pash

While I agree that this probably does hold true for you, be careful. Do not be complacent - it isn't always reaction time that counts - it is judgement. I realize, however, you are probably making a harmless analogy. jason

Hi Eiley, I'm sorry for your loss I didn't even see my friend die, only got the call. I felt like that was enough for me to understand to the point of being safe and not wanting to be used as a training tool in a video. If I actually do witness something live like you did, I'm sure it would bring about some kind of changes in me. I'm just hopeful that the only change isn't that I finally get that I must respect the sport and it's danger. I'm just trying to say I get that now without needing to see the video. Of course if it's part of a required course of some kind I really have no problem. I'm just not "curious" to see it. take care, jason

Not a reply to anyone specific but I think overall people should chill a little about the morality thing. If you need to see it to believe it then go see it. If you can conceive of the death and the danger of the sport without actually having to watch it on video excellent. Neither side is right and neither side is wrong. I just don't agree with the "it's people's nature argument." Everything about skydiving, from my very brief and limited experience, goes against human nature and conquering it. If you have to watch a video to do that go do it. If not, even better because you hopefully get it. If you the kind of person that feels invinceable, you are probably not reading this thread right now. You're probably making toast in the bathtub. jason

Good lord, after all the energy that I spend thinking about this every day, I hope I don't repeat THAT part of it! Thank you for sharing that story and your experience. It seems I'm not the only one that's been down this road. take care, jason

Wow! Thanks for that reply

Good question Kelp. I don't think it's any one specific part. All along the 30 jumps I've had, I wouldn't say I was really nervous, just very very thoughtful of the dive plan and what I was going to do. The idea of failing my plan would probably be the thing that made me "nervous." I have a friend with several thousand jumps that basically said screw tandem again, he would go up with me. For me I like the idea of a learning progression and feeling like I have the curriculum or goals in front of me. I was not a good math student in school because I progressed year after year without actually knowing or retaining anything from the previous year. I am actually concerned that going immediately to coach or only one level of AFF would be due to my own ego and desire to not feel remedial. I hate to admit it and I was trying to convince myself not to post this question, but really I was hoping at some experienced level, some skydiver has gone down this road before and chosen to go tandem... if only to make me feel better about my decision. It would be ironic if it were only me blazing the trail backwards... Do you know what I mean by this? jason

Wondering if there is anyone in the world out there who got their A, took any time off where it felt like starting completely over, then went back for a tandem to regain confidence before completely putting yourself out there? I've been out for a year but I've been lurking the forums every day since. I've talked with instructors and know that some AFF levels need to be repeated and ground school and radio.... Just wondering if anyone took the tandem route first... Jason aka the big pussy

my bad - I was thinking anything up to the liscense was a student... Every DZ needs a Wild Bill

On my 25th jump I had a cutaway... It was actually my A-Liscense jump and i'm not sure if I got it when I left the plane or when my feet hit the ground. Anyway, I watched the canopy float away. It was gone for 3 or 4 days in the woods. I hired Wild Bill to find it and he did. I paid Wild Bill $100 for his efforts which was the easiest $100 I ever spent. I was calling the gear shop every day to see if anyone found it and spent hours in the woods myself. I was prepared to pay for the canopy and told them that. It never came to it and I'm not sure if they would have charged me but I was certainly ready to do so. I rented it but it belonged to them. I lost their stuff so wouldn't I need to pay them back? jason

you know, 1 to 10.... jason

And he has 8 more jumps than you. There's no conspiracy in the numbers Nash. jason

I promise to take that advice or at least get formal canopy coaching. This will be AFTER I do my tandem just to get oriented in the sky again after such an odd start. I know it makes me look like less of a skydiver but I really like the idea of getting acquainted with the sky like a beginner all over again. I'm thinking very small DZ, plenty of time to talk with the folks there. Enough about that until I actually do it. Anyhow, I meant what I said. If only 30 jumps precludes us from relating, I will accept that. If not, give me a shout anytime. take care, jason ps - It was jump #25 that I cutaway due to 1 1/2 line twists. It was jump #26 that I landed in the DZO's yard because I didn't know how to spot correctly. I passed 1' by a tree and stopped 1' short of the picket fence. Tell me about embarrassing!! I was really thankful for ALL the people that talked to me about both situations.

This thread and the other two threads are sad. Truly sad. Veter feel free to PM me if you need someone to talk to. I don't have a lot of skydiving experience but a lot of what you are writing here sounds as if there is some kind of denial on your part. What you are denying I don't know. (and don't deny it) I've read all 3 of these threads top to bottom and I haven't seen 99% of anyone give you anything but tough love. No one here wants you dead. If you truly believe someone wants you dead, you wouldn't post it for posterity, you would be taking actual action. To everyone else: your point about this list and tampering and continuing to jump at a place you are paranoid about is clear. Let him be and don't encourage him to bury himself further with his own words. They are already there as long as the internet is here. Veter, get help. Email me at pash_1974@yahoo.com I have not jumped in a year because I need my head clear to keep everyone around me safe as well as myself. Maybe you need to think clearly too. jason

I hope they change their ways and start enjoying the marijuana cigarettes (do the pot) AFTER the jumping day is done. I chose to believe there was nothing wrong or going on. I was dead wrong. jason

Yeah I know - I had a radio on

I played again and just did a clear and pull. Hey I lived and screw points!!!! jason

OK so I bought the game for $4.99 and went in on my first try.

I'm going to try and find that right now! I only have tetris and frogger at the moment....

I can't believe I watched the whole thing.... Anyhow, the bottle in the first sequence is "Big House Red" and not all that bad. I also dig the "Twin Fin" It's funny about the cork argument because cork snobs even have their sights set on the plastic corks found in wines like "Yellow Tail." I enjoy all kinds of wines as long as they're red. jason

Maybe the idea of a tandem translates to "being in it together" with your phone services. i.e. relying on someone to keep you "in service." Either that or it's just a "cool" thing to have on your website. Everytime I see something out there skydiving related it make paralyzes me and makes me take notice. I wonder what it does to anyone who never jumped? jason

http://www22.verizon.com/ Who is this anyway?

I don't have a personal or business email for Square3, I had always walked in when I was there. You can call manifest at 856-629-7553 and ask them for better contact info. jason

Quotethe woman that runs that store is really nice & helpful. I'm sure if you give her a call ahead of time with your info she could have what you want in stock when you get there or at least on the way. Her name is Mary and one of the nicest people you could meet.

I sell telecommunications for a living. It's unethical but 100% possible. Anyone can call a toll free database, find out who the responsible organization is (resporg) and make a call to that resporg. Anyone with a knowledge of the toll free owner's business can make the change (i.e. claim to be the owner [insert name here]. Trust me, telecom companies keep poor records as it is, let alone know when an owner passes. It is illegal and by the same token, hard to prove since tape is not kept on all verbal change requests. There is the possibility for anyone to point any toll-free number to any ring-to number. ANYONE can do it. However, my opinion would be to investigate the beneficiary of such a change. This would be especially true of a person / organization with a documented history of deception and fraud. This post was not directed at any specific organization. jason

It is for us to figure out. On this very thread I watched another low-timer pretty much shoot himself in the foot with one of the most respected jumpers here because he didn't like an answer he got. You'll never learn from a "survivor" by avoiding every drop zone they go to. It is our approach and attitude towards the veterans that determines our relationship with them. I have never had an honest question left unanswered by anyone with experience either in person, or on this forum. When the veterans start getting concerned about surviving "us" I think we have a problem. By "us" I am not implying that I am a swooper. Looking beyond the surface, the issue seems to be with the attitude of the newer jumpers and a sense of entitlement. People who are "entitled" tend to miss the concept of "earning." I love watching swooping done well. I am also grateful that I have never encounterd poor swooping when setting up for final. Then again I never minded the long walk back when I landed on the far end of the field as it gave me time to reflect on some things. jason