Man someone almost smacked @ the DZ this weekend!

[kevin922 0]

Man.. I unfortunately missed this, but heard all about it. There is a jumper at my DZ which is fairly new (under 100 jumps, probably under 50 still) - when he only had 15 or so jumps I met him. He was reaaaal cocky trying to do head down on STUDENT gear with only 20 jumps behind him. I just knew then he was going to be a future statistic after he stated his attitude was "i'm not worried, if something goes wrong that's why I have a backup parachute" not to mention landed a canopy in trees (tore it up) and lost an altimiter in freefall. Anyway his luck caught up with him this weekend.
I was on the beach watching the load come in there, another load was being put out back at the DZ. Evidentally he was doing some radical left & right turns @ about 500 feet (he uses a hornet 150 he weighs maybe 140 at most). He put the canopy into a line twist malfunction and I guess by instinct cut it away... by the time his reserve inflated he was at around 150 feet. I'm sure he's not going to be talking the shit he used to :)
Some people just need to slow down and be safe.
Blue Skies.

[axe96bam 0]

I hope you are right. This might slow him down a bit. I hope he learned his lesson and he will not end up being just a statistic

[cyberskydive 0]

Lets just hope this doesnt make him think he's in destructable now! Some one should really pull him aside a lay it all down in plain terms.
Theres a guy like this at my dz, kinda odd. First three times he tried to get out of the plane he wouldnt leave, finally got out and passed all his aff and graduated. Next thing you know he's trying on camera helmets - almost grabbed the dzo's rig from the gear room thinking it was the student canopy hes been jumping (they look notthing alike), and actually argues with a staff member (one of his aff jm's) that it was the right rig. He usually jumps a safire 259 - he picked up a crossfire 135.
C-28534
http://www.sunraydesigns.com

[Pammi 0]

Hey Cyber...it's not possible that he might've done it on purpose is it? That's an even scarier thought...that he might've just wanted to jump it!
Our webpage

[pyke 0]

Oh my god, Cyber, you're kidding me. I think I know who you are talking about and man, what an character.
We have 2 of these guys now. One of them has like 15-20 jumps and I was on a load with him (not jumping with him - THANK GOD) and the guy(solo) before him goes out...he says he counted to 4 and then went. I was in the plane and man, if he counted to 4...it was 1, 4, out. If you didn't know they were both solos, you would have thought he went out to chase the other. THEN, he has the nerve to tell a j/m that he gave him ample time and that he was "miles" away from him. Whatever, I looked out and could see both of them in the sky. This same guy also biffed a landing (came like 5 feet from some trees and didn't stand it up)...and then has the nerve to tell the j/m that he couldn't do anything about it. The j/m WATCHED him from 400 feet line up STRAIGHT FOR THE TREES and not do anything about it. Man, what nerve to have like <20 jumps and think that you KNOW more than a 1000+ j/m.
The guy Cyber is (I think) referring to was asking me last week what it took to become a rigger. He asks this AS HE IS WATCHING ME to learn how to pack. SLOW DOWN buddy, getting a little TOO big for them britches!!
Enthusiasm is commended, but not when it interferes with LOGIC!!!!!!
[/rant for the night]
Kahurangi e Mahearangi,
Pyke
NZPF A - 2584
USPA C- ?????

[lazerq3 0]

SO far so good ...I havnt seen anyone at our DZ like these guys. BUt one of our jumpers said that while he was jumping with a team they all broke and tracked away, well when my friend looked around to clear the area before deploying, one of the guys followed next to him and threw his pilot chute right at his face with a smile. I guess theses guys were some team thats know in Utah to be like "sky bandits" or something (assholes). Needless to say my freind was pissed!!!!
jason

[spectre230 0]

[erielack 0]

Wow! Here I am studying all the incident reports (bringing them to work) trying to figure out all the factors that contribute to them and attitude is not mentioned! I'm a student and relaxing is the hardest part right now! I try to relax just before leaving the plane thinking 30 fatalities out of 4,000,000 jumps is pretty good odds...but then again there is always room for one more (especially students) and anything can happen. I envy this guy for his confidence (or stupidity) and that's about it! Unbelievable ...jumpers with thousands of jumps make the stats every year. That's enough to keep me humble.

[dove 0]

How can this guy still be allowed to jump at your DZ?!?!?!?! Being of danger to yourself is enough to get grounded at many DZs, but sound like this oaf is a hazard to everyone on the plane and in the landing area. Frightening!!!!

[kevin922 0]

Well I must admit that I was pretty eager as well... I bought my first rig before my first jump (long story, got a real good rate on it) -- was a cruiselight 220 in a vector container. Quickly found out that it was too big after I had a backwards landing due to wind. (I only weigh 135)... I quickly started jumping smaller gear went from a 220 to a 150 then 150 to 135.. then I bought my Hornet (135).. it was a quick transition but I felt comfortable with it. I strapped a camera on my head at around 50 jumps and now have become pretty accomplished with videoing RW. Now before I get flamed for the camera let me give my 2 cents on it.
I think camera flying in its earlier days was considerably more dangerous than today. The cameras of last year even are a lot larger and heavier than todays. I jump a PC5 on a bonehead helmet. The camera itself is very small, very light. While it still can be a hazard for malfunctions, I am comfortable with cutaway procedures of both the parachute and the helmet. Being quick to learn is one thing, being stupid is another.

[Billy 0]

Darwinism!!
Ya know I really don't give a shit if someone wants ta risk their neck doin crazy shit,, that's a relative thing,, but I agree that when this prick endangers people in the air,, and on the ground if he slams into someone than FUCK him,, skydiving to me is a privilege,, not a God given right,, it comes with some responsibilty to others like drivin a car,, maybe he needs ta jump somewhere far away from others,, both in the air and on the ground,, then who knows,, maybe he'll become a skygod,,,, what did your bud do when that dude threw the pilot chute in his face?? Id'a folllowed him down,, pulled his reserve on the ground and done some serious ass kickin!! I don't have much patients with assholes,, and think I could plead temporary insanity or self defense and get off scot free,, it's worked before

[Grogs 0]

Quote

almost grabbed the dzo's rig from the gear room thinking it was the student canopy hes been jumping (they look notthing alike), and actually argues with a staff member (one of his aff jm's) that it was the right rig. He usually jumps a safire 259 - he picked up a crossfire 135.

He grabbed the wrong rig? What an idiot!
Damn... This was really stupid
Ummm... I mean, I can understand how that can happen. Yeah, that's it.
Seriously though, as far as why guys like these are still jumping, I think the problem is if the DZO just grounds them they'll head to another DZ that might not be as concerned and end up bouncing there, so they'd rather keep them at their dropzone and try to talk some sense into them.

[Divadiver 0]

We had one of these guys at our DZ last summer, I won't go into detail about what it was that he did and how he tried to the tell JM's a complete and total lie about what happened when one of them followed him down and saw everything. He was grounded at our DZ for several weeks, in the meantime he decides that he's going to jump elsewhere. Only when he gets to the other DZ, apparently the pieces didn't fit together and the owner called our DZ to find out about his jump status. Needless to say he didn't get any jumps in at that DZ either.
So, I have a question, when someone like this gets grounded and they go off to another DZ to jump (if it's not questioned and caught), shouldn't a notation be made in their log book? Not a detail of the events leading up to the grounding, but the fact that they've been grounded at the DZ and for how long. Or would that be too much like putting the scarlet letter A on his forehead?
Inquiring minds want to know . . .
Diva

[what42 0]

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One of them has like 15-20 jumps and I was on a load with him. it was 1, 4, out. If you didn't know they were both solos, you would have thought he went out to chase the other. THEN, he has the nerve to tell a j/m that he gave him ample time and that he was "miles" away from him.

I was on that load with Pyke and this guy scares me. He's cocky as hell and won't listen to anyone trying to inform him of his mistakes. And he's so defensive that hours later he's telling other people about how "they" said he didn't give enough time but that he gave at least 4 seconds. I don't think I'd jump with him. With his attitude he's going to hurt/kill himself or someone else eventually. I just hope it's not me or one of my friends.
Wesley
--
I'll see you at 13,5 amongst the clouds.

[Divadiver 0]

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With his attitude he's going to hurt/kill himself or someone else eventually. I just hope it's not me or one of my friends.

Would you consider those of us on this forum your friends? Do us the other jumpers at your DZ a favor and talk with the JM's and/or owner and let them know about your concerns. They shouldn't wait until someone gets hurt before they sit this guy down and have a long heart to heart with him.
Diva

[riggerrob 643]

Good point about the DZO writing nasty notes in his logbook detailing his sins and how long he was grounded.
True A-holes will just "lose" the offending logbook, which should be a red flag to any other DZ they visit.
The smarter ones will learn from their mistakes. For example, back in 1980 I hook-turned my Strato Star at Z-Hills. Fortunately an instructor took me aside and threatened to ground me. Ever since then I have made a conscious effort to look at wind socks before boarding the plane.

[RemiAndKaren 0]

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shouldn't a notation be made in their log book?

Very danger!!! I'm all for safety.. really.. I am!!... but this would be getting a little too much Big Brotherish IMO. As along as a guy/gal is pre-A license, its one thing (but then again, it will come down to the jm's to either pass him/her or noty), but once you are self surpervised, you are exactly that: self supervised!
Yea, you can get grounded, and then you should either wait it out (and understand why), or hit the road (and maybe understand why)! That how good road movies are made! lol
Lets be safe, but lets not suck out all the individuality of this sport... its real easy to slip down a slipery slope once you get on it...
Remi

[DZBone 0]

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its real easy to slip down a slipery slope

Totally agree. The DZO has the right to ground and/or ban him, and you have the right to refuse to jump with/near him.
While he doesn't have the "right" to skydive how he wants, I think we would all prefer the freedom to do things "our way".
I just hope someone talks some sense into him before his exercise of his individuality and freedom cause someone their life or limb.
Carl

[Rhonda66 0]

I've never jumped at a DZ where they looked at my logbook so what good is that going to do? It doesn't seem to be standard practice to look at a person't logbook as long as your packing card is in date and you have a license - that's all I've ever been asked for...
Maybe USPA or someone should make up a black list of some sort where DZOs can look up people whoa re new to their DZ to see if they have been banned from another DZ....??? Then the new DZ can make the decision as to whether or not they will let that person jump at their DZ - frankly, I dont' want any of those people in the air with me, but on the other hand, doesn't everyone deserve a second chance depending on what exactly they did wrong? Tough question...
Rhonda

[spectre230 0]

[cloud9 0]

What about someone that just had some sort of problem with the DZO? I mean it could be anything, said something they didn't like, had an affair with a relative, just had words. Then the guy puts something in your log book and you can't jump anywhere? Things do happen like this at dropzones. I don't think the log book thing is the answer. No one person should have that much power over who jumps.
Just send them down the road if they have to drive long distances because they jump like an idiot they'll get the message.