Baksteen

Yup. All went well - which means they're awesome. But if it hadn't.. we'd be saying something else entirely in the 'incidents forum' - especially if it's really the guy's 39th jump. And if I'm raining on peoples parade anyway, look at the "mister Bill downplane" in the related videos... Awesome... except I can spot a few things which do not seem like a very good idea to me. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

It's great that you take the responsibility of saying somethin about what is evidently a dangerous scenario. However, your approach just might not be as touchy feely as you think. If the jumper already realised she screwed up bigtime, you might have accomplished nothing except make her feel even worse to make yourself feel better. After all, you saw something scary like two inexperienced jumper smoking it low. Understandable, but perhaps unnecessary. Quarterbacking from my comfortable armchair, I'd first have reviewed pull priorities. Next, I'd followed it up with basic FS-safety, such as plan the dive, dive the plan. After that I'd have told her that turning away and tracking is a strong signal to the other person that they should check their alti. If all else fails - if you're 'suddenly' at 1500 ft for instance, just get something over your head. Another strong signal that the FS-part is over. Of course, all depends on the interaction with and attitude of the student.

"Sir, your whining about being entitled to a nicer approach interferes with my being entitled to act like a dick". "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Congratulations! That's gotta be one of the worst sophisms I've ever read. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

@Sebcat; I fully agree with your attitude, but your calling me a complacent instructor based on three lines I wrote on DZ.com kinda rubbed me the wrong way. I was afraid I'd get a response such as this

I jump a L160 at ~1.4 or a L176 at ~1.3 for CREW, but when I put on my FS-cap, I still jump a Storm 190 at ~1.1. No need for a smaller canopy / higher WL then. Additionally, I'm saving up to get myself a nice Optimum 176 Reserve instead of the PD160R I'm currently (not) jumping. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Re. the bolded part: Not bloody likely. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

With direct-bag? Unlikely. Nothing complacent about my attitude, Turbine Kid "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Quite apart from the skyhook issue, SL students aren't saddled much lower than AFF-students. Even jumping from a 182, SL students should be open at 3300 ft. If they are 'unstable', meh - they'll have line twists. They know what to do about those. I always say in the FJC that if they ride that twist down to 1000 ft before cutting away, they'll have a serious case of 'my foot up their ass' after landing. I might just mean it too... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Around the bonfire I once jokingly talked about doing some CRW under mantas while dressed up as students, to tease the Instructor on duty at the LZ. See how much points we could make before he caught on. Then, a few months later, I witnessed a real near miss on a DZ I was visiting. Two students, who started shashaying on final and bumped end cells below 250 ft. One then made a larger shashay and, slowing down, then bumped into the other student directly from behind. At that point I turned my head away, closed my eyes and waited for the sound of breaking bones.... Miraculously both students landed unharmed, much to the relief of everyone who saw it happen. But suddenly, the above joke about teasing an instructor with student-CRW didn't seem so funny after all. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Well... if you'd ever seen me pack you'd not be so quick to dismiss that hypothesis. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

After reading the thread I've only got one question left: What's so bad about a max. WL of 1.4? I mean, unless you're going to be an upper end competitive swooper (don't even get me started about CReW WL's) what would you need a higher WL for? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I'm dying to see Namowal's cartoon of her first jump with you.. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

What is the definition of "weekend warrior"? I'm curious now as I seem to have misunderstood all the time I post on here. WEEKEND WARRIOR; someone that has a real life outside of skydiving, a term often used to criticize those who do by those who don't. Thank you

What is the definition of "weekend warrior"? I'm curious now as I seem to have misunderstood all the time I post on here. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Thing is, a camera on the cheststrap isn't going to help you much. It doesn't show you anything but the direction you're flying. If you want to learn about controlling your canopy, get a buddy to video you from the ground. Better, get an experienced videoflyer to fly level with you (but not too close). That way, you also have a reference for how your canopy behaves during turns; how much altitude you lose and such. THAT might give you the edge you're looking for. And get a canopy course from a decent coach. Can't go wrong with those.

Calling someone a name in a joking manner playing at their ignorance, which is very real and apparent and funny, and using a word that's very strongly associated with rasism and slavery and that is very effectively used to oppress people based on their race is not every going to be comparable in the slightest. Jesus fucking crist... Great post. but then he ends it with "Jesus fucking Christ". "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

A few weeks back a collegue asked me to donate a bit of internal tissue to their research project as they needed healthy volunteers, especially male ones. They explained that the procedure was quite harmless and that "it wouldn't hurt a bit". I'd seen and assisted at several of these procedures, and knew that the patients have little discomfort except for a slight burning sensation when the local anaesthetic starts kicking in. My collegue assured me the tissue would grow back. I have no problem with needles in general and don't flinch at donating blood or getting vaccine shots. However, painless or not, I just couldn't handle the idea of this very long needle entering my body and taking a bit of tissue out of me, while it wasn't really necessary. So I replied with a heartfelt "I'm sorry, but I'd rather go jump out of an airplane". The point? Comfort zone. What is normal to one person is crazy to another. My collegue cheerfully had such a biopsy taken, but wouldn't jump out of airplanes if you paid them. For me, it's exactly the other way around. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Two words: Reserve Bridle "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I voted "Depends on the girl/shorts/boobs" "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I have no beef with the DZ in question, or the people trying to open it. However, "those who slam tandem mills" ()wonder how much actual guidance you got during those tandems. But I'm happy to be proven wrong. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Thanks for that, I stand corrected. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Thanks for the explanation.

I lost interest at "99% tandem". I'm sorry, but I don't think tandem factories have much to do with regular skydiving. They provide a carnival ride, is all. But perhaps I'm missing a bigger picture. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

oh, I think I understood it pretty well, just mentioned it because you offered me to look at the US classroom instruction manuals.. http://www.parachute.nl/infonlregels.html You going to talk about it or do it? I'm definitely gonna do it!! I want it so bad, I almost can't sleep about it But I'm affraid I have to finish my study first, because I've found it is very expensive But maybe next summer if I somehow manage to get enough cash for that AFF-course. Problem is that I think it's really frustrating to jump a few times and then not being able to jump anymore because of liquidity problems Kinda like having an extremely hot girlfriend that only allows you to have sex twice a year If cash is te problem, you should look into the static line course. Most Dutch DZs still offer this and it's just as legitimate a way of starting your skydiving career as AFF. Difference is, it's waaaaay cheaper - but the tradeoff is that the (freefall) progression is also a little slower. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom