Ether

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Everything posted by Ether

  1. Ether
    Heh, that wasn't actually the off-landing I was referring to (rather the one where I landed in the soccer field a kilometer away after a terrible spot), but thanks for the retelling Now if someone can just do something about this snow... Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  2. Ether
    This was my biggest frustration during my progression. Over about four months, I did IAD and then PFF jumps with at least seven different instructors. I started feeling like I was missing things, which is when I started picking up the PIMs and reading articles here on this site to fill in the gaps -- most of which, I think, were in canopy control. Eventually I figured out that I should be seeking out just one person on the DZ -- the most experienced instructor (and master rigger) -- for advice and filling in knowledge, and let the hotshot young bucks go back to flying tandems with the cuties. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  3. Ether
    You realize you are now obligated to tell the story of how you went to jail. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  4. Ether
    FWIW, this bag is great for stashing the rig inside, to keep handles etc from being snagged: http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302699795&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442617615&bmUID=1195759527564 Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  5. Ether
    http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/11/22/fl.skydive.record.baynews9 Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  6. Ether
    Isn't there a kinda dangerous problem with this method? How do you know to time your flare when you land off? Not ragging on you, just curious, and slighty worried... Yeah, I should have said "I used to use the hanger..", because I only used it as a training tool. It's more instinctual now, and the most recent off-landing I had (the only one on my current canopy) was great. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  7. Ether
    I understand your frustration.. see my avatar for the object that snuck up on me to give me some canopy control lessons But it sounds like you're on the right track.. keep at it! And happy birthday! Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  8. Ether
    Altitude awareness. As others have said, find an object in or near your LZ that is the right height and use that as a guideline for when to start flaring. Verify your object with your instructors. (I use the DZ's hangar as a guide, as it is about 12 feet high -- when I can no longer see over its roof, it's time!) Get video of your landings. Go back on radio support, and get an instructor to talk you through every step: "feet together, eyes ahead, watch, wait... flare flare flare" Definitely learn to PLF! Practice jumping off a chair, and then off a table, onto soft mats and make sure you roll right up to your shoulder. This may take a while but it is a skill you will need your entire skydiving career. And be wary of taking any advice from anonymous hooligans on dz.com -- run *everything* by your instructors. Good luck! Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  9. Ether
    By that logic, your fall rate under a fully deployed and flying canopy should be faster as well, because it also stands you up. One must also take into consideration the drag induced by the bag, of course. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  10. Ether
    As my auntie used to say, "there's no fair this year." Or as a friend's gramma used to say, "Tough shit." I've been grounded due to winds before, and it sucks ass. But I was flying a 230, at a WL of 0.60. The next weekend at the same time the winds were almost as severe, and I wasn't grounded. I jumped, and on final approach I was going straight down I was happy I had decided to get on the good side of the power lines at a higher altitude than normal. Oh yeah, and on landing I was dragged backwards along the ground and had to grab grass... So now I have a healthy respect for high wind! PS. Just think what could have happened if I was flying a Cobalt 105... sorry, had to sneak that in.. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  11. Ether
    If I were over the right field, I think I'd probably throw the handles away even if I had ample altitude to tuck them inside my jumpsuit. My hands will be full just landing a reserve for the first time. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  12. Ether
    Chris posted something a few months ago about his "unique" predicament of being extra-light and finding a suitable canopy. Maybe this is his way of feeling "special". I don't see his situation as being nearly as unique as he thinks, though. There are lots of lightweight jumpers. I've seen several threads, in the general and women's forums, about how to train as a light jumper. And all the downsizing information I've read says that light jumpers should downsize much more slowly than heavy jumpers. I see a little of myself in Chris too. I was fortunate (yes, fortunate!) in that I had an ambulance ride from the dropzone at jump #15, and learned to be less cocky. I thought I was great under canopy; it turned out that I was barely adequate, and as soon as any variable shifted away from ideal, I got into trouble. I was extra lucky in that I had no permanent injuries. I wish everyone was so lucky. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  13. Ether
    One other way to do a jump "with" your family is to become a tandem camera operator. It generally takes fewer jumps (but still several hundred) to go that route. Also, your family and friends may simply be satisfied doing a tandem on the same load as you. You can sit in the plane together and jump out almost at the same time -- tandems usually exit the plane just after AFF students. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  14. Ether
    "There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)" (Wendy W's sig) Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  15. Ether
    It's a well-used circa-2002 Safire (not Safire 2) which is about to get a new lineset. It's a goodwill longterm loaner (i.e. free), so I'm not opposed to paying money for something else if needed. Since we're on that topic.. is there a reference anywhere describing the performance differences between square/semielliptical/elliptical, and 7 cells/9 cells? It's alluded to in the articles about beginner gear (e.g. in the list of canopies suitable for n00bs) but nothing hardcore describing the actual aerodynamic differences... e.g. why 7 cells are preferred for CRW and accuracy, etc. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  16. Ether
    Interesting that you can do that, being close to an urban centre. Over here we are not permitted to open above 5000'. (I guess if there was an emergency, the tower would have to contact YVR AFR and hold traffic, then you can imagine the paperwork..) I'm also surprised that you were able to do this. I have a street weight of 135 (exit weight ~150?) and although my landings are "good" (using your measure of good from your videos above) I'm still renting a 230, with no idea when I'll be able to jump my 170 sitting on a shelf. Did you get lots of canopy coaching when downsizing each time previously? Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  17. Ether
    Perhaps it is because it is obvious how many (few) jumps you have, by your attitude towards your safety, your instruction, and the concern that everyone is showing. If you're just going to argue with everyone who posts in these threads, why do you bother acting like you want advice? It's people like you who are giving new jumpers a bad name and make our instructors think that none of us have any interest in safety. Please knock it off!!! Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  18. Ether
    Haha! My first jump on a Skymaster 230 (after student jumps on a Solo 270) felt reeeally zippy.. and now I'm falling asleep with boredom on landings, but can't get approval to move down to a 190 yet. Agreed! Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  19. Ether
    What about Javelin? Someone's trying to sell me a javelin. [I'm in exactly the same boat: getting some replies to a want ad, with no idea how to choose between the options.] Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  20. Ether
    There have in fact been indoor BASE jumps... Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  21. Ether
    Agreed! My home DZ is humid and at 9 feet above sea level (well, 9-13 feet, depending on what end of the airport you're on.. ), and at just a dozen jumps I went to a boogie which was at 1000 feet and dry. I *really* noticed the difference in canopy performance. A mere 1000 feet doesn't seem like much, but for a n00b it's huge. So, if travel costs aren't a factor, go for the lowest and wettest DZ you can.. Oh, and go for a grassy LZ rather than desert scrub too.. it hurts less. PS. At higher DZs you may not be able to get as much altitude if they use Cessnas... they don't really have enough power to get above 9000-10000 feet MSL, so you are kind of right. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  22. Ether
    I'll do that.. if it ever stops raining.. Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  23. Ether
    I found this post in the archives... I suppose I'll try out a jump on my brand new aerodynamic noise-blocking Shoei and see how it feels. Downsides: - weight (although mine is on the light end of motorcycle helmets, at 1500 g or about 3.5 lbs) - nowhere to put dytter (or perhaps it could be attached to the chinstrap?) Upsides: - no need to buy yet another helmet (save those $$ for more jumps!) - less equipment to carry when I ride to the DZ - better impact protection than anything else available - already fitted with two-way radio (it would be interesting being able to give verbal cues when turning points!) - trendy fashionable colours Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  24. Ether
    I will never buy a skydiving helmet for skydiving, because the amount of crash protection (or rather, lack thereof) terrifies me. Protecs and motocross helmets are designed to have some degree of impact resistance. On a related note -- how suitable are full-face motorcycle helmets for skydiving? The field of view is good and you can flip the visor down in freefall and up for the canopy ride, but are they too heavy? i.e. will your neck hate you? Looking for newbie rig, all components...
  25. Ether
    I experienced the same thing, which I attributed to switching instructors several times during my progression (based on who was not busy doing tandems, as well as some instructors moving to another DZ for the summer). I took this as an opportunity to take charge of my own education.. ask lots of questions about gear, procedures, lurk during various rigging procedures, read as much as I could.. Definitely someone in my place who expected to be spoon-fed everything would have come up deficient, but I didn't feel I was missing out. I should note however that emergency procedures were NOT omitted. But I do agree that to dump too much information on a student too soon can lead to information overload and the most vital knowledge being lost. Looking for newbie rig, all components...