tigra

I leave my babies at the dz pretty much every weekend, safely tucked away in my locker! Does that make me a bad mom?????

First, listen to your organizers. Breakoff at the correct altitude, track to the correct altitude, deploy at the correct altitude, even if that's a little lower than where you would normally pull. Be extra diligent for traffic, in freefall and under canopy. If, after the practice jumps, you feel it is too much for you, step down. If, after the pratice jumps, you feel it is too much for some other people on the jump and their lack of experience makes you feel unsafe, step down. But if the smaller practice jumps go well, then go for it and enjoy. You won't know how you'll do til you try it! 2 plane shots are fun! Just fly your slot and be careful, and don't forget to have fun! maura

This past Saturday a friend of mine was doing a 10 way team practice jump. He got slammed into the door of the otter, hard enough to knock him out, even with his full face helmet. He was not conscious when he left the plane, but did come to seconds later, deployed his main and managed to land it even though he was dazed and in pain. He has no cypres, and a few more seconds would have been the end for him. One of the first things he did after he landed (and we determined he was battered but basicly OK) was look into buying a cypres. Yes, I jump a cypres. I would turn it off for a low hop and pop (2500 feet or less), and depending on the type of jump I was doing, I might be comfortable jumping a rig without one. (I'd take it out if I was crazy enough to swoop the pond, for instance!) I do mostly RW, and I've seen my share of "combat skydiving", I know anything can happen and I am more comfortable with a cypres than without one.

At my dz, we had to be signed off on packing before we could send away or our A license, and before we were "officially" signed off student status. But getting the packing lessons was always hard, nearly impossible on the weekends because it was just too busy. I was probably done with AFP for a month before I had my packing lessons. I had to take a day off work during the week to do it, too. So I spent a day learning to pack and I did jump my own pack jb at the end of the day. But, after that, I jumped rental gear for another few months before I had my own rig, and only staff packers (under the supervision of a rigger.....) can pack that. When my own rig finally arrived, I jumped it, and had no clue how to pack it! I used a packer for a couple of months after that, and took some heat from my friends for it too. But, hey, that brand new zero p fabric is slippery as hell, and I really wanted to focus on my skydiving at the time- spending 45 minutes getting sweaty and frustrated packing just wasn't part of the plan! Now, I'm back to mostly using a packer, more for convenience than anything else. But at least I know I can pack if I need to.

I would say, yes, avoid them in the air. Don't get on loads with them, and warn your friends, especially newer jumpers. The more experienced jumpers will see it for themselves. There is a big difference between a "challenging" student and an "experienced" jumper who is dangerous and refuses to learn. The "experienced" jumper is shrugging off more experienced jumpers and instructors who are trying to help and trying to prevent an accident waiting to happen. To be fair, a lot of jumpers go through a phase when they feel they are "bulletproof" and know it all. But some never get beyond it, and for some the wake up call comes too harshly and too late. So, do what you can to stay safe and keep your friends safe, even if that means making a few waves and ruffling some feathers. maura

If its's not MY DZ, I can't tell them to leave. And I do know and have seen the type. They log a lot of jumps in a short period of time, consider themselves "bullet proof" and have an inflated assessment of their skills. They are usafe/unpredictable in freefall, and unsafe under canopy, and they won't listen to anyone. I may not be the one to tell them to leave the sport, and I can't tell them to leave my home dz, but I can make a decision NOT to jump with them or even get on the plane if someone like that is on the load. A load organizer can refuse to put that person on his dive, a DZO or S&TA can ground them or ask them to leave the dz if they do something blatantly unsafe. I guess that's part of being a "self-policing" sport. I've also seen reserve handles pulled and an occasional fight. Eventually, the jumper in question gets the hint that he/she is not welcome, but generally not the "why" part. So off they go to another dz with ultimately the same results. Each time they move on, they whine about "skygods" with attitudes, and load organizers who are completely unfair and DZ politics and people playing favorites! And, by the way, I have known at least 2 of these "yahoos" who would have thought of "Bounce Bait" as a cool new skydiving nickname! Sadly, I hear through the grapevine that one of them (who was given a similar nickname which he was quite poud of) now has a tandem rating, and the other finally sold his gear and given up on the sport. sorry for the mini rant- just a sad topic, I guess.....

First, it isn't unusual to be more scared or nervous on you second or third jump than you were on your first. I can't quite explain why, but the excitement can get you through your first jump jitters, but when you go back for more, your brain starts asking you, "what the heck are you doing??" I had to do 3 tandems before I started AFP, and on my 3rd tandem, the jm had to peel me off the plane. Honest, I stared at the prop and was hanging on to the plane with a death grip! I was fine once I was in freefall, though. How long has it been since your last jump?? And how far have you gotten through AFF? If its been a while, you might want to go back a level and sit through ground school again. Actually, if it has been a while, the dz will probably require that you do that. That should help quite a bit with the nerves, and get you back to that first jump excitement. Also, go ahead and manfest, then talk about your fear with your jump master and work through it. I think you just need to make yourself manifest and get up in the air, and you will feel better once you do. If that doesn't work, I also know a couple of jumpers who went back and did a tandem after a scare or a long layoff, and these were newer jumpers who had actually completed their student program. It worked for them, it might work for you. Good luck! If its meant to be, then your desire to skydive will help you overcome your nerves! maura

Gale, If you aren't comfortable, don't go. Most of us at one time or another have jumped in weather or cloud cover that was marginal at best. That doesn't make it right. The biggest risk is not being able to see who or what is in your airspace with you. A thin layer up high is better than a thick layer at breakoff or deployment altitude, but both have their risks. Personally, I have never ridden the plane down or refused to go if I have found myself on jump run staring at a whole lot of white stuff, but a couple of times I probably should have. I have, however, scratched from loads if I didn't like what I saw moving in as I was looking up. The hardest thing was walking up to Jerry Bird and telling him I didn't want to jump in the clouds- tough because 1) it was Jerry Bird and I really wanted to jump with him and 2) I didn't want him to think I was a wimp. I didn't need to worry about that though, because he didn't want to jump in the clouds either! Anyway, sounds like you made the right choice! maura

Right now I've got 2 on my desk, a 44 way and a 20 way. Yes, they get attention. There is always someone who asks how the picture was taken and just can't grasp the concept of a camera man in the air with you. But I just got a new one this weekend. Its a 20 way, and we had a second camera man on the dive. This shot shows the formation (which was nice) AND the camera man. I figure that should help explain how we get the pictures. We'll see, I still need a frame for it so I haven't brought it in yet!

It may be the boring old midwest, but if you get on load 1 at SkyDive Chicago and there is still mist rising off the river and pond, its really quite breathtaking. But I agree Sebastian is beautiful from the air. maura

Its true. I guess it happened the weekend before last. My condolences to the jumpers out at East Troy. maura

I agree, an ass kicking is definately in order. That was rediculous and unsafe. I've seen people get dumped out of formations for their 1000th jump, EVERYONE else on the load knows. For your 100th?? AFTER the formation turned into a zoo?? You are very lucky you or someone else was not more seriously injured! Your "mate" should be grounded until he can prove that he is not a threat to anyone else in the air.

3 other people have a key to mine. We bought a 4 pack of locks and split the cost. Sure hope we all stay friends!!!

He acknowledges he made a bad choice, actually a series of them. But he posted his story so other people could learn from it. Kind of brave to post that on wreck skydiving, don't you think???

I don't really recommend belly flying in a freefly suit, especially for a beginner. A freefly suit can be baggy in all the wrong places, plus no grippers. So, while you are trying to work on your skills, you are also fighting a jumpsuit that doesn't fit right and wasn't made for the kind of flying you are doing. Just because you need to slow your fall rate does not mean that you need a huge baggy jumpsuit. You need a jumpsuit that fits, maybe is made of a higher drag fabric, maybe a little bit "blousy" on top. As far as not needing RW skills while freeflying?? Well, if you never jump with anyone else, I guess that's true. But wouldn't you rather learn to dock from a slower more stable position?? I bet the people you are jumping with would prefer that. As someone else said, most of the really good freeflyers have some kick ass belly skills as well. Just look at Rook Nelson. So, Gale, find a decent RW suit that fits, new or used. Get comfy with the basics on your belly- diving, approaching, docking, tracking. Who knows, you might even like it! And you will find with a suit that fits properly, your flying will improve which means that you will enjoy it even more. maura

Great pics, Lisa, I got to see some dolphins when I was in Mexico 2 years ago. They were just racing alongside our panga (boat). Beautiful sight! (no whales, though!) Thanks for the memories! maura

Mine stays in my locker at the dz, unless I think I might be jumping somewhere else. Then it stays in my gearbag in the closet. Much as I love my cats, I don't love their hair all over my gear!

Whew! Glad I'm not the only one! (For me it is red, white and black!) maura

You have a point there. My jumpsuits, rig, main and even reserve are all in my "colors" and more often than not, so are the clothes I wear underneath, and even my sneakers match. (also my gearbag, log book cover, even my car!) maura but I don't make my cats dress up!

I had an FXC fire on my 50th jump. It was a wierd feeling, since I was already under my main and flying it, brakes unstowed, when the reserve opened. My canopy rocked and surged forward for a second, then I was back underneath it. Felt kind of strange, so I looked up and saw a LOT of material over my head. Looked again and realized I had 2 out. My first thought was, "Oh shit, this can't be good!" and my next thought was, "Ronco says I can land this!" (We had covered this in my AFP ground school) I had a bi plane, nice and stable, and I ended up landing (VERY softly) in a yard across the road from the dz. I was still on rental (student) gear at the time, and that was the LAST time I ever jumped a rig with an FXC instead of a cypres. (They were already in the process of replacing all the FXCs with cypresses, so it was easy enough to choose a rig with a cypres instead.) maura

Ditto- That's part of what makes skydiving cool. I wear what is comfortable and practical for both jumping and packing. If that's a sport bra and bike shorts, so be it. And while it is true that some of us, male and female, don't look our best in spandex, who cares?? Its a dropzone, not Bally's. "Dress for Success" takes on a whole new meaning! By the way, its real easy to tell the whuffo chicks from the skydivers at my dz, just by how they are dressed and how much time they spend in the bathroom fixing their hair and make up! Us jumpers ARE too busy jumping and packing to worry about all that. It also makes the fancy dress holiday parties and wedding a little more fun- we all get to see just how well we clean up- guys and girls! And what's wrong with a little tye dye???

Mark, That is so true. Those of us @SDC, especially TF members, probably feel this more strongly than others because of the year we have had. The "first" fatality of someone you know, maybe have jumped with (not an incident report) is a very ugly initiation into this sport. It tells us just how close we have gotten to our skydiving family, and reminds us how easily we can lose them, or our own lives as well. Skydiving has enriched my life and brought wonderful people into my "family", people I never would have known otherwise. Yet this sport that has brought these people to me might just as easily take them away. That is something that all of us who continue to skydive need to live with, and that's much harder than learning how to time your flare for landing or docking on a big way. maura

Gale, I think part of the whole joy and empowerment of skydiving is facing and conquering your fears. And fear is a very NORMAL part of skydiving; it keeps you tied to reality, makes you realize that you are doing something dangerous, reminds you to be careful. Some fear is healthy. And most of us have gone through what you have, to one extent or another. (I know I have) But, there are people out there who start jumping for the wrong reasons, who are constantly terrifed, who aren't having any fun and are, in fact a danger to themselves and others. Bottom line, if you love it, stick with it. It will get better. If it doesn't, find another obsession to eat up all your time and money! There is no shame in ANYONE deciding this sport isn't for them and walking away. (better to walk than be carried, right??) maura

Good topic, Pammi, Like Bill said, this sport is not for everyone and sometimes there is a very fine line between being supportive/ encouraging and PUSHING. I watched one girl go through the whole student program (took awhile, and one very patient jumpmaster) and eventually make something like 40 or 50 jumps. She was constantly terrifed, and hurting herself. Can't even tell you how many times she went home with ice packs! But, she was doing it for a guy, and to prove to herself (and HIM, and everyone else for that matter) that she could. She was very determined, and wasn't about to listen to the "maybe this isn't for you" speech. When the realtionship finally ended, she stopped jumping, and I know a lot of us heaved a huge sigh of relief! Whenever I hear people talk about "converting" their girlfriends into skydivers, I think of her. There is only one reason to skydive, and that's because you LOVE it! just my thoughts..... maura

Since you asked, my opinion is that this post is kind of sick, especially considering the past few weeks the skydiving community has seen. maura