Thoughts on close calls

[mjkoziel 0]

Just wondering peoples thought on close calls....
I don't just mean near misses with the ground, but with others jumpers, obstacles (big or small) etc.

I'm thinking of some incidents where you walked away but it scared the crap out of you.

Has anyone out there stopped swooping because of some close calls?


Any thoughts will be helpful.

Matt

[Jiggs 0]

Yes, I had one incident where it made me step back and really have a good long think about what I was doing and why. I did not break anything but I could not walk for awhile (no-one believed that I didn't break both my legs!) It really made me realise all of the sketchy things that I was doing. I mean I was really pushing myself beyond my limits without realising it. Really made me step back and realise what I could and could not do. Probably its the best thing that could of happened to me.

I still swoop, but I am now more conservative and thinking a hell of a lot more about what I am doing. Its all about getting in the right head space.

"Don't blame malice for what stupidity can explain."

"In our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart and in our despair, against our will comes wisdom" - Aeschylus

[skymick 0]

Hey Daz how do you find out how hard the ground is at Nagambie?...ah thats right..dont flare!

[trigger 0]

Used 'urgent recovery'once,never wanna use it again[unless i have to].
My interpretation of 'urgent recovery'is,bury everything[toggles]get a canopy over you head now scenario.
The CI didn't say anything,he didn't have to ,i knew i'd been spoken to!

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[freakydiver 0]

My face hit the ground first - left a five inch divot where it hit - I was parellel to my canopy. It made me realize that I didn't know shit and needed to learn how to learn what I didn't know. It taught me to take things extremely slow with canopy flight as IMHO it is the most unforgiving aspect of skydiving.

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[webracer 0]

This weekend during swoop club, initiated an accelerated approach from too low (and knew it when I started it). Ended up digging out of the corner on toggles and left a divet the size of my ass infront of the entry gates. I burnt my slicker pants from the brief bounce, bounced about 5' up and 20' forward before I was back on those toggles to stand it up and run it out. A couple inches lower and I'd be at best hospitalized. I thought I'd pull it out, and didn't realize I'd bounced until after it happened. Could have been much worse. I will abort the round next time if my setup is too low. It was a real wakeup call to mortality.

Troy

I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

[jdfreefly 1]

Below is an account of something I did that was very stupid. It hurt. I learned:

I bounced...hard.

Up all night partying, went to bed at 7:00AM, didn't wake up until 12:00, did my first jump at 1:00.

I did a hard front riser 180 too low. I realized I was in the corner, but by the time the message got from my mind to my hands I had already hit.

I bounced back up in the air still moving very fast forward. I flew the canopy back over my head and finished the flare, but when my feet touched the ground my legs were no longer willing to cooperate. I collapsed in a heap.

Nothing broken just very, very, very bruised. I chilled out after that. I still hooked it but I went back to gentle front riser carving aproaches. I think that was three years ago and after a long progression, I would like to believe that my skill level is now where my ego thought it was then.

Lessons:
1. Hard partying and extreme canopy piloting do not mix.(this falls in the "know your limits" category)
2. The above rule is even more true when you are still learning.(again...know your limits)
3. Never stop flying the canopy. I was told that if I hadn't kept flying after the initial impact, a hospital visit would have been my next adventure.(this one is a lovely blend of "never give up" and "it ain't over untill your in the hangar")
4. Learning to swoop takes time. Six years in the sport and three years working at it and I only now consider myself good at swooping, and I still wouldn't say I am in the top 10 at my dz. I am still learning. It always worries/angers me when I see 1st and 2nd year jumpers trying to be like the guys at the top of the swoop circuit.(patience young grasshopper)

Methane Freefly - got stink?

[ManBird 0]

Saw one of the closest calls yet this last weekend. I've seen harder landings into water, but this was right into the ground. Don't know when the turn was initiated, but the canopy was about eight feet above the ground when the jumper hit. Serious ragdoll followed by zero movement. Everyone had anticipated serious injury or worse, but the jumper wasn't any more than badly bruised, thank God.

A big, fat hole was left in the ground. The ass-saver was, believe it or not, about 35 square feet of soft dirt in a big field of non-soft dirt. Though, the pond twenty feet away would have been a much better ass saver.

When asked why the jumper bypassed the pond, the response was that they didn't want to get their gear wet. Not an uncommon mentality, and I, too once thought the same thing (practice next to the pond before hitting the pond). I had one non-injurious close call right next to the pond, and it was resolved that I go big over water from then on. Don't know why it didn't dawn on me until then that the reason why swoops are done over water are not necessarily for style/rooster tail, but, of course, safety.

I've seen a lot of would-be injuries or fatalities prevented by water. The lesson... you dry faster than you heal.

"¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯"

Click

[mjkoziel 0]

Thanks for the posts.
I not so long ago came up for a landing and came very close to nailing a piece of hard re-bar (with a small flag on it) sticking out about 4 feet off the ground.
I think the point of this steel rod is so people stay away from the beer line.

Anyways, either I just forgot about it or didnt see it cuz it was dark, but either way I pictured my convulsing body on the ground (had I hit it) and got scared.

Not sure how my landings will look from now on....

Matt

[Cacophony 0]

I'm still getting over my smashed femur and cracked pelvis from when I set up my approach too far over a bunch of cars and tractors. When I did my 120 degree turn I really whipped it with my left front riser. I was diving straight at a van and I froze. Instead of toggling out of it I proceeded to tuck my legs behind me and watch my knees pass about a foot over the top of the van. Thats all I remember before I hit the ground knee first then face. I guess I stabbed my breaks and it flung me back up in the air. Had I been under a slightly smaller canopy, or had I been about 1 foot lower I would certainly not be here right now. I posted my POV on ftp.skydivingmovies.com The file is alex_o_bad_landing.wmv in case anyone is interested in checking it out.

[freakydiver 0]

Uhh - which folder over on skydive movies?

Thanks!!!

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[kaerock 1]

A couple of weeks ago I had a close call with a jumper with about 100 jumps. I was on my downwind leg setting up for my 180 riser turn/carve. He was further downwind and heading in the same direction, I had my eye on him, I knew he wasn't all that experienced and I couldn't figure out what he was thinking. All of a sudden he does a 180 toggle turn and comes right for me at the same altitude...I knew that was going to happen. As soon as I saw him heading right for me I pulled a snap riser turn, I know, not my favorite method of landing, but it was effective. Everyone landed without incident and I asked him what he though happened back up top. "Uh, I guess I didn't see you"

Knowing your canopy's full capabilities can really help when you're in a bind.

Assume everyone is blind, stupid or evil and are trying to kill you...even lamp posts :>

-R

You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

[freakydiver 0]

LAME excuse - I guess I didn't see you. I guess I didn't see you when my FIST went through your NOSE!

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[hookitt 1]

Ever thought of looking into some anger management classes?

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[tattoojeff 0]

i am the rag doll manbird spoke of.
i am trying not to dwell on the what if's. i am well aware how lucky i am. ive been taking this grounded time to make sure ive learned every lesson this inccident has to teach me.
my error began weeks ago on the ground more than in that fatefully low 180. ive allowed my impatience and desire to progress almost end me. the desire to wanna hang with the big boys so to speak, not recognizing the big boys take many years to get where they are. (keep in mind this is all hindsight i wasnt aware these pressures where taking over)the rush and power of nailing a few good shreds fed my ego causing me to think i would be aware of being low, and be able to react to it. the truth is i never saw it coming. i was aware of my altitude but thought i was planed out not still diving. this was only my third downwinder on this canopy which dives much longer than my previous stiletto.
i am going to get back on the horse soon as im healed and ready. i have an entirley new outlook on the whole sport. i will keep my attitude in check.
i will learn and progress at my own rate. not letting others progressing faster than me influence what i do. im not them and their not me. i will be patient .
i cant be sure this will never happen again, but i can be sure i learned from this close call.
sorry if i scared all my brothers and sisters out at skydive Oregon. i fucked up its that simple, but i have learned

[ManBird 0]

Hey, you didn't have to reveal your identity, bastardo. ;) I'm stoked that you made it through that so well and that you're all ready to get back in the air. Out of curiosity, what's your loading on that? Like 1.6:1? Start them turns high.

"¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯"

Click

[skyPrincess2002 0]

Jeff-
I am very glad that you are ok. Watching you come in from across the pond was scary. I understand the pressures that some of you guys go thru with your peers. It amazes me to see people that have the same number of jumps as me doing hook turns and trying to look as cool as some of the big time swoopers. I guess I don't feel the need for speed when the ground is getting near.
A lesson learned and you are alive!
Take care, Lisa

[tattoojeff 0]

thanks steve for keeping my identity witheld. im ok with people knowing it was me. im not the first swooper to pound in. im loading my veangance 120 at 1.58. i was at the dropzone today to pick up my car. i dont feel a need to see the crater in the ground i left though. id like to put that part behind me now. the lessons will remain forever.

[tattoojeff 0]

thanks lisa sorry to have freaked you out. please tell Eric thanks for helping me at the pond. the genuine concern in his eye's said alot. i dont know what to say so ill just say thankyou.
jeff