Skailz

Ahh, I get it.. duh. I never think about creepers since I free-fly. I can imagine that would hurt your tail bone. Well, I thought about getting an off road skateboard, or making one, so that I can get momentum down a decent hill, be on my feet, and still have my hands free. I used to skateboard for about 5 years, so I would feel comfortable as possible trying that out... maybe wear some elbow pads and strap a pillow to my @ss :) I would think the hardest part would be to get the parachute up above you and on heading in the first place. They need off road roller-blades. Anyone know the best way to get a canopy up and on heading on your feet? I assume it can be done alone if needs be? I would guess to grab the front risors and run first. Ground launching is brand new to me... Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

Creeper? Never heard of that.. Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

I went straight to freeflying myself, stuck to solos for a long time though, just practicing. I highly recommend having basic control on your belly before you freefly, which may or may not take many jumps. Definitely need to be stable on belly, know turns well, and to track. Sometimes I wish I would have done belly RW... just docking with others in a circle that way makes me uncomfortable a wee bit. I'd rather be head down with a couple other good freeflyers.. that's just me. Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

Has anyone gone running down steep hill and got it to lift off the ground for a few seconds? Just curious.. cuz I've thought about that too and have seen it done on video.. of course they got roughed up a little from falling and rolling, I expect that much. Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

Uber, thanks for that thread link too. :) Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

That's all I need to know... :) Thanks guys.. I don't think I'll try it considering that info. I've never known anyone that tried cept for the one human kite guy about 5 years ago that I mentioned. I agree the RAM air could be tricky with no room for error. Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

Sometimes I think the only reason I volunteered to be alive is to jump out of airplanes... So I would say yes, it's worth it. It's also worth dealing with all the struggles life keeps throwing at you in order to jump even though I don't get to jump as much as I would like to. Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

I'm curious right now... A long time ago I saw a skydiver hook himself to a truck that was used as an anchor using a long rope. The rope was connected to the center of his chest strap. The Winds that day were gusting 20-30 mph. With the help of a few others, the wind lifted this guy up in the air like a kite. I would not do that.. but... I have a jeep and a 220 square foot canopy. In my head I'm thinking... how cool would it be to have someone pull me around in a large, flat field to see if I could get airborn at least a few feet. 5 - 10 feet is all I would hope for. On a zero wind day too. I've thought about purchasing an offroad skateboard or sled so that I would not have to run during liftoff.. and design the cable pulling me so that I could release it instantly if needs be and just float back down. Again this is all in my head. I have a radio controlled jeep and a parachute shaped kite, and that worked ok, givin that no one could steer the kite at that time. My question is, has anyone ever done that and what do you think? Maybe I'm nuts, but I think it would be safe if done properly and with common sense. Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

Hehe, I don't know what I've been thinking... Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

Did they give you a discount since you don't have to land in the plane? WFFC sounds like a BLAST!!! I've seen lotsa video from many friends who have gone. I'm always too broke :( Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

YAY!!! I live in Indiana.. always looking for a cool weekend trip to a nice DZ. Perhaps I will check it out this summer some time.. Gonna be getting a new Sabre2 so I will be all about jumping this season. Sounds like a really cool DZ. Welcome back to the sky Romericus! :) Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

NICE!!!! I've only been to 15k once. I may try to make that if I have some cash.. :) Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

GRATS!! That's amazing. I wouldn't have the nutz to jump with that many people in the air yet! :) Did they all jump a Javelin? jk... Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

I've not been to Skydive Chicago yet, but I would say it's just as safe as any. It seems to be one of the largest, if not the largest, in it's general area in the U.S. Naturally the more skydives done, the better chances of increased incidents. Also, I know they broke a record there once, shooting for I think 300 people in one formation.. one died I believe trying that. You gotta take things like that into consideration. I plan on visiting that DZ one day soon since it's only 4 hours or so away. Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

In response to the original post here... I have the same problem. I have been in the sport for 7 years now, and I have a whopping 169 jumps as of this weekend. I drove a 3 hour roundtrip today to try to jump again, only to be stuck with 20mph winds ALL day long. Heck, I still only got my A license! I passed the B test with a 100% once, but lost it before I could send it in. *smacks self on head* Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

Hey there, welcome to the sky.. :) It's perfectly natural when you only have 3, 4, 5 jumps to still be making a basic error like kicking a leg out.. etc. You will be suprised that in a few more jumps I bet it will not be a problem. I remember my first 5 second fall. I felt lost for a few seconds.. didn't know which way was up or down.. haven't felt like that since really. I'm always upside down now. :) Trust the arch.. no matter what, in freefall, if you hold that position right, you will turn belly down to earth and at least be flat like that. You may or may not be turning, but that's a different topic. One thing that has helped me a TON in the air is this concept... Your center of gravity needs to be in front of your center of drag. Like a dart.. they fly straight.. their weight is in the front.. the drag is in the back. Same thing with an arrow, or a badmitton (however you spell that). That is also true in the air.. your center of gravity is around the center of your belly, and by arching with your hands and feet back in an X shape, you are putting your center of gravity just ahead of your center of drag.. the result? A stable belly to earth fall. If you kick your legs or arms out in front you, you are putting the drag in front of your center of mass, which will turn you around within a couple seconds if you hold that. Same with head-down and sit fly.. notice the legs will be open in a head-down usually and the arms are out more in the sit. Hope that helps.. it helped me a lot to look at it like that... Blue Skies, ~Skailz~

Hi, I just watched a video today that my home dropzone made and there was a clip that showed someone in a sit and it deployed on him.. the pilot chute even came up and in front of his right arm somehow. It deployed with his arm up and around both risors. He was ok thank god, and I'm glad you are too. I would guess it got snagged on something just enough to make it hang out a lil bit either in the plane or in the air, or the elastic is wearing out and it is not tight enough to hold the pilot chute secure at that high of a speed. I also double check the handle before exit.. to make sure it is just right. It may also help to try different ways to pack the pilot chute so that the fabric at the opening of the pouch is less. The majority of the pilot chute being further back in the pouch will help it stay there in the air. Make sure your bridle is nice and tucked away too.. ~Skailz~ Blue Skies, ~Skailz~