zeolite

Thank you Ron! It is a very common tactic/habit for new jumpers to try to make "Skydiving is safer than "X"" claims. Most times they are not correct from a statistics standpoint. I totally agree with you there. I am convincing myself of the fact that this is safer for me and feel happy about it. I am still going to jump. Thank you for taking your time and effort into this calculations and I hope to meet the most of you to learn from. Safe jumping, zeolite

So you lost over 10 people in parachute jumping in 20 years. May I ask you this and I totally understand if you don't want to answer this. Are those deaths mostly back in the days when gear was not as reliable. Was it stunts or just plain "bad luck" Thank you for taking the time to answer me.

Thank you, I will do that. I will post some updates after the jump :)

IS the Cypress AAD and Skyhook the same thing? Or I mean, do you wear one or both at all times? I've been watching this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saqITkGLPz8&feature=related Why are there not 2 reserves in a pack instead of one? Dum question?

Thank you all for your replies. What would you say is the golden rule to know? I mean, are there more deaths by skydiving because of recklessness or just plain bad luck? Or is it because people are getting too reckless and pack their parachute faster than they should? We all get reckless. The knowledge for me is knowing reckless in this sport (like in any other sport) to prevent serious injury or death. If you have time (I know I get answers from the class) maybe you could spare me some advices. Is it true that you always cut off the main for reserve if any tiny glitch/problem is noticed, or only very obvious life threatening situation? Will the experience tell me otherwise? Do you try to get yourself out of spin before cutting the main from yourself or if high enough, you try to spin yourself out of it if possible? And if that does not work cut loose? Any videos I could study to show different tangle situations? Could you tell me what to read, what to learn before I take my first AFF class? Like common rookie mistakes. I want to be 100% prepared and have my FAQ bank filled up. Anything you could tell me is appreciated :)

Well, before I thank you all, I would like to introduce myself first. I'm from Iceland, currently living in USA (Virginia Beach) Which is also the reason why I am considering skydiving. It's both warmer and a lot cheaper :) I've never been a fan of throwing myself out of a plane. To be honest, I always thought people that did it, must have a death wish. I've spent 2 days on the internet watching videos of failed parachutes and accidents. Reading 101 guides and then I stumble on this forum which completely answered a lot of my questions. The human side of this all. My approach is usually (not always) to study what can go wrong before everything can go right. I'm an advanced diver(which is considered dangerous), Dirt bikes(which is considered dangerous) and have a street motorcycle(which is considered dangerous). They all have FAR more accidents and deaths. I rely on safety gear in all those sports. All these things are far more dangerous statistic wise. People die in cars, on motorcycles, planes every day But when the story hits the media with skydiving accidents, you think differently about them because they are rare. I'm not saying that it's not deadly like airplanes, cars, motorcycles, lawn mowers, lawyers, ex girlfriend, clubs, walking, elevators, bad weather, bicycle, roller blades, writing an email leaning back on your office chair, food and drugs. You all know this of course, I'm the new one :) What I am thanking you for is simple. After I got to learn from you all sitting on my ass (not jumping) in front of a computer, you made me realize that we usually always depend on our gear. So what's the difference right? Being alive and happy before it brakes? You made me look at it differently. I want this now, I need it! I signed up for AFF at Skydive Suffolk next week and I can't wait to meet you all. By learning and appreciating life better. Don't get my wrong, I'm very careful, never foolish in that kind of situation and I know accidents and death may be knocking on the door. But seeing your faces, it's worth living it first? I mean... you all look so alive after a jump! "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."