dayle

There are many different "types" of carves, as someone already said, it depends on the context. "I landed using a front riser carve, and got a good swoop" or "Did you see me carve that 90 degree turn swooping the pond" and lastly, "We'll do a head down exit and you carve (orbit) around me" I can't think of any other types of carves, anyone else? Dayle

Does anyone know where this happened or when? I've been asked by a friend who saw him on Oprah and I'd like to give her some correct information. Dayle

Hi there, I haven't had a broken back, however I did have a compression fracture of my T8 vertabra that kept me out of the sport for a little while. You'll know when you are strong enough, but I would just consult with a doctor prior to jumping. My Doctor told me back injuries are different that a regular broken bone. Instead of the regular 6 weeks, double it to 12 weeks. My injury occured in March and my Doctor said I shouldn't jump until August. He then asked me if I smoked (yes) and said September. (smoking affects your bone density and healing time) I however could not wait that long and started at the end of July. Only a Hop & Pop. My biggest worry was opening shock and a possible hard opening, by not going terminal for awhile it helped. After opening, I played with the canopy a little and found only a little pain when I put the canopy in a hard spiraling dive. After a couple of weeks this went away and I'm jumping full time again. Hope this helps. Dayle

Hi there, I haven't really had a problem with getting coverage for skydiving when away. My plan with work will cover it and I get some extra coverage for when I go away. The point I was going to make however is that you really need to watch out for a buisness exclusion in the policy. This would not apply to most of us as sport jumpers, however if you are a Tandem Instructor or coach and are doing a jump you are being paid for, watch out. I'll bet anything that they probably wouldn't cover you as it would be considered to be some type of a "workplace" injury. Dayle

All you have to do is remember your emergency proceedures....... CUTAWAY NOW!!! Dayle

As far as I know, and have been led to understand a hook turn is called a hook turn because of the shape of the path of the jumper as he comes in for landing. It can be done with either a toggle or by using a front riser. Basically it is a radical change in direction that points the canopy directly towards the ground in a dive. The jumper underneath tends to pendullum under the canopy in the shape of a hook. Hook turns do not equal a screwed up swoop. The problem with a "hook" is that if you don't initiate at the correct altitude, there is nothing you can do you will dive into the ground. With a "carve" you generally have the option of bailing out at any time. Take it with a grain of salt, I don't hvae that much experience. Dayle

I suffered a 20% compressed vertabrae from a hard opening. I also had trouble breathing because your muscles that control your lungs attach to your spine. Don't fool around with this one, go get an x-ray and have yourself checked out. If you did screw up a vertabra, you'll be out for 6 mths. Dayle

Thanks for your help, I just needed a guideline because I don't want to rip anyone off, nor do I want to give someone the deal of a century. Blue Skies, Dayle

Hello Everyone! I'm thinking about selling my Stilletto 135 but I'm not sure about what price I should be asking for it. The same goes for my cypress. If anyone can help me with pricing I would appreciate it. Stiletto 135 - One owner, 300 Jumps Cypres - 4 years old, due for 4 year check. Dayle

Hi Juan, I understand your situation as I've been there myself. I'm not a doctor or a medical professional so my opinion truly means squat..... However, I suffered a compression fracture of my T8 vertabre March 2003. My doctor also said I was insane to continue jumping but told me that if I waited 6 months it would be fine. 6 months later (actually a little sooner, I couldn't resist) I was jumping again with no real issues. The only thing my doctor said was for the 6 months avoid any hard impact to the spine. Since your injury happened so long ago, I don't really see any problem with you jumping. Good luck Dayle

I was just as shocked to hear about this as you. James was a treasure trove of information that he readily shared with others, experienced jumpers and students alike. He was a top notch skydiver who will be sorely missed Blue skies James, we'll all miss you. Dayle

IT'S ALL IN THE WORDING OF AN INSURANCE POLICY. I saw the other insurance thread first, so look there for two really important items, too long to repost here. But your cutaway example I have thought about and here is your answer. Sports equipment that breaks/damaged as a result of its use (eg skies breaking because you hit a tree) is not covered. Trust me it's an exclusion in ALL your policies. But, and here's the arguement cutting away a parachute is a normal process. Your only problem is you lost the parachute. You couldn't find it when you went to pick it up. They may not like it but they'll pay. Same as if you lost your baggage on an airline. You generally have to purchase coverage in the country that you live, however coverage with any reputable company is generally world wide, or at least a percentage of your total policy is world wide coverage. But make sure to see the other post for the reason you shouldn't necesarily discuss this with your agent. Dayle

You are all too right about having insurance, two items I just want to point out. 1) You may not want to actually advise your broker that your a skydiver, just look over the wording of the policy in the exclusion area for sports equipment, or in the area that defines limitations and see if there is any limit for sports equipment. Just don't mention skydiving, say, expensive Golf Clubs etc if you do want to seek clarification. Here's the reason. Most of those renters policy/homeowner's policies also contain a limit of personal liability insurance. WHICH WOULD APPLY IF YOU WERE TO INJURE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING WHILE SPORT PARACHUTING, regardless of USPA, or CSPA's insurance. You just have to check your policy for any clauses in the liability section about sporting events, but usually there is nothing except for sometimes, for waterskiing. The reason for not saying anything, simple, there won't be a question on your application about it and you'll get your policy, however a smart broker would see the liability implications and may not offer you coverage. What they don't know, they can't do anything about except pay the claim... as long as you don't lie to them on your application. If there is a questions about it, find another insurer with a different application. 2) This one all the "PROFESSIONAL" Skydivers should watch out for. These types of policies are PERSONAL INSURANCE POLICIES......therefore if you are making a living, or getting paid for using your "books tools or equipment pertaining to a buisness" you usually either don't have coverage, or it is limited to $1,000 dollars or so. So if your a video guy, and the replacement cost of all your equipment (brand new) is $15K, don't get a 20K Tenants' pkg and expect it to cover your equipment. For the casual fun jumper though, you should have no problem. Blue skies, Dayle

CUT AWAY NOW, YOU"VE GOT A BAG LOCK!!! LOL, Dayle

Hi Reginald, boy are you going to love your first jump out of a whirlybird!! I've done a couple and they are amazing. It's a completely different feeling. They probably won't take you to full altitude, my guess would be 5 to 6K feet. The fun part of the jump is when you release. On planes you have the forward movement which gives you some "air" to fly your body on. From the helicopter you feel nothing, all the basic body positions just don't work until you pick up some freefall speed. That first 5 -8 seconds feels really weird and great at the same time. It's kinda like a base jump, from higher up and a little bit safer. lol Enjoy it! Dayle

Here's a nice quote to remember about the windsock. If the windsock is dancing with a hard on, somebody is getting fuXked. Having said that, I don't mind higher winds and I have jumped when I have been getting little to no penetration. For me the key to jumping at these times is having the correct spot and NOT having gusting winds. That is the thing that will hurt/kill you every time. Watch out for radical wind velocity changes as well as direction changes. Dayle

they dive the plane fast after everyone is out, This is the best part of doing an observation dive. If you have a fun group of pilots, I highly recomend doing one sometime during your skidiving career. It's a hell of a ride Sitting in the right seat of a Twin Otter with the entire winshield nothing but green coming at you is way cool, well worth the price of a jump ticket!! I did one when I was a student just for the ride. The next one I did when I was injured and couldn't jump for a while. Just to get somewhat back in the air after to long a hiatus. Dayle

134 Km driveway to parking lot. The problem is depending on the time and traffic that trip can take anywhere from 1 hour and 15 min to over 3 hours.... But it's all worth it in the end. blue skies!

I can't believe I called that right. So it was downwind. As I saw him coming in on the tape it just didn't look right, I saw how small the landing area was and when he flared, it just didn't take enough of the speed off. He did do a hell of a job though landing it like that. And for the others, there is no way the winds were 30mph, he would have been going like a bat out of hell.

After I completed my training, I did a bunch of belly flying, then started to get a good sit together. I was jumping back and forth alot and one of the things that I found is that I was not progressing as much as I though I should in either disipline. I stopped doing that and cranked out 50 to 100 jumps of sitting standing, and some attempts at head down and progressed alot better. To get to your question though, I'd go with some of the advice that was posted earlier. Get really comfortable jumping on your belly before you progress to freeflying. #1 reason, you still pull on your belly and you want to be able to come out of anything, and get stable quick if required. Reason #2 BIG WAYS!!! I don't care how much of a freefly fanatic you are, nothing compares to completing a 20 + person formation, and for that you need to have good belly flying skills. When it comes to getting a suit, if you decide that you want nothing to do with big ways and just wanna be a lawn dart, lol get a freefly suit and just fly on your belly for awhile, then progress onward and upward to wherever you want the sport to take you. Dayle

Your right about the lackof ethnic diversity in skydiving. Maybe it's a cultural bias, who knows. I ski during the winter and it 's the same thing. Thousands of people can be on the slopes and most are white. Other races are few and far between. Dayle

I saw that footage on a local station up here in Toronto Canada. It wasn't a "bad" landing, just a heavy but slide. Looks bad to wuffo's and I'm sure the jumpers ass hurt from banging into the concrete. I'm not sure but it kinda looked like a downwind landing. Dayle

My slowest speed was 54mph on my first wing suit dive. Dayle

I'll be down in March, if your still stuck I'd be happy to give you a beer and a lift to Z-hills. Dayle

I would stick with what lisa said, go and check out the different dropzones and see which one you like best. When it comes to method however, AFF all the way. I personally think that it is one of the best methods to learn how to jump. And you get to experience freefall on the first jump Dayle