chrismgtis

Should he be practicing these things without a reference (another jumper)? He could develop bad habits that way possibly? Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Ask your instructor. A lot of people will tell you not to look forward (look ahead instead) and use other things, such as a buildings, tree, winsocks, etc to judge how high you are... but I'm sure that's iffy depending on your landing area since you shouldn't be staring at some tree when you are trying to land. Your instructors will have a better idea about what to do at your specific DZ. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

A lot of these bastards make me sick. Share the wealth why don't you. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Just in case you haven't seen this... Fearless The Jeb Corliss Story... http://chrisgrooms.net/myblog/2008/07/26/fearless-the-jeb-corliss-story/ (list of all 5 video clips) I can't see the landing without a parachute attempt coming out too well, but the guy has balls and if anyone can do this he should have the resources to do it. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Two years so far. No friends lost yet (to skydiving). And hopefully I'll get at least another 2 years without ever seeing that. Though I have lost skydiving friends. I was in my first jump course with 3 other guys, Andy, Rick and Jason. I think about a year in, maybe less I heard about Jason passing away. Our DZ has also lost a few other guys to other causes (I think one was a car wreck). I was blown away when I heard about Jason. He was a good guy and always came to the DZ and would talk to anyone like he knew them well. I know everyone has demons in their closet, but it's sad losing someone you started in this sport with and got to know somewhat well. There has been times that I've thought about the fact that sooner or later I'm going to lose a good friend in this sport and I've met a lot of damn good people. I'd hate to see any of them go, whether I knew them well or not. Seeing someone die or losing a friend to this sport would be terrible. I don't think it would make me stop. Hell, I think I'd go right back up just to honor them when loads start going up again. Personally, I'm all for a dedication load an hour later, though I've got no problem whatsoever with the DZ shutting down for the day. Either way, it's honoring fallen comrades. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Hey, you're alive . Glad you made it out alright to jump again another day. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I would think most skydivers "should" assume that they do not have the right away. Ever. If I'm playing around, even at 4000 feet, I'm not going to assume it's ok whether I see anyone within 1000 foot of me or not. I'm expecting danger when I spiral down to lose some altitude (or whatever). So I try to just not do it at all. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Yea, I was actually trying to print the cell phone records out earlier but their server was down. Damnit AT&T! I'm not sure how to get the Time Warner phone call records without a subpoena though. She called both my mother's phone and the house phone. Oh but I didn't mention that she left a voice mail on my mother's phone, so that's proof that she called. Whatever God you guys believe in, please pray on this one. I need serious help on this. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Alright, so I know a lot of people that read this forum know me personally or have at least met me. And I really feel the need to let my skydiving family know what is happening, as I am in serious trouble, innocent and wishing this just wasn't happening (and not just for myself). Let me start with what happened recently. This past Saturday on the 19th I was at a hospital, watching my grandmother's "boyfriend" die (he died hours later) with my mother. We got a call from my dad saying that the cops were looking for me and that I needed to turn myself in. Not long after I got a call from Kristen (my ex) saying to meet her across the street from where she lives so we could talk (so that her new boyfriend wouldn't know about it). Well, we got there and mom stupidly drove to the back of the school (Kristen only said meet her at the school, not at the back) and two cop cars were sitting there (you know how they like to pull beside each other and chat). They pulled us over and asked us why we were on private property. After about 20 minutes they finally came back and asked me to get out of the car after "realizing" (if this wasn't a setup) that I had a warrant out for my arrest. Well, I ended up in jail for the entire rest of the weekend, until Monday morning on suicide watch. I was put in a cell with nothing but a urinal, no clothes but a robe, not even my glasses (taken away from me) so I couldn't see and just a concrete floor to sleep on with not even so much as a pillow. I didn't realize I lived in fucking Samalia?? I had not ate, literally in a week because of how upset I was about what happened prior to this. I was living on liquids when I could get the appetite to eat. By the time I was in the cell I just wanted to eat something and the food was so utterly disgusting and unacceptable that I wouldn't even touch it yet. The orange juice they brought me was warm and watered down to the point that it tasted like puke water. The hot dogs looked like they had some kind of disease as if f'ing Palpatine himself had used the force to shoot lightning through the hot dogs to cook them for a quick 30 second meal. Anyway... Today I got a restraining order against me. Right after learning that if I lose in court Monday that I could face 5 months in prison for a charge that is simply an accusation of words communicated over a phone that NEVER even occurred, so obviously there is no proof either. Obviously I was pretty upset about this. Then later on she attempted to call the house phone and my mother's cell phone (I'm staying with them right now as I lost my job recently). So apparently it seems that she broke her own restraining order. I don't really know how this works. What happened all prior to this is a long story. Basically, she was on drugs 24/7 for 2 years. I found out about it a few months after I met her. By then she was pregnant with our son and from day one I told her I would stick by her no matter what happened, through thick and thin. The week before this happened we got into a fight over the phone. She went ballistic, throwing objects and all that and was arrested and sent to rehab unwillingly. She gets out and the next day she has a boyfriend. A few days later she is engaged. According to her Myspace... a week later she is married. And about a week and a half before that we were practically engaged after being together for an entire year. So I know there are plenty of smart people in this community and I need your help, advice, ANYTHING. This is serious and I face not only going to jail for something I promise you that I never did and at the same time, losing my own son and never getting to see him when she is the drug addict and famously sadistic psychotic. Life is fair? Don't ever believe that. If it was I'd have 3000 skydives and some nice base jumps in Norway by now.

Ouch. I know it's easier said than done, but I found that it's best to force yourself not be afraid of the ground/landing. That results in flaring high sometimes. Also causes some other stuff. Be one with the canopy. It is your best friend. Hehe. I've had a couple of crazy landings myself. No serious injuries. Just banged up my knees a few times, but thank god for that. Oh and do take Scott Miller's class if you ever get the chance. That shit does wonders. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Sometimes I wish I had an AAD that popped higher. 750 feet scares the living shit out of me. Though right now I don't have one at all. I just pray that I don't have a heart attack in the air or something. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Yea, you're right. It's sort of your body's natural position when you relax, rather than fight it. I find free fall a very relaxing moment myself. Somewhat like lying down on a soft bed. I was taught on those setups that you lay on, and to me that was very not relaxing at all and somewhat painful, because I'm just not limber like I was when I was younger. In the air, it's so much better. I love it. So when people say "lay on the floor" or something, I guess that might help, but it ain't comfortable and it's not how you should feel in the air. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

No matter how bad this sounds. I want to see that. I'd pay to see it. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

That's one lucky guy. If I was rich I'd jump 100 times a week. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

That's pretty cool that you and your dad both got your licenses together. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

It seems that generally a good canopy size is slightly higher than your weight (or more) with more experience (not the first jump). Although according to what I understand no less than 150 (isn't anything less than 150 considered high performance?). I'd assume by common sense that it wouldn't be smart to jump a 160 on jump #1 if you weigh 160 lbs. That would be a little crazy. I started with a canopy over 200 square feet. Now I jump a 175. I weigh 165 right now and weighed about 175 when I started. But I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. That's why we have wing loading calculators. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

OTOH I have 150+ helicopter jumps and not a single one out of Otter, Caravan, Casa... That's cool in a lot of ways. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I said "ouch" when I read that, because I knew it was probably true. Didn't watch much X-games in my life but it's probably one of the reasons I had an interest in doing this. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I owe so much beer. At the Christmas party at Dilworth Billiards last year I bought Pete a beer since he was on so many of my instructed jumps in the past and was one hell of a great instructor. I tried to offer beer to a few others but they wouldn't let me.

Kick ass!! I'll send the link out. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I don't see any videos. Start editing!! I wanna see some videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mk6zijMwV8 P.S. I didn't realize I looked like I was taking a dump in free fall. Oh yea and here is Andy Ciordia's video slide show. He got some damn nice pictures. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JONT8FSZ8YA& Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Oh really? Nice. So what is a "scholarship" exactly? Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I think most of us probably realize how damn blessed we are to be local to this DZ. I agree with everything you just said. Personally, I was having a really hard time dealing with the heat. I don't know if it was because I've been sick for months and on medication or what. Last year I was able to handle it. But they dealt with it for hours on end to do their job. But the fact is so much of the Skydive Carolina staff put in so many hours of work and I never heard a single complaint about the heat or their jobs. Like you say it takes a special kind of person to do what they do. I've never been to another drop zone yet. I'm not even sure I would want to. I know how fortunate I am, without having to know first hand what other drop zones are like. We have so much here, a gigantic landing area, big boogies, kick ass instructors, excellent safety, etc. It's because of the people. Not just the staff, but if the staff didn't do whey to do, especially people like James who constantly seems to be trying to make things better for all of us, it wouldn't be this way. James has always been there and taken the time to listen to what I have to say and help me out. I want to thank him for that and everything he's done for me since I appeared on the DZ almost two years ago. Pete Langahans was an instructor on most of my AFF jumps and wins awards at the Christmas parties for basically being a kick ass guy with a smile on his face. Definitely one of my favorite people on the DZ who I have the utmost respect for. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Hellllllll yea. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

The last time I looked I think the Cookie helmet without adding anything extra to it was about $510. I looked earlier today and it was over $700 with nothing added. So I looked at Bonehead again and they seem to be much cheaper for the helmet + box. I wouldn't have thought so. But what happened to the price for the Cookie? Edit: Ok, it's showing in AUD instead of USD. The region was set for international. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan