VanillaSkyGirl

Thank you so much, Lisamarie. Have fun, and stay safe!

This is going to be a long post...sorry. I am an example of having been on very, very lightly loaded canopies for my size. When I began jumping, my small DZ (now closed) only had student canopies from 260-300 in size. I weighed only about 95 lbs. at most as a student and wore no lead in freefall. My exit weight, depending on the rig size/weight, had been between 120-130. I was very lightly loaded, but for the most part, I was ok. We had very nice, consistent winds there. Sadly, the DZ closed down, and it moved to a new local for one weekend. My instructors encouraged me to jump (solo...jump 14), if I felt ok with it. I finally decided to do it, after watching everyone for a few hours. Well, as we were jumping out, the winds shifted suddenly and picked up strongly, making it difficult for anyone to make it back. (We had unexpected rain, afterwards.) Everyone landed out, and I, under a 280 main, landed miles away because my canopy flew backwards. I found the only out for miles. I had to downwind it into a plowed field with barbed wire fences around it. There was nowhere else to go, since the area had only scattered homes, trees, untamed brush, high voltage wires, ditches, etc. It was pretty scary for me, since I had only 13 prior jumps. My instructors told me that I did a very good job of finding the only out, and that I did the right thing by landing there. The DZ ended up closing down for good (money related, not due to anything else) right after that day, instead of staying in that new location. It was a nice group of people, but since it was finally closed, I had to find a new DZ. The next place that I went to was Perris. I was placed on a student rig with a 210 main, then they put me on a student rig with a 170, and I went back to a rental 190. After three coached jumps at Perris, I decided to try Skdyive Elsinore for my final jumps. I rented a 190 to finish out my "A" license requirements. I then progressed to a 170 after a few days of jumping the 190. I tried the Sabre 170, Sabre2 170 and Spectre 170. The Spectre 170 was great for me. At about 40 jumps, I took a canopy course. It helped me immensely. I finally bought and stayed with a Spectre 150 for almost 100 jumps. I weighed about 120 out the door. I wore no lead until after my 108 jump and first jump at Eloy. I felt comfortable adding the lead (about 10 lbs. back then) when jumping my Spectre 150. It was a nice transition. I still had times when the winds were too high for me at my wing loading, though. It's always best to sit those out. I was once drug through the desert in Eloy after landing due to high winds...very embarrassing. I eventually downsized to a Spectre 135 and was wearing about 12 lbs. of lead. I also took a second canopy course when I began to jump a 135. I had a silly accident during the canopy course (broke my ankle), but it was not due to being underloaded or highly loaded. (My right glove was loose, got stuck and toggle came out of my hands.) I think that I was a little bit initimidated of being on a 135 with 12 lbs. of lead, now that I look back on my mental state of mind from back then. I probably wouldn't have broken my ankle on my comfortable 150, since I was so mentally happy with my landings on it and would have reacted better to a sudden freak glove mishap. I am currently not jumping (haven't jumped more than twice early this year), but I will be jumping again someday and hope to begin with a 190 or so. I probably will not wear much lead in the beginning and will focus on my canopy control. There is no reason to rush downsizing. (I am not saying that you are, Lisamarie.) I have had many people telling me to downsize more quickly, throughout my jumping, due to my size. Still, everyone has their own personal progression with canopy size, and you should do what you feel comfortable with, even if it is a very slow downsizing progression. Lisamarie, like others have said, it is good to listen to your canopy instructors, specifically, to know what size canopy is best for you. Other instructors, coaches, experienced jumpers will offer advice, but as has been said, only your canopy coach really knows enough to give you proper advice. I hope that this post and sharing my mistakes have helped you a little. You are not alone with your downsizing dilemna. Good luck!

Your stories crack me up, Gia! Damn, I wish that we had video of you going in through that 2nd story window. You're hardcore, girl!

I think that she'd make a great cat burglar!

Gia scaled the wall of her 2 story building and broke into her own place last Friday in front of myself and her mother because we accidentally locked ourselves outside. It was so cool!

I know!

Your bejesus was found under a table at a little cafe? Come on! How can someone lose their bejesus under a table in a little cafe?

Fine. I'll admit that I am happy if Nicky is happy because no matter how much of a little poo that he is, we still love our Frenchy. Giaaaa, love ya, girl!

Giaaaaa...your hair looks VERY HOT. This pic doesn't do it justice. Love it!

Re: PM *yawn*

WTH?

Agreed. Keith has a beautiful heart and very kind soul. I am very happy to call him my friend.

Happy birthday, Iwan!

Goodness...I'm crying, too. What a beautiful story. Lately, I have been on the edge, wondering if I should have any children, since I had for the last few years thought that I would not, but this story...thank you!

Then, don't worry about the faster wind speed, or you can always just freefly. Of course I have flown in a t-shirt and jeans...in the sky. Talk about total freedom! I have to say that my pants slipped down my hips when I tracked away (too much air went down the front when I dearched to track). Also, my top flew up when I deployed my main. After what happened to me in the sky, I'm not trying it in the tunnel. Ask the staff at Skyventure Perris, if you can fly in plain clothing. I don't know what kind of drills that you are talking about, but they are probably worried about your safety, if they don't know your flying skills. Usually, they can just watch you fly during sessions to know your skill level. They are very, very wonderful to any visiting tunnel flyers. I have heard nothing, but good things about Skyventure Perris' staff. We (local flyers and visiting flyers) love them and appreciate how professional, yet fun that they are during our sessions. I'm sure that you will also feel the same way. Like I said, the Perris Skyventure staff are the people to answer all your SVP tunnel flying questions. PM VivaHeadDown on here. His name is Kris, and he is the head Tunnel Instructor at SVP. You can also PM Diablopilot (also a Tunnel Instructor at Perris) or call SVP with any more questions. There is no reason to make any assumptions when you can easily get answers from them. Have fun!

Lol...Dawn, please relax! It will be fine. It's not difficult to exit out of the wind tunnel, and the Tunnel Instructor will be there to help you with that part, if you need any assistance. It's not a big deal, if you need help. Flying with lead might be an idea, just in case you have problems staying down when you fly in faster air. They can slow down the speed for you, too, if you need to have them lower the air speed. They do it all the time for kids and for newer/first time flyers. Call SVP and ask their staff. I never had a "class" when I first went to SVO. They just showed me how to get in with a quick briefing before my first tunnel session (which was during an Airspeed tunnel camp), and it wasn't too bad. I assume that SVP is similar...a short verbal briefing on how to do it. Since they knew that I had been in a Skyventure tunnel before, they didn't need to go over the entrance/exit with me. Dawn, you need to let the staff know your experience level, etc. You have tons of experience tunnel flying, and you have flown in SVO already, so don't worry so much, girl. Still, if you do have any questions, the staff is very competent and helpful with anything that you might need. If you have questions, you should arrive with plenty of time before your flight. Anyway, the best way to find out what it's like is to just fly.

I would love to see Frenchy's face as he read this post. Me too! I'd have to slap him out of it!

Lisa, I know that you would definitely appreciate this thread. I saw Todd (and all our Airspeed friends) at Perris, yesterday. He looks great and was so excited/happy to be there. I'll be at Perris on Saturday doing more volunteer work for the day/night, so I can pass on a message, hug, etc. to Todd, if you'd like to PM me a message.

Ummm..there's also this little skydiving event called USPA Nationals 2005 currently going on at Perris.

We're having a Luau theme this year...NOICE! I have been diligently working on my dark, dark tan this whole summer, so maybe I'll dress up like a Hawaiian girl this year and bring my little surfer boy along. I can hardly wait to paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarty!!!!

I LOVED watching that video! I'm really looking forward to seeing more VRW. Thank you so much for sharing!

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Happy belated birthday, Chris. I hope that you enjoyed your special day!

Giaaaaaa...miss you, sweet girl!