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The thing is, my accuracy was generally pretty good and performed without s-turns throughout my jump life. I wasn't swoop happy, and this is really the point I was trying to drive home... I made a last minute (well, last second) mistake in judgment and I hit hard. I take full blame for that... not my training. You can only teach so much. Dick Cheney shot a guy yesterday. I don't blame the guy that taught him to shoot... I blame him. I probably could have educated myself a little better. I appreciate your sentiment, though. Hitting the ground sucks. At least I've got the video.... -ac

It was just time to stop. Had a great time with it. Miss it horribly. But it wasn't that jump. I jumped an additional hundred times after that crash without incident. Anyway, I was jumping without insurance... and my mom wouldn't leave me alone about it.... I know. No insurance. I'm ashamed. Fire at will. -ac

No, it hadn't. The video clearly shows you're still in a turn. Semantics. I meant that it evened out from where it was. Clearly the canopy wasn't done evening out or I would not have hit the ground so hard. Clearly the canopy had come pretty close to evening out, or I'd be femured or dead. -ac

Matt... I agree with you 100%. Personally, I didn't feel it was a canopy issue, either... I think I could have pulled off that stunt with a wide range of parachutes. But anytime people have landing incidents, people always ask those questions (wingloading, etc)... so I thought I would answer them up front. I agree too about not having the experience to fly the pattern to where I needed to land... and using the s-turns to compensate for the lack of knowledge. I take full responsibility for using the s-turns that low. I was never taught to do that. I definitely didn't realize the target fixation then... but I do now. That's one of those lessons that can be really cheap or really expensive. Thanks for your input.

I... don't jump anymore. I haven't for almost two years. Recently though, I decided an incident I had was worth posting. So, here goes. I had been in the sport for about a year. I had 153 jumps. On jump #116, I downsized from my Triathlon 220 to a Spectre 150. I weighed 160 pounds. Out the door, it gave me a wingloading of around 1.2. Lots of numbers there..... I know. I jumped a few canopies in between the downsize, but not many. I flew the Spectre pretty damn well without any issues. On jump #154, I had the opportunity to do a film jump. A camera crew came out and paid me and two of my pals to film our landings. The camera was locked down... so they needed us to land in the middle of the peas. First jump, no problem. On my next jump, jump #155, I worried a little about not hitting my mark... by overshooting or undershooting. So, I set up a little high and did some low S-turns so I could sink down into my spot. I was doing just fine until my last turn, when I noticed the ground coming up at me a wee bit quicker than I was used to. I tried to flare, but the ground was still coming at me. I picked up my legs, thinking the flare would kick in and I would just barely avoid a brutal landing. No such luck. While my canopy HAD evened out and had lost a lot of vertical speed, I was still too late in my reaction. Picking up my legs may have made the problem worse, as my knees were the first thing to hit the ground. Any type of PLF at that point, well, it didn't happen. As soon as I impacted the Earth, I bounced and was thrown back up into the air... spun around backwards... and crashed. I remember the last thing going through my mind was, "shit!" Shortly after coming to a rest, I tried to wiggle my toes to see check on my condition. They moved. I couldn't see any bones sticking out from anywhere. Some of my pals came over to assist. Through what I really just attribute to dumb-luck, I somehow got up and walked (limped) away. A ripped jumpsuit, two black and blue knees and a bruised ego were among the worst casualties. I suppose one could make a lot of statements about my incident. Some people might think I downsized too much or too quickly. I wasn't *trying* to be crazy. I was considered a conservative skydiver. I think the 1.2 wingloading I had was good. I continued to jump it over another 100 times without incident. I realize that no incident does not equal no problem, but... I purchased the canopy based on my flying skills and conversation with people around the dz that knew me. The fact is, I easily could have done the same thing with a 170 or a 190. Maybe not. You tell me. My point is, I felt comfortable with it. Maybe I should not have been doing a film jump. Again, I FELT ready for it. I was not trying to show off. And in fact, this is really the point of my post: Even up until the last S-turn, there wasn't a DOUBT in my mind that I was going to make it. I never thought I was in over my head or that I could femur-in or worse. Obviously I was wrong. I "ended" my skydiving career with 262 uneventful jumps... with this obvious one exception. I feel like my training was amazing and my gear performed as it should. I made a mistake... and was very lucky to walk away from it. Feel free to draw your own conclusions... my feelings won't be hurt. I do have a pretty amazing video of the crash. Part of me *does* wonder if a 170 or a 190 would have had less of a recovery arc... thereby making my crash worse. Maybe I am just trying to justify my actions.. maybe not. Anyway, I hope someone with a similar amount of (in)experience decides to leave themselves a larger margin of safety than I did. I easily could have done a ton of damage to myself and am very thankful that I did not. The video is slowed down... just the way the guys shot it. The music is not to make light of the situation... but it makes it easier for me to watch. For the record, I did land in the middle of the peas. Be safe. -Adam http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=3319

Um, ya, this is the first, only and last time I will announce my retirement. And, I don't see what the use is of a retired skydiver posting here. What, in five years from now, I'm supposed to have some brilliant skydiving advice to give? Dude, who is asking for sympathy, crying or music. Again, it was a respectful goodbye. If you don't want to pay attention to it, guess what? We all have a choice. ac

Tuna, I leave this sport in great spirits. My posting of this last thread has nothing to do with attention or pity or sorrow. It has to do with a respectful goodbye to a sport and to people that I learned so much from, rather than just slink off into the darkness. If you got negative vibes from it, then blue skies brother, blue skies. ac

Okay, this is not what this was supposed to turn into. You think I'm weak? You're right. Props to you and anyone else that can continue to jump a few minutes after the ambulance has left. Props to you if skydiving makes you feel accomplished. Props to you that things don't affect you. But, as Ron pointed out, you really don't know what you are talking about. Which is why, I suspect, Ron showed other examples where you did not know what you were talking about. You have no idea why I am leaving, other than the reasons I posted. As it is, I posted plenty of reasons. But, you want one or two more? I run my own consulting business that has finally started to take off. I am trying to buy a home. If I crash, will you go on my consulting jobs for me, and help me pay my mortgage? If I end up badly hurt, will you wipe my ass? Ever read Christopher Reeve's book? I suggest you do. It will bring some reality to you. We may "only" see 30 or so fatalities a year, but the injuries are in far greater numbers than you think. Again, if you're cool with that, great. I'm not. And again, it isn't SO much about me getting hurt or ending up dead. I don't want to see it happen to friends. I don't want to see it happen to people I don't even know. I have 262 jumps that say I ain't scared of shit. Apparently you missed the part of my post where I said how much I had learned... and how it is about the journey, not the destination... and apparently you missed that really fucking cool picture I posted. I'm thinking that pic should get me laid well into my fifties. And Scott, don't complain about Ron attempting to make you look bad. You called me weak. What is the difference? Were you attempting to make me look good?? Few people ever do ANYTHING their whole lives. Life is a journey. You want to stay in the same place or do the same things, that is up to you.. and there is nothing wrong with it. I know in the end, your post has the same sentiment as the others. Most people just don't want to see a skydiver leave the sport. I appreciate that. Most of my pals at the dz don't believe I am done. But, I am. This decision is already hard enough. I've accepted it. You need to, also. ac

one last thought.... ya. it is the right time to go. i'm sad, but comfortable with my decision. ever see seinfeld? they left while the ratings were still good. bad comparison... I'm no seinfeld. just look at my paycheck. just look at any of my videos. i'm no skyg_d. just a guy that liked to jump. anyway.... in a short time period, I've seen too many injuries. enough people have been hurt. enough people have died. ever seen someone in the hospital, paralyzed from skydiving? i have. ever seen someone with a $100,000 hospital bill from breaking both femurs, told by their doctor that they will probably be in pain for the rest of their lives? i have. ever seen someone on the ground in agony after a landing accident? i have. ever seen an ash dive? sorry folks... not quite what I signed up for. I did take something from this sport that I'd like to give back. it is this. it isn't about the 60 seconds of freefall (or in my case, wingsuiting it, 120 seconds). it isn't about the final destination. it is about the journey. if it is all about the destination, then on your best day, you might spend 1% of it in freefall. You are bound to be disappointed. So, enjoy the car ride out there. enjor your friends. enjoy the plane ride. enjoy the canopy flight. enjoy the landing. enjoy packing your rig. if it is all about 60 seconds of freefall to you, you are missing 99% of what skydiving has to offer. i've learned a great deal from this incredible sport and the people involved with it. I don't regret a second of it. be safe. and share one of my best moments... with this pic. adam cole d-25990

Hey Folks. Well, after almost three years in the sport and almost 300 jumps, I've decided to call it quits. Yep, quits. Some may ask why. Others may not care... just means more room on the airplane. Heck, it even means more room on the message boards. I won't read or post here again (other than to list my gear for sale). I know some of your are thrilled. That's okay. There really isn't any one reason why I am leaving the sport. There are lots of reasons. Seeing, hearing and reading about injuries and fatalities has taken its toll on me. It has. If there is one incident that sticks out, it is Dwain Weston. I met Dwain a few months ago. He was jumping this awesome birdman suit, and I still had my little Classic that I loved so much. I asked if I could make a jump with him. We made it a four way... he and his pal... me and my pal. The first jump just went so-so. He gave me some advice on the ground and we tried again. I did better, and we even docked. Watching him fly was just... awesome... and indescribable to anyone that never had the chance to fly with him or someone of his skill level. I've only known one other person in my life that could fly a birdman suit like that. In any case, I left the dz that day in such great spirits. I was still on that high a week later when I found out that he died.. some eight days after I met him. Jesus... that hit hard. Not because I was best friends with him... I wasn't. But because he was a person.. and because he was such an energetic and fun guy to hang out with (and fly with). I suppose under any circumstances, it would have been a tragedy. Anyway, I took a hiatus after that, stopping only to fly birdman in tribute to someone else that died, though not from skydiving. Shorlty after that, a guy I knew for ten years hung himself. So, please understand that this isn't about skydiving and how it is so dangerous. For the most part, it is safe. I know I could have been killed on the way home today by a drunk driver or a meteor. You don't have to tell me. I practically wrote that script. For whatever reason, I just feel like it is time to stop. I don't have the inclination to jump anymore. Sure, I do feel like at some point, statistically, the odds start to work against you. And, I don't have medical insurance or a family within 3,000 miles of here. If I got hurt, wow, it would suck. But, this goes beyond hurt or death. Funny, today, as I made my last jump, I was more scared than on my AFF 1. But, it was uneventful... other than the fact that I had a great time. The fact is, everyone has a great time so long as all is good. A death or serious injury can put a stop to that quickly... and change lives overnight. And no, I don't plan on not living my life. But, I don't know, I'm just not into it anymore. So, I'd like to leave you all with best wishes, and a few requests: 1) Be good to each other 2) Let people ask as many questions as they want 3) Find a happy medium between regulation and education 4) Realize that CYPRES is spelled with ONE S. Adam

Dammit. Michele... you must think I'm an asshole. I just read this now. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I haven't had access to my computer for a week (see attached, and no, that ain't me in the pic). There is nothing fun nor funny about 400 gallons of water. There are bright sides to this. My gear didn't get wet. And yet, there are some not so bright sides. Anyone know how to battle a slumlord that refuses to fix anything? And back to Chinese food, Michele. How about THIS Friday?? ac

I thought jumping without the wingsuit would be a good idea... at least for the first jump or two. Um, I AM a coach. Should I jump with myself or ANOTHER coach?? ac

Here is the situation... I have 261 jumps over a 2 1/2 year time period. For a variety of reasons, I haven't jumped in four months. I jump a Spectre 150 with a wing loading of about 1.2 (usually birdman jumps). I'm planning on jumping this weekend. Any brilliant advice? ac

Hey. A girl name Liz wrote me on Friendster, but it won't let me write her back. Anyone, probably in Southern Cali, know who she is? Thanks, AC

Sorry... one last thought... Way back in the day, people jumped rounds. People jumped without a Cypres. Wingsuits were considered deadly. So what? That was then and this is now. The sport has evolved... as it will continue to do. Let's find a medicine that fits the disease. We can do that through a non-draconian BSR and a test (if that is really necessary) that is applicable to the skillset. Education is key. People are not dumb... especially skydivers. Give them the chance to be educated... and they will take it. Most people don't want to die. They just need the opportunity to learn. ac