apley

yes, jason. you hit the nail on the head. you've seen all that hardware some of us wear... many good cam helmets have a cutaway for the chin strap because snagged lines used to maim and kill camera fliers. imagine a spinning mal on your back with all that crap on your head to catch a line during the emergency. one might be forced to get the knife out, altitude permitting, or pull the helmet cutaway as well , before deploying the reserve.

"I'd rather not even mention them to FJC students. Make them think that only THEY can save themselves. The students that are willing to jump not knowing about the safety blanket will still jump. And those that will not, will never jump and SHOULD never jump. " you said it all, ron. i have often been guilty of the same type of encouragement while talking to a friend who is considering the inherent dangers of skydiving. i selfishly tell them how unreasonable their fears are so i can share this wonderful experience with them... in this mode of thought, i sometimes ignore the fact that not only CAN we die doing it, but some of the most experienced and talented among us actually DO.

it was a subtle reference to a larger issue, derek. thank you for catching it. i could write an essay on our failures in mentoring the newbies. it is often only luck that saves us long enough to get wise... i know this from personal experience; pulling low for hundreds of jumps, ignoring my lack of education regarding my gear that always seemed to work the way it was intended, jumping in on zoo loads... the list is endless, and i'm sure you are quite familiar and could even add a few of your own. i only hope i made my point that it is rarely the failure of the individual, and more likely a flaw in our social structure that deserves examination.

my first mal was a result of extremely poor mentoring on the part of SOME of those i looked up to at my dz... the staff and instructors. one instructor failed to hook up my rsl because he didn't understand it (it was a retrofit), and he was anxious to get on the next load. another instructor made some very lame attempts to assist me with my (2nd ever) pack job, (lots of pleading on my part), not explaining anything, and rushing me to get on the next load because i was the 1 body they needed to fly it. this jump ended in a pilot-in-tow, and no rsl. i pulled my cutaway handle, fully expecting it to activate the rsl, and went back to belly, (selectively) remembering how important stability was. i lost another 2K feet before i managed to recover my senses and save my life at 1200 ft. this incident was at 60 jumps. i won't even go into the remedial "training" i received once i got back to the packing barn. if not for the embarrassed S&TA who witnessed the discussion after my reserve ride, i would never have understood the packing error, and likely would never have returned to skydiving. my point is to reinforce those that suggest that the training and mentoring we receive can be faulty. don't give up on a skydiver who becomes confused during a mal. it only means that the rest of us don't care enough about her life to make sure fits in socially, reaping the benefits of mentors and friends that want to see live. or, maybe i just expect too much from my new community...

how's come nobody mentions san diego? a well-kept secret? i know it's a bit of a drive from the la jungle, but skydive san diego may surprise you... super otter and caravan, plenty of covered packing area, on the edge of a lake nestled in the mountains, overlooking the ocean.... friendly, and mostly vertical, but we do have some bj's there (belly jumpers) that keep it interesting. about an 1.25 hrs from elsinore or perris down the 15/215... and for the next 2 wednesdays, full alti jumps are ONLY $10.00!!!! all day ... and besides... the angry hobbit jumps there!

My thought: It isn't money; it isn't time; it isn't distance. It's the inability of most people to *literally* take their own life into their own hands and pull their own ripcord. I've been thinking about writing an article with the premise of something like: Parachuting as a Metaphor of Life or "Living life to the fullest means packing your own parachute and pulling your own ripcord." The majority of people can't face life that squarely. i think this one is very profound. not sure if it strikes the "majority" of those who don't continue, but i think it is probably right on the money for some, and they probably are better off returning to their own version of safety and security... i also think that there is something else that plays a huge part in whether or not new skydivers continue in the sport... i watch AFF grads sitting outside the "group" of experienced skydivers all the time at my dz. i make it a point to approach them and drag them into the experienced packing area for assimilation. they are often too overwhelmed by this world they only know from a distance. i match them with other jumpers, i coach them, i insist they stay for "green light" as often as possible... you get the idea. i also see many new jumpers disappear after all the time and money invested, some commenting on how difficult it is to break into the fraternity of regulars... this saddens me to no end, as i spend so much time and effort trying to get them into "AFF2"; flying with others, drinking beer, watching vids, and feeling like they belong. i am sometimes criticized for flying with new jumpers so frequently, and sacrificing my own growth as a result. what these critics don't realize is that i am committed to another part of the sport that completes the experience for me... the people. the angry hobbit

welcome to the amazing world of skydiving! i have almost 1100 jumps and each one fulfills me as much as the last (& first!) i was a terrible AFF student, taking 16 jumps to complete all 7 levels. i never lost hope that i could relax and make this happen... i just couldn't give up. i could see the incredible thrill on the faces of those leaving the plane before me, and knew i could get there, too. as for your "normal" friends... be easy on them, buddy. they cannot possibly relate to what you are experiencing. soon, they will join the realm of "acquaintances", and your new family will fill the hole. to them, you are on a death wish, and they can't understand your need to risk your life for such a thing. we now know what birds feel. we can fly! good luck on your AFF. leave your ego on the ground and you will get through it quickly and easily. you have only just begun to realize what your body and brain can do. read as much as you can, listen to the old salts, and make friends. these 3 things will keep you alive, and enjoying the sport for years to come. the angry hobbit

i read a lot when i first started jumping, and the bazillions of details were daunting, to say the least. it never scared me away from this incredible passion. what it did was make my 4 cutaways easy to deal with. (i'll admit, the first one was a little hectic...) my worries began during 2 months off after a broken leg from a bad high altitude landing. i wasn't concerned about landing at all; but the time off made me think about all of the dangerous shit i did as a 600 jump wonder. those 1st several hundred jumps were filled with the confidence that "everything always goes right". i took so many chances jumping with unpredictable jumpers who could easily have killed me, or someone close to me. i pulled very low, very frequently, and attempted sitflying without instruction... sliding right down the flight line without knowing it, and the list goes on... i just couldn't shake the fear that i would return to the sport under the same condition. when i did finally return, i went the opposite direction. i am overly timid, i rarely jump big ways unless i know EVERYONE and their predictability, and i breakoff at 5500 to allow tons of separation. i'm considered "too safe" at my dz, but i can still jump with anyone i please, and am always invited on belly jumps, freefly, hybrids, and anything else i feel comfortable with. bottom line, imho, don't ever get complacent about this sport. learn as much as you can. i still learn something on every jump. (pushing 1100 jumps now) about myself, about the dymanics of group skydives, gear, the list is endless. never think you know enough to be immune to mr. murphy. knowledge is power. it will keep you from joining stupid situations, and it will save your life when you need it most. i definitely don't feel that it is ever too early to learn, as long as you keep your focus on the basics (whatever current instruction you might be in), until this knowledge becomes useful.

thanks for dumbing that down for me. i was sorta gettin it through the article, but it was so dry, i gave it a miss...

passing laws against symbolism is a ridiculous waste of money. so is paying george bush for being an international criminal. i would not personally burn a flag, but don't really care if someone else does. i am also a veteran, but the flag means nothing more to me than the office of the current president of the religious righteous united states. at this moment in time, i am ashamed to be american. it is the same shame i felt during the vietnam war. i will perservere, however, because apparently, 49% of us still vote with a social conscience and not with our wallets. that kid was a little shit. but he did nothing worth 8 days in jail. there's my 4c worth

They certainly aren't. But I will point openly at all followers, citing that they do not do enough to speak out against, and take action against those that destroy the image of their religion. The religion is not solely based on "peace", no, it is, indeed, just as much a faith based on submission as well. of course, christianity has no history of this behavior... can you say "religious right", which is neither. gawd told me to hate you.

AMERICA FOR SALE - EVERYTHING MUST GO - MAKE OFFER when corporations cease to run american foreign policy, we will get back to reality. not likely in my lifetime...

welcome! you've got the itch, now scratch it! after more than 1,000 jumps, i still dream about skydiving EVERY night.... i hope you experience the same passion.

i have 4 reserve rides on a RAVEN M1. the last one was pretty dicey... had a built-in turn. i was wondering all the way down how it would flare. it was fine on landing, but i retired the old bitch and went PDR. the RAVEN was 15 years old, so that is one factor worth considering when bad-mouthing the beast. the greatest selling point with PD is their incredible service. they sold me new brake lines for my spectre, installed, test flight with video, all for $10, and returned it in short order. it don't get much better than that.

it is generally accepted that high pullers go last NOT because it is safer, but because they can make it back to the dz on a long spot. they are still subjected to the upper winds more than the freeflyers, and can end up in the wrong space without adequate separation on exit. talk to these guys when they exit behind you! make sure they understand the concept and leave you plenty of space. here is a url to a greater understanding of these principles, as well as some pilot talk on the subject: http://www.dropzone.com/safety/Exit/index.shtml (cut and paste... sorry, i don't know how to make a clicky thing)

bravo! spoken like a great coach. i repeated level 4 SIX times. level 3 TWICE, and i forget the others.... all in all, AFF took me 16 jumps. i never once felt like i was failing. i demanded that i repeat one of those jumps, as a matter of fact, when the instructor was willing to "pass" me on to the next level. this is incredibly FUN, but dangerous, too. i knew that from the beginning, and i know it now. i repeat jumps all the time now as an experienced jumper. i learn something from EVERY jump. i'm very conservative, and a little timid in groups, but i think i understand the dangers, and that takes some concentration, and occassionally, failure, to achieve a goal. i'm a coach now, and occassionally have a disappointing jump that i beg the student to allow me to repeat... at no charge, of course. i will always be a student in this sport. it keeps me alive.

skydivermom, i was the biggest retard in skydiving when i did my AFF. i think a big part of it was my age. i was 46 when i started, and terrified through all 16 of my 7 AFF jumps! my arch sucked, i couldn't feel what my legs were doing, and could barely remember all of the details that would indicate success on every jump... now, i'm still a little timid in a group, but love the sport so much that i have become a pretty good coach, albeit a mediocre freeflyer. (those that can't, teach?) anyway, i agree with those that advise you to do static and progress a little more slowly. you WILL get the arch. you've heard it a million times, but relaxation is the key to getting stable. a few statics, and the fear will subside, and body awareness increase. also... definitely practice that arch on terra firma. muscle memory is where it's at! welcome to our twisted world, girl! say hello to mark deverter at san marcos if you see him.

welcome, papa. you have the itch, now scratch it! i concur with most of the advice you've been given regarding the ears, and the timing of your AFF.

shhhhh sandy eggo the best kept secret in the southwest. otter for the weekends, caravan and/or otter during the week. the place is filthy with freeflyers and coaches. great canopy school. awesome vibes. next to a lake, tucked between the mountains, overlooking the ocean and sandy eggo metro. $16 - 20 jumps, depending on the quantity you buy. bunkhouse. oh yeah... west nile virus carrying mosquitos, fire ants, tarantulas, and did i say, freefly whores? a slice of heaven.

if you really want to get a nice, controlled, SOFT, reliable opening... switch to a spectre! it is one of the favorites of wingsuit flyers, and of course, i've owned 4 of them... in 9 cell, i have experienced unbelievably soft openings from the saffire2 and pilot. (loaded the saffire2 at about 1:1, the pilot at 1.4:1, and the spectres from 1.25:1 to 1.4:1.) i know this wasn't specifically your question, but you are at the stage where you will be buying your first long-term canopy, and i would suggest staying away from SABRES alltogether. nobody should have to do special pack jobs to keep from getting beat up! i do NOTHING with the nose or slider on any of these 3 canopies, and they are all gentle. those sabres make me nervous as a nun in a cucumber patch! i had to make one more edit... you've heard it before... there are NO dumb questions in this sport. it is full of complexity, and at over 1,000 jumps, i'm still learning!

the SIM suggests that you should get a 360 view to avoid other traffic BEFORE you mess with slider or even unstow the brakes. this means HANDS ON REAR RISERS once the canopy inflates, and start your turn away from jump run and get a good view, preparing to turn to avoid a collision. you should end up perpendicular to jump run before doing post-opening stuff like stowing the slider, loosening chest strap, etc. i have avoided many collisions this way. it is startling what can happen when 2 canopies experience off-heading openings at the same time and they close the separation gap in just a second or 2. if you are a freeflyer and you turn in the opposite direction of jump run after opening, you stand a good chance of being in the airspace of the opening BJs (bellyjumpers). turn PERPENDICULAR to the jump run. in a tracking dive where you cannot stay with the group, it is a good idea to open early, timing dependent on your position, ie, ahead of or behind the formation, and PULL HIGH. use some logic when positioning your pull location. if you are in the line of flight of the tracking dive, you are likely in the safest position to avoid other groups. if you track back toward jump run, you are asking for conflicts with other groups. the group stands a better chance seeing an open canopy than a body. by HIGH, i mean 1,000 feet before the agreed upon opening altitude. if you find yourself constantly outside the intended position in a track dive, get some practice in a SMALLER GROUP before you join a larger one. the best would probably be 1 on 1, then work your way up. this rule applies to all jumps. don't get into a dive that places you at risk of collision, or one that you have a poor chance of staying with. if it turns into more than one skydive, perhaps it should have been in the first place!

i have coached at least 100 new sitflyers. i remain humble and aware that my skills are mediocre, but i have had great success teaching... i ask that you reconsider doing solo sitfly. until you see it on camera, you won't believe how far you move across the sky in a slide. even when you think you have the discipline to sitfly perpendicular to the line of flight, you are going to find yourself intruding on other jumpers' space. when i see solo sitflyer newbies, i make it a point to offer them at least one jump with video, so that they can see firsthand what i'm talking about. most often it leads to 3 or 5 jumps with me to get them stable enough to be in control of the heading throughout the jump, regardless of how well they can drive, turn or brake. i consider this my contribution to the dz & our sport as a whole, and find it extremely rewarding that i was able to help this person in a very short amount of time. learning freefly solo is a recipe for disaster in my humble opinion... come to sandy eggo and i will offer the same to you!

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS cannot be obtained in a windtunnel. be careful how many low-timers you put on a jump! breakoff, track and pull can be disasterous when things get squirrely... what about those instances where 2 people both have 180 deg off-heading openings, and the good separation you got from the track turns into a near-collision? i've been there at least 4 times i can remember, and the skill and awareness gained only through jump numbers saved our lives.

if i am jumping with someone i have never jumped with before, i DO ask for jump numbers! while i thoroughly enjoy jumping with low-timers, i have a standing rule that i will jump in a group that contains only one "wild card". i don't want a group jump to turn into 2 or more groups. i want to know where EVERYONE is on breakoff and pull. if you jump with more than one unpredicatable skydiver, you are asking for a serious increase in risk. i have had way too many close calls in the past where i didn't care how many newbies were on the jump. from the newbie's point of view, (s)he can't learn much while being faced with the complexity of trying to stay relative to more than one person at the same time. adding another low-timer to the jump makes it impossible. the jump turns into one of failure, rather than success, and exposes everyone on the dive to unreasonable danger.

those brake lines were ELEVEN inches short! ouch! 52 times....