Superman32 0 #1 September 7, 2005 My first jump on sunday afternoon, turned out to be an out landing, probably due to upper winds since about 5 of us landed out. *First bad decision - Fully deployed at 3.2k. should have pulled higher, but since I trying to learn to sit, i wasn't paying much attention to my spot (but still looking for other jumpers) *Second bad decision - When I realized I wasn't going to make it back, I picked my alternate spot(the perfect field for a nice pattern), but as I got closer to the ground I noticed that my field of choice had really tall grass and I didn't want to land in it, so I passed it up for the one across the street where the other jumpers had landed. *First good decision - As I'm turning towards field #2, I decide that crossing over the highway at my current alti really wasn't very wise, so I aborted option 2. - Here's when the poop hits the fan - With options 1 and 2 out, I picked a smaller field, the only option left, but with nice groomed grass next to a parking lot. Things were going great until I crossed over the street, and the thermals from the black top have their way with me. I started swinging from side to side in a pendulum fashion with no control over the canopy. At this point, I'm over the field but can't turn the canopy to enter it, all inputs are just to counter the swing. This little battle then put me over a (luckly) empty parking lot, but with more black top came more swinging. *Second really good decision - As I was about to reach the ground, without getting stuck in a light pole or hitting the little islands, I flared but without much response, landed hard, PLF'd which was shortly followed by URRGHH. As I got up I realized how lucky and scary that was. I walked away with bruises and a little swelling on the bottom of my feet, roadrash on my right knee and elbow. I also walked away with the practical knowledge of the effects of thermals, the importance of sticking to your initial plan, making alternate plans higher up, and PLFing probably saved my bacon or at least broken bones. *Third bad decision - Not throwing a rock at the little kid that yelled "nice landing" Inveniam Viam aut Faciam I'm back biatches! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StephZ 0 #2 September 7, 2005 Quote *Third bad decision - Not throwing a rock at the little kid that yelled "nice landing" Indeed, that was a very poor decision. Glad to hear you made enough of the right decisions to come out of it ok, and enough of the bad decisions to learn from it I am not afraid . . . I was born to do this -Joan of Arc- But what do I know, I'm only 19 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites