Joellercoaster

I've seen this demo done as well, and even at the time, I was completely baffled as to why they did it. What relevance does this have to me as a sport parachutist? I'm not using it to steal a bike (though maybe I should). -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I had always assumed that photo was fake... but that sounds like there is an actual story behind it. Trippy. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

OK, here's the way a very good freefly instructor explained it to me, a while ago. Keep in mind that I am not a freeflier of any kind, but it seemed like solid reasoning to me when we were talking: Being a 'total body pilot' is indeed about being able to fly well in all orientations. But while some of those orientations are harder to learn in than others, the behaviour of air and body are the same in all of them. By getting good on your belly, you are learning a lot of things about airflow and movement that apply to head-up, head-down and back - but more quickly, because flying on your belly is easier. Of course there are people who don't do it that way and get very good indeed, but this is one suggestion why it's maybe not the most efficient way to get there. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Wow, it's the guy in the BPA FS Student Manual! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Actually man, do whatever the hell you want. This forum, like Safety and Training, is entirely unmoderated. In fact I think you should post this on there as well, since you will no doubt get away with it. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

You could: - if the DZ allows jumping without one This is not actually true, at least where Adam lives! Having said that, you're right... send it off to the nice Germans and they'll get it looked at, then you can have it back ASAP. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

They're only free if you cut them up and use them to insulate your house. Otherwise you provide the manufacturer the non-trivial service of advertising their product, in exchange for having a T-shirt to wear. There is arguably free stuff in the world, but it's not your PD shirt -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Specifically for you in the UK, no. If your AAD is out of date here, you can't jump with it in your rig (although if you take it out and keep jumping, if your dropzone doesn't require AADs). -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

This is an awesome question Because it makes you realise how much perspective matters. Not just the perspective of relative skill levels, but perspective about what matters. So here's the thing. I was a fantastic AFF student. My graduation dive included a perfect two and a half pike somersault out the door. I look at that video and think, yup, that guy will go far. Everybody told me I was amazing, and I believed them. Even now, freefall wise, I'm doing pretty well. It was at about a hundred jumps when I spotted a whole load into a water park. (downsized) Two hundred, jumping with a hangover through cloud and finding myself under canopy and no idea in the world where I was. (downsized) Maybe four hundred when I was still kicking out twists on my shiny new elliptical canopy right through my hard deck. (downsized!) Five hundred, I nearly killed myself and my team's camera man cutting him up on final. The older I get, the better I wasn't. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I wrote a fairly long post in here, but looking at it I think I can cut it down a bit. The important parts of it were 1. I'm sorry I was a ginormous internet hero asshole, and 2. Those really aren't just guidelines. Keep reading, and remember the Rule: When you get two conflicting recommendations from very experienced people, always pick the more conservative one. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

[replyhowever, I tend to take generalities into consideration but don't necissarily abide by them. I feel if certain skills are met or not met, that sizing chart can be shifted either way. I'm always amazed when people say stuff like this. They pay lip service ("oh yeah Brian Germain's book is simply amazing, he's my canopy flight guru and taught me so much, you should buy his book too") but when he publishes a line in the sand chart that literally says "this should never be exceeded by anyone" suddenly he's just talking generalities. You know, for other people. What do you have, different physics? Just go right ahead picking just the advice you like, from the teachers with tens of thousands of skydives who dedicate their lives to teaching this stuff. The other parts aren't so important anyway. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Not everywhere! [edit: But, get an AAD.] -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Sure (I have a really ugly jumpsuit I bought early on despite good advice to the contrary, and I still love it). But it's also possible he just hasn't thought it through yet. Tinted visors and goggles look really cool. But to the OP, if you intend to jump with others in a meaningful way, then your jumping partners (FF or flat) will thank you to go clear. Your eyes are maybe your biggest communication medium in freefall. At least buy both! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I'd recommend someone with 32 jumps (and no tunnel time) borrow a suit for a tiny bit longer. But, if they did buy one, I'd recommend they buy one with booties, and learn to fly in that. People get carried away with how different flying with booties is to without, and it *is* different. But it's not harder, and it's definitely more effective. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

200 pounds is not much for a canopy. But! At 350 jumps, a non-ZP canopy may or may not be in peak condition any more. In particular, flare might not be what it was. But some age better than others and you could definitely get some use out of it, and for 200 it could be worth it... Try before you buy? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

They're all non-ZP. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I think you might want to give that one another look? To the OP: I haven't been jumping as long as some, but I'm in year 7 and looking back I don't really think there's anything I wish I'd known earlier - other than not to buy a brand new complete rig first up But as for the risks... they're pretty well understood and well described, even to new people. Keep your eyes and ears open, don't write checks with your dick that your ass can't cash, and (to paraphrase the single greatest piece of advice given on this forum) "if you get two conflicting opinions from very experienced people, pick the more conservative one". You'll be fine. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Me either, but - funny story (and it IS funny, because they were OK): A couple of seasons ago we got a call from a tandem student saying they wouldn't make their appointment. They'd crashed their car on the way to the DZ. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Risk of sudden death? It turns out this is a studied thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micromort Skydiving in the US is about 7 micromorts per jump. Which in turn is about the same as 1600 miles in a car. Which I guess means, it depends on how far from the dropzone you live [edit to add: the average per day in the UK (I know, not the US) is about 39-41, depending on how you count. So a day of jumping doubles your risk (compared to a non jumper, all other factors being equal) of sudden death when it reaches five or six jumps. Interesting eh?] -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

*ding* -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Including every single one in the UK. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

mchamp is on the money. Empuria would work (and I might see you there). Another good option is Skydive Spain (Seville), which will have a BPA Advanced Instructor (which is what you need to sign your JM1 and CH2 stickers, and indeed your B license form). "skydog" on here is also a BPA AI, and last I heard he was at the Ocaña dropzone, near Madrid. Hopefully he will chime in though. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

...and then, now that you have twists, whatever it was going to do, it's now doing harder. If that is diving with you on your back, whirling in circles, then it's now doing that a lot quicker too! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

It's not the wearing of the camera that causes the punk impression. The thing about being new is, they literally don't know any better, and it's not their fault. So we should explain it carefully, and gently. It's the subsequent rejection of good advice that causes the irritation and the verbal smacking. And that is so common that maybe some people jump the gun a little, out of general frustration. We should all cut each other some slack. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I had an I6 with a non-ZPX Pilot 188 in it, and I wouldn't have wanted to pack it into a container size down. People say they have. I just wouldn't want to. On the gripping hand - choose your rig like this: 1. Reserve 2. Main 2. Container Deciding on a container size and then trying to work out what you can cram into it, seems to me like going backwards. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?