a skydive for every jumper.

[Kelly 0]

i dont know where to start. i was sick last week and so i decided to watch 'breakaway'. i was all alone, and was able to pay close attention.
a few days later i wake up and manifest about 15 minutes later. i could make a 6 minute call so i grabbed my gear, did a check and got geared up.
i was in the airplane trying to figure out what kind of jump to do. i decided to do a handle dive. all i did the entire freefall was touch each of my handles in order, over and over again.
the very next skydive i had a high speed mal, a hard pull. I didnt even have to think about it. 2 attempts, i knew nothing came out at all and i immediately dumped my reserve. i didnt even have to look for my reserve handle. i just got on it right away. from wave off until i was under my reserve was less than 1,000 feet.
i think that watching breakaway, and doing the handle dive had a HUGE part in my being able to react so quickly, without any thought. we often find ourselves dirt diving or trying to find friends to jump with. Maybe your next jump with be a nice solo, just touching those handles. IT just might save your life.
http://www.geocities.com/flynfroggie/skydiving_friends.html

[lummy 4]

Kelly,
I think that is a great idea!!!! Soeone else on this forums was saying somthing similar and also to emphasize that your handles aren't necessarily going to be the same place as on the ground. I think that most of us realize that handles will move in a MAL, but why wait until you have one to find out where they can be?
BTW, welcome back!!

[flow 1]

Hey, this is great idea. Since I haven't had any malfunctions, I've never even looked in the air, where my cut-away and reserve handle are.
I guess on my next jump, I'll just try this one out.

[matttrudeau 0]

Everyone should do one of these dives at least once a month. You want it to become second nature and practicing in the air is the only way to do it.

[FallinWoman 1]

I think this is an excellent idea. This may make me sound stupid, but it had never occurred to me to feel for my cutaway and reserve handles in freefall. I touch and retouch as I gear up, in the plane, once I stand up in the plane, but I had never thought to feel for them in freefall, which is when you may really need to find them and fast.
I guess I know what I am doing on my next dive!
Blue skies,
Anne
"by stitches, cloth, and cord,...a god of the sky for those immortal moments."-Lindbergh

[Kelly 0]

.. another thing...
im going to florida and wanted to go to DeLand to demo PD reserves for a couple of days. After i had my reserve ride, its not just a possibility anymore. Im going to do whatever i can to get out there and ride a reserve a few times before the next mal.
I'm going to pay for my friend to demo a reserve too. It's her christmas present.
PD will also send a reserve to your dz for you for 2 weeks. I think the cost is 45 dollars. but i could be mistaken.
just more food for thought.
http://www.geocities.com/flynfroggie/skydiving_friends.html

[magicmx5 0]

the idea of a dive just to practice mals is pretty interesting. I've never thought of that one before. Definitely a great idea for those that haven't ever, or in a long time, had a problem. Also, I think an intentional cutaway with experience people would be a great experience just to remind us of why we do so many safety checks and should take our time packing. It's not about quantity, but quality.

[rendezvous 0]

I'm doing that on my next jump my friend. Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes that point just gets lost in all the other things that keep occupying our thoughts. I'm definately doing this.

[Iflyme 0]

Good suggestion, Froggie! I'll do that next time I jump. Also, it's a good idea to devote an entire dive to tracking practice every once in a while. Tracking is something that can always be improved, and we all know how important LOTS of separation with so many fast canopies around these days.