Staying current in the winter

[Blassiter 0]

i am about to start aff and I live in the north and there is only 1 dz anywhere relatively close to me that stays open during the winter. my biggest fear is completing my a and then not being able to jump all winter and forgetting a lot when time comes next year and I can start jumping again. what would be the best way for me to deal witht his?

[pilotdave 0]

That happens to a lot of people in cold parts of the country. Every April, dropzones all over the country have a Safety Day to get the season going. Jumpers come out of hybernation and get retrained on emergency procedures, canopy flight, aircraft safety, and a bunch of other topics, all in one morning. It's a lot of fun... and then we jump.

But if you have an A-license and don't mind the cold, there's no reason to go uncurrent. Winter jumping is different and fun... although I'm NOT looking forward to the cold.

Dave

[Blassiter 0]

i am still planning on jumping during the winter but I hate the cold so I doubt that I will jump as much as i want plus with snowboarding season that is gonna take the majority of my time during the winter. im coming back down to orlando for christmas so i can get some jumping done down there

[daremrc 0]

It's just one every sixty days to stay current..

Or you could just wait until spring and get current again...

Either way I'm sure if you approach it knowing that you're rusty in either situation, you will feel fine 15 jumps into next season. I am going to try, but will likely not be able to stay current this winter either. Just from the financial perspective, it makes little sense for me to have my reserve repacked when its due in October to make 2 or 3 jumps on it before it needs *another* repack in February.

Good judgement comes from experience, and most of that comes from bad judgement.

[NWFlyer 2]

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It's just one every sixty days to stay current..

Not if you don't have your A license yet.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Fast 0]

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i am still planning on jumping during the winter but I hate the cold so I doubt that I will jump as much as i want plus with snowboarding season that is gonna take the majority of my time during the winter. im coming back down to orlando for christmas so i can get some jumping done down there

So... you would rather spend a few hours out in the cold as opposed to 3-4 min? Honestly, skydiving in the winter isn't that bad.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[Blassiter 0]

well thats the thing, i dont mind the cold when snowboarding and I may not with skydiving either I just dont know HOW cold it will be with the wind and all so in case i dont want to jump in the winter after trying it I was trying to find some alternatives

[countzero 7]

layer up just like you do for snow sports- long under wear, glove liners, and a stocking cap or one of those headband/ ear warmer things. see if you can borrow or buy a full face helmet. or ask for one for an early christmas present.

diamonds are a dawgs best friend

[Broke 0]

My bonehead is plenty warm add a neoprine gator and my face is taken care of

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

[wmw999 2,440]

The main concerns in seriously cold jumping (e.g. New England winter) are
- hand mobility and sensitivity, so wear gloves that you can feel in
- overall chill, so use an airplane with a door, and don't jump if you're already shivering. No shame in landing if you're not up to jumping
- depth perception if there's snow on the ground. PLF, PLF, PLF.

The idea is to have fun, and get up and make more jumps later. Back off a level or two, and consider what would be fun in the cold. A solo hop and pop might be plenty; just getting your knees in the breeze. Or a low-tension small RW jump out of a 182 that's nice and warm on the way up.

You're a champ just by jumping.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Blassiter 0]

sorry for my retardedness but what does PLF mean?

[mnskydiver688 0]

Parachute Landing Fall

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[L.O. 0]

Winter is the best time to jump for the new people. It may be cold but the cold keeps the tandems and most student away. You are left with only the hard core. Most loads at our place during the winter generally score a higher point average. The winter culls the herd and only the strong survive.

Even if you have your A, taking many months off puts you back at square one come spring time. Skydiving isn't like snowboarding. It sounds like you have a good base of knowledge for boarding so the months off are no big deal. If you take many months off skydiving and have almost no time in the sport, you might as well start with a first jump coarse.

HPDBs, I hate those guys.
AFB, charter member.

[DougH 270]

No shit, winter jumping is the best.

It thins out the DZ crowd, and you get to jump the same group of crazy fawks all winter that are really into skydiving.

Put on the long underwear and suck it up cupcake, I hope to see you out there. But if the cold keeps you away that is fine by me too.

Or better yet, stop worrying so far ahead. Focus on the present, it doesn't matter how cold it is during the winter, when you still should be concentrating on getting that A license.

Tick tock.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[Baksteen 84]

I learned to jump during the winter months as well.

What worked for me is simply wearing my skiing coat under my loose student jumpsuit.
I look like the Michelin Man on all winter pics, but fuggit, at least I was warm.

"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

[Blassiter 0]

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Or better yet, stop worrying so far ahead. Focus on the present, it doesn't matter how cold it is during the winter, when you still should be concentrating on getting that A license.

Tick tock.

I know I shoudnt be worrying that far ahead but I wont have my A until sometime in november because I wont have the money for it until then(in VA), so right after i get my A it will be winter. I'm not saying i wont jump, in all reality I probably will and ill be jumping all winter because come march timeframe I wont be able to jump at all for a couple of months(deployment). To be honest I was kinda more worried about the fact that there wouldnt be many people jumping at all up there in the winter.

[mnskydiver688 0]

Suck it up it never really gets to be winter in VA. Once you have jumped in the frozen plains of N.D. in the middle of January then you have jumped during the "Winter"

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[Blassiter 0]

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Suck it up it never really gets to be winter in VA. Once you have jumped in the frozen plains of N.D. in the middle of January then you have jumped during the "Winter"

I wont actually be jumping in VA in the winter, ill be in connecticut. im gonna be in va for a month and im doing my "A" while im down there. Now while CT may not be as cold as ND it still gets really cold

[DougH 270]

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To be honest I was kinda more worried about the fact that there wouldnt be many people jumping at all up there in the winter.

No worries then. If it is safe to fly the plane, and safe for you to jump given your experince level then you will be more than able to jump as fast as you can pack all winter long.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[CheZar 0]

Could I make a point here, please?
Is there a link to some simple glossary on skydiving, canopy structure, etc. I myself cannot find some words I do not know in ordinary dictionaries, they are just not in there...

[redwings 0]

Quote

Could I make a point here, please?
Is there a link to some simple glossary on skydiving, canopy structure, etc. I myself cannot find some words I do not know in ordinary dictionaries, they are just not in there...

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=35

Why don't you just go to the police station in a red clown suit and let everybody know what we're doing here?

I have a phobia for moobs. Thanks, youknowwhoyouare.

[popsjumper 2]

Blassiter...believe me when I tell you...when your foot leaves the door, temp will not be anywhere in your mind. Now when you get under canopy, it will hit you but it's really not as bad as you might think.

If you can afford it, take some vacation time and come south for winter jumping. Z-hills at Thanskgiving and Christmas is a good time to come.

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

[aardvarkeater 0]

I was working on my AFF levels all through winter and the cold didn't bother me. The key is to layer up. You won't feel the cold during freefall but you may under canopy. My layering system includes, a tight sweat wicking base layer, a long sleeve shirt, a fleece pullover, and then my jumpsuit. For my legs, a sweat wicking base layer, jeans, and jumpsuit works well. Get a good pair of gloves that will keep your hands warm under canopy but still allow enough tactile feeling to be able to handle all normal and emergency procedures. I find using silk or some other thin insulating liner along with with baseball or football style gloves works well. The key is leather or some other material for the palms that won't let wind cut through it. Get a good thick pair of wool or synthetic socks. For your exposed area around your head and neck I recommend a gaiter or balcalva. If you do some searching you will find tons of threads discussing jumping in winter and how others keep warm. Good luck!

Muff Brother #4026
Loco Zapatos Rodriguez
SCR #14793

[danornan 79]

Come on down to Florida. We jump ALL winter. It ain't that bad!

Dano