OlympiaStoica

I'd use my hand ... and spank your bare bottom ... O

Well ... it looks like I'll be doing just that ... this week. Venting my frustration here was a great idea after all

Tension? What tension? O

Topdocker ... see my latest reponse on that. The person who installed it, did jump it ... and did a high performance landing on it. I don't use my front risers to land (duh!!!), so that wasn't a good test. The worse part about this, the damage is already done. My breaks are set properly now, but I've lost all confidence in my landing abilities ... O

I wasn’t going to bring the gender differences perception into this, but now that you mention it … Long story, short … I jumped a couple of demo Storm (210 and 190) and I had awesome landings … I thought “this is it … my landing troubles are over” and I ordered a Storm 190 as my main. I received it … start jumping it … my landings got worse on that and I didn’t understand why the digression. Everyone kept telling me “you don’t finish your flare” and started to imply that I’m an idiot … and the worse part, I started believing it. Then I get injured … I leave my rig at the DZ as someone there (who is a rigger) wanted to do some crew jumps. After the first jump, he shortened the breaks 4 inches. I’m not an expert, but I’m told that’s a significant amount. What is my point? Everyone assumed I’m an idiot. Nobody even considered that my canopy might be miss configured. Frankly, I think my gender has something to do with that. (I’m a woman … we tend to suck at landing … that must be it.) O

I did a canopy course - well, was more of a one-on-one coaching - with Luigi Cani at Periss this past winter. I did somewhat better after that, but two things have changed since: 1. I got injured 2.5 months ago, which makes me very anxious on landing 2. My break lines got shortened 4 inches. (A friend/rigger jumped my rig/canopy after I got injured ... turned out the breaks were set too long ... I have been landing with little flare for more than 30 jumps ) I just exchanged some e-mails with my DZO, whom has been very supportive. The next formal canopy coaching course is in more than a month. So, I'm making arangements to hire someone for one-on-one coaching. All day/weekend hop 'n pops with some ground school should help ... I hope ........ O

How is your eyesight and depth perception? I have perfect 20/20 vision ... last time I had my eyes checked (last year) the doctor didn't mention anything about depth perception issues (that gets checked too.) However, I am really bad at judging my distance from the ground. I did some one-on-on coaching with Luigi Cani at Perris ... we concentrated just on my landings. I was shocked to see the video of how high I would start my flare (somewhere between 40 and 80 feet). I got better at bringing that lower after the first 2 - 3 jumps ... now I think the issue of not finishing my flare is what remains. On light wind days, I think I'm not "agressive" enough and I hit the ground before I get a chance to finish pulling down my toggles ... O

I never had trouble with the landing pattern ... accuracy is pretty good too. Yes, the landing itself is the issue ... I'm not going to blame my gear - it is my lack of ability that's at fault ... O

Perhaps I got through AFF because I met the requirements (?). Other than landing, I've done well with everything else. I had my first stand up landing on Cat E (Level 5). I always had the tendency to just go to my butt, but landings weren't "bad" to the point of being dangerous. I got worse after being injured. Knowing myself, my head is my worse enemy right now ... O

I have been in the sport for one year, I got 138 jumps … I still can’t get decent landings in all wind conditions. I currently jump a PD Storm 190 with a wing loading of almost 1:1. I have just returned to jumping after a two month layoff, as I was recovering from a broken ankle (yep … on a botched landing ). Skydiving has helped me heal from a broken heart and has brought me much happiness. I would feel a deep sense of loss (and failure) if I had to quit … Another injury (and if I continue to land the way I do, it is only a matter of time before that happens), I will probably give this up for reason of lacking ability ... The Saturday before this one … winds were light and variable, which is usually a bad thing, as my canopy has a lot of speed and is very “ground hungry”, but I had 5 awesome landings. I got radio help on the first 2 (my DZ has been very supportive) … that gave me confidence and ended up doing very well on the next 3. This past Saturday … winds were light and variable again … 3 crash landings, 2 of them pretty bad. I don’t understand why I take one step forward … and five steps backwards. At this point, I’m considering upsizing my canopy and perhaps switching to something more docile. That may or may not help … if I can be helped at all ... O

Good morning swissky boy ... and thanks for the sweet wake up call this morning

One piece of unsolicited advice ... if you want to avoid frustration, skip over posts by this person ... I don't understand why this thread is still going ... O

Nah ... we want to be there for you, do eveything for you ... and you never even say thank you. We want you to stop complimenting us, saying sweet nothings to us ... we're confident enough to not need it ... plus this is no longer necessary once we sign a mariage certificate. We want you to make the relationship all about you ... the activities the couple is involved in are about your hobbies, your interests, your friends ... Seriously ... that's what we want. If you ask my ex-husband, he'll swear by this ... O

Good morning gang. Up early - trying to re-engage my gym routine (before my arse gets so big, it won't fit through the door) - I'll attempt running today ... see if my ankle lets me. After the crash landings I had this weekend ... if it was able to sustain that, running should be easy. O

0:3:0 No humps ... 3 jumps yesterday ... a couple of 5-way and a 6-way ... all went to shit right out the door; very entertaining. Winds were light and variable ... all 3 landings were pretty bad - I am frustrated beyond belief ... I think I may owe beer for the lowest free fall speed on a skydive - 102mph. I fall like a damn rock on my RW suit, so I wore a baggy one from the student rack. It was interesting to keep "floating up" instead of going low ... O

There is no easy way to get over heart break – if you’re looking for someone to prescribe a magic formula, you are going to be disappointed. We all have our own different ways of dealing with heart ache. Personally, I tend to take a break from the world. I spend time alone and try to regain a sense of balance. The last time I had a major disappointment, I took up a new hobby – skydiving

Waking up with a slight champagne headache ... now I wish I drove to the DZ last night (and camp there with my friend) ... (instead of boating and drinking). Gorgeous day here ... I better get going. O

Hmm ... who is the one "screwed" here? It's not you ... O

No. I have never had both at the same time. Why not? O

30? Damn ... you're still a kid ... O

I was scared on my baloon jump until we got above 2000feet ... I just didn't trust that piece of cloth over my head; the higher we got, the more relaxed I was ... O

Does childbirth count? It should ... I've heard enough horror injury stories from my friends ... I'm a chicken ... I didn't dare go there - I like my hoo-hoo in one piece, thank you very much ... O

I got a dirty mind ... or I'm not awake ... I read that title completely different ... O

Good morning gang! I didn't sleep well ... ex texting in the middle of the night didn't help. Thanks for the cute wake up call, VB ... Off to the office; stuck in a "performance management workshop" all morning, than working on sourcing candidates for another possition I have open in the afternoon. I look forward to my friend's 100th jump tomorrow and to the "Armenian style" party to follow. Dear liver, brace yourself ... O