gale

Well I did my first solo from 10,000 feet today. I got really scared in freefall. I did my first solo of any kind on the weekend, it was a 5 second delay from 4,000 (it's a requirement for my solo certificate). Others seemed to think it was going to be really scarey and I did it and didn't really think so. It was my first self spotted dive too. It went really well and there were no problems. But today I couldn't see the drop zone, so I got out when told. My exit was beautiful and so was my stability and body position in freefall. I got out and looked around a little, did a couple of turns and then looked down. I had never done this before and it scared me a lot. I just couldn't beleive how fast everything was moving, and it felt like I could watch my altimater needle spin around the dial. And my face hurt from the wind. I pulled at the perscribed altitude. I second guessed my landing pattern and landed off because of it. Good point, my flare was really good on a no wind day. I just started crying on the ground because I was so scared. Has anyone had this happen? It wasn't like this on my last five dives on PFF. Am I just crazy? Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

I don't like beer! [runs and hides in the corner] Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

"You need to understand that this sport can kill you. You need to understand that if you're in this sport for any amount of time you will lose friends, and worse, you'll watch friends die right in front of you. These rules apply to everybody, remember, you're someones friend too." I would just like to say this: Life will kill you. It's just a matter of time. And living life you will see other people around you die. Being a skydiver might cause this to be more frequent, but make no mistake, it happens to everyone. Driving is dangerous and I do it all the time. In fact I did everything right yesterday and got hit by a car. (Not serious) Yup, skydiving is dangerous, but so are lots of things. Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

"Don't blame the attitude on para-gliders in general, blame it on one arrogant a-hole. Chance are he got bored sitting around the DZ waiting for his airplane ride. Lets' face it, airports are boring places unless you are flying. I tried para-gliding back in the 1980s and thoroughly enjoyed it." I said mad at A paraglider, not all paragliders! I think the sport sounds cool too it's just that I can only afford one high-priced sport at a time! Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

I'm just a lowely student but I've been told that it takes 12 seconds to fall your first 1000 feet. (A simple rule of thumb.) Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Number of supervised pack jobs 5 : 2 : 1 I graduated PFF this weekend!! I also did a five second delay from four grand. (This counts as "low altitude" when you've been pulling at 5,000 most of the time.) Both dives were beautifl and my instuctors put "great dive" in my logbook for both of them. It was a great weekend. My flare is getting better - slowly. I just wish I could sleep on days when I jump, I'm totally wiped... Gonna do it again tomorrow though! Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Oh, is that what his problem is. Thanks for clearing that up HH.

Here's something interesting I've found lately: when I talk to guys that don't skydive and I say that I do, they really don't like that. I think it's a macho thing, like I have bigger balls than them (might be true). It makes them kind of hostile. Weird. I'm sure not all guys are like this but it surprises me how many of them there are. Oh, and would I date a whuffo? Well, our dz is so small that dating within that pool would be, um, limiting, so I guess it's a whuffo for me. Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

I work at a copy shop and we often print out people's business cards. Last night I'm emailed one for a paragliding instructor and I think "cool, I've never done that and it would be nifty to talk to him about it. It's not skydiving but we kind of have that in common..." (It was a slow night.) So he comes in and we're talking about it, and he says "oh skydiving, I've done that, it was boring. It sucks." BORING???? SUCKS???? I did not want to talk to that guy after that. Not only did I think he was loony but he insulted my new obsession... He should see how much he gets charged now... Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

"...he had serious doubts whether or not he could perform in an emergency..." This may just be me, but I thought everyone worried about how they would handle an emergency until they had one. Do I practice my emergency procedures - yes, do handle touches - yes, mental rehersal - yes. Do do I wonder what I would do if it really happened - yes. I understand the point you're trying to make. He bought a Cypres for a bad reason and it harmed him because he did so, but I'm just wondering if his fears were all that unusual. Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Intersting thread. I just started skydiving so I haven't come up against this yet but I am going into a bunch of juob interveiws soon (I'm graduating from university). I think I would tell the interviewer. In fact, I would put it on my resume. (It is one of my proudest accomplishments after all) I'm of the opinion that with the propper spin it should be seen as a positive. Plus, I just don't like to lie. Well, unless it's about the actual qualifications of the job... Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

The link to the The Big Air Sportz Owner's Manual doesn't seem to work. Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

I love it. Simple and beautiful. Maybe put it in the upper middle part of your back? Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Well, I think a lot of the ideas are good ones (atriums, trees for each victim, some of the other amenities) but I don't really think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. If it's going to be so prolific in the cityscape more designs should be considered I think. Oh, and I've never heard about the sound-wave thing. Sounds like some wishful thinking to me. But I'm not a physicist, so what do I know. PS if you build a better mouse trap someone will just build a better mouse. There are risks, there always will be. Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

I have the Neuman's gloves and due to the fact that I've had some very "colourful" student landings in the muddy winter I have had to clean them pretty often. This sounds geeky but I actually use a toothbrush with soap and water. I can put my one hand in the one I'm cleaning and brush with the other. Works like a charm, they're still tacky after several washings. Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

0:2:0 Great jumps. Passed PFF level III (180 degree turns). Came back after my badly sprained ankle - no re-injury. What I would consider to be a pretty close to perfect dive (and yes, it's on video so it really happened.) I may be one of the happiest skydivers out there! I can't wait for next weekend. Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Um, I'm no authority on injuries or anything but just having jumped again after seriously spraining my ankle (and tearing half the ligaments) I can tell you this: listen to your doctor. Work with them to make your recovery as good (and fast) as possible and then don't jump until you get their OK. I'm glad I waited. The six weeks seemed awfully long, but now, it all seems worth it after doing two great jumps with no re-injury. This is what people told me: the sky will always be there. I hope you have a speedy recovery, and that you get over your nerves. (A good instructor should be able to help you there. I have always found that training calms me down.) Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Well, some of you might remeber a couple of threads I started a while back because I was all upset about a badly sprained ankle. Yup, after 6 and a half weeks of physiotherapy it still hurts everyday. My biggest fear was that I would just never jump again because I was just too afraid. But none of that matters because I did two dives this weekend and passed PFF level three (180 turns) !!!!! I'm so happy. I was very, very scared when it came to the flare so my instructor helped my on my first one, but I did the second one on my own. It's so good to know I can do it! My last dive was pretty much perfect, my box position was beautiful. Yup, it's all good baby. Two more dives and I'll be done PFF. Thanks to everyone that gave me encouraging words, and thanks to all the stories of others conquering their fears.

Personally I still get VERY afraid in the plane (after 14 jumps) and wonder why I'm in it sometimes. But I trust that will get better. I've asked the same question to a lot of skydivers and I've gotten answers like 88, 100, 55. So it's individual I guess. It's nice to know that I shouldn't have conquered all my fears just yet. (Oh, and by the way, I have also had jumpers say they are SCARED EVERY TIME! I know that fear is healthy and gives you respect for the sport but if I had to get this worked up for every jump for 500 jumps that's a lot of getting worked up!) Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Just a thought, if someone says "I won't jump without a Cypres" it may just mean that because that piece of equiptment exists, they will use it. I'm not sure it necessarily means that if it didn't exist, they wouldn't jump out of airplanes at all. I never expect to need an AAD. But I also never expect to need the setabelts in my car. I don't want to buy a car without seatbelts and I don't want to jump a rig without an AAD. Without the advent of seatbelts I would still drive, but I'll take the extra protection any day. Seatbelts have also killed people, but I consider that a calculated risk. Also, recommending to people to make a low altitude dive without any special safety equiptment on seems needlessly dangerous. I hear the point you're trying to make about accepting risks and knowing your abailities. But is living it out really necessary? What if that's the dive where an RSL would have made a difference, and they disconnected it on your recomendation? I personally wouldn't want to be in that position. You're the instructor and I'm a student and I respect your opinion and recomendations, I imagine they're well thought out. So as a student I have one last question, as a student I am less confident of my ability to handle all situations properly. I do the drills and mental preparation and everything I can to educate myself on what to do, so right now I couldn't imagine jumping without one. Does that mean I should quit? Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

K, well then I guess you have to kill the one guy instead of the five. What else are you going to do? Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

If you throw yourself on the tracks, can you stop the train? I think I would rather take my own life then dealing with taking anyone elses. (Negative I guess, but if someone has to die, may as well be me.) Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

OK, I'm clear now. Thanks for the information. Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Newbie here. Nope, I did not know that Cypres had a disarm altitude. Is this true of the FXC? (That's what we students use at my dz) Could you explain why this is please? Also, how fast do you have to be to fire it? It sounds like this guy was moving pretty fast, pretty low, any lower and his reserve wouldn't have deployed in time to save him. (Sounds like to me) I'm just a little clear why his cypres didn't fire. Gale Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Check out the Safety tab up top. Under that you will find AFF course material for two instructors. It should give a good idea of what to expect. Other then that, just tell them to go out to their local drop zone and talk to people. I know I'm always happy to talk someone's ear off about the first jump course, etc. And I'm guessing someone much more knowledgable then myself would be available too! (Students such as myself just sometimes give a different perspective on the experience as opposed to all those pesky facts the instructors give.)