Wind limit??

[FallinWoman 1]

Just sat around the dropzone for three days....clouds, then blue sky, but wierd winds. So....
Do you have a personal wind limit? What is it? Does gusty versus stable but high influence you decision?

[mountainman 0]

I think for me it is more by feel than just a number. If I go out and can feel a good shift in wind speed, than it is a no-go. However, if it isn't very windy out, I'll jump as long as it isn't funky.
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http://www.JumpinDuo.com
"oh no. Not another one"-Alienangel

[Jabeln79 0]

I will personally jump in any kind of wind other people with more experience will jump in if they think its safe for them i'm definitely not going to miss out on a chance to jump...
Anne that first jump today was i wild canopy ride down.. winds shifting like crazy and turbulence all over but it was fun and landing in that high of wind just makes the landing softer..

[FallingMarc 0]

I don't like turbulence... so I sit out if there's much gusting over 20 mph, or major shifts in direction. If it's steady, I'll jump in 25 or so... much more and I'm backing up under my canopy. But if it's constantly changing, I like for it to be under 15 or 20... but I like no wind days best, so maybe I'm crazy.
Marc

[PhreeZone 20]

I've jumped in steady 30+ winds and dont care to repeat th expericence. Hanging on the front risers was taking me backwards. 18-22 mph is the max for me, anything more then that I'll get the camera out to capture year end fotage as everyone crashes in under a good canopy and gets drug through the peas. I personaly like 3-5 mph winds or 0 wind. Downwinders are great with just a touch of a tail wind. I'm not sure what to put here right now.....

[FallinWoman 1]

I guess my answer is that I will take anything steady up to 25. Today when first load was manifesting they were haning at 10-15, gusting to 25. I know how to set up in 10-15. I know how to set up in 25. I do not know how to set up for both at the same time!!!!
I would rather skip a skydive than hurt myself because of crazy winds!
Blue skies and steady winds,
Anne

[Michele 1]

Because I still consider myself a real beginner, I will think about it if students are put on windhold. And I will get the advice of people who know how I jump, and see what their opinion is. Then I'll make my decision, based on the "better safe than sorry" method. Most likely, for now, I'll stay on the ground if students are staying. Later, that'll change, I'm sure.
Ciels-
Michele
"What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky".
~e e cummings~

[E150 0]

I'd be happier jumping in stronger constant winds, than gusty winds. But, I would not jump at all if I was not sure.
Recently, on a strong, but constant windy day, I deployed into wind. Despite uging front risers, I went backwards all the way down. Got blown righ off the DZ.
Its not too nice trying to work out where your gonna land by looking behind you.
Mind you I was jumping a big canopy!! DOH

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

I just watch the other canopies to see what they're doing and make a decision based on that
It's bounce that hurts, so grab the grass !!

[Brokeneagle 0]

I don't like to be rushed to jump-- I always observe the load(s) coming in after I arrive at the DZ-- If the other canopies look like they're bouncing around, other jumpers are having difficulty with their approaches/landings, or there are frequent directional shifts of the windline I'd stay on the ground- steady winds are ok up to 20-25; I load my canopy lightly, so I don't go up in much more than that- I've seen folk do the backwards approach- and I don't want to....Brokeneagle.
I'm really very gentle, no matter what my kung-fu teacher says...

[riggerrob 643]

20 - 22 knots
I quit jumping when jumpers under similar canopies to mine start landing backwards. Landing backwards often results in painful spinal injuries that take forever to heal.
Since I mostly jump tandems, and tandems start backing on to the target when winds exceed 25 knots, 25 knots is my absolute wind limit.
Mind you, winds develop nasty gusts above 20 - 22 knots, so that is when I usually quit jumping.

[R00tj00se 0]

If you are going to jump in strong winds land away from buildings or other objects that can cause turbulence etc. Their effects can be felt quite a distance from the object causing the turbulence but at least you'll minimise the risk by being aware of them.

[gemini 0]

It is also a good idea to consider all the surroundings when determining if it is safe jumping in windy conditions. For example at SSL we are blessed with an almost rectangular DZ with no near obstacles (except for the hanger) or trees. Since we are very near the Gulf of Mexico, the wind mostly blows from the South at a fairly constant, or a predictable steadily increasing or decreasing rate. Therefore we can jump in higher winds with the limitation being each canopy's penetration ability. At The Ranch in NY however the landing area if relatively narrow with very tall trees on the North and South sides. Since the DZ is in very hilly terrain, the winds can gust unpredictably. Even 10 mph winds can cause severe rotors off the trees. On 15 - 20 mph days usually the only jumpers will be tandems.
The key is know your limits, the maximum penetration for your main, and if you think you shouldn't jump, you probably should ground yourself. There are plenty of good days...why take a chance on a bad one?
Gemini
... Fear? Fear is riding the plane down ...

[DanG 1]

I believe it was Brian Germain who recently wrote a letter to Parachutist criticizing more experienced jumpers for standing by idly while less experienced jumpers jump in winds which are not safe for them. Mostly, I agree with his sentiment. It is up to the more experienced jumpers to lend their wisdom (usually gained through error) to those who are newer to the sport. On the flip side of that coin, if you are a less experienced jumper, you would be wise to observe not only the practices of your contemporaries, but of the 'older' folks as well. It seems to me like people in the under 100 jump range tend to be pretty conservative when it comes to wind limits. So do the people with over 1000 jumps. It is the folks in the 100-200 jump range which really scare me. They know just enough to be a danger to themselves.
If you are unsure about jumping due to wind conditions, look around. If the students are grounded, that is one clue. But a better clue is when you see the hot 4-way team (or the badass freefly guys) having a seat and whipping out old videos. Follow their lead, a lot of them broke bones and egos learning that (as the old saying goes), "It is better to be on the ground and wish you were in the air, than be in the air and wish you were on the ground."
- Dan G

[freeflir29 0]

If it feels questionable I like to get a 6 lb rock and drop it from a height of 6 feet. If it drifts more than 3 feet in any direction the winds may be out of limits......Just kidding....I don't worry as much about the wind speed as I do it's consistancy. If it is a nice steady 30 mph wind it's not really a big deal. If it's 17 gusting 30 and choppy....I think I'll sit out.
"Shut up Dummy!"- Fred G Sanford

[lazerq3 0]

I'll pretty much jump if the winds are under 20mph. I have jumped in 22mph with gusts of 25mph, but like was mention before , that is something I wouldnt wnat to have to do if all possible.
jason

[johnny1488 1]

We had a nasty wind season at the ranch this year. As pointed out our DZ is narrow and if the wind is coming across the NE or SW i will almost always go to the big square anti-turbulent field next door. I will jump in fairly strong winds as long as they are not bumpy. Bumpy winds have caused me to lose my flare and i dont like that very much. I make decisions based on what canopies do in the air. When its bumpy i play ping pong and walk out to the landing area every 20 minutes and watch the tandem show.
Johnny

[Jimbo 0]

Quote

Its not too nice trying to work out where your gonna land by looking behind you.

Uh, turn around, then you're looking in front!

[PhreeZone 20]

Quote

Uh, turn around, then you're looking in front!

And watch the gound scream by you at 50+ mph as you set up for landing? No Thanks!!!
I'm not sure what to put here right now.....

[pdj6p 0]

for me wind limit is if the students arent going up I'm not going up. I have jumped in high winds and gusty winds as well, but I look at it like this I was lucky I didnot have any problems landing backwards and I don't whant to push my luck too far. I can wait for a calm day.
Don

[E150 0]

Well said - cheers.

[Designer 0]

When the trees are blowing sideways nobody should jump.High steady winds aren,t the problem they used to be.It,s the turbulent High Wind(off and on gusty)(quick wind direction & Speed changes)that really get my attention and will park my ass firmly on the ground.Usually it only takes 1 lucky good landing in those type of bad conditions to make an intelligent choice not to jump that DAY again.

[Aviatrr 0]

I don't think a lot of you realize how strong a 25-30mph wind really is......specifically those of you that say you will jump in those winds.. Even if the winds are steady, that's still a lot of wind for a parachute.. Many canopies don't fly much faster than that(maybe even slower) in full flight......so you end up going backwards.. Hmmmm........landing backwards....sounds like fun, eh? Not really.. My canopies are at moderate loadings(around 1.5-1.6), and they don't penetrate those winds very well.......I can only imagine(oh, wait - I've seen it) larger, lightly loaded canopies in those winds.. Even if the landing goes well, do you want to be dragged by your canopy if you don't do everything just right? I know, I know - everybody says they will cut it away if it starts to drag 'em(and if they have an RSL they will disconnect it once they get under canopy).......I guess that explains the half dozen people I saw get dragged by their canopy on a particularly windy day a few months ago.. When the winds are strong on the ground........they're even stronger at altitude.. Strong winds make for strong wind gradients, which results in turbulence and/or windshear..
I have jumped in winds stronger than I like to admit......and WAY stronger than I'll even consider now.. What is my limit? I can't say for sure.. I evaluate on a case by case basis.. If I just call the DZ, and they say winds are at or over 20 - I don't bother going out there(except maybe to drink some beer).. Jumping is not so important to me that I will do it in what I consider to be dicey conditions..
Mike

[freeflir29 0]

"everybody says they will cut it away if it starts to drag 'em"
I'm not cutting away my canopy! I'll control it but not gonna cut it away. I got dragged by a canopy once. It was a round and I was in sand on "Mother Sicily" Ft. Bragg DZ. I had released one side but it got tangled around some equipment and I started hauling ass through the sand. I was actually laughing at the time and after about 10 ft managed to get canopy material in my hand to collapse it. No big deal. You ain't done jumpin till your shit is in the bag.
"and I'm not easily impressed...Ooohh look...a blue car!" -Homer Simpson

[Donna 0]

Glad you mentioned the differences in surroundings, Gemini. I had been reading the posts thinking you were all crazy but I guess if you have lots of outs and a big landing area maybe it's a bit different. It seems other parts of the country (and world) jump in higher winds than my area does. Where I jump in New England there is a big landing area but lots of surrounding trees and stuff. I know our dz is on the conservative side, too. I myself tend to not go up when the ground students because I am underloading my canopy and I don't make good penetration in wind. If the winds get up around 17-20 mph they usually shut the plane down. The rule of thumb I was also taught to go by was if the difference between wind and gusts is 10 or more to stay on the ground. Like someone else said it is usually people in the 100-200 jump range that will keep jumping the longest. They are getting confident in their abilities and have been lucky enough to not get in serious turbulance or other wind situations yet. There are a few respected experienced skydivers that I watch when the winds kick up and they sit, I definitely sit. As they say, it's better to be down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing you were down here.
Skies,
D