Huha

I have been jumping for a long time, though not much and not often. I had learned to listen to the voice in my head... When I gently pull down and hold the front riser for the final turn, there is usually a voice in my head saying: "Just a little bit more..!" I had learned that that is, actually, just the perfect time to let go of the riser. Regards, Huha (>o

I plan to die at 70+ out of sheer boredom and will do my best to stick to that plan. But we all know what plans are, right? Life has thought me that there is only Here-and-Now. Yesterday..? Gone down the river of Time. Tommorrow? It may come. It usually does. Or it may not. There definitely is one day for everybody that will have no tommorrow. Here-and-Now is all there is, and all that matters. I wrote my will, I defined what is to be done with my... things after I won't be needing them any more (I basically have no relatives, but the State is getting $hit ). A few people know about it, but most don't. No need for that. I yet have to define a way to get rid of my body (cremation + scaterring of ashes, most likely) and how to organize a small party (food both veg and non-veg - to each his own) after that. No tears, no drama. We got to know each other, spent some time togedher. Laugh. Dance. Sing. Because, after all, I didn't die - I just went Home . Regards, Huha (>o

Thank You - made my day, made my evening. Made me smile. Wish all the luck and happiness (spelnig?) to the three of you... Regards, Huha (>o

I've been in the same situation as NWFlyer 2-3-4 times... Everything way OK until I opened - then nausea kicked in big time. I was able to land the Springo 140 I was jumping at the time, but I do not think I would have been able to stay concious for more than 30 secs longer - I'd just fade out. Of course, went to see the doctor the next day, but all the results were OK - apparently I was (and still am) healthy as an ox (if that's the correct phrase). So I did some surfing, and found a thread here, that was describing exactly the same thing that happened to me... In my case, the combination of following factors caused the situation: tight harness/legstraps, kneebrace I wear, crouched/tight body position for a period of time (C-185, and I'm 6 ft tall), spiralling under the canopy. I also do not like having a big breakfast before jumping - that might have "helped" too (although, I never jump on empty stomach either). After reading the abovementioned thread, I've started to do the following: a) move my legs on the ride up as much as possible (which is not much in a C-185, but even a little helps maintaining the blood flow) b) avoid - if anyway possible - sitting behind the pilot: that's the place with the least amount of legspace available; c) I move my legs in bicycling (spelling?) motion when under canopy; d) go easy on the spiralling thing ; e) if I jump without my RW suit, I fasten the kneebrace straps just before the exit; f) drink a lot of water all day long. And yes, I felt like a newborn when I got a rig that fits me well... The old rig was too small, and has had the buckles on the rear side of the legstraps... Hope this helps... Regards, Huha (>o

Thank You very much... I'm still years away from taking an AFF instructor course, but all the available info is much appreciated. Regards, Huha (>o

The video is über-great... Can somebody tell me please what's the name of the song in the first part of the clip..? I really like it. Regards, Huha (>o

as promised o

25 crack whores. bsbd! Yuri. I agree 100000000% ... Regards, Huha (>o

Thanx for answering - I'll contact them via e-mail... Regards, Huha (>o

If this http://www.dropzone.ru/marina_droplet.shtml is what you're talking of, than it's: "Marina's Droplet - there's nothing better for parachutists/skydivers; 10 years of continuous resarch, to the idea becoming reality. From RW and FF suits to the latest models of wingsuits. We will help you in choosing any design/model to be used with your favourite rig, counting in all your wishes." Than it's the phone # and mail address, and the order form... Regards, Huha (>o

What would be the price for re-lining a Stiletto 150? I live in Croatia and often travel to Slovakia by car... Regards, Huha (>o

There were actually several most stupid things I've done ... Here is one of them: we were doing some 18-ways, I was all high on adrenaline - it was my biggest formation so far (still is, actually)... So, we brake off, I turn 180 and start tracking, look down and - don't see the DZ. I wave off, pull, and after checking the canopy and traffic, decide that going for the DZ is iffy, and choose a nice piece of grass between some houses instead. So far - so good. I'm setting for a conservative, wide left 90 deg front riser turn (not hooking it in, just a gentle turn, right?), and at that point I notice a car going my way, on the road below... At that point, "Stupid mode" kicks in big time, and instead of starting my turn then, I continue flying straight for a second or two more, hoping to scare the people in the car... Then, I say "OK - NOW!", and instead of pulling the riser slowly, I pull it... well, not so slowly... I see the ground coming my way at an angle I know is wrong: the last thing that went through my mind before groung hit me, and my heels kicked the back of my helmet, was a totally cool and calm "So, this is it then, eh?" Between the first and the second bounce, in an upside-down position, I feel a pain in my back... I get up and - cursing and spitting seeds out of my mouth that came in through the mouth hole on my helmet - realize that I can move and nothing's broken. The back hurts, sure does, but I can bend over - not all the way down, but hey, why would I need that? I pick up my stuff, and hurry back to the DZ - I can't miss the next load, can I? Did two or three more that day, and five the next day... The back was painful for a loooong time, and still is ocasionally. Of course I didn't see a doctor until my back locked up, and I couln't move (I'm the type of guy that doesn't go to see a doctor unless I have a 42 C fever and such). It turned out that I have damaged one disc in my lower back... I should work out constantly to keep the back muscles tight, here and there I go to a massage, and there's a weird feeling in my back when I arch... Do I even have to say that you should never do something like that..? Regards, Huha (>o

Thnx. I would have asked some of the pilots over the weekend, but you beat me to it. Regards, Huha (>o

Lucko DZ & general/sport aviation airport near Zagreb, Croatia 1) Latitude/Longitude in decimal degrees: dunno - will ask some of the pilots 2) ICAO code: LDZL 3) Lucko 4) Croatia 5) Lucko A photo is here: http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=604413&WxsIERv=LQ%3D%3D&WdsYXMg=LQ%3D%3D&QtODMg=WmFncmViIC0gTHVja28gKExEWkwp&ERDLTkt=Q3JvYXRpYQ%3D%3D&ktODMp=SnVuZSAxNiwgMjAwNA%3D%3D&BP=0&WNEb25u=Qm9yYW4gUGl2Y2lj&xsIERvdWdsY=&MgTUQtODMgKE=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%3D%3D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=Nzc3&NEb25uZWxs=MjAwNC0wNi0yMg%3D%3D&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=&static=yes&size=L Regards, Huha (>o

I've had my ACL replaced a few years back. My gut tells me I got the best surgeon available for the job, and a really great phisical therapist. After the therapy program ended, I continued the rehab in the gym. I was told I'd have to go to the gym kinda for the rest of my live to keep the leg muscles tight, so I go about 4-5 times per week. It took me about 8 months to start jumping again, but I was beeing extra cautious... I wear a brace while jumping, and I'm extra careful on landings: if there's even a small amount of croswind, I do a PLF. I've stopped playing basketball and skiing, but this choice was mine, not directed by the doctors. I have no problems while hiking (no brace)... To sum it up: I'm happy and satisfied how it all turned out. I work out regularly, I'm careful on landings, and that's 'bout it. Regards, Huha (>o

A friend of mine broke both of his femurs (few years apart). On both occasions he got a metal rod installed. After recovery he was jumping with the rod(s) in his leg... Then he had them removed as planned, and continued to jump. AFAIK he had no problems. I've had an ACL restoration done, and the doc said the titanium screws will stay as long as they don't create any problems. It was done five years ago, and I haven't had any problems since (other than that I can feel the weather changing sometime)... I work out a lot and wear a knee brace while jumping... Regards, Huha (>o

I've had my ACL replaced too. I was absolutely totally scared of the surgery - almost decided not to have it done. I was lucky to have gotten to a really good phisiotherapist: apart from doing a great job on me phisically, he also helped me psichologically (sorry for the spelling). I was literally scared of the knee after the surgery... I did not know the limits, I was afraid of reinjuring it, basically if it wasn't for him, I would have been treating the knee as if it was full of nitroglycerine or something: I would probably have never been running again. A significant part of dealing with every injury, be it after the injury occurs or following the surgery, is the psychological aspect of it. In most cases, normal life is possible, we just have to _know_ it. Regards, Huha (>o

About 2 1/2 yrs. ago I've had a really bad (OTOH, sometime I consider it as a really good) landing - did a front riser turn into the wind too low, and ended up with my heels thumping me on the back of my head (well, almost - but you get the picture). The resulting damage was that three of the lower vertebraes (from the pelvis up) were slightly dislocated, and some disc compression too. I left a fortune to a chiropractor, and I regularly (read: every other day is a minimum for me) go to the gym to work out the stomach and back muscles. I still feel discomfort when arching hard and occasionally have to see a phisiotherapist, but other than that, I'm OK . Friends were hinting/openly suggesting changing the sport, but I love skydiving too much to quit just yet. Wait for the bones to heel, _work out_, upsize, talk to your instructor(s), have a few days of hop-n-pops to figure out that new, docile canopy and IMHO that should do the trick. Regards, Huha (>o

Personally, I think this sounds reasonable... The main still might open good, and if not, chop it and have the reserve PC launched into clean air, instead of dangling lines and toggles. More opinions welcome... Regards, Huha (>o

Thank you, I most cerainly will. I was browsing yesterday through the "Safety and Training" and "Gear and Rigging" sub-forums for a few hours: since I've just changed from throw-out to pull-out I was looking for opinions, tips & tricks, dos-and-don'ts... This forum is a goldmine of info. I'm glad you liked it in Croatia. Well, if You'll be staying in Vodice, AFAIK the closest DZs are Grobnik near Rijeka and Lucko near Zagreb. But since You'll be back in Croatia in 2-3 years, the situation might change (dunno in which direction though )... The weather has actually been terrible for the past couple of weeks, and is supposed to continue that way for a week or so more: just got back from Lucko, where I've had just a cup of coffee . Regards, Huha (>o

On the gym thing: since the injuries and surgery, I see it as an integral part of my weekly schedule. Three times is IMHO a minimum, four or five are IMHO optimum. I do not like the gym as such, but it has to be done... Good luck o

Thank you... In my club, the member price for 2700 m out of a C-185 is ~11 $ IIRC; next door in Slovenia the price for 3500 m from a Turbo Porter is 18 €... Regards, Huha (>o

I'll probably be reading more than posting, but nevertheless - thanx for the welcome o

Thank you. Yup: there are some spectacular mounatins along the shore (just started hiking a year or so ago, and got hooked), and the islands are beautiful too... Regards, Huha (>o

Hello. I've had an ACL surgery on my left knee a few years back. After rehab (dunno if that's the correct word) I've returned to the sport. I regularly do a lot of gym exercises, and wear a knee-brace while jumping. Since then I've also managed to injure my right knee (damaged the ACL, but no rupture) and discs and vertebraes . So, I am pretty wrecked for my age... My way of managing the fear of another injury is to have an as-much-as-full-as-possible understanding of the equipement I use, and, of course, _not_to_do_ any radical manouvres bellow... 200 m AGL or something. Because I _do_know_know_ that I can land that Stilleto everytime and walk away from it. It's just a matter of controlling myself. Yes, one could argue that I do not controll myself all that well given the number of my injuries, but that's a discussion I do not want to have right now . You just have to rationalize it. You _will_do_ this-and-this, and _will_not_do_ that-and-that. And never ever be ashamed of an PLF. Hope I helped at least a little bit. Have fun & be safe. Regards, Huha (>o