filioque 0 #1 January 24, 2005 I love this sport!, I have been Skydiving on and off since 1988. I have owned my own gear, and do now. I have been to a variety drop zones. I have done night jumps, exits over lakes with land far out of sight, and multi-plane exits. I have had your variety of low speed partial malfunctions. Collapsed end cells, extremely slow openings(scary), severe line twists, one one un-stowed toggle...etc. I have even seen stars on one opening where my slider blew out.... I have 130 jumps. I do not however feel like a true Skydiver. I have never had to cut away. Sometimes I wonder....., what will it be like my first time. How will I react. Will I beat my AAD. I have promised myself if I ever have an AAD fire I will quit. I only bought one recently (2 jumps ago). Is this normal ???????????????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisL 2 #2 January 24, 2005 There a few folks out there with a couple thousand jumps that arent true skydivers by your definition :-) I consider myself a skydiver and I have not yet had to cut away my main. Hope I never have to. I dont consider myself less of a skydiver than some with several.__ My mighty steed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #3 January 24, 2005 Quote I have never had to cut away. Sometimes I wonder....., what will it be like my first time. I have a friend with high jump numbers that got so sick of never cutting away (and feeling he needed practice) he finally rented one of the double-reserve rigs designed to be cut away and practiced. He used the RWS Vector cutaway rig for his "training". Perhaps that is an option for you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #4 January 24, 2005 Both my husband and I have well over 2000 jumps. I have 8 reserve rides. He has 0. We are both real skydivers. Sounds like you have a lot of gear issues for 130 jumps. What are you jumping? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamsville 0 #5 January 24, 2005 Just practice your emergency procedures, maintain your gear, and remain composed. Trust it. When/if it happens you will find the handles and make it happen. |I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PsychoBob 0 #6 January 24, 2005 I had a cut away on my 16th jump. That in no way made me a veteran "skydiver", only one that had to cutaway. I think there are a lot more things than a cutaway that truly show your a good skydiver, such as canopy control, RW with others, freefly abililties, and the fact that you were able to resolve the problems you mentioned without having to cutaway. I believe there is more to being good in this sport than just pulling two handles. P.S. I hope I don't have another one it wasn't fun."I'm not a gynecologist but I will take a look at it" RB #1295, Smokey Sister #1, HellFish #658, Dirty Sanchez #194, Muff Brothers #3834, POPS #9614, Orfun Foster-Parent?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liemberg 0 #7 January 24, 2005 QuoteI have 8 reserve rides. He has 0. You more resolute or he better packer? "Whoever in discussion adduces authority uses not intellect but memory." - Leonardo da Vinci A thousand words... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #8 January 24, 2005 QuoteQuoteI have 8 reserve rides. He has 0. You more resolute or he better packer? I can honestly say, I have never cut away from my own pack job! Tow major differences are that he has always started with new gear (almost every season). I bought my first "GREAT BEGINNER RIG!" quite used. I went through a "getto gear" phase. More recently. He will work on line twist longer than I am comfortable with! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jskydiver22 0 #9 January 24, 2005 I haven't had a cut away yet either....but u know..."those who have and those who will" Keep doin it long enough...and im sure you will. Might be on your 5,000th, or it could be the next one. --I don't even know enough to know that I dont know-- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darrenspooner 0 #10 January 24, 2005 My AFF instructor (Milko) told me that there are only 2 kinds of skydivers - those who have had a cutaway, and those that are going to. If I just tell myself each time I deploy that its going to mal I seem strangely calm and ready for anything. Hey, works for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #11 January 25, 2005 I've had a slow mal and a high speed mal...both sucked for different reasons, but neither elevated me to skygoddess status thankfully. Mals are just a fact and a warning to ALWAYS be prepared....ALWAYS. -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bisqit999 0 #12 January 26, 2005 I have 130 jumps. I do not however feel like a true Skydiver. I have never had to cut away.*** I like to believe we are all skydivers no matter what the experience level we are at. A cutaway will not MAKE u a TRUE skydiver. Being ready for one will! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #13 January 26, 2005 QuoteI've had a slow mal and a high speed mal...both sucked for different reasons, but neither elevated me to skygoddess status thankfully. Mals are just a fact and a warning to ALWAYS be prepared....ALWAYS. You know, they suck, but not like a mal on a reserve, which I've never had. Everytime I chop and pull the reserve, I always find myself thinking "Well, I certainly hope this one works better than the last one." Does anyone else ever think about that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #14 January 26, 2005 QuoteDoes anyone else ever think about that? On my only reserve ride, I remember that after pulling silver, I had that weird feeling of having ran out of handles to pull... "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #15 January 26, 2005 QuoteEverytime I chop and pull the reserve, I always find myself thinking "Well, I certainly hope this one works better than the last one." Does anyone else ever think about that? Yeah... especially while waiting for the 250 ft long bridle between the pilot chute and the freebag.. then there is the 250 foot long suspension lines... all the while watching the pretty blue canopy.. just slowly fill with air....Man tht takes forever on these new fangled square reserves.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #16 January 26, 2005 Yeah... especially while waiting for the 250 ft long bridle between the pilot chute and the freebag.. then there is the 250 foot long suspension lines... all the while watching the pretty blue canopy..*** WOW.....you jump a very very strange canopy!!! so whats all that line add to the pack volume?? I had a tension knot on my old stiletto and got to chop & pull the reserve and it was the longest 3 seconds of my life waiting for something to happen..... RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lowie 0 #17 January 26, 2005 QuoteQuoteDoes anyone else ever think about that? On my only reserve ride, I remember that after pulling silver, I had that weird feeling of having ran out of handles to pull... I've never had to chop but I can fully imagine what your saying. When I pitch my pc I'm waiting 3-4 secs for either a canopy to start opening or to go to EP's. Once you have gone for silver you can only wait ..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #18 January 26, 2005 QuoteYeah... especially while waiting for the 250 ft long bridle between the pilot chute and the freebag.. then there is the 250 foot long suspension lines... all the while watching the pretty blue canopy.. just slowly fill with air....Man tht takes forever on these new fangled square reserves Did you bring a lunch to eat while waiting for the reserve to open? On my reserve ride i had so many thoughts go through my head in a fraction of a second. I clearly remember thinking, "dytter is flatlining i must be really low, gotta pull reserve, oh god i hope i packed this thing right, ok here we go." ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #19 January 26, 2005 QuoteOn my only reserve ride, I remember that after pulling silver, I had that weird feeling of having ran out of handles to pull...That was no weird feeling, that was the truth sinking in. . . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
filioque 0 #20 January 26, 2005 I do. You pays your money and you takes your chances!1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
filioque 0 #21 January 26, 2005 Thank you for your comments. Ditto I have never had a problem with gear I have packed myself. I truely believe the QUALITY (i.e. newness) of the gear is an issue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
filioque 0 #22 January 26, 2005 Thank You! I will! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Airman1270 0 #23 January 27, 2005 ...I truly believe the QUALITY (i.e. newness) of the gear is an issue... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Not necessarily... My most recent (3rd) reserve ride was more than seven years ago on a Wonderhog with a Strong lopo reserve. After realizing that the streamering main was a malfinction, rather than another snivel, I pulled the handles and, after waiting about 15 minutes, had an open reserve above 1000'. The system worked just fine. It was about 20 years old at the time. The landing was quite soft (or was I comparing it to the alternative?....) A witness described the incident as a "textbook cutaway." Too bad they didn't see me steer that round into a small clear spot in a neighbor's backyard. (Pause while reaching around to pat myself on the back.) I noticed the same helpless feeling mentioned elsewhere here - That moment after pulling the final handle and, having done all I could, just watching the neighbor's backyard pool getting bigger. Cheers, Jon S. (Reporting from the local library while the job search continues...) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #24 January 27, 2005 QuoteI've had a slow mal and a high speed mal...both sucked for different reasons, but neither elevated me to skygoddess status thankfully. Mals are just a fact and a warning to ALWAYS be prepared....ALWAYS. Other things put you there Lisa I had a cutaway on an SOS rig at jump 18, does that make me half a skydiver I would not worry about not having had to cutaway, just make certain you practice, practice, practice. I do about 3 dummy cut n pulls on every jump run. (not to mention toching my handles numerous time on the climb to heightTrust your training.You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrumpot 1 #25 January 27, 2005 QuoteI pulled the handles and, after waiting about 15 minutes... WOW, that is some kind of hellacious "hang time" you've got there dude! Obviously, I know what you meant... but I just couldn't resist! Blue Skies, -Grantcoitus non circum - Moab Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
