chrismgtis

Well, don't quit. If you're instructors thought you couldn't do it, they would tell you. I'm no instructor so I can't tell you how to adjust your plans technically on your skydive, but I'll tell you one thing that seemed to help me a lot. I really didn't want to think about the fact that I was going to be falling through the sky. So, I tried to trick my brain into believing that what I was doing was nothing out of the ordinary as if I was just stepping off the edge of a pool into the water. It's really hard to explain, but I really tricked my mind into thinking of it in a completely different way. By doing that, I took my mind off the things that really didn't matter like the fact that I was falling through the sky. Those things have no effect on the success and outcome of your skydive. If that is a concern to you, personally I always looked at it like, I'm here to do this and if I'm going to do it theres no point in worrying about the bad things. Then you can really concentrate on the important things like arching and relaxing so that you don't fight the air. To be honest when I first started I think I closed my eyes for the first two or three seconds once we stepped out of the plane and what I did was just breath in and picture myself arching and relaxing. Trying not to think about the scary part of what I was doing. The point is, if you want to do this, you can and there is nothing wrong with having trouble "getting it", and my suggestion is to find that "peace" that brings about a sort of relaxation and calm that allows you to really focus on what you were taught. We all learn at different speeds. Hell, I didn't even pull on my first AFF jump. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Personally, this is my opinion, if I ever go in. Out of respect, don't do anything arrogant like getting on a load while I'm lying there with ambulances around me, but once my family has been notified or I'm at least off the DZ, go make a jump and maybe even dedicate that one skydive to me today. Get right back in the air if that is how you are going to morn my passing, offer me a prayer on the ride to altitude and salute me with your skydive. Use this to remind yourself that life is short and you should try your best to enjoy it. Don't stop jumping because I died. That's definitely not what I would want. Attend safety day and always be thinking about safety and other jumpers around you. I think it has a lot to do with how you think about the jumps you make that day. If you're standing on the ground getting ill because you can't jump after someone went in, your a piece of shit, but I haven't met any skydivers that would have that kind of attitude. If you think respectfully enough to wait for the hearse to leave with me in it and then get back in the air, then I would be looking down thinking "Hell yea". If a DZ wants to shut down for the day or the weekend, I'm sure as hell not going to argue. If they don't shut down, all I can say is that I hope they have the respect to wait until things have calmed down and that the DZ possibly huddles up and prays for the passed to rest in peace. Maybe even make a nice 50-way with all the jumpers there to say goodbye.

I think some of us feel that when an accident occurs, whether it is a malfunction on our own jump or another person has an accident that frightens us, jumping again is something we like to do. Sometimes it might be an act of respect or a way for us to face our fears again. We've been facing that fear for a while and knew what the risks were, so why not face it yet again, soon, when that fear becomes even more real to us. Although it sounds like not jumping would be respectful, we are skydivers and by carrying on we say something that is hard to really explain. I know when I had a malfunction and cutaway, the first thing I did was grab a rental and get right back up. It's a spirit I think a lot of us have that says, we know the risks and we love this sport, so we get right back on that horse and continue and by doing so after a death some of us may feel like it is a salute to those who died. I think that's why some might feel they need to jump after something like that. No one has a problem with shutting down for the day either, if the DZO/DZM/jumepr collective wishes though I'm sure. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Glad you like it.

I made a list of software a while back that you may find very helpful. You should be able to find a way to convert, edit, rip, etc any type of file you want with the software in this list. From there you should be able to import it into any software that you need. http://www.chrisgrooms.net/blog/free/list-of-free-video-conversionencodingrippingviewing-software/ Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Unfortunately, Raeford is about 3 hours from Charlotte. I live in Shelby, and it takes me about 45 minutes to get to Skydive Carolina. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I dare someone to lick a Naga Jolokia. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

This is just my opinion, but I think everyone should work on RW before freeflying. So it makes a lot of sense to start out with a RW suit. For a lot of reasons. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Laserdisc. Wow. When I was in school I always thought laserdiscs were some stupid thing the teachers thought would be cool to have. And they never seemed to be able to figure out how to play them. I didn't know back then that it was an actual attempt at something the public would use. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I was thinking about that yesterday. I figured they had to have made at least fifteen hundred dollars that weekend. They were machines, packing non stop. Impressive. Just read James post. Paraclete XP is sponsoring a load. Nice. I wonder if any of those guys at the tunnel will be coming down for the boogie. Let'em off work Kirk! Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

It was hot, that's for sure. Three days of that will take a lot out of you. I was worn slap out when I got home. It was worth it though. I had a blast. I actually left and drove 45 minutes to the house, changed clothes and took a shower. I didn't want to stink anymore than I had to. James and the rest of the crew manage to pull off so much without a hitch all year long. That was a minor setback. We could still jump and pack. Whatta we care. It was so hot, standing in the hangar didn't really help anyway. What kind of skydiver complains about heat or electricity, when they get to drink beer after the last load anyway. Then Dale serves up kick ass chicken and mexican. Ok, now I'm getting pissed off cause I won't get to stay. Damn! Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

If you don't attend who is going to sucker me into taking tequila shots? I'm bummed though myself, cause I won't be able to stay Fri-Sun this time. I'm going to be there all day Saturday, but I have to leave that night after my last jump. No drinks for me. Hopefully I can stay for some of Dale's food or I'll be pissy. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

wtf? Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

The general rule I've been going by for a while now is not to fight the landing. Just allow your body to collapse when your feet touch the ground. When you're on final, start to relax your body, concentrate on breathing, keeping your canopy straight and don't look straight down. On every jump that I've ever botched without a good stand up or PLF, I realized later on that I fought the landing hard, resulting in no PLF at all. I smashed my knee twice doing this. I never know whether or not I am going to land on my feet until I've hit the ground. At this point in the game, I don't fight it. A lot of people will tell you that you should be standing it up at x number of jumps or that you should be consistently landing on your feet after x jumps or that you're doing something wrong if your not at 50 jumps for example. I say that is bullhockey and that you PLF whenever the landing doesn't feel perfect. I'm no expert, but I'm not telling you "how" to land. I'm telling you how to allow yourself to do it the way you were taught. I think the major thing is that it's not so much how perfect your body position is on landing, how far apart your feet are and all of the things that you are taught. These things are important and keep them in mind. The most important thing, in my opinion, is relaxing. Not to say you should be at the mercy of your canopy, but by the time you have flared and your feet have touched the ground, you ARE at the mercy of your canopy and there isn't much you can do about it. Though there is plenty you can do to make it worse. Stay relaxed, let your feet touch the ground and allow your body to collapse. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Three CASAs AND the Otter!? NICE!!! Mispacio will be there. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Look at Billvon's list and nail a 10 foot target 10 times in a row on each jump that you attempt Billvon's suggestions and complete it successfully. Then you should be ready. For example, go up, try objective one then land your parachute in a 10 foot target. Do it 10 times and if you fail, start over. If you can do that, you'll have over 400 jumps and might be ready. Hehe. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Can't say I've ever watched a second of football willingly. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I noticed a difference between the 230s and 190, but not a drastic change. It just made turning much more fun without feeling like your hanging from a tank. When I switched from the student 190 to my 175, the first few landings seemed really fast and I was thinking "Oh crap I'm going to wipe out". I did. After the first two or three it was a lot easier. I own and jump a 175. On occasions I've jumped a 160. I don't notice much of a difference, but it seems like I get a slightly faster turn when playing around at high altitude and I think I actually like the 160 better. Landing isn't any harder than on the 175, it just feels like a better canopy to me, but I'm not sure what type of canopy it was. In reply to the posts about swooping with less than 100 jumps, I agree. That isn't only dangerous, it's nothing but reason for a DZO or DZM to ground you until you smarten up, before you wind up as a USPA fatality number. Additional point: PERFORMANCE is not about what you're canopy can do for you, it's about what YOU can do with your canopy. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I've packed plenty of times now and probably jumped 30 or more of my pack jobs. That adds a level of fear to it. I see a lot of people that have been jumping as long as I have or less and have less experience than I do, jumping their own pack jobs and they seem so comfortable with it and seem to be doing a really good job at it. Then there's me where I am so concerned with my pack jobs that I analyze so many details, down to the smallest thing. I'm still trying to get over that fear. At first it wasn't so bad and I started to get comfortable with my pack jobs. Then I had line twists on and off for a while and it took a while to figure out why and I had one cut-away from a really small malfunction (which could probably have been easily avoided). I think I'm just always afraid that I'm going to make that stupid mistake that should have been easily avoided if I had paid more attention. I feel like I have serious ADD sometimes and that it'll make me do something stupid. So I'm really fighting myself to trust my pack jobs. If someone packs that I trust, I can jump without much more fear than driving to the DZ, so this is where most of my fear comes in. I guess we all have fear factors in different ways. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Have the seller ship to a rigger and have the rigger inspect the equipment and give you an estimate of what he or she thinks that it is worth. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

That is nice that they are for allowing you to have these "comfort jumps". They should almost be required for those jumping straight into AFF without a tandem. Just out of fear for how they might react I always try to recommend that people do one tandem first before jumping into AFF. I don't like the idea of anyone I know freaking out on the airplane or in freefall and then being left alone under canopy. Then again, maybe it's actually better sometimes to have objectives to keep your mind off of everything else and your eyes off the ground. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

It is when they start shooting at you ... Well, if that floats your boat. Then again, you could just call a few of your buddies to park near the road, tell them the color of your parachute....errr... On second thought, don't do that. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I wish my girlfriend was more understanding of it. I've done all I can to explain to her why I do it and why it means so much to me to be able to jump. One minute she is saying that she understands and supports me, the next she is using it against me. I've pretty much told her if she got in the way, she would be pushed aside until she could grow up and accept it. I'm more than fine being single the rest of my life if it means being able to do the things that I love. So if she supports you doing it, feel lucky and don't take that for granted. And yes the people do make this sport all the more worthwhile. The more time you spend at a DZ, the more often you will find yourself thinking that you never knew it was possible for so many down to earth people to gather in one location so frequently. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Except the military doesn't exactly make parachuting a "fun" activity. I don't know about other countries, but as far as I know here in the USA, you're pretty much limited to static line jumps with a jump master yelling "Get the hell out!!!!" at low altitudes and stressful training outside of the few jumps you do get to make. (Having participated in Marine Corp basic training I know how these guys can ruin any fun you might get out of an activity). I don't know. All I'm saying is military parachuting... hmm... doesn't sound all that exciting. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

You're jumping out of an airplane thousands of feet in the air with nothing but a back pack that contains a piece of fabric that is "supposed" to "pop out" and save your ass. You were scared? Hell, you're the sane one. I can understand being embarrassed about it, but I can tell you that I don't know one skydiver that would ever make fun of you for it. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan