Over 500 jumps / 5 years - did you think you knew more than you actually did

[yoink 321]

In another thread, JeffCa is asking for hard data for something which seems true to me.

The question is easy:

'With the benefit of experience and hindsight, at somewhere between getting your A licence and 200 jumps, did you think you knew a lot more than you really did?'


I've allowed multiple answers to see if the time between 500 and 100 jumps makes a difference in the realization...

[riggerrob 643]

Back when I had only 200 jumps, I realized that I still had a lot to learn: free-fall formations, canopy formations, exhibition jumps, accuracy, coaching, instructing, rigging, piloting, etc.

[topdocker 0]

There is a huge factor being ignored here. Thirty years ago, there was so much less skydiving knowledge to know to be an expert. Today, there are more disciplines, more types of canopies, more canopy materials, more types of aircraft being used regularly, and a greater ability to garner knowledge from around the world. Those are just a few factors. An "expert" in skydiving may have only needed 500 jumps back then to truly have mastered enough areas of the sport to feel confident, but today that number is just enough to qualify you to start learning more things.

top

Jump more, post less!

[Scrumpot 1]

Woo-Hoo, I was the 100th voter!!

But only the 27th to also click on "obligatory boobies"? -
That right there people... is telling me here now, already enough about what is lately going "wrong" (downhill) in skydiving!!

I definitely thought I knew more than I even (didn't know that I didn't know) knew possible, @ jump 500. I'm still learning - today!

coitus non circum - Moab Stone

[raff 4]

There are only two answers to this question:

1. Yes

2. (a lie)

If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

[JeffCa 0]

yoink

In another thread, JeffCa is asking for hard data for something which seems true to me.

The question is easy:

'With the benefit of experience and hindsight, at somewhere between getting your A licence and 200 jumps, did you think you knew a lot more than you really did?'

That is not my question. The graph that we are discussing calls those people in the intermediate range a "hazard". I'm looking for data that they get into more accidents, not about how much they know. Not knowing the difference between a slink and a rapide link will not likely result in an accident. Not knowing how my reserve gets packed will also not likely result in an accident, if my rigger is competent. So show me that intermediate jumpers are lacking in the knowledge that directly leads to a higher proportion of accidents, by showing me that they get into more accidents per jump than other skill levels. I'm NOT suggesting that it isn't true, I'm asking if we can back it up with data, or if I have to categorise it as a popular myth that may or may not be true.

"So many fatalities and injuries are caused by decisions jumpers make before even getting into the aircraft. Skydiving can be safe AND fun at the same time...Honest." - Bill Booth

[wmw999 2,451]

Quote

There is a huge factor being ignored here. Thirty years ago, there was so much less skydiving knowledge to know to be an expert. Today, there are more disciplines, more types of canopies, more canopy materials, more types of aircraft being used regularly, and a greater ability to garner knowledge from around the world.

This. I started around the same time he did, and yes, there was just plain less to know, and the ponds were smaller.

Wendy P.

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)

[skyjumpenfool 2]

Scrumpot

Woo-Hoo, I was the 100th voter!!

But only the 27th to also click on "obligatory boobies"? -
That right there people... is telling me here now, already enough about what is lately going "wrong" (downhill) in skydiving!!

I definitely thought I knew more than I even (didn't know that I didn't know) knew possible, @ jump 500. I'm still learning - today!

I just became voter 120 and, my parents would be proud to know, I just pushed the boobie vote over the top!!!! Whoot!

Oh, I agree with Top and Scrumpot above. That's why my profile lists me as (and probably always will, a STUDENT of the sport!

Birdshit & Fools Productions

"Son, only two things fall from the sky."

[airdvr 210]

Back when I had ~500 jumps people were still bouncing regularly because they didn't react to their mal correctly so no.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[billvon 2,995]

Absolutely. At about 400 jumps I had my AFF-JM rating, was an S+TA, was working three days a week at the DZ, and figured I knew just about everything. After all, I was one of the best skydivers at my DZ and was the "go-to" guy. Sure, I knew there were people who were better at 4-way than I was, but how hard was that to learn?

It took me another 600 jumps to realize how little I knew.

[PixieUK 0]

I think maybe your parameters aren't going to give you the results that you / Jaffa are looking for. I didn't answer the survey because I don't even have 100 jumps, never mind 500, but of all the people I know personally who have broken themselves since I started skydiving just over a year ago, the vast majority had less than 300 jumps.

Several broken legs, a broken ankle, a broken wrist, never mind all the near misses I've had with people cutting me up under canopy. I did 2 canopy courses (one for demo jumping to practice accuracy and Flight 101) so I am a lot more confident with my own landings but that didn't stop me witnessing a lot of crash landings last weekend when we had nil wind conditions from people with way higher jump numbers than me.

To skew the figures slightly, the only one who I knew personally who actually died had over 2000 jumps (low turn). Possibly canopy size may still come into play at relatively low jump numbers as here in the UK, many CCI's are strict about when people can downsize so bigger, more docile canopies may be saving more people from more serious injuries. A late flare or low turn under a square 210 or 190 may lead to bruises and dented ego more often than broken bones, though that's impossible to quantify.

A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions - Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr

[BillyVance 34]

Oh yeah, by 500 jumps I had already done successful 100 way state records and felt like I could fly circles around anybody. Then later I wised up. Some of my most fun jumps in later years were CRW or organizing all-deaf jumps with an international group. They were a real challenge.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban