NWFlyer

You posted elsewhere that you have 14 jumps. What do your instructors think? Yes, you right, I only have 14 jumps, hope to have more this upcoming weekend. What do my instructors say, um not much, when I up for plane boarding people (including instructors) ask me what elevation I will pull. I tell them at or around 3500 they seem to be ok with it. Why do you ask? Too low for a new jumper? I figured if I have to do hop and pop from 5500 feet and second hop and pop from 3500 feet then I should at least be comfortable deploying parachute at 3500. I ask because at 14 jumps, such guidance best comes from your instructors not random strangers on the internet.

I was hit by a car as a pedestrian, walking to lunch from work, so I lacked any kind of protective gear; was just wearing a skirt, t-shirt, and sandals. As others have said, time kind of slows down and gets really surreal. I knew I was about to get hit, then I was hit, and I have a distinct memory of being thrown through the air and seeing the tree along the sidewalk from a very odd perspective. That's what my brain keyed in on. Like you, at first it was pure adrenaline/heart pounding, and I tried to get up despite a bum leg. As for pain, it came along not too long after and lasted for a few weeks in my case. Serious injuries were relatively minor - deep puncture wound that actually hurt very little because all of the surface nerves were damaged), a bunch of contusions and road rash (which, as anyone who's had it knows THAT hurts like a mofo), and a torn labrum in my shoulder that eventually needed to be repaired. But the full body bashing just HURTS for a long long time. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

So you missed the whole "learn to skydive" section of the site? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You posted elsewhere that you have 14 jumps. What do your instructors think? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Most people who seek out the premium beers have the sense to go find a pillow when they've had too many, not a chainsaw and a tiki torch. Yep, my designated driver took me home, fed me water, and stuck me in bed. Reminds me of one time I was buying Patron at the liquor store when I was in my early 30s. I was dressed really young that day, and half expected to get carded. But then I realized that no one underage is going to be buying Patron (and I thought that was probably a missed opportunity for my 19-year-old self). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Try the Austin, Texas tunnel since that's on your route and everyone says it's the new hotness in tunnels. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Hmm... my last good beer drunk was on premium beers, but that was because I was at The Trappist where everything is high-octane and it all goes down way too easily! But yeah, generally cheap beer = cheap drunks. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

If all goes as planned, I never hear the final alarm. On the rare occasions that I do (which, so far, has always been after deployment but before full canopy deployment), I find it rather obnoxious. Which is the point, since if I ever hear it at a point when I haven't taken action to get a good canopy over my head, I want that obnoxious noise to wake me the fuck up. I use the other two to signal breakoff time and main deployment time. What else would you suggest I use the third for? "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Breakoff (varies by size/type of skydive but "default" for me is 4500), 3500 and 2000. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I think a better way of expressing it is "be true to yourself." Meaning be true to your beliefs, your values, your opinions, your preferences, etc. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Vader, I call bullshit on all of your confessions (except the flat flyer one - I remember being surprised by that one, too). Not because I don't believe them, but because I'm pretty sure they don't meet the criteria that grue posted: "In this thread, we will post something skydiving related that we are ashamed of, or that people would not expect." "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You first. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Yes, you can vote once per day per device. Keep voting, people! "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I've never done a tandem. Oh wait, I'm proud of that one. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You could start by averaging more than 16 jumps/year. At your current pace you could go for that tandem rating in 2038. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Sometimes, yeah. Couple common reasons. 1) There's increased activity at the DZ, with multiple planes, jump runs stacked on top of each other, etc., and the dropzone has just decided it's simpler not to try to add student operations into that mix. Dropzones restrict a lot of things during boogies that they allow normally, because of the added complexity that multiple aircraft can add. Doesn't mean it can't be done safely, they've just chosen to keep the equation simpler. 2) They want to give their staff a chance to play at the boogie, so rather than relying on them to work with students, they're given the opportunity to have fun while there's special aircraft, organizers, friends in from out of town, etc. I will definitely add to the chorus of voices encouraging the OP to volunteer - DZs need more support during the boogie, and chances are they will welcome more volunteers to help out. A lot of what's needed at a boogie doesn't require any special skills or skydiving experience, but will be a great way for you to be at the dropzone and meet people. Ignore her comments. :/ she has no idea what she's taking about... Care to clarify exactly how I have no idea what I'm talking about? I shared what I've observed at some dropzones I've jumped at but I'm happy to be enlightened.

Exact opposite. The longer I spend in this sport, and the more skill and experience I develop, the more I respect the rules that exist and understand why they're there. Stick around long enough and respect the people who came before you enough and you just might come around to that, too.

Don't seek out relationship advice on the internets. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

This one time, at beer camp ... Voted twice already today (two different devices!) Help Marcel out, y'all! Best part is that there's no need to log in or sign up ... you just vote. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Yes, that's exactly what the waiver is designed to cover. We'll never know for sure what exactly its designed to cover Remember that part about trying not to be creepy? You're doing it wrong. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Yes, that's exactly what the waiver is designed to cover. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

You posted elsewhere that you're studying to be a doctor. How, exactly, do you plan to deal professionally with female patients that you find attractive? Particularly when there are times you'll have to look at their naked bodies in a professional context. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

I also suspect my answer might be different if I were younger, but at 42 (and some days feeling like I'm 72), there's only so much my body can take, too. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

300, maybe 400. I did 91 in a month (July 20 - Aug 20). It's just the way that my 8-way team's training schedule, Lost Prairie, and organizing commitments worked out. Granted, that was on top of going to my day job on the days I wasn't jumping, but it made me realize that I really have no interest in that kind of pace on a constant basis. I like my pace, I don't mind stepping it up a bit as I have in the last year or so, but not to the level of full time. I like to do other stuff, too.

I learned via Facebook today that a longtime member of this community, Jennifer Galbraith, who posted here as peregrinerose, died last night. I don't know anything of the circumstances (other than it was apparently not skydiving-related). Jen was one of those posters that I never did meet in person, but that I still connected with. We exchanged many PMs and became Facebook friends - she's one that I'd always hoped to connect with in person one day. I'm sad that I won't have my chance. Hers was a thoughtful, funny, level-headed voice on these forums and she'll be missed. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke