somethinelse

Just how fast CAN a skydiver go in a Head-down? IS there a risk of PASSING OUT?

I see you're a falcon fan! GO FAST! YEEHA! Thanx LiLa!

Is the FALCON is the fastest diving bird...Is it? Ya see I'm trying to come up with a NICKNAME for a head-down/freeflier at my dz...'cause speed's his thing. Any idea or info for me on this would be REALLY COOL! Thanx ya all.

Kiy- PM,d Ya. LuLu.

Jumping went fine with the sore finger wrapped up... But the tape flapping & rapidly unwinding in freefall was really annoying! It'll be ok... Just wish I'd STOP getting these (minor-type-of)hurts and bruises! People are starting to shake their heads at me and look at me funny...! -LiLa.

I'm cool with ya, Richy. No worries, my skybro friend...It's all good. ..........................BUT..................................... Don't throw anything IN MY FACE! Remember, once in a while I actually wear make-up, Imagine that! And I wear contact lenses. If I loose one of those, I can kiss my day of jumping goodbye.

Hi Amazon! Yeah injuried joints are a bugger! Work last night was TOUGH! Still needed to work hard lifting, carrying etc...The brace is just a nuicance! Just gonna tape the fingers together, take LOTS of Motrin...and GET ON WITH IT! I'll just throw a bag of FROZEN PEAS in the work freezer to ice my digit during breaks if it gets TOO OUCHY! Gonna tough it out and make things work out better! Blues! -LiLa.

Thanx, From someone not to far ahead of me,& been-there- and -done-that & still-doing-that, too..You've encouraged me & made me feel oh so much better! *sigh* Keep on keepin' on in the Big Blue! - LiLa

You're a fearless WILD MAN Kiy! I do got alotta RW stuff to get signed off my card...We'll talk and PUT EVERYTHING BY RICK FIRST...He's "THE MAN"! -Lila.

Good point about making sure I can still grab the reserve handle with this hurt hand! Swelling is coming down, but hurt the middle joint- so it is stiff...Motrin is helping, but I'm toughing it out too much... I think... 5 DAYS SINCE INJURY- AND I haven't done ice or heat YET... What is the ?BEST COURSE OF TREATMENT NOW? ICE or HEAT? I'd love some insight if you'd help me out here.

HaHaHa Yeah, right...Whatever Richy. I think I need to revise the landing pattern. What I AM doing is not working for me! Going East on the downwind screws me all up. NOW if I could head south on the initial leg of approach I think it would be all good! But that's just ME! Hey, and I've been doing better with my flares, ya just haven't been around to appreciate my wonderful improvements in the last few weeks... Only one more jump to come off student progression! Yeah! See Ya Saturday. Blues! -LiLa.

Thank you for reiterating the fact that this post was put up by a 18-jump student. Those guys were already making me feel like aloser for having such a "HIGH" hard deck...BUT I AM A STUDENT! And only have small #of jumps so far. Remember? I don't want to be intimidated to feel that is somehow not good enough. It IS right for me at this point in my training. I've only just done my first solo! OKAY? My DZ is cool with where I am in my training and experience OR rather my lack there of. I got a lot to learn...and I love the journey that I've begun in this sport... And yet, You can be sure that WHEN I do finally jump at ANOTHER DZ, things will probaby have changed with everything that I am skilled and capable to do. BUT for NOW I am only jumping AT MY DZ with those WHO KNOW ME, as well as WHAT I can do,as well as WHAT my STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES are. Blues!

Went & got finger looked at. It is maybe a hairline fracture, most likely just sprained due to hard jam/dislocation when I landed. That reflex to put your hands out to catch your balance gets ya HURT! OUCH! Good thing I've always liked milk AND inherited good bones from my Celtic & Nordic ancestors! Will jump this Saturday AND Sunday. See ya Then! -LiLa.

I talked to my trainer who is also the my DZ S&TA. He told me that I was OK. Pulling at 4,000 and that 3,000 hard deck is good. I remain clear headed & cool & react well under pressure & in dangerous situations...I click in and do whatever needs to be done. I know this cause been times in past when I needed to keep it together and I did. Now I just need more info from my trainer about my reserve chutes, opening times and situations where & when to chop, or not chop when you need to active the reserve. I need to know it before I need to do it! Blues to you all

HELP...? I'm trying to decide if I should get this messed up right middle swollen finger checked out by a doctor...or "doctor" myself. Been a while since I messed up my fingers, and I THINK that it IS NOT broken...But it is still swollen and hurting since saturday when I stupidly put out my hand when I slid in a little to my right side on landing... I want to move a long a little faster to finish up my training...and get my A. Don't want this to hold me back any! thanx- LiLa

I pulled at 4,000. Wasn't under canopy right away. Training is starting to work me down from where my instructor had me pulling at 6,000. On this hop-n-pop I opened as soon as I could... But got some static b/c from the ground they thought I was uner canopy too low b/c they thought I had pulled too low. I'm trying to follow all my training and guidance of my instructor...But always can work to make all my skills and abilitieis and judgements better. Ya know what I mean?

Thanx Kiy! That was a BLAST! Can't wait to do the Hi solo next saturday..If this michigan weather holds out I should be getting my A fairly soon! PS PM'd your post.

Hi Ky. I know who you're talking about...Was there on Saturday when he came in. You do need to talk to him. He is a low# jumper like me...and YOU too. He really seems open and a good guy. Give him a chance. We all gotta watch out for each other too my skybro friend. Lila. PS PM'd you!

I'm making it 3,000. Lowest I've opened at yet...and I'll tell you, while waiting for a delayed chute to open, and looking down at that ground rushing up at me, and looking up and finally seeing my chute come out of the pack and open up.... I know I'll want another 1,000 to get under reserve!! I'm very HAPPY to be under canopy at 3,000!

Most of the trainers and experienced jumpers were at Richmond this weekend. I did my 1st low solo on Saturday and was planning for my 2nd solo (high) on Monday. And just wanted to have a little more varied input before I did. Believe me, if I got a question, I'm not only asking tons of questions, I'm going over jumps and things I don't understand with everybody at my dz, too. It definitely can not be said that I'm quiet! I do try to be very conservative. No hotdogging it for me! too risky. I have since talked to the safety dude at my dz who is also my trainer. Everything is squared away now.

Thanx Bill! PM'd ya right back

IT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME...! I still can't believe how smooth it went! Even though it did not go off with a hitch...It was easier and less intimidating than I thought it would be. No fancy exit for me, YET! Hung off the the C182 strutt @ 5500, potatoe-chipping into a stable position and then pulled...delay of about THREE SECONDS to get under chute, I was thinking... WHERE is it, where IS- WHERE IS IT??!!! "POOF!" YES! *Deep sigh* THERE! ...Is it square...NO! End cell closures! Man, o,man...pumping handles to fill 'em out, left ok now...right better, but still somewhat floppy... IS IT STEERABLE? YES! OK then. It's good, enough, to land safely! Approach was screwed up for landing (again), and I came in under some kind of turbulance, swinging side to side under canopy just before I flared(5' or so too high) and came in hard...nearly breaking a finger! But I don't think it is broken, just Jammed really bad, I think...swollen up big, but kinda usable still. Landed WAY OUT IN THE "BACK 40" tho! One of the other low# jumper came out to pick me up...probably would've taken me 10 minutes to hike back with that big ol' 240 student chute! All things considered, tho- I am so pysched! Totally wild and wonderful...Can hardly wiat to get to do my HIGH SOLO NEXT...... -LiLa. PS RICHY thanx for the much need ride, dude! You're a good skybro!

Hi... In the course of going over my last jump with more experienced jumpers later, I was asked about altitude I pulled from, and what my hard deck is. Is this a hard & firm factor? Does it differ depending on the original altitude you exited from? Please. What all factors into determining your hard deck besides experience? I know mine is higher than others, but I need to have some input about this. THANX y'all, as usual, I appreciate your input! -L.

DEAR BILL I've apreciated your wisdom and help and adivce along my journey into this sport... and all your VALUABLE EXPERIENCE will always be welcome and appreciated. Please keep it on a coming for all of us... especially us INFO. HUNGRY STUDENTS & NEWBIES! GOD BLESS ya my SKYBROTHER! HEAL WELL