CanuckInUSA

I think I'll leave the explanation on the use of the front and rear risers when it comes to landing (even though I use them on virtually all of my landings) to one of our more experienced people here (I'm just a 200+ jump wonder who shouldn't be teaching people how to land with risers). But one area where all skydivers need to use their rear risers on virtually every jump is during your opening sequence. It's important to be able to control your canopy during it's snivel and opening phases. So once you pitch your pilot chute and the dbag lifts off of your back, you need to be reaching for your rear risers to be able to anticipate controlling a diving canopy and thus avoid a possible collision with another skydiving during their opening sequence. Hopefully I made some sense here. PS: By the way, those guys you speak of doing those spiraling dives are likely (but not always if they are just toggling) using their front risers in what is know as a carving turn. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

With spring here and summer just around the corner (or already here depending on geography), one has to think that there will be many more incidents and accidents to happen in the coming months. I've already started to see many of the people who jump at my home DZ start to have issues with their landings (what with the higher density altitude occuring as the weather heats up) and for all those rusty skydivers who've been hibernating all winter now showing up at the DZs. Are we entering a new season of carnage? I'm 34 jumps into my latest downsizing saga and while I'm happy to report that I've stood up 33 of those 34 landings (the only biff occurred on my 2nd jump with my new canopy), I do realize that things will only be getting faster and faster for me as the weather heats up and I gain more experience but at the same time maybe gain more confidence which has the potential of putting myself in a bad position. So I just thought I'd mention that I'm happy with my new canopy, it's plenty zippy and challenging enough for me right now and I have no plans on downsizing anytime soon. So back to the topic at hand. How do some of you feel about some of the other jumpers you're seeing at your respective dropzones? Do we have a chance to curb our injuries and deaths this season, or do we expect trouble? Once again, I'm saying all of this because I'm seeing many canopy pilots (even ones way more experienced than myself) biffing in their landings at this time of year when a few months ago they weren't. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Come on out to Colorado if you get a chance. We get plenty of sun and do jump all 12 months of the year (but not all 52 weekends) and we're not nearly as cold (temperature wise) as many people believe. Of course expect some hot landings due to our thinner air and sometimes frequent no wind days. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

High: Knowing that I woke up this morning for another day on this planet. Low: Knowning that a certain friend didn't. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

With the exception of one lost friend this weekend, I'm doing good. I'm still practicing much of what you taught me about my landing procedures in Eloy and I look forward to the day I get to fly with the Shady Monkey again. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

DT ... You likely made the correct decision to stay on the group during those winds. But that's a bummer if you didn't get to jump. I do think that at some point in your career you need to get experience jumping in high winds (as long as they are steady winds and not gusty), but this is likely not the time. Yes Eloy can be intimidating, especially the main landing area where you must know how to land cross-wind. But the alternate landing area is available and landing off in the dessert isn't such a bad thing as well (especially if you're breaking in a brand new slippier-than-owls-shit canopy). But I think taking this sport at a pace which is comfortable to ourselves is hopefully the way to survive. There's a popular saying the mountaineering comminuty which can also be applied to skydiving and it goes "Summits are always optional while getting down is manditory". Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Good luck with your conference. Of course get yourself back up in the air and get some jumps in while you're at it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Eloy is an awesome experience (especially if you've come from a small DZ). I came away from the holiday boogie with so much new experience and so many new friends, it was incredible. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Holly was loved by many and we should have no problem raising the funds for the full page memorial. By the way, good work taking the initiative of this. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I would be happy to help out where needed (ie: checks in the mail). Holly was a special girl that all USPA members should know about. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I thought I'd start up a "What I liked about Holly" thread. Much of what could be posted in this thread I'm sure has already been said, but for those of us who were lucky enough to have met Holly we knew she was a bundle of positive energy. So please feel free to add on. Anyway, What I liked the most about Holly was how she would treat a stranger as if they were a life long friend. I wasn't one of her closest friends, but I knew that I was one of her friends and my life has been blessed because of this. The girl's personality and energy were as bright as one of the stars in the sky. In fact I think she'll be shining down on all of us from now on. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm glad you decided to jump and good luck with the rest of your training. It's worth it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Awesome stuff Becky.

1:3:0 One lost friend (Blue Skies Holly, we're going to miss you). And only three jumps for the weekend due to being rained out on Saturday, staying up too late Saturday night and not being in the most chipper mood on Sunday. No beers owed. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I am shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Holly Kish. I first met Holly at this last year's Skydive Arizona's holiday boogie and she was so sweet that she gave me a kiss on the airplane prior to my 100th jump before we even knew each other were DZ.COMers. I've only been in the sport for 9 months and people have told me that sooner or later I will know someone who's seriously hurt themselves or died. And I regret to mention that Holly is this one for me. Even though I wasn't super close to Holly, what with her being in Arizona and myself being in Colorado, I knew she was special. Not only did we party at the Eloy boogie (and those who knew her, knew that she was a big flirt in a good way), but she was also the sort of person to send me a PM out of the blue. And so every once in a while we would PM each other just to see how the other was doing. I knew she had big plans for spending the summer in the San Diego area and I'm not having an easy time coming to grips with the fact that I will never speak to Holly again (at least in this lifetime). Blue Skies Holly ... you will be missed by those who knew you, were your friends and especially for those who loved such a great girl. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

One aspect which is being over looked in this weight topic is fuel. A pilot has two ways to ensure they don't over load their airplanes. The first way is to ensure that the passengers and baggage are within limits and the second way is to calculate how much fuel is needed for the flight. Maybe it's possible that the pilot's at AggieDave's DZ don't carry full fuel loads and the average skydiver jumping there doesn't notice that the pilot is constantly refueling. In the meantime, the Kansas DZ might be filling the tanks to the top. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Well, the threshold that marks it for ME is your first freefall with your own gear wearing a pumpkin costume! Therefore, NONE of you are skydivers!!! NONE OF YOU!!! Ahem. My point is that you can't define to someone else what makes him or her a skydiver. What about the folks who are physically unable to jump on their own, but have a shitload of tandems? Hey, to me, leaving the plane is leaving the plane. Six tandems is a level of commitment to the sport that most of the world's population won't show. Jessica makes some interesting points. Especially the ones about me not being a skydiver since I've yet to jump wearing a pumkin costume. Now for the fellow who's done the tandems. I think we can all agree that he's not a skydiver (yet) but that he has had the initiative to jump six times (six time more than the vast majority of the whuffo world). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Ok I know I'm not helping out right now, but I think Skydive the Rockies shouldn't let Skycat fly anything smaller than a Manta 290 when the winds exceed 20 mph. Then she'd get blown right into Kansas and maybe be able to land at Skydive Kansas. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

LOL ... I was thinking the same thing. I can visualize my landings, but dirt dive them? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

That's not nearly as drastic as what Skydive Kansas is doing. I'm sure many of you 1000+ jump wonders would agree that us 100+ jump wonders are putting ourselves at more risk jumping wingloadings we may not be ready for. But to tell a 1000+ jump wonder (who may or may not be a world class canopy pilot) they can't jump because they exceed a certain wingloading is harder to understand. But the bottom line, is that it is their business and they choose to run it the way they see fit. Just adding my two pesos to the pot ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I noticed that JTVal has already mentioned this but I like to use my front risers in this sort of scenario. The only downside for the newbie is that it is going to add extra forward and vertical momentum that you may not be used to and may not be comfortable with. Try this at altitude first and then try it with some wind in your face before you try it on a no-wind jump. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

For those of you out there who appreciate the fine sport of ice hockey, my Denver area adult "B" Division hockey team won our 2nd straight championship tonight and we've actually only lost 2 games in the last two seasons that we've been together (one each year). Tonight's game was a hard fought match. Our opponents gave us a good fight. We went into the 3rd period trailing 1-0 and our opponents scored early in the 3rd to make it 2-0. But we didn't give up and tied the game 2-2. And then just like that, the tides changed and it looked like we were done. I was forced into taking a penalty half way into the 3rd as a dude on the other team had a break away and I caught up but tripped him (going for the puck of course). And to add insult to injury, one of our other players also got a penalty on the same play. But as luck (or skill) would have it, one of our best players stole the puck and broke in and scored a 5 on 3 short handed goal to go ahead 3-2. Then once my penalty was over, I scored to make it 4-2 (kind of a flukey goal, but I'm a defenseman so I take any goal I can get). Final score ... the good guys and defending champs 6, the not so good guys but very worthy opponents 2. Good stuff I tell you. And now I hear our team will be even stronger next year as we are adding some fresh new and young talent to the team. Ok ... back to skydiving. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

It's their business and we must respect their rules. I obviously would have to either jump a slightly larger canopy, loose a little weight or lie about my weight as I exceed their

So if I showed up with Hook's VX 60 (I would load it at 4:1) they wouldn't let me jump? Awe that's discrimination isn't it? Of course I might as well just borrow one of your guns Aggie as I think they would make less of a mess than me trying to fly Hook's pocket rocket. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

bump ... Not being a Brush jumper, I'm out of the loop concerning whether or not anything is supposed to happen there this weekend (of course Mother Nature might not let any of us jump in CO this coming weekend). But I've heard that the Casa was NOT coming either way. So what's the scoop this weekend? Anyone? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over