kirrz

I really want to attend one boogie this year.. after reading up about the past equinox boogies I think this one just might be it! And hopefully by then I'll finally be licensed and geared up!

When I did my AFF level 1, at the end of the ground training day we had 2 options. We could either choose to take the first jump as a tandem jump or else do it with 2 JMs holding on to you... Is that not offered at other places? Perhaps he should go straight into AFF but take the first jump as a tandem and then just continue the normal AFF progression?

I'm not a BASE jumper but as someone who has travelled extensively through the Himalayas I thought I would put in my 2c regarding laws & backcountry BASE in that region.. (I'm making the assumption here that you are looking for new exit points.) The backcountry mountain areas of the India/ Pakistan region are truly truly isolated. Every few hours by car, you find a base camp/ village type area where there are a few people and a few shops. You'd start at one of these places- you pay someone local to take you exploring - usually by horseback. Once you are out - there is NO ONE around. There are hundreds of deserted mountain ranges and cliffs. This is when you'd scout exit points and do your jumps.. there is no one in a position of authority around to care. If, by the off chance you do get harassed by someone, they probably don't know the laws but are just milking the situation for what it's worth... smile, give them a few bucks and it's sweet. Really. (I would be a bit weary about jumping in the Kashmir area though because it is still a military controlled zone.) HOWEVER, if you screw up and need medical attention, you're fucked. Really really fucked. True story - was about 3km by horseback into the mountains when my sister had an accident. There was blood everywhere and no one around. There was nothing to do except get back on the horse and ride out the 45 mins back to the base camp area. There we found an army base and they gave her emergency first aid but had no other equipment. We then had to drive (rented car & driver) 3 hours to the nearest village where she was stitched up by candlelight (expect no electricity for about 15 hrs a day). If you have a serious accident out there, you're in trouble. Hope this helps!

I've got it on DVD.. I have to figure out how to cut out the irrelevant bits and upload it on to skydiving movies...Will keep you posted.

I just hope that I can keep my cool as you did. I hear you just do your EP's, like your brain turns on the right switch because you practiced. What EXACTLY went through your mind after you tried to pull twice? Was it like, pull, shit, pull again, shit, PULL RESERVE or what? I tend to be pretty good under pressure so I wasn't really panicked at all. It was just kinda part of the jump. For me personally, I know there is a chance of a total malfunction but I just look at it like the chance of getting hit by a bus - it exists, but not enough to stop you from leaving it in the back of your mind. What exactly went through my mind? That was such a cool jump! Yay! I finally passed! (tried to pull ripcord) Wait a sec...I can't be that weak. (tried to pull ripcord with both hands) Am I being weak? Is this what a hard pull is? What if I pull the reserve and everyone gets pissed off? Fuck it. (pulled reserve ripcord - parachute opens) Sweet. All sorted. What an awesome jump! I finally passed! And hey, I'm under a reserve. I wonder if anyone will notice the white parachute. This is cool. How ironic. We changed rigs right before the jump. And I got video on this jump so I could take it home and show dad skydiving's not as dangerous as he thinks... I think it's different for everyone but if it ever happens, just stay cool. You know (whether you believe it or not) how to save your own life as best as you can. If you didn't, your subconscious wouldn't let you jump off a plane.

How about the freebag?

I don't know the technicalities but as soon as I landed, I was told not to touch the gear. My jumpmaster (Chappo) had a tug at it and couldn't pull it. Then we took the gear into the packing room and one of the packers (I think his name is Josh?) came over and had a tug. He put a bit of strength into it but it deployed the main. -- Thanks everyone for correcting me about the chop/ cutaway thing.. you learn something new every day! -- On a different note.. before I pulled the reserve, the only thing I was scared about was that the situation didn't actually warrant that move, I was making a mistake and that the DZO would get pissed off at me when I landed for unneccessarily pulling it. If you are jumping rented gear (or student gear) and you pull the reserve but when you land it turns out it was completely unneccessary, what are the repercussions? In terms of both pissing people off and the costs of repacks/ whatever gear re-maintenance is needed?

This Saturday on my 10th jump (4th attempt at AFF level 4) I had to chop. I went to pull the main and it was a hard pull. Tried twice and when it wasn't happening, went straight to emergency procedures and pulled the reserve. It was all fine from there. On the canopy ride down I was more excited about having an awesome jump and finally passing level 4 than feeling anxious or scared or anything like that about being under a reserve - for me it just so happened to be part of the jump. When I got to the ground, I was a bit tripped out by all the attention I got because I had a chop. I know a lot of people were just being nice and encouraging but it was kind of scary that such a big deal was made about the fact that I carried out my emergency procedures the way I was trained to do (there was video). I thought it was really scary that chopping and deploying the reserve with a cool head on low jump numbers was regarded as somewhat extraordinary and not just the normal thing to do.

- get my A license - get at least 50 jumps - get my own gear - go to a boogie

There is no wind tunnel in the whole continent! It's a shame considering Jamioquai has one in his backyard

About a minute after I pressed enter on that post.. I thought, fuck it. I'm going. At least at the DZ I can talk about my fear and listen to other people tell me about their embarassing stories and fuckups. So I went.. and I had an AFFI that I've never had before. And he was amazing. You're supposed to get a 20 minute briefing. He hung out with me for over 2 hours and listened to everything I had to say. I jumped. I got out of a Skyvan rather than an XL and was a bit scared about the exit (it's actually so much easier) but I nailed the fear. It's an incredible landmark. He talked me through the jump and relaxed me so much that seriously my only aim of the jump was to test my love of the sport and exit stable-ly. I remember the entire exit - no blackout - and it was fine. I did fail the jump - was still a bit wobbly in freefall but it was the best jump I ever did. I'm really glad I went. A lot of people have sent me PMs saying they are having similar thoughts (thanks guys!). I guess there are a few things I learnt today that I'd like to share and maybe it'll help others out. - Nobody is perfect. Someone at my DZ failed level 4 20 something times and now he is a great jumper. So if in doubt, think of him. - Failure is not the end of the world. At first I really wanted to get off AFF as soon as possible. Now I'd like to feel comfortable on a personal level with each stage before moving on. - The exit is about 10 seconds of the jump. Are you really going to let 10 seconds of fear (in proportion to the 10ish minutes of the jump) stop you from skydiving? And seriously.. go to the dropzone. All the people who said to go even if you don't jump are right. It's really different being in a room by yourself with these thoughts than being in that environment. It is so easy to psych yourself out especially if you don't have anyone to psych you up and present the other side of the argument. I'm so glad I went today. I really cannot emphasize the importance of at least going down to the dropzone if you think you are in danger of psyching yourself out, it is like giving the sport an honest chance!!

I started jumping back in November and had to take a 3.5 month break after AFF 1 due to circumstances. During the break, I was obsessed with jumping. I would watch videos, follow the forums compulsively etc.. Now I've been back for a bit and have started jumping again. The jumps have been going well. 2 weeks ago, I failed level 4. It was purely the psychological thing of having to exit with 1 instructor rather than 2. I completely kicked on exit and just totally flipped out during the jump. I'm generally quite comfortable once in terminal velocity but on this jump I don't know why, I wouldn't let go of my instructor and was just at full panic. It was the first jump I have ever had video-d and I was bad! Anyways, at the time I didn't think anything. It has now been 2 weeks since that jump. I have the money to keep jumping set aside, the weather has been awesome, I have even organized a lift to the DZ and woken up and been ready to go on 2 occasions but ended up staying home. The thing is, I feel like I am somehow psyching myself out from jumping but don't understand this feeling nor do I know how to combat it. When I'm in the air, I love it. I definitely want to move on and try out skydiving disciplines. I don't think I have fallen out of love with the sport but for some reason, I just can't bring myself to get to the DZ and jump. And it's no longer an obsession point in my life. What happened? I know I could force myself to go and just jump but forcing myself to jump out a plane just seems a bit ironic. I want to feel that longing and urge to be in the sky before going back out again. Is my attitude wrong? Has something like this happened to anyone? Do you think this is simply a case of psyching myself out? What is going on???????? What to do? How do I get over it? Thanks! (I'm also quickly approaching level 6 and the thought of jumping alone scares me to death so that could have something to do with it...)

Thanks Jasmin! I'm sorted but I am seriously astounded by how nice everyone is! Hope I see you out there some time!

I did give them a call and both of the buses are full tomorrow! I might just have to train it.. Thanks!

Thanks for all the replies! I am now wondering.. do you think a jumper's attitude affects the way they handle an unexpected problem during a jump? For example, you have the same jumper, same exit point, same experience level, same conditions. Attitude 1 is - "I love this sport but I don't know what could happen. I hope this jump goes fine, I think I am being careful." Attitude 2 is - "I am a BASE god. Nothing can touch me." Logically, I would think that if you are confident that nothing is going to happen to you - if something does happen, you would be able to retain a cool head and deal with the problem because you have already convinced yourself nothing will happen to you and so you are less likely to panic. Whereas if you were less confident in your own abilities, you would hesitate in making a decision and it could kill you. I understand that there are exceptions to every rule but I am just wondering if this example generally applies to BASE. Are you more likely to perfom better under pressure if you do indeed believe that you are invincible? Disclaimer: I am not making any assumptions or voicing any opinions.. I am just trying to question and understand how things work.

I'm back in Sydney and would really really like to start jumping again.. I was wondering if anyone was planning to drive down to Picton on Saturday morning and might be able to give me a lift.. I live in Broadway (so it's pretty city center) and am happy to pay for gas! I joined the skarsky yahoo group but I'm still waiting to be approved, I thought I would try posting here too. Thanks in advance!

I have a question. It seems that the longer I follow BASE, the more real the dangers and the fatalities are beginning to seem. Please correct me if I'm wrong- I have derived...with every jump you make, you're pretty much accepting that you could die or be severely injured no matter how good you are... and the risk is a lot higher than skydiving. So before you jump, you have to be sure that the reward is greater than the risk (the calculation of this is completely personal)...right? Is that how it actually works in the heads of every jumper? Realistically- does this assessment take place before every jump? Or do you decide before undertaking BASE and then just enjoy yourself from that day onwards? Or do many people just go ahead and jump all the time in the mindset of 'it can't happen to me'? And is that fine too?

Hope you have a speedy recovery so you can get back to doing all the things you love.

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Thank you very much everyone! You've given me great info & things to think about!!

I'm sorry if I double-posted or did something illegal but thank you so so much to everyone who has gone out of their way to help me! Skydivers are the best people in the world!!

how about sugar free redbull?

I posted this thread in bonfire http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2050892;. I thought maybe you guys would have some great feedback too.. Thanks in advance!

Thanks! That's awesome, I will try it :)

The target audience is potential parents & students. So parents in their 30s-40s, mostly expats.