how many jumps they have period. I have 61 jumps on a Sabre2 canopy loaded at 1.4:1 here in CO (60 of 61 are stand ups). So does that shock you as well? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Sounds like a PLF to me. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Denise The first number is supposed to refer to humps for those lucky enough to have a significant other that puts out. But it can also pretty much refer to anything else you did over the weekend. The second number refers to jumps and the third refers to cases of beer either bought or promised for your firsts. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

There's plenty of boogies between now and December, but a must attend boogie for all who can make it is the Eloy Holiday boogie. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

1:1:1 1 wasted long weekend spent predominately working instead of jumping (remind me to thank my boss). 1 jump on Sunday evening to keep my streak alive (I've jumped at least once every weekend since late January). 1 case of beer bought for a first that I did the previous weekend. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

You should have been pied ... by an experienced jumper ... by Denise ... by a whuffo ... by anyone. The bottom line is that you should have been pied. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I haven't received mine yet, but the back page? That's pretty impressive (kudos to Kevin). I had the pleasure of meeting Holly earlier this year (she gave me a kiss on the airplane prior to my 100th at Eloy before we even knew each other) and then I was lucky enough to have exchanged some PMs with her. She was/is a special person who will be missed in this lifetime. But hopefully she will be there to great me/us when it's our turn to leave. Blue Skies Holly ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I guess I'm an idiot because I'm basically working for free today (I'm on salary). It's funny how companies are able to do this sort of crap to their people during challenged economic times. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over