nigel99

I would listen to your instructors. There is nothing wrong with moving off of student equipment and onto other rental gear. Just keep your wingloading low (no greater than 1.0:1) and continue to soak up knowledge and skills. It would help to give put some detail in your profile. I respect that many people don't put personal details on the web, but Country or State, height and weight are really useful. It allows people familiar with your location to provide relevant advice. Be very careful of what advice you listen to. You mention front/cross/down wind. The only context I know of "front" being used is front risers and I would hope that you only take advice on that from an instructor. Crosswind and downwind are the directions relative to the wind. Normally we try and land into the wind for the slowest speed relative to the ground. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

A few weeks ago someone was bitching about not having padding on their legstraps. Their wife suggested they slap a set of sanitary pads under the legstraps. Quick easy and no modification to the rig Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Thanks for the post Andy, I couldn't agree more. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Actually I believe it is precisely because so many experienced jumpers have died this year that the USPA and general community woke up and started to re-evaluate the situation. It seems many people want the reward, without the sweat and learning involved. I get the same behaviour from my 11 year old, wants to learn guitar but doesn't want to do the scales. At the end of the day it is no different. That is the frustrating part I am sure. so, what would be your "solution" to the situation at hand!? ban anything smaller than a 150? 210? no more ellipticals!? WHAT!? Not at all. Firstly in the SIM it has a suggestion that A & B licenses stay below 1.0:1, C license below 1.2:1 and that anything less than 150 should really be reserved for D licenses. Right now the culture is to completely ignore that advice. Secondly I think Krissanes thread that she linked to was spot on. How many times are people told that they will "out grow" a 1.0:1 wingloading within a 100 jumps? Other people have alluded to it, but if you want to jump an advanced parachute (referencing again the SIM limits above), get proper training and pursue it with due diligence and vigour. Flying an advanced parachute, means that the descent is not "just the final portion of getting to the ground", but it becomes a substantial part of the jump. In face taken to it's extreme it becomes THE jump, where freefall is entirely sacrified. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Actually I believe it is precisely because so many experienced jumpers have died this year that the USPA and general community woke up and started to re-evaluate the situation. It seems many people want the reward, without the sweat and learning involved. I get the same behaviour from my 11 year old, wants to learn guitar but doesn't want to do the scales. At the end of the day it is no different. That is the frustrating part I am sure. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Search for Piisfish's story it is really eye opening. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

At this DZ you are supposed to declare accuracy jumps for any license/rating requirements before you board the plane....er.....technically. There are a couple of AFFIs here that will sign anything anytime with no verification or proof of any sort. You "owe" me a couple of accuracy jumps already, don't you? Wasn't sure of the general policy. As you know I had the towel out for a couple of weekends

I think you missed his point. Pretty sure the OP was saying that for any given mistake, a lower wing loading typically results in less severe consequences. Precisely. It is also the nature of stories on the internet that the "oh shit" stories get a lot of airtime, and the incidents that people walk away from get little to no airtime. Over time a picture emerges where nobody actually gets to see the benefit of being conservative. PS I did see post 15 and realise the clarification that was made. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Good point. I have been lucky in that my skills jumps were signed off by an AFF-I but it was unplanned. My actual B license skills jump was with a USPA coach. I would guess that if your jumps are witnessed by a trusted jumper you could get an instructor to co-sign the jump afterwards. Besides you don't have to declare your accuracy jumps for anything other than pro-rating do you? Makes a bit of a farce really as you can decide that where your feet touched down was where you wanted to land. However I will get my accuracy jumps signed off by an instructor from now on. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Not all of us are with the reaction of a gramps Hey I was going to say that Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Seems like her life just got a bit worse As it was a deliberate attempt to injure/kill herself I completely support the actions of the rescuers. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

That is 20 years of history and multiple dz's. I am sure it is low compared to people who have been constantly in the sport for that length of time. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Which, of course, is why the US military has completely eradicated AQ in Iran and Afghanistan, right? The issues with eradication of AQ in the Middle East has almost nothing to do with them owning military quality hand guns and rifles. If that were the only issue, they'd be dead a long time ago. Quade, you have missed a golden opportunity here! We have a right wing poster essentially stating that the tea party is modelled on AQ Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Thanks excellent feedback. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I just want to give you some of my personal jumping life that may provide some context of where I am coming from. Early nineties - Club had T-10's for students, Cruiselites (F-111 220) were popular amongst the experienced jumpers in our club. There were a reasonable number of broken bones landing rounds but nothing serious. First fatality in my time was a

I had a bit of a problem when I started jumping Sabre 2's where I would "pop up" on landing. I don't remember who taught me, but I was told to flare until level flight and then to complete the flare keeping the flight level. On the Sabre 2 it definitely feels like a 2 distinct stages to the flairing process. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

And some folks skydive because they are into the parachute. The skydive is just a mechanism to get to go swoop. Hi Dave, What are your thoughts about traditional accuracy? Do you think that the USPA should be promoting more "low speed" canopy piloting? By the way I think that swooping the pond looks pretty awesome. For me it will always be like watching the Blue Angels or Red Arrows, the stuff to fantasize about doing. Nigel Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I like this Krisane I read your thread and it was very interesting. DSE, Diablopilot and others it is interesting to see that you have upsized. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

yeah and now you owe beer for your first post in a 1000 page thread Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

A couple of thoughts regarding canopy flight and the current trend. The culture is acceptance of higher wing-loadings at all levels. Secondly when one looks at the reward system for success it promotes swooping. As far as I am aware the USPA Canopy Piloting Nationals are judged on "speed, distance and accuracy". Does good old fashioned accuracy still exist at a national and international level? Business culture change programs tend to follow the following 4 steps: 1) Educate and encourage 2) Define expectations 3) Acknowledge and celebrate success 4) Reward success 1) As far as I can tell the USPA is doing a good job of trying to educate. How do we encourage people to slow down and realise that they don't need to be small to be cool? 2) I think that the SIM sets reasonable expectations where it outlines the wing-loadings and recommendations for advanced training. Considering that these are largely ignored, it makes no sense to make them more stringent. We just need a culture where they are actually implemented. 3 & 4) I think that the USPA or clubs should have an annual award for "contribution to the sport" or "safety concious jumper" in each license category. Setup expectations on what will win that award and then promote it.Also set an example, draw attention to high profile members of the sport who jump conservative wing loadings Currently the trend for size is downwards and deaths are going up. Change is instigated one person at a time. Next time a newbie tells you they are never going to swoop, please don't give them a lecture how everyone says that and then changes their minds. Point out that it is fine, and there are other disciplines that they can find enjoyable. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Actually the problem started long before then. The jumper should have committed to landing off early, rather than trying to squeeze over the top. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Just wanted to communicate an "incident" that I witnessed yesterday in the hope that it will help people with their decision making process. A jumper on a Silhouette 230 was at the edge of the DZ approaching a hedgerow that is about 10-15 foot tall. He was clearly unsure that he would clear it and was using deep brakes to try and come in short. At the last minute he realised that he would not make it and at somewhere between 5 and 15 foot (hedgerow was between us) he buried the left toggle. I fully expected an ambulance, however some time later he came walking in, without even a limp. I am certainly not recommending last minute hooks on any size canopy by the way! Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Ron, have a chat with Andy Whitlock about your experience. He is really accommodating and will spend time going over things with you. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Thanks, if not enjoy your new toy. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

It may be broken, but I don't see a skydiver throwing away equipment that can be sold very easily if working. Try setting the dial to zero and then watch it as the weather changes, or take a drive up a hill and check the reading. I don't know if you live near a dropzone, but it might be worth finding out if there have been reports of stolen equipment. It may be worth taking a drive out to the nearest dz to ask around. It is a small community and if stolen someone will be grateful, who knows you might get some free beer.