How hard is jumping when snow is on the ground?

[mnskydiver688 0]

I am debating on jumping this weekend. There is still a good amount of snow on the ground. I haven't jumped in about 2 months and my last jumps were in Florida. So my question is how hard is it jumping with snow on the ground? Oh I am also jumping a slightly smaller canopy than what I have jumped in the past. Thanks for any info

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[BillyVance 34]

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I am debating on jumping this weekend. There is still a good amount of snow on the ground. I haven't jumped in about 2 months and my last jumps were in Florida. So my question is how hard is it jumping with snow on the ground? Oh I am also jumping a slightly smaller canopy than what I have jumped in the past. Thanks for any info

Depth perception can fuck you up. Hopefully the place you're thinking about has enough reference points other than the ground to help you figure out when to flare.

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

[mnskydiver688 0]

Some of the guys in the club where joking saying that when I feel snow touch my foot, FLARE! Makes me a bit nervous.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[Lindercles 0]

I guess that depends on how deep the snow is.

[Andy9o8 2]

I've done a fair amount of winter jumping. Basically, make sure you're dressed in layers for warmth. Make sure your gloves provide enough warmth without sacrificing manual dexterity. Batting gloves are a good example.

Colder air is denser than warmer air, and you can notice the difference under canopy. Caveat: you haven't said what altitude you're jumping at. Florida is basically all at sea level, where the air is densest. If you're jumping at a higher altitude, the air is thinner, so you must take that into consideration under canopy.

Snow on the ground can make depth perception on final a bit squirrely, especially if it's basically a landscape of smooth, unbroken white. Take extra care to use alternative visual cues other than just what's right underneath you.

Also, snow can conceal objects that can seriously snag you on landing, so be extra careful, especially on out landings.

[pilotdave 0]

Landing in snow is fun. So is jumping while it's snowing.

http://www.skydivingstills.com/keyword/snow

Dave

[tdog 0]

I have about 50 jumps this winter in 1 foot deep snow.

Hint - jump when the snow is snow and not slush.

Slush is better than puddles of water.

Puddles of water are better than mud.

I have had a lot of fun. If the snow is just right, I can surf it for 20 or so feet. If it is just wrong, the second my feet hit the snow they stop and I faceplant.

[IanHarrop 42]

Picture of my son's parachute as it was just opening over snow covered landscape.

Just be that little extra careful, wear warm clothes and appropriate gloves.

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[MagicGuy 0]

As someone pointed out, it's the depth perception that will mess you up. And if the snow is icey, landing is interesting. But it's fun!

Check out PilotDave's pictures. There is a sweet pic of me landing in snow with a blue and white Sabre2.

[CanuckInUSA 0]

If water can not be thought of as a safety device when landing, neither can the frozen variety. But with that said, as long as you’re not flying overly aggressively above your skills and are not wearing overly bulky gloves, there is a good chance you’ll be fine. Just remember (as others have already pointed out) that the depth perception could get you if you’re jumping into a white LZ with no other features. Ever watch a downhill race where the course is lined with small twigs? It's the same principle. They’re just there to help the racer with the depth perception issues.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[SuperGirl 0]

like everyone else said, depth perception is a bit of an issue, but if there's a tree or some other object reasonably close, keeping an eye on it helps a lot with figuring out when to flare (just make sure you don't go to the other extreme now... i.e. target fixation)

then again if there's a lot of snow, a rough landing won't hurt as bad (I'm assuming you're not loading your canopy too much, since you have just about as many jumps as I do)

now what do you mean by a slightly smaller canopy? how much would you be loading it exactly? if your wing loading is still within recommended numbers for your experience level, it shouldn't be that big of a deal. But if you're concerned, just jump something slightly bigger for a jump or two, even if it means spending a few extra bucks.

remember to dress warm. a full face helmet helps. if you wear an open face one, then a ski mask is not a bad idea.

oh and if the snow is pretty thick, don't try to slide in too much on landing, your feet will likely get stuck in the snow, in which case you'll just tumble


p.s. I'm a newbie, so check with someone more experienced before following my advice

[mnskydiver688 0]

Well thank you for all the advice. I have decided not to jump this weekend because I am headed to Maui for the week and I don't want to spoil it by plowing in. But the following weekend I will be jumping. The itch to jump is too much not to scratch.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[DeNReN 0]

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I have decided not to jump this weekend because I am headed to Maui

OK....You SUCK.

Bla Bla Bla...scared to jump in snow....bla bla bla...depth perception..scared....bla bla bla.

going to a island paradise and complaining about a little snow = getting your ass kicked

[mnskydiver688 0]

Haha I knew that was coming... Yup in a few days I will be sitting on a white sand beach sipping drinks with little umbrella's. Oh what a world.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[2fat2fly 0]

Why would you want to drink with little umbrellas-I suggest that you drink with scantily clad bathing beauties....In my most humble opinion, Regretting not jumping is better than regretting jumping

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

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I am debating on jumping this weekend. There is still a good amount of snow on the ground. I haven't jumped in about 2 months and my last jumps were in Florida. So my question is how hard is it jumping with snow on the ground? Oh I am also jumping a slightly smaller canopy than what I have jumped in the past. Thanks for any info

Ummm... its been awhile since I had Physics... but I don't recall there being a change to gravity when their's snow on the ground...

[popsjumper 2]

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...So my question is how hard is it jumping with snow on the ground?...

Not hard at all!
It's the landing that's gonna screw you up.

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

[BillyVance 34]

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Haha I knew that was coming... Yup in a few days I will be sitting on a white sand beach sipping drinks with little umbrella's. Oh what a world.

Go down the road to Hana, and you'll find a black sand beach just beyond the town... pure heaven!!! Just don't take any back home with you! But no matter where you are staying at, make sure to leave early. It takes a while to get there. And you will want to stop by the seven pools and take a dip.

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

[jeremy_o 0]

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So my question is how hard is it jumping with snow on the ground?

Been doing it all winter

http://planetskydive.net/ - An online aggregation of skydiver's blogs.

[phoenixlpr 0]

Level of fun is depending on the thickness and quality of snow.

What I have learnt is:
- It never breaks if you expect that so you slide on your ass.
- It will not support your weight if you hope for that so you will stuck and end up landing on your face. That might hurt your face and hurt your ego much.

But its fun if you have enough clothes on and you don't feel cold.

[wildfan75 1]

I'm with Jeremy. We've been jumping all winter (with the exception of the two or three weeks when the high temps were -10F).

This is my first winter jumping and I was worried about depth perception, but it hasn't been a problem for me (and anyone that jumps at Wissota can tell you about my history of horibble landings and flare issues).

The thing that sucks the most is walking through all the snow from the landing area to the clubhouse.

[phoenixlpr 0]

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The thing that sucks the most is walking through all the snow from the landing area to the clubhouse.

This is the time when landing accuracy pays back really well.

[wildfan75 1]

Yep. Thankfully because we can't put the wind sock up (the ground is frozen), there is no beer line. Jumpers beware of the picnic table and observers beware of the jumpers!