Stearny 1 #1 September 29, 2011 Just wanted to share an experience I had this weekend. Went to the dropzone to jump my brand new (lightly used) gear for the first time (beer). Two way with a fellow fun jumper with significant jump #'s and a coach rating (has a coach mentality will all newer jumpers). I was spotting, which is nothing new, but I have always been very timid about giving corrections. My North/South was spot on but east west was lets say, horrible. I didn't give a correction and climbed out (partner allowing the error). We abandoned the dive plane about 7 seconds in and turned into a tracking dive to hopefully make it back. (note: we did both make it back). I feel I learn best by doing something wrong and having a reference of what I should not do. Anyways, here is my point: Just wanted to give a big thank you to all coaches and experienced guys out there who really do care about students/newer jumpers progressing in the sport. Cheers Gear Pic attachedStearny Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #2 September 29, 2011 If tracking got you back than you couldn't have been that far off. The glide of even the best trackers doesn't come close to a open canopy."The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DBCOOPER 5 #3 September 30, 2011 Probably should have done a solo, pulled high, just cause it was new gear to you.Replying to: Re: Stall On Jump Run Emergency Procedure? by billvon If the plane is unrecoverable then exiting is a very very good idea. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stearny 1 #4 September 30, 2011 I did indeed pull high to play around with the safire2 190 (WL 1.0). CheersStearny Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #5 September 30, 2011 QuoteI feel I learn best by doing something wrong. There are some lessons you can't afford to learn that way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stearny 1 #6 September 30, 2011 Agreed. Lessons I don't want to learnStearny Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 8 #7 September 30, 2011 QuoteAgreed. Lessons I don't want to learn Someone around here has said it before, learn from others mistakes, you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself. I think that's absolutely true. Sadly (and I've seen this several times at different DZ's) you have that one guy/girl who wont shut the hell up long enough to learn from others advice. Some manage to get thru it, but others get hurt because they didn't just listen and heed the advice of people who've probably been there before."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jackwallace 3 #8 October 3, 2011 I think there is an old proverb: A man learns from his mistakes. A wish man learns from others mistakes.U only make 2 jumps: the first one for some weird reason and the last one that you lived through. The rest are just filler. scr 316 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 8 #9 October 4, 2011 QuoteI think there is an old proverb: A man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from others mistakes. FIFY. Ironic."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmarshall234 14 #10 October 6, 2011 I believe in the philosophy I applied when raising my two sons... "Let them fall, just don't let them hit their head on the way down." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #11 October 9, 2011 Quote I believe in the philosophy I applied when raising my two sons... "Let them fall, just don't let them hit their head on the way down." THAT is perfect. Thanks for the quote. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #12 October 9, 2011 A good instructor will let the student make safe mistakes to learn. Depending on your DZ and the surrounding terrain, this particular bad spot may have still been safe. DougH is very right when he says an open canopy will outglide the best tracker. If it's safe to do so, best to pull a little high to get back. Yesterday our 8 way ran into more winds aloft than the previous loads. By using my rear risers I stretched my glide back to the DZ, barely. The rest all landed short. But since all had 1000+ jumps (many 5000+), there really weren't any worries about safe landings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #13 October 10, 2011 Quote DougH is very right when he says an open canopy will outglide the best tracker. If it's safe to do so, best to pull a little high to get back. the exception is if the winds are higher than your canopy speed - under canopy, you'll back up, but I can horizontal a lot faster than the 20-25 mph but, in that scenario, if you are already on the wrong side of the DZ, you are also already screwed and I'd recommend spotting practice as a better alternative that tracking up the wind line.... ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #14 October 10, 2011 Yeah I agree about what you said when the winds are strong and you are down wind. At that point your hosed anyway, pull high, make a nice cross country out of it, and have some time to pick a nice place to land off field! If you spotted that load I suggest you land by a liquor store so you can buy some beer for the rest of the load. To the OP just remember it isn't enough to "just make it back", you still need to leave yourself sufficient altitude to allow for a safe landing that takes into account the ground winds, other jumpers, and obstacles. Plenty of people have gotten hurt while just making it back from a bad spot, or "just not making it back". It is a real fine line! Don't break yourself by getting fixated on making it back! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #15 October 10, 2011 Quote that scenario, if you are already on the wrong side of the DZ, you are also already screwed and I'd recommend spotting practice as a better alternative than tracking up the wind line.... And, for the noobs, tracking very far up the windline is dangerous, because you'll be getting into the next group's airspace. Tracking into someone else's breakoff is never a good idea. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baksteen 84 #16 October 12, 2011 Quote If you spotted that load I suggest you land by a liquor store so you can buy some beer for the rest of the load. It's not my fault if everybody else on the load is a go-on-green-lemming.. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stearny 1 #17 October 13, 2011 Quote A good instructor will let the student make safe mistakes to learn. Depending on your DZ and the surrounding terrain, this particular bad spot may have still been safe. Nothing but open fields below. He said he wouldn't have let me get out if on the other side of the runway. Pulling higher than normal was in the original plan (first jump on new gear). note: canopy was not new to me. So becoming fixated on making it back wasn't really an issue. Really just wanted to commend all coaches and jumpers out there allowing new guys to make a learn from "safe" mistakes to become better and safer skydivers. Thanks for the responses especially the one about raising your kids StearnyStearny Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites