FreefallingCari

HAHAHAHA! I am too cheap to buy a GoPro ;) THAT, and I do not want to wear a GoPro since I just downsized. I want to focus on one thing at a time. Sadly, I will never be teh Coolz kidz. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

No one is tar and feathering, we are being honest. I gave honest advice. I have never met an instructor that believes a 1:1.5 WL is okay for someone with 180 ish jumps. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

Considering that I jumped a .85 to 1 wing loading for 185 jumps, you KNOW my answer is going to be no. BUT I am a 216 jump wonder, so take my advise with a grain of salt-I guess. A good time to downsize is: -You can land that canopy ANYWHERE. You need to land off? No problem. You can land in a backyard, hell, you can land anywhere you need. -ACCURACY. You land where you want to land-You are not going for a ride, you are flying to your LZ. -You have experienced everything you can under your current canopy. Downwind, cross wind, up wind, you can do it. Maybe a downwinder is not 'pretty', but you can do it. Land on rear risers, again, no pretty, but you can do it. Max out every possible skill before you downsize. But then again, I am cobservative. At 185 jumps I went from .85 to 1 to 1 to 1. Cheers. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

So, I downsized from a spectre 170 to a Sabre 1 150. I chose this canopy because I tried a sabre 1 170 and a Sabre 2 170, and really enjoyed the Sabre 1. *My* experience with Sabre 1. I had a packer pack it with a modified pack job. It happened to be his canopy. Opened swiftly compared to a spectre, but I made sure to really arch and deploy at my best position. It was 100% on heading, and the flare is lovely. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

@snowlep- Yes and No. I believe some of our veteran skydivers can explain it much better than I can, but WL matters even on larger canopies. You cannot blame landing area on poor landings. This is partly why you need more experience on a larger canopy, because you need to be able to land in ANY situation comfortably. I know I can land in someone's backyard if I HAD to. I know that I could land, and PLF if needed, anywhere comfortably. The fact that you had an issue with landing area says you need more practice.. Again, just my 2 cents and you can take it or leave it. This is coming from my experience in listening and learning from the old timers and AFP instructors. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

Have you considered upsizing until you have more canopy experience. I recently downsized to a 150, I am a 1:1 now, and that baby flies much more quickly than my 170. Everything happens more quickly at higher WL. I am a few hundred jump wonder here, but I flew a .85 to 1 until 186 jumps. I am not trying to be a buzzkill, but at 70 jumps 'we' need more forgiveness than a 1:1.25 WL. Of course you are coming in hot, 1:1.25 will do that, and it will especially seem so at 70 jumps. I am conservative, I admit, but I want to conserve my spine, neck, coccyx, and skydive career. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

I am pretty Madd!! HAHAHA I sorta know what I am doing I always have room to improve, every jump keeps getting better. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

My advice is coming from my own experience, FWIW. I flew a .85:1 wing loading until jump 186. I flew a 170. It is not about consistent landings, as landing is only one of the many skills of canopy piloting. I feel that I am a better canopy pilot from downsizing slowly and gaining all that I could from my 170. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

Ahhhhhhh, cool beans.

Were you being sarcastic? It is difficult to determine tone via a msg board. I am not saying that my journey to downsize made me special, or implied that I am superior to others.. I wanted to share a positive story that showed a progression that did not end in major injury. I listened to those who were wiser and more experienced than myself, I think it helped my successful 4 jumps on my new baby. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

So, I have 186 jumps on my very first canopy, a Spectre 170. It was loaded about .85 to 1.0. She made me very happy. Those beautiful openings while I learned to pack were priceless, she was VERY forgiving. I practiced maneuvers that would be vital to saving my life, such as downwind and crosswind landings. (I performed these via Hop N POP on slow days and let everyone know my intentions) I practiced braked turns, multioke canopy skills like stalling and reinflating the canopy during a course with Jay Moledski. I took a few courses, but I practiced on my own as well. Each jump was practice, each jump had a purpose for canopy skills-as it should. I could throw a hula hoop out and land within her ring 50% of the time, the other 50% I landed within 20 ft or less. I could land her anywhere. She was not just a canopy over my head, she was an extension of myself. She was part of me, we were linked. I was not "going for a ride", I was PILOTING her. She responded to my inputs... With much thought and careful planning, as well as educating myself in r/t the canopy, I demo jumped a friends well maintained, beautiful Sabre 150. I felt comfortable and excited as I flew through the air... The landing? PHENOMENAL. I downsized, and I liked it.... Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

At my home DZ we often say "Don't fuck it up". This would be someone I have jumped with before, so they understand that it is all in good fun. Someone brand new off of student status "Woooohoooo" with a nice hand gesture or whathaveyou. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

FWIW, I am not a Christian, and I like dick.. Okay, so now I will be serious. I am a Nurse, although not currently practicing due to cancer treatments, and I have a few thoughts. No one's religion is going to protect them from Ebola. Everyone is susceptible to this disease, religious, atheist, deist, whatever. We cannot pray the Ebola away, and we cannot expect to be immune because we try and pray the Ebola away. What everyone can do is take special precautions when traveling by airline, bus, or other mass transit which requires hours of use. Wearing a face mask is beneficial. Ebola is transmitted by droplets. A cough, sneeze, or being around someone vomiting, is a problem if your own mouth is uncovered. It is also a problem if you become soiled with vomit. Everyone, everywhere, should cover their face when coughing or sneezing, and definitely NOT travel of you feel ill.This is actually good common sense advice for life during flu season too. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

I am VERY socially awkward, and actually quite clumsy. I never played sports, although I danced. For some reason I can dance pointe ballet, but put a pair of normal shoes on my feet and I cannot walk for the life of me. While I respect the points made above, they do not compute in my life. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

Eh, the mouth works too, right?! (shut her up) Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

Thanks all for the kind words! Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

I believe it is fair. I am a Nurse, for reference, and my employer requires us to wear all white. They want to distinguish us from the unlicensed aides, as well as housekeeping or other staff. Anywhere I have ever worked has required a specific dress code. I also believe that it looks professional to wear a uniform/have a dress code. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

I .... Cannot. My head hurts. The math fail just hurts so terribly. I have cancer, and I jumping my way through treatment. I just had a bilateral mastectomy August 18th, so I am out for 6 weeks, but I am still jumping through chemo. Drs give me a 95% chance of living 10 years. My prognosis is excellent. There is a 100% chance I will die in this lifetime. I do not know when, where, or how, most of us do not. ALL I know is that I can die from cancer, cancer treatment, skydiving, walking through a darn wal mart parking lot... While all of these things are trying to kill me, I am going to LIVE. I will make the best choices I can each day, do my best to increase my safety, and have zero regrets. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

You are spot on. What most people do not realize is that the "old" method used drugs to prevent the bystanders from viewing the natural progression of death. I am a Nurse who has worked with dying patients, hospice patients, as well as perfectly healthy patients, so I am familiar with end of life manifestations. I am surprised they do not give a paralytic, because that would be cheap and easy to acquire. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

So what you are saying is that because the government is paying for it, the value of people is based upon fiscal considerations. Due to the large amount of money government pays, the government has a legitimate interest in influencing the private and personal decisions of sexually active people. I remember when the lefties wanted government to stay out of our bedrooms. Now that the government is inextricably intertwined in our personal health that, yes, the government should have some say in those decisions. Because the government wants to save money. [Facepalm] FWIW, I am not a leftie or a rightie, I am an independentie. Funny? No..Oh well. On this thread I have noticed the phrase "Let them do as they choose, as long as I do not have to pay for it" theme. Well, guess what, government is paying for low/moderate income women to have prenatal care.. That is happening now. Logic says that since prenatal care is covered for lower income women by medicaid, that BC should be covered too. If we are talking in FISCAL terms, rather than religious or moral dislike of abortion and birth control, then it only makes sense to cover a less expensive option! I am referring to FISCAL issues, not the moral issues. Many pro life mass of cells/fetus people fully support medicaid for prenatal care because it means that a woman will not have an abortion. Fixed that for you.. because once the child is a human being after being born all support from those children and mothers STOP... you are on your own.. pull yourself up by your non-existant bootstraps you TAKER you. Thank You, I believe that fix really hits the nail on the head. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

So what you are saying is that because the government is paying for it, the value of people is based upon fiscal considerations. Due to the large amount of money government pays, the government has a legitimate interest in influencing the private and personal decisions of sexually active people. I remember when the lefties wanted government to stay out of our bedrooms. Now that the government is inextricably intertwined in our personal health that, yes, the government should have some say in those decisions. Because the government wants to save money. [Facepalm] FWIW, I am not a leftie or a rightie, I am an independentie. Funny? No..Oh well. On this thread I have noticed the phrase "Let them do as they choose, as long as I do not have to pay for it" theme. Well, guess what, government is paying for low/moderate income women to have prenatal care.. That is happening now. Logic says that since prenatal care is covered for lower income women by medicaid, that BC should be covered too. If we are talking in FISCAL terms, rather than religious or moral dislike of abortion and birth control, then it only makes sense to cover a less expensive option! I am referring to FISCAL issues, not the moral issues. Many pro life people fully support medicaid for prenatal care because it means that a woman will not have an abortion. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

"God's plan for my life involves depriving me of water, food, shelter, and safety? That doesn't sound like much fun." You forgot the excretion part.. OH and the most important one, sex. XD I am okay with going to hell, all of my friends will be present sitting on a hot coal awaiting me. Either that, or I will save them a place. I will save you a spot Dan G, a nice hot coal with extra large flames. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/

Technicaly, sex is considered a BASIC need under Malsow's Hierarchy of needs, right there with food, water, living space, and excretion. I can tell you that if I do not have my basic needs met, I can become very twitchy. My thoughts are simple, it saves the government money to provide BC and contraception. They pay for prenatal care, which is a whole helluva lot more expensive than prevention. Now... We could debate that government should not pay for prenatal care, but most pro life people support paying for prenatal care because it prevents that abortion. So, if you, and I mean general you, are okay with government paying for prenatal care, then BC should be a no brainer. Skydiver Survivor; Battling Breast Cancer one jump at a time. DX June 19th 2014 I have been jumping since October 5th 2013. https://pinkribbonskydiver.wordpress.com/