Freeflying with Others

[ChromeBoy 0]

I now have a stable sit and am able to make 360's, etc. I jumped with someone this past weekend and he corked right underneath me. I saw it coming and back tracked out of the way before hand to avoid a collision. It happened so fast I was lucky. Question, what should I do to figure who is safe to jump with and who is not. If it is a rw jump I have enough confidence to jump with people just off student status but with freeflying it is a different story. Being new to a DZ and to freeflying I asked others (instructors) who are a good freefliers but some of the people out there have low jump numbers and think they are safe. Is there anything to ask or to look out for?
Thanks,
Chrome

[freeflir29 0]

It's really sort of a gamble every time you jump with someone new. "How many FREE FLY jumps do you have?" is usually one of my first questions follwed by # of total jumps. Of course....this is just nice to know info and is only part of the equation in figuring out skill. My first jump with someone new is going to be very cautious. From checking their gear before we get on the plane, to discussing minute details about the exit, dive flow, tracking, and landing. BE SURE TO INCLUDE PLAN B if the dive goes to shit. Don't leave anything out!!! When you are jumping with old friends a lot of details get left out because you know each other and know what to expect. When it's someone new you have to start all over again. My first couple jumps with someone new or just someone trying something new are really cautious and I keep my distance. If I'm free flying 50-100 Ft away is close enough for me. It lets me see how they handle themselves, are they stable, are they altitude aware, etc. etc. Maybe when I have 1000 or more jumps I'll be that Free Fly coach that can sit 3 feet away the whole dive because he KNOWS he can get out of the way of a zooming head downer. I don't have that kind of confidence yet so I keep my distance and stay safe. "Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[PhreeZone 20]

Look at who is doing the organizing of the more experienced freefliers. Look at who they constantly invite on jumps with them. Those are the people that have earned the respect of the organizer and I would approach the organizer and those people first.
If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will....

[airdrew20012001 0]

Go by your gut and ask around. I agree with the post that talks about using the services of a load organizer or even spend the money to get a freefly coach jump and ask the coach. It would be worth the money either way.
Drewfus McDoofus

[CanEHdian 0]

ChromeBoy,
Excellent question and a very important topic. At this point for you, your best bet, unfortunately, is unless you 'know' their true level of skills (via a trustworthy & experienced source) - you're better off passing on the offer. It really doesn't take much for beginners to cork and/or 'drive' into eachother at first. Stick to coach jumps and solos... and when you're comfortable, sneak in as many 2-ways with experienced/proven freeflyers as often as possible.
Even once you become more proficient, freeflying with new people should always involve some extra caution. As previously mentioned, do the 'discovery process' and keep that first jump simple, maybe even involving some distance at first. I was tought that 2-ways are not only the safest, but also the best way to learn. If/when it involves more than 2, I like the simple, but always challenging, 'campfire' dive to get to know other freeflyers and their skills - even if I'm told that they are good. Perception is a funny/relative thing sometimes, it's nice to see it for yourself... and hey, most experienced freeflyers will encourage/respect this approach. Worst thing that could happen is that you've just found a couple of better (and safer) flyers to jump with and learn from! ;-)
Hope I didn't preach/bore you with stuff you already knew.
Cheers,
CanEHdian

[GrumpySmurf 0]

Quote

Stick to coach jumps and solos...

Yeah, if anyone comes near me on the flight line and asks if I want to do a 2-way, the first thing I reflexively say is, "I'm threat to society" - it doesn't help that I am superfloaty either, I barely crack 140 mph in a neutral sit - which limits the number of folk I can jump with right now till I perfect my stand. One of the better women fleefliers at SDC took me on a Simon Says dive to see what I can improve on - she asked a string of questions on what I can do and how I do it to give her a quick impression of what to watch out for and what to not have me try yet, along with asking me if I was comfortable with someone in close.
Things to keep in mind if you are jumping with someone new - ask not only what they feel comfortable with, but how they perform the turns, flips, cartwheels, etc, along with a rough dirt dive of what is going to be done - so there are no surprises. *shrug*

[airann 1]

Chrome- (all good advice here)
As a rule, I dont jump with anyone that I dont know. I have done most of my jumps solo. I am usually working on something.
It isnt hard to find out who is good and who is backflying and corking all over creation ~ If you hang out long enough you will see film.
Then at that point dont let them get below you. Stay beside them always. A good idea is a train or gorilla exit to keep together for at least the top half of the skydive. But not too close.
If you get to the point of -Here we are in the Door- You had better done your homework on their skills in combination to your skills. If it aint right- back away to a safe distance on the same level.
When shyt goes wrong - It goes wrong real fast in skydiving.
Add to that freeflying speeds...
For ME personally --It goes like this ---Be damn sure you are good -both mental and physical, be sure you are historically stable and most importantly that you have the keen ability to get the hell out of the way for 2 reasons.
1 - so you wont die
2 - so you wont mess up a certain persons formation and then your happy ass doesnt get asked back on any more big ways. (it hasnt happened - but it is my fear)
AirAnn's Video Vault

[crazy 0]

Quote

I now have a stable sit and am able to make 360's, etc. I jumped with someone this past weekend and he corked right underneath me. I saw it coming and back tracked out of the way before hand to avoid a collision. It happened so fast I was lucky. Question, what should I do to figure who is safe to jump with and who is not.

Go for it, jump! Just make sure that you are safe and that the jump will not be all wasted. If you stick to 2 ways sit/stand for the first few jumps you don't take such a big risk as long as you follow some elementary rules: never be straight above or below, keep eye contact, avoid collision paths, avoid linked exits, avoid grips or docks.
The first rule, you know why, you did the mistake already. Don't forget that corking is not a mistake (it will happen), but being above somebody who does cork is a dangerous mistake.
The linked exits, grips and docks are not good because when you hold a grip or dock, you can pull or push the other enough to make him tumble. It's a good way to get kicked in the face. In addition, it can be a fun challenge to chase an unruly skydiver moving all over the big blue sky, while it's kind of boring to tumble helplessly with a moron who doesn't want to release a grip.
BB
Come

[rapper4mpi 0]

The best questions that I use to evaluate skill level is to just ask the what type of freeflying they are doing. If their answer is "Well, I'm still in a sit and I'm learning transitions" this would tell me they are still beginners and I should probably not jump with them if I'm learning too. Another thing to watch out for is the beginning head downers, probably even more dangerous to jump with. So get an idea of what they are doing on their head, and if they are just learning headdown, don't be afraid to ask them to stay on their feet for this jump. Use your judgement and a good out if you are unsure is to just say "I'm going to work on some stuff, so I'll go solo" Good luck!
-Rap