cruzit

As usual....working. It sucks to work on weekends...especially on holidays 13 years and I still don't have seniority.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I haven't remembered correctly, but.... I'm pretty sure S/L jumps count towards the number of skydives...but not towards Freefall time (as there isn't any).

History of the World Part I "It's good to be the King"

Okay...since 1, 2, and 3 are rhetorical questions I'll go straight to 4. You will always have a percentage of individuals who feel their (subsitute any of the following: AAD, altimeter, RSL, hook knife, etc.) is just extra stuff and not necessary for a successful skydive. Face it, the only thing you truly need to successfully complete a skydive is your parachute. Does that mean I would personally not take some kind of altimeter??? Probably not. I PERSONALLY feel an altimeter is a necessary part of my skydive, but I don't have a problem with an experienced skydiver, who is fully aware of what they are choosing, doing without. It's about personal choice. Do you feel you should personally dictate what kind of equipment a person chooses to jump with. Where do you draw the line???

Welcome

Ditto. Jump #s and years in the sport are a better indicator of experience. License #s are interesting but sometimes don't tell the whole story.

Same scenario happened to me early on. Altimeter stuck on 5K or so. I literally watch 3 other people pull before I realized how big the stuff on the ground was getting. I kept thinking to myself...why are they pulling so early??? Duh!!! I estimate I pulled at about 1,500'. Lesson learned, pay a lot more attention to what is happening around you, i.e., if everyone else is pulling, there may be a good reason. Also, I wear an analog alti on one hand, a digital alti on the other, and I have a pro-track back-up.

Even though it may sound strange coming from an AFF Instructor, I have to agree with Dave and recommend Tandem progression. Many, many individuals come out to make their first jump and do an AFF jump, just to leave disappointed because they didn't perform their assigned tasks well. That first jump is overwhelming, a working tandem allows you to get a taste, learn some stuff, and leave feeling that you had a good time. By the time you finish your second working tandem, you will be well on your way to learning the basics.

Acronym for the First Jump Course.

IMO, AFF. No offense Dave, I don't doubt you would give him a hell of a ride. A tandem jump most likely will be too tame. Even a working jump. Since he has already got some experience with both jumping out of a plane and rudimentary canopy control, AFF will add another dimension. But hey, what do I know...

Generally speaking, winds aloft can be substantially higher than ground winds. Even if you exit with a perfect spot, if you chop high, you could be pushed back substantially. I once chopped at 10K and landed 2 miles off.

I actually experienced a horseshoe mal on my 82nd jump. Floating an otter, I experienced a premature deployment. As our 4 way exited, the jumper inside the door, funneled into the lines of my deploying main. This resulted in my leg mounted throwout being pulled around and in-between my legs, a classic horseshoe malfunction. I attempted to locate my pilot chute twice, as I had been taught with no luck. At that point, I cutaway and pulled my reserve. The reserve pilot chute became entangled in my main. Fortunately, the reserve pilot chute bridle was able to finish the deployment. When my reserve opened, I had to reach up and pull the reserve freebag and pilot chute down from where it was wrapped around the reserve's risers so I could steer. I landed with my main tucked between my legs and my free bag and pilot chute. The only thing I lost was my cutaway and reserve handles (I got the reserve handle back eventually). Fortunately, my inattention to exit preparation (my pin had obviously become dislodged prior to exit and I didn't bother to get a pin check) did not result in my death...only some burned lines on my main and a very healthy respect for what could have been. The only thing that I might have done differently now is I would probably have continued to look for my main's pilot chute a bit longer (I exited at 14,000'). Very, very scary.

Poor pup. Hopefully it isn't anything too serious. Stop by Petsmart and pick up some Simple Solution. It is a cleaner/deodorizer specifically designed to break down proteins (works great on any vomit, urine, feces, or any other protein based stain. {{{{{vibes}}}}} to you and the pup.

You can clean up your Tevas quite nicely by running them through a cycle in your dishwasher.

As in Hump or die (sorry, I'm a History of the World, Part 1 fan) If so - 3:0:0 It sucks to have to work on Sundays.

I've cut away from scenario B. Opened at 3,500' after JMing a load of IAD students. Like a good Stilleto, mine began spinning on opening. Grabbed the rear risers to stable it out, to no avail. Grabbed the steering toggles, right pulled down, left stays put. I could see an obvious tension knot on the left line keeping it from releasing. I had maybe two seconds to think about this as the spin became very rapid...think toes becoming numb. Cut away and pulled my reserve, all by 2,000'. Landed next to all my gear within walking distance of the DZ. My take is not to attempt heroics with a high performance canopy, especially if you are loading them. Too little oops room.

The answer is yes. But it can be very hairy for both JM and student. Most stops on a really unstable student are ugly and usually result in one or both being injured in someway. Once you are on the higher levels, as a rule, most instructors are going to give you every opportunity to fix yourself. The thought process being, at least on my part, is since you are almost ready to self-JM, you should be able to get unstable and correct on your own. The only time I personally will "save" you, is if it appears you, for whatever reason, are unable to pull.

WoooHooo...we have a date for Skyfest. And wonders, it doesn't conflict with anything I have planned this summer...I'm so there!!

Good for them. Just because they have successfully completed the skydive doesn't mean they didn't learn a valuable lesson. They were upside down in a body position they have never experienced before and they successfully returned to a stable body position. Success on this dive under controlled conditions sets up the diving exit, where they are very likely to be unstable. If they do become unstable, i.e., ass over teakettle, they understand they can re-achieve stability quickly because they have done it under controlled conditions. Performing a diving, or unstable exit, when they have never experienced less than optimal body position is a recipe for disaster, and IMO, is setting the student up for failure on the skydive. Your insinuation that those of us who advocate teaching backloops is essentially a method for monetary gain is insulting and without basis of fact.

While I have to agree a backloop is not inherently unstable, most student backloops are less than perfect and are usually somewhat unstable. Very few AFF students perform perfectly on this level. I think you are missing the point of the why a backloop is important. The backloop is designed, as was said before, to demonstrate to a student you can fix your body position, even if you are upside down and tumbling. That way, when the student does perform a deliberately unstable exit, he/she will have been upside down and tumbling in a more controlled situation, i.e., backloops, and have the knowledge and experience to right themselves.

I've only had it happen twice...both times with FJC students who decided that skydiving wasn't for them. As the JM, it's your responsibility to stay with the student. My thought would be if the "student" was cleared to self-jumpmaster, he could be left in the plane alone...otherwise it's on the JM to maintain control of the student, even if it means riding the plane down.

Started using cruzit on Summitpost.com. Cruising something, describes a climb or alpine route easily achieved. Since I have trouble remembering my user names...I just stuck with it.

Depends on how long it's been since I made a jump. If it's been a while...I'll pitch around 3,000'. Otherwise, I usually have pilot chute in hand at 2,500'. Usually in the saddle somewhere between 1,900' and 2,000'.

It's all about what an acceptable level of risk is for you as an individual. While I may be alright with making a jump without a Cypres, I like having that extra measure of safety to offset my margin of error. I'm with Elfanie, having the Cypres doesn't personally make it acceptable for me to jump on zoo loads or practice any other high risk freefall stuff anymore than my wearing a seatbelt in my car makes me think I can drive 130 mph on the freeway. As I said before, if you are inclined to participate in high(er) risk activities then maybe you need to rethink.

Exactly. I jumped for 6 years without an AAD. However, when I could afford one, I bought it. Why, because at least once in my skydiving career, I have lost altitude awareness. And once I was hit so hard in the face with an altimeter, I was knocked semi-conscious on exit. Does this make me a bad skydiver, I don't think so...it makes me human. I am willing to admit, I or someone I'm jumping with, may screw up badly enough to warrant an AAD save. I have nothing to prove by jumping without an AAD. Stating that new jumpers (or any jumper for that matter) should be prepared to jump without one is a good statement. As I have advised to many FJC students, every piece of jumping equipment you possess is mechanical...and any mechanical device is prone to failure at some point. Therefore, assume your safety equipment won't work and prepare to take care of any emergency yourself. But don't not wear an AAD to prove a point...because it may be the last thing you do. I understand the logic expressed that some jumpers may feel they can act more recklessly if they have an AAD. While this may be true, it is also true that a portion of any group will be more aggressive and reckless in their actions. These are the same jumpers who downsize to rapidly, hook turn indiscriminately and generally act recklessly in every aspect of their life. Okay...off my soapbox.