When is it "just another skydive"?

[Orange1 0]

I've seen a few times, in this forum, a post that will say something like "Remember - a tandem (or whatever) is not just another skydive".

Now, I know I have low jump numbers, but what is "just another skydive"? Is it one you have done 50 or 100 or 1000 times before? Is it the one you have become complacent about? Is it the one where maybe you didn't get your gear checked, or rushed the dirt-dive, or assumed the newbie would know what to do if he couldn't get to the formation, or the one you didn't check latest wind for, because it's the same again as you've done so many times before?

How many reports in the incidents forum came after "just another skydive"?

Is there really such a thing as "just another skydive"?

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[UDSkyJunkie 0]

hehe... that's a very good point, and quite insightful given your experience, especially since those who use that and other similar phrases often have 1000's of jumps.

Tandems may have unique risks, but I don't think they are any greater than those of other types of jumps. Freefliers are exposed to ugly premature deployments and freefall collisions. Camera fliers can get lines hooked on their helmets or throw the PC through their wings. Wingsuit fliers can prevent AAD's from firing. Hop-n-pops are often done without helmets and/or are done with the intention of doing high performance landings. RW fliers tend to jump in much larger groups and often have the least experienced jumpers.

It is true that no jump is "just another skydive"

"Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission."

[skybytch 273]

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Tandems may have unique risks, but I don't think they are any greater than those of other types of jumps.

The phrase "it's not just another skydive" is more about reminding people that it's not okay to add additional risks to the jump - risks that the person on the front didn't sign on for.

Things like turning low so the instructor can get a swoop in, delaying throwing the drogue so a buddy can freefly with them, etc.

[BIGUN 1,314]

Please review the Tandem decision tree on pps. 82 & 83 for your answer, then factor in what Lisa (skybytch) just said about making it more complicated and adding additional variables.

http://www.unitedparachutetechnologies.com/PDF/Support/Manual/09351(V2_Manual).pdf

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[jojo69 0]

When I had my 100th jump, I came back in the pick up truck from the student landing area. We were all smiling and laughing and excited. I looked at a "sky god" and said something along the lines of isn't this the best fun! His reply was "it was just another skydive". I know that members of teams practice and practice but if the result is "just another skydive" what is the point? Why do it? When it becomes "just another skydive" does it increase the risk because of lack of focus on the basics?

[Orange1 0]

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When it becomes "just another skydive" does it increase the risk because of lack of focus on the basics?

you got the point i was trying to raise!

(... i certainly was not trying to imply that tandems are not more complex.)

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[headoverheels 333]

It is "just another skydive" after you are back in the hanger packing.

[billvon 2,991]

>It is true that no jump is "just another skydive"

Hmm. Your 28th 4-way training jump of the weekend might be closer to "just another skydive" than a tandem with your girlfriend. I figure it's more a matter of degree than absolutes.

[hackish 8]

Ok, so I tune engines for a living. You'd think the 50th honda civic with the same engine and a turbo attached would be just another tuning job. It's not - everything has it's own little differences and quirks. Different uses (drag racer, street driven, customer who beats on it constantly etc etc etc). Different setups, (big turbo, small turbo, stock engine modded engine etc)...

I've said many times that when it becomes just another engine then it's time to move on and find something different to do. I often hear people talk about my type of work as "just another..." but really it's not what you're doing it's how you approach what you're doing that makes the difference.

I think if you truly enjoy what you're doing as I do you'll spend the time to find details and prevent anything from becoming monotony.

-Michael

[JohnMitchell 16]

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] When it becomes "just another skydive" does it increase the risk because of lack of focus on the basics?

Skydiving can become routine without the jumper becoming complacent. In fact, the more routine the jump, the more you can focus on safety. Safety is more in the attitude than the familiarity.

That guy sounds a touch burned out. It happens to a lot of team guys, believe me. I can't count how many 4 way peeps I know that don't jump anymore. So forgive him for sounding a little jaded. I think he may have forgotten what he loves about jumping.

Congratulations on your 100th. May you have thousands more.

[phoenixlpr 0]

Take it simple! When you just sit down and review some jumps from your logbook and you remember nothing because nothing extraordinary happened that was "just another skydive".

What can you learn from a perfectly safe and boring jump?

Good decisions come from experience. Lots of experience comes from bad decisions.

[popsjumper 2]

It happens pretty close to the last one in a lot of cases.

1. Quit because of injury

2. Quit because of death

3. Quit because of boredom

4. Quit because of burn-out

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Broke 0]

So just another skydive is when you should call it quits. Then again it is just my opinion.

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[Trae 1]

in reply to "Is there really such a thing as "just another skydive"? "
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people with mega 1000's of jumps talk like that. pity the poor souls with so many jumps they can't remember them any more.

Ask a person doing say 12 - 15 jumps a day what they did on their 7th jump of the day. Apart from the look of confusion you just may hear-- " it was just another skydive."

Some go quantity but its quality that delivers.