bye bye Mr. Pro-Track, bye bye

[skreamer 1]

Hi guys
Well, I had heard about it and now it finally happened to me. On Friday there was a guy at the DZ with a BRAND new Wings/Hornet '170. We started chatting and then when I told him I had ordered the exact same rig (except I ordered a Hornet '150) he very kindly let me take it up for a *demo*. I wasn't very happy with the BOC (cordura and definitely not enough elastic in the lip). However it had been jumped twice that day and it passed the flight-line check. Then when we got to altitude and stood up (the caravan), the jumpmaster saw it and was NOT happy. That hackey was damn near pulling the PC out with just its own weight. So he stuffed it in and I kept my hand over it. He considered making me ride down, but since I was going belly down he let me jump (he later told me he wished he had made me ride it down). That's when instant kharma stepped in. I dumped at '4 500 to have a little extra time to play with the Hornet. My body position was fine, but then 'THWACK', riser slap from hell and some line twists thrown in for good measure. But my Pro-Track got launched into a low-level orbit never to be seen again!!
The jump-master later had a chat with me and pointed out that since I was unhappy with the PC I should never have got on the plane in the first place. He then pointed out that I was not a student and I needed to take responsibility for everything about the skydive - gear included and that if I wasn't 100% happy with anything, then don't jump.
He did it in a really nice way, it was more of a one-to-one, but the message was definitely taken to heart. He said he almost felt bad because if he had made me ride down I wouldn't have lost my Pro-Track. I just see it as losing the Pro-Track re-inforced a very valuable lesson which I will never forget.
I was a bit miserable after that, and then made matters worse by snapping at somebody and being out of order. I subsequently made a sincere apology, matters were discussed with me and it was settled. I am still a beginner, and was in too much of a hurry to get my Cat.10, B.license etc. and things went to my head a bit.
I think it is safe to say that I learnt some valuable lessons this weekend and am glad that nothing bad happened (Pro-Track's can be replaced).
/s

[gus 1]

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Pro-Track's can be replaced

Amen to that. You have to think positive though: at least your jumpmates got a few giggles out of it.
Did you tell this guy about his dodgy BOC pouch? Presumably it was him that had jumped it already, and he hadn't noticed anything was wrong?
If you've ordered a Wings as well, is there a danger that yours will be the same? Can you contact them and make sure it's ok?
Beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep
Greased anvil
Your mum
Gus

[skreamer 1]

As soon as I landed the jump master came to me and grounded the rig (not me thank goodness). They called the owner to manifest and he took it to the riggers immediately. Thing is, he is a student (with custom kit already!!!) and he had had the rig shipped to him. I am actually going to the place I am buying my Wings from and will be skydiving with that rigger the next day. I am still going to stick with the cordura pouch, but obviously will check it out VERY carefully. I am there for 10 days so there will be lots of time to get any mods done. I didn't like the fact that the chest strap was the wrong way round, but that is not such a big deal.
I had fun this weekend, are you guys going to be there Saturday? We can try launching that 4-way again - myabe if I could go head-down I could match your fat bastard fall rates! Either that or strap the kitchen sink to myself. Also, don't tell anybody but I haven't logged that last jump yet, so I will need an autograph.
Damn, this manual logging is just no fun at all and I suck at the maths (what altitude did we exit?).
/s
PS the jumpmaster on that load happens to be the owner of the Time Out audible company, so the irony of that wasn't lost on me either!

[Iflyme 0]

Skreamer, that sucks! For sure the Pro-Trak is replaceablem but it is still a whopping few hundred$$$ (can't remember what symbol you folks use for pounds over there)...
The mouth on my BOC is a bit loose, too. Not as much as the one you jumped, but I think I need to get it tighted up soon. So what will be your wing loading on your 150? The smalledst canopy I've ever jumped was a 190 Hornet. It was loaded at 1.1 to 1 - not too heavily loaded, for sure!!! But it was still a fun ride.

[skreamer 1]

Hi Frank
I am a skinny little fella, I only weigh 158 pounds (72 kg) in my birthday suit (by far my favourite outfit). I will be loading the '150 at about 1.18
Apart from losing my Pro-Track, I quite enjoyed the ride under the Hornet '170 and managed to stand up the landing. So I am confident in my ability to fly the '150 safely. Plus I am only getting it the 29th of June and will (hopefully) have in the region of 100 jumps by then.
I have received lots of very good advice from people like Chuck (thanks dude!) and I can hardly wait to get my new toy. I am currently jumping a Vector 1 made in 1987 and with my Cruiselite '220, canopy rides can get a bit painful (especially when they last as long as mine!).

[skreamer 1]

YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
I just got an email from Mads Larsen. I explained what happened to him, and they are going to send me a replacement FREE OF CHARGE!!! How awesome is that???
I LOVE LARSEN AND BRUSGAARD AND IF MY BODY TEMPERATURE WAS RIGHT I WOULD HAVE THEIR BABIES!!!
I just rung up the DZ and told them the good news and they have just announced it over the tannoy!!! happyhappyhappyhappy

/s
PS Ric and Gus : Bite me!

[gus 1]

Oh you cheeky bastard, I can't believe they're sending you a new one! If you get another one off Visa can I have it? You can't possibly need 2. That sucks fat ones, your charmed life just goes from strength to strength.
Gus

[des 2]

yep!those guys are fantastic.i live on a remote island wher it's impossible to get dytter batts,so they sent me 8 free!they even paid postage!
been jumping a long time now ,and have only ever heard great things about these guys.
dytters rule.
des

[freaksister 0]

They replaced mine as well. L&B kick ass! Glad you're OK Skreamer!
Sis
"What we're all really seeking is something where we can feel the rapture of being alive."J.Campbell

[Pammi 0]

They are sending another Pro-Track? Boy those guys are awesome! That's amazing!
I'm so glad you are okay Skreamer! I think it's kind of like car accidents...they say you will have an 'awakening' experience and some sort of accident at some point in your life...you just have to hope that it's a mild one you can learn from and not get too hurt! Skydiving seems to be the same...everyone has something happen that slaps them out of their cockiness and says, "Hey...respect me dammit!". I've had mine...and I actually worry about when Merrick will get his one day. Perhaps a pessimistic attitude, but I just feel that if you jump long enough you'll eventually have a brain fart
Fly safe everyone!
Pammi
"The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live."
http://trak.to/skydivechick

[Joolee 0]

Hello Skreamer,
Did you have a good time at the Boogie then? I heard that at times there was a two hour wait to get on a lift - bit of a pain in the arse! We had some gorgeous weather up here in Scotland over the weekend - I had lots of opportunities to jump, but had to balance it up with lots of packing to cover the cost. In the end my jump bill was only £20 for three jumps...In response to your post - Personally I much prefer toggles to hackeys because they don't go walk about when you're cramped up in the plane...What is a Hornet like? I've not heard of it before.
It's well cool that you're going to get another Pro-Track - I know someone else who had a similar incident and got a replacement as well.
One of the blokes I know forgot to fasten his frap hat before he got out of the plane once (with Pro-Track in) and the lucky bastard found it hanging up a tree from the clasp. Mind you it was hanging over a 30ft slope and took about two hours to get down...
What stage of WARP are you up to?
Joolee

[skreamer 1]

Hi Joolee
I actually have a toggle on my old Vector as well - but I am getting that super-cool pud handle on my new Wings (still a BOC though!). About the waiting at Langar, I don't know about that... One of my mates made 9 jumps in one day!
I did overhear some people whingeing, but I also noted that they did not have the balls to go to manifest or an instructor or the CCI (DZO) so bollocks to them... The pilots flew their asses off, both turbines were used constantly (changing pilots at refuels). Langar also provided an organizer AND camera to intermediate RW groups as well (ie Cat. 10's who were not yet experienced enough to join the 30-ways going up). This was provided FREE (the organizer AND the camera's slots). Anybody with half a brain could have manifested themselves (and their friends) for every third or fourth load in advance (on either the caravan or Let). V-Max did this and I didn't hear them complaining about waiting 2 hours to get on a load!
I am up to my 3-ways on the WARP programme and will be having another go at them this Friday (note to self : don't fcuk up!)
/s
PS I see you have learnt how to change the font colours - you girl you!

• Quote

[Joolee 0]

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PS I see you have learnt how to change the font colours - you girl you!

Hi Skreamer,
You've got to get noticed!
...hee hee hee
Joolee

[marcin 0]

"They replaced mine as well. L&B kick ass!"
Larsen&Brusgaard replaced mine when I broke the LCD display in freefall (on my 8th jump with it), free of charge. They really have excellent customer service and the product couldnt be better.
mc

[huffermoose 0]

skreamer i'll c u on friday well have a good piss up for sure i might have found some hawaiin shirts will let you know
c u mooooooooose