New Jumper Questions

[martlet 0]

I started jumping almost a month ago and only have 17 jumps. I'm having several problems that aren't "major", but inconvenient.

First, I wear contacts. My eyes aren't that bad. If I lose them, I can see ok. I like to wear them because I do see better, and can pick up the wind sock a little higher in case things have changed on the ground. I'm still renting gear, so I just grab the goggles they have. The bottom holes are taped, so when belly flying I don't have a problem. When I start doing flips, I typically lose a contact or two. Are there goggles that are better for contacts? I'd rather not go full face, but will if I must. Can I just tape the top holes, too, or will that cause fogging? I'm in New England, so it's getting chillier.

I also have a problem with accuracy. I land within 20 meters of the X, but I think I'm going to land right on it when I line up, then don't seem to make it. I'm guessing "practice makes perfect", but are there any tips I should be trying?

[Tuna-Salad 0]

If your DZ has a place to buy ANY sort of gear spend $5-10 on a pair of cheap flexfit goggles they won't break if you step on them and they will stay on better than the more expensive ones in most cases so if a contact comes out you won't lose it anyway. As far as full face.. dunno how it is in england but while under student status here full face helmets are not allowed. As far as the accuracy thing, it takes time and practice. If you are coming up a little short on landing fly in brakes to lengthen the approach but make sure that you allow 10 seconds atleast of full flight at the end to get a good flare OR cut your base leg of the patten closer than you have been previously. Avoid low turns under canopy and give yourself time at full flight to get a good flare... I cannot stress that enough. - Don't take what I say as instruction because I am still new myself

Millions of my potential children died on your daughters' face last night.

[cocheese 0]

I use SORZ goggles and wear them somewhat tight.

After 3 or 4 jumps they start to leave a black ring around your eyes. But it's better than landing with one contact.

Accuracy will improve with each jump. Remember you are using a differnt parachute in different winds every other jump. Welcome to test jumping student gear.

If your target gets lower on your sights as you approach, you mightl fly past it. If your target
appears to go higher, you might land short.

Check for traffic and look around while landing.

[taylor.freefall 0]

Quote

I use SORZ goggles and wear them somewhat tight.

After 3 or 4 jumps they start to leave a black ring around your eyes. But it's better than landing with one contact.

Accuracy will improve with each jump. Remember you are using a differnt parachute in different winds every other jump. Welcome to test jumping student gear.

If your target gets lower on your sights as you approach, you mightl fly past it. If your target
appears to go higher, you might land short.

Check for traffic and look around while landing.

Just to add to that - I use sorz goggles too and my wife bought me some very similar ones off ebay called birdz (I think that's what they're called) and they're cheaper and (I think) better quality. Might be worth a try.

[NickDG 23]

There was company that made prescription goggles at one time. I think they were called "Sky Eyes" or something like that. They were spendy but a neat solution. In fact I saw a friend wearing a pair on demo I went to about three weeks ago.

And I can't believe with all the adventure sports these days someone isn't making some that could work in skydiving. And if not jump on it yourself! When Helmut Cloth realized the need, and nothing was available, he invented the Cypres - and now he lives in big fancy house!

NickD

[cocheese 0]

If one wears contacts all the time, then presciption goggles would be a hassle. I think there is usually an ad in the mags for sky eyes.

[NickDG 23]

I don't wear contacts so didn't consider that. But I do wear reading glasses now and it's the biggest hassle of my life.

But in the OPs case what's worse, a hassle on the ground, or if his contacts pop out, a hassle in the air?

(Gee, i haven't said hassle that many times since the Hippie 1970s)

NickD

[SEREJumper 1]

Just a couple things. Don't say you ONLY have 17 jumps. That is saying that those 17 are not good enough, be proud of your 17! How many people in the world can say they have done 17 jumps, not that many.

I wear contacts all the time as well, I usually wear a full face (bonehead Mamba), but when I wear an open face, I wear Wiley X SG-1's:

http://www.wileyx.com/EcommSuite/ProductDetail.aspx?ActivityCode=TACTICAL&SeriesCode=175&ProductLine=200,SG1&ItemCode=71

You can find them on Ebay pretty cheap and the lenses are interchangeable. They can double as sun glasses if the arms come with them. Make sure you get the strap for skydiving. They fit really well and have padding that touches your face (which doesn't leave a black mark) with good ventilation.

It will take time to dial in your canopy skills, if you are renting different size/make of canopy everytime, it will make it tough to determine just how that particular canopy will react. It took me about 40-50 jumps to really dial in my accuracy. With 17 jumps, you are doing pretty good right now.

We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

[martlet 0]

Quote

Just a couple things. Don't say you ONLY have 17 jumps. That is saying that those 17 are not good enough, be proud of your 17! How many people in the world can say they have done 17 jumps, not that many.

I wear contacts all the time as well, I usually wear a full face (bonehead Mamba), but when I wear an open face, I wear Wiley X SG-1's:

http://www.wileyx.com/EcommSuite/ProductDetail.aspx?ActivityCode=TACTICAL&SeriesCode=175&ProductLine=200,SG1&ItemCode=71

You can find them on Ebay pretty cheap and the lenses are interchangeable. They can double as sun glasses if the arms come with them. Make sure you get the strap for skydiving. They fit really well and have padding that touches your face (which doesn't leave a black mark) with good ventilation.

It will take time to dial in your canopy skills, if you are renting different size/make of canopy everytime, it will make it tough to determine just how that particular canopy will react. It took me about 40-50 jumps to really dial in my accuracy. With 17 jumps, you are doing pretty good right now.

Thanks! I am proud of my jumps. I shouldn't beat myself up over my accuracy, particularly since I'm jumping various size student rigs. I'll work on it.

I ordered those Birdz from ebay since they were so cheap. I'll probably pick up a pair of the WileyX too, if the Birdz don't work out. I can also get the prescription inserts for free.

I'm looking for starter gear now, so I can practice better on the same rig.

[peregrinerose 0]

I have contacts and I'm an eye doc, so know a thing or two.

Taping the little holes doesn't do a damn thing other than make the goggles fog up quicker... won't hurt the contacts to have the holes open. It's the air that gets in under the goggles that's a problem, so make sure that the goggles seal tight against your face.

Also, what brand of contacts do you use? What contact lens solutions do you use? Do you sleep in them? Do you rub them when you take them out at night? Do you take any medications? All of these things will determine the appropriateness of a lens for jumping. Some lens/solution/care combinations dry out easily and will not be all that compatible with jumping.

I have 700+++ jumps with contacts and lost 2 lenses total (an older brand that dried out at the end of the day, jumping or not, so I switched out of them to something else).

Jen

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[martlet 0]

Quote

I have contacts and I'm an eye doc, so know a thing or two.

Taping the little holes doesn't do a damn thing other than make the goggles fog up quicker... won't hurt the contacts to have the holes open. It's the air that gets in under the goggles that's a problem, so make sure that the goggles seal tight against your face.

Also, what brand of contacts do you use? What contact lens solutions do you use? Do you sleep in them? Do you rub them when you take them out at night? Do you take any medications? All of these things will determine the appropriateness of a lens for jumping. Some lens/solution/care combinations dry out easily and will not be all that compatible with jumping.

I have 700+++ jumps with contacts and lost 2 lenses total (an older brand that dried out at the end of the day, jumping or not, so I switched out of them to something else).

Jen

I wasn't aware. Maybe I should look at other contacts, or how I care for these. I use Oasys and the Replenish cleaner/drops. I don't rub them, just rinse them and store them in the solution. Sometimes I sleep in them, sometimes I don't. It depends on how they feel at the end of the day.

I don't take any meds, except Aleve if I have a headache.

[peregrinerose 0]

First, take out your contacts as often as you change underwear (hopefully, that's a daily occurrence ) Spending several days in contacts is the same as spending several days in undies... actually worse. Your ass can handle more dirt than your eyeballs can.

Next, if you're not rubbing your lenses, you aren't really cleaning the lenses... just like washing dishes. If you soaked them overnight in a sink and pulled them out, would you REALLY want to eat off of them?? Probably not. You need friction to clean anything well, including contacts.

Oasys is a great lens when cared for properly... it is definitely NOT the lens to sleep in though. Yes, it's approved for it, but I've seen more cases of infiltrative conjunctivitis with extended wear in than lens than any other one. Also make sure you are anal about throwing it out every 2 weeks, not stretching them. That lens gets surface buildup pretty quick.

So, take care of them better, and they shouldn't fall out. If they are still a problem, switch to Clear Care solution instead of Optifree, that one is hydrogen peroxide based, so no preservative in it. It's also the best of the cleaners. Drawback is that it costs a little mroe, you need the neutralizing disk, and it MUST sit in their case for a minimum of 6 hours, otherwise you will burn the crap out of your corneas (trust me, I've done that, it sucks

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[martlet 0]

Quote

First, take out your contacts as often as you change underwear (hopefully, that's a daily occurrence ) Spending several days in contacts is the same as spending several days in undies... actually worse. Your ass can handle more dirt than your eyeballs can.

Next, if you're not rubbing your lenses, you aren't really cleaning the lenses... just like washing dishes. If you soaked them overnight in a sink and pulled them out, would you REALLY want to eat off of them?? Probably not. You need friction to clean anything well, including contacts.

Oasys is a great lens when cared for properly... it is definitely NOT the lens to sleep in though. Yes, it's approved for it, but I've seen more cases of infiltrative conjunctivitis with extended wear in than lens than any other one. Also make sure you are anal about throwing it out every 2 weeks, not stretching them. That lens gets surface buildup pretty quick.

So, take care of them better, and they shouldn't fall out. If they are still a problem, switch to Clear Care solution instead of Optifree, that one is hydrogen peroxide based, so no preservative in it. It's also the best of the cleaners. Drawback is that it costs a little mroe, you need the neutralizing disk, and it MUST sit in their case for a minimum of 6 hours, otherwise you will burn the crap out of your corneas (trust me, I've done that, it sucks

Awesome. Thanks! I'll give that a shot. I generally don't wear my lenses for the full two weeks. I usually toss them when they stop feeling good all day. That's probably because I sleep in them. Maybe I'll try the other cleaner you suggested.

Don't all guys wear their undies more than once sometimes, and eat off dirty dishes when the cupboard is empty?

[peregrinerose 0]

I used the underwear analogy with an old guy once... he promptly informed me that he didn't ever wear any underwear

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[popsjumper 2]

Quote

I used the underwear analogy with an old guy once... he promptly informed me that he didn't ever wear any underwear

Let it be known...It wasn't me!


I'm NOT an "old guy".

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

[peregrinerose 0]

LOL!!!!

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda