landing injury

[phil6086 0]

I Have 33 jumps and a brand new rig. The jump was yesterday Sunday 29th. I weigh 209 out the door in gear and the chute is a 190 zero p SR-71. The slider that was sent with it was a dome slider that wouldn't come down unless I pulled alot on toggles. Was sent new slider smaller and not domed and it came down fine a little slow at first buthalf way down it slid fast. I am practicing the canopy book from sky dive Univ. and when came on my final I was told I didn't flare high enough and landed hard spraining my knee. My quetsion is I was looking straight down when I landed insted of looking at an angle down my normal flare has been okay but I don't think on those jumps I was looking down. Can someone please advise I was thinking about going on radio after my leg heals so I don't make another mistake like that or worse. ? Where is your best depth perception come from when landing.


Thanx Dave

[freeflir29 0]

Heheheee....sorry about your injury but I love this question. Ever try to ride a bicycle by looking straight down at the front wheel? Try it...it doesn't work very well.... Where do you look when riding a bike at about 15-20 MPH. Look the same distance out when you are landing your parachute. Nothing wrong with going on radio if you think it will help. Most people's pride won't let them even when it would save injury. Good luck!!

[PARAMEClUM 0]

I am new to the sport and on only my third AFF jump I broke my ankle and leg (fib) on my landing. Like you, I think I may have flared too late and didn't have the experience to recognize it. I found myself looking down when I knew I shouldn't be and I have tried to use telephone poles and then fence lines as ideas for my height however it didn't work out to well for me . I would also love to hear from some of you experienced jumpers on this topic. While I have been waiting for my leg to get better I have been surviving on this site and my Jump like a Pro and Break Away Videos for keep me motivated. The more info the better

[RTB 0]

I agree with clay, It's easier to look a bit forward. I sometimes find myself looking down and it feels weird, I can still flare at the correct altitude, but I wouldn't recommend it. If you are flaring a bit late it should not be too difficult to correct though, most low timers tend to flare early.

[DaMan 0]

My wife and I went to canopy school with Scott Miller from PD. The one thing that helped me the most was standing on top of the second floor of the building and looking out off the deck--it was at about 15 feet. It gave me a good visual point of reference. Hope you find yours!

Z-Flock 8
Discotec Rodriguez

Too bad weapons grade stupidity doesn't lead to sterility.

[orbitmonkey 0]

When I started jumping, I had the same problem with flaring. I started landing near the wind sock on our student landing field, it stands about 6 or 7 feet high. when my feet reached the top of it, I would start my flare. this seemed to work really well for me. maybe you have some sort of obsticle you could use?
try it.

[riggerrob 643]

It does not matter whether I am landing a parachute or a Cessna, if I look straight down, I flare at the wrong altitude.
However if I force myself to look 2/3 or the way down the runway, I usually flare at the correct altitude.

[Luminous 0]

Quote

Can someone please advise

I'm hesitant to advise you on your flair past what's already been posted about where to look.

So I'll advise:
Feet & Knees together, Prepare to PLF.

Standing up a landing is cool. Walking away is so much better.

Heal quickly.
Larry

'In an insane society a sane person seems insane.' Mr. Spock

[mazevedo 0]

I had problem with that, too. When looking down, you will find out that speed is rising too fast and the floor is getting closer quickly. One jumpmaster just told me to look above 45 degrees when aproaching to the land. Your speed and altitude perspective will be better. Never look down.