smack down

[bbarnhouse 0]

A jumper with less than 100 upon landing hit the ground hard with her head....the wind conditions today were gusting to 25 and changing directions frequently. (I stood down after the wind picked up my canopy and planted it in a tree the tree has thorns). Upon final it was evident that the gal was in trouble, flaring a bit high, catching a gust and released a toggle back up from 3/4 flare. The canopy dove to one side and she hit hard. She is bruised and sore, but nothing broken.
A general rule of thumb for everyone.......if someone with more experience than you suggests that maybe you stand down.....or maybe just said to you that they are done for the day because of the weather conditions,.....it might be a good indication for you be done as well. There is always another day to jump. I'm really glad that things turned out ok for this jumper.
Cheers

[Michele 1]

Quote

if someone with more experience than you suggests that maybe you stand down.....or maybe just said to you that they are done for the day because of the weather conditions,.....

Yep....I still listen to manifest; when students go on wind hold, so do I. And if they aren't, but I see people with more experience settling on the ground for a bit, then I do, too. And when in doubt, ask someone with a ton of experience what they think you should do...I asked Jan Meyers once when I was questioning the weather, and she told me "You can't handle it yet. Better wait". So I did.

There will always be better weather, and the sky ain't going anywhere. I can bide some time on the ground...

Ciels and Pinks-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[clrarch 0]

Definitely follow the advice of experienced jumpers. I sat out my AFF Level VII today for the same reason---strong and tricky winds. I knew it wasn't good when I saw one of the most experienced guys at the dropzone change his clothes and put his feet up. I'm glad to hear her injuries weren't as serious as they could have been---hope for a speedy recovery.

[ChileRelleno 0]

Live and learn,crash and burn....glad its just bumps and bruises.

ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414
Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868

[Chief 0]

Good advice. If more experienced are staying on the ground, so do I. I was at a DZ once, windy and I sat. An AFF student did go up. The last words heard from their radio was, " You are a bit off, flare above the trees and you are on your own!" Don't know if that student ever went back, but could have been terrible for everyone. High winds, tricky winds both = stay on ground!

[tigra 0]

Great post.

There are plenty of times I stay on the ground when way less experienced people are jumping. Sometimes I shake my head, but then I remember I used to be the same way. I would never let little things like low thick "industrial haze" or gusty winds interfere with my skydiving!! I'm really not sure when I got over it, but I guess after backing up and being dragged a few times I learned. And I started watching when the experienced "fun jumpers" sat down.

Even though this jumper learned her lesson the hard way, we all know it could have been much worse. A little beat up, but perhaps a bit wiser???

maura

[dterrick 0]

Quote

Sometimes I shake my head, but then I remember I used to be the same way. I would never let little things like low thick "industrial haze" or gusty winds interfere with my skydiving!!

Funny that you should mention "gusty winds". Gusts are my pet peeve as I fly a tired Raven II that lands like a round in moderate winds (fine) and lands with "no" flare on no wind days (not really fine, but...) and can't make up its mind when the winds vary . I find it funny that sometimes I decline a load for this reason when often there is someone on manifest with a round reserve!!

I must believe 100% in my abilities to complete the skydive before I'll manifest. Landing is the criteron. A different canopy might change my go/no go decision but I agree with those who sit out 'early'.

The Dave

Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney)

[bbarnhouse 0]

Here is yet another lesson. Yesterday we had winds to 31. I stood down at 22. There were dust devils surrounding the landing areas. I saw 3 people drop straight down (no fwd penetration) and then get drug by their canopy. RSL's were not disconnected on 2. Ya ever see someone get drug by not one but 2 canopies? Just goes to show ya...common sense isn't common.

[DYEVOUT 0]

if someone with more experience than you suggests that maybe you stand down.....or maybe just said to you that they are done for the day because of the weather conditions,.....it might be a good indication for you be done as well.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I watched a tandem student dislocate his shoulder on Saturday. Bad winds - no jumps but tandems all morning - missed my AFF #11. Waited 'till 4, and experienced jumpers were starting to go, but bitching about their hard landings. Oh well, wait 'till next week - starting to get altitude sickness - NEED ALTITUDE !!

----------------=8^)----------------------
"I think that was the wrong tennis court."

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

I won't jump in winds anywhere near 20 mph on either of my small mains, but I have done demos in winds up to about 26 with a StarTrac 1, backing it in all the way (not fun, but it had to be done).

Generally, as a rule, if I can't put my students up (14mph limit), then I am not getting on the airplane. I will do tandems up to about 20 mph if I have a LARGE passenger, but that is the only exception.

Chuck

[Deuce 1]

And the rock-n-roll ballerina LAYETH THE SMAKETH DOWN!

Hee Hee.

Somebody hear something? Oh. B-squared's all mad.

Beers.

JP

[bbarnhouse 0]

Nah Deuce.....I just go up to em and say "Hey what's up stupid?" Bwahhhhhhhhh