kuwait_is_hell

I really have nothing negative to say about this club. It runs smoothly. The plane is quick and there's no mucking around waiting. Food is great. People are helpful. Accommodation is reasonable. If only it wasn't so far away for me.

I jumped here in March 2003 and used their own gear. The quality of their gear is very good. I jumped a semielliptical 190. My landings weren't that great as I had not jumped for a while and I was then a fairly inexperienced jumper. On one load two of us landed out due to a bad spot (it happens - not a big deal). I managed to land in a very small clearing in a little field full of cows, trees and rocks. Well, this one big cow was in my way so I ended up ploughing into the ground just in front of it. I smacked my head good and hard. Luckily I was wearing a helmet. I wrapped my glasses round my face so I had cuts and lacerations too. I carefully picked up the rig and me and this experienced guy (who had landed near me)helped get our rigs over the barbed wire fence without snagging them. But instead of concern for my well-being, all the CI was concerned about was his rig. I was concussed and had a head-ache for two days - was lucky not to have been seriously injured. I don't blame anyone for what happened - we all know the risks involved and accept them. I also understand his concern for his rig. But he should have asked me if I was ok first. There was another instructor - female, tall with curly hair - sorry, don't know her name. She gave me a hard time for not being ready before a load. But the reason was that I had been told by the other instructor to wait for a rig to be packed for me. I didn't like her arsey attitude. Hey, maybe I just had a bad experience.

Cool vid! Thanks for the link

Thanks for the link - checked it out and there are some awesome files to view. Liked Brazilian bridge swoop!!

Hi all, I'm holed up in Kuwait right now and am trying to locate good short skydiving movies I can download to pass the time. I only have a slow connection to the internet so I can't view streamed vids. Tried a few searches but there are so many broken links out there. I'm sure this must have been posted before so forgive me. Any help appreciated!!

Yes, the wind at Empuriabrava is something to be aware of. On my first jump there I landed outside the DZ at the western end of the runway. I think I was last out too. Make a habit of that - on my first ever AFF jump at Pietermaritzberg I did the same thing.

they usually inform in the plane the new jump limits.. maybe the wind picked up while you were in fall ??? This is possible. After my accident the jump limit went from 40 up to several hundred.

I had a nasty experience of landing in high wind at Empuriabrava in 2002. The wind had picked up after we took off but no-one cared to tell the poor suckers in the plane. I was doing a two-way jump with my instructor. I opened at about 3000 feet and began my downwind leg. I realised the wind was strong as I was being blown backwards at about 1000 feet down to about 500 feet. The wind was gusting. As I came in to land I had no forward speed at all. I was jumping a semi-elliptical 190 main. I was frankly not experienced enough to land in these conditions and in the stress of the situation landed in the same direction as I had on the previous jump. But the wind had veered 45 degrees. So I didn't land into the wind (mistake no. 1), flared fully (mistake no. 2), hit the ground like a sack of rocks, did PLF (thank God), failed to chop the canopy (mistake no. 3), got airborne again, landed some distance away on my shoulder (heard a snap, my shoulder joint) and got dragged across the runway. So in the even that the wind does pick up, it is definitely worth knowing what to do. Even better, as someone stated, it's better not to get into the situation in the first place - but still it happens. I can't thank the staff at Empuria enough for helping me out afterwards, and the British paras who helped me - tie my shoelaces, carry my stuff, get drunk with me, for the next few days!!!

Why not? Name and shame, name and shame!

Hey, how's it going!

An aerodyne pilot 190 arriving hopefully in 8 weeks time!

I see what you mean - thanks!

What are peoples' opinions on having a reserve static line fitted for someone of around 50 jumps like myself? I'm about to order a new rig and would like to know the pros and cons. In training you are told to leave a second or so between cutting away and pulling the reserve so that the main can fly clear of the area as the reserve is opened. Surely this won't happen if the reserve is opened by the rsl. Any advise appreciated.

Not pointless. A helmet saved me from severe concussion last year in a bad landing. Still had mild concussion and the ground was rock-hard, baked by the sun. I landed outside the DZ due to severe line-twists and a bad spot. The field where I landed was full of rocks and trees (and cows). In cycle racing in the UK helmets are mandatory and saved my neck in a high-speed pile-up in 2000. Cycling is a lot less risky than skydiving.

Hope you enjoy your new rig. I'm thinking of buying a Pilot - would be interested to hear of anyone's experience. I have heard that it is very similar to the hornet - as far as I know Aerodyne are a good company. Shame that PISA (Parachute Industries of South Africa) don't still manufacture it because it was a hell of a lot cheaper. I reckon a new system from Aerodyne comes at around $6500 and that is without Cypres.

I finally got my AFF at Witbank in 2002. Like a lot of Brits, I went to South Africa to do it. All the instructors give excellent advice. And Paula does a mean breakfast. What a massive landing area - you can't miss it!!!

I visited Airwaves in August 2001 to do my AFF. I had done up to AFF level 2 in South Africa that summer but had had to stop due to a sprained ankle. I was looking forward to continuing. My first worry was the almost complete lack of briefing considering that my instructor didn't know me from Adam. I also felt that the general lack of organisation was not good. I was left without jumps for a couple of days - and not just because of the weather. Rob Bartholomew (one of my instructors) annoyed a lot of people that week by slagging off people who did not turn up first thing in the morning (f***ing w**kers was the phrase) when those same people had been left with no information and no jumps for several days. I also never got to see my video. I was also concerned at the way the student rigs were left in a pile in the corner of the portercabin they used as a video-room. Despite only having the most basic previous experience, I was not given any help with my kit and had to rely on other jumpers to check me out. There were no packing slips on the rigs either. I was charged the full rate for groundschool when all this consisted of was a five minute briefing. I also had hassle from them because they would only accept cash - who carries 450 pounds on them? My leg was in plaster by that time (don't ask!) and I was not in the mood for hunting for ATMs. I sent a letter of complaint to Airwaves but never received a reply. I also sent an email to the BPA seeing as it is BPA affiliated - again no reply. Maybe things have been improved, or maybe he was having a bad week - I don't know. We all have our moments. But unfortunately this left a lasting impression.

1. Wanted another challenge and to see how I'd cope under pressure. Always liked the idea of flying. 2. N/A

Hi Steve, I hope to jump there some time in February. It is the only DZ in this region - apart from Israel. Will let you know what it is like. Cheers, Alan

Thanks a lot for the info - will definitely head off there soon

Thanks for the encouragement!

I can recommend Empuria Brava but don't stay in the bunk-house. It was infested with fleas when I was there in August last year. Excellent planes - very quick to altitude. Can also recommend South Africa - cheaper than Spain and better weather this time of year. I can give you a contact as I have jumped with these people before. I did the whole AFF for around 500 pounds. Air fare is around 500 pounds too and there are several DZ around Johannesburg. Try erna@wol.co.za. (Erna Goosen) Her husband is an instructor based in Jo'burg and they operate from a couple of DZs there. Enjoy!

Hi all, Fairly new to skydiving. I learnt in sunny South Africa and got my A-license in August last year. Promptly bust my arm two weeks later. But I got back into it. I'm now holed up in Kuwait and as soon as I get my residency I can travel. Nearest DZ is in the Arab Emirates at Umm al Quwain so I will be heading over there asap. If anyone has been there, would like to know what it's like. I spend my free time otherwise between the UK and South Africa (Witbank - friendly DZ). Blue skies

In 2002 at Empuriabrava, Spain, I had a nasty accident. I was coming in to land in wind shear and bumpy conditions and I must have flared too early. I landed very hard (massive bruise on leg) and must have buried my right toggle because next thing I knew I was back in the air, flipped over and heading back down to earth. I badly broke my left shoulder snapping off the ball joint (heard it pop), and had internal bleeding on that side too. Well, I got back into jumping almost six months to the day and I was crapping myself on the way up - I have to be honest. On my first jump after the accident I just couldn't keep myself from spinning. I think this was because of my arm - can't pull it back as far as the other one in the arch. Anyway I tried the mantis position and this was a lot better - no spinning at all. Well the following week I jumped at an unfamiliar dropzone and had another scare. I got line twists like you wouldn't believe opening at 3000 feet - I think because I was too hurried going for the pull. Couldn't make it back and landed in a very tight space in a field full of cows and trees. With work and other things I haven't jumped for another six months now and want to get back into it. I'm still worried about my ability to get stable in the arch position - and wondering what made me spin when I went for the pull. Has anyone got similar experiences - recovering from injury, having to adapt body position, etc?

I am looking at buying a rig with teardrop container, PISA Hornet 190, Tempo 210 reserve from a guy in South Africa as I have contacts there. Can anyone tell me their opinion of the Hornet. Have been sent photos and it looks in good condition. In particular I would like advice on how to interpret the harness measurements - or where I can find a link that explains them. Here they are. Obvious question maybe but I need to be sure. Height 182 Torso 51 Chest 105 Waist 98 Leg pad 80 Hipbone 53 Any comments appreciated.