lowie

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Everything posted by lowie

  1. lowie
    Stop grizzling Mark, atleast you have that ditter - I'm sure I outbid you. cheers Mike
  2. lowie
    This sort of sounded like every AFF jump I did after the first. I trained at Sydney and I never knew who the JM's were going to be until gear up/ dirt dive time and the plane could be either a beaver, skyvan or otter (this was the same for everyone who trained). I guess it's what your used to. With the exception of people peeling your fingers off the door frame, it's all just encouragement - it's your call always whether you jump or not and I have yet to see anyone make unpleaseant remarks to refusals.
  3. lowie
    His knickname wasnt "Lucky" by any chance?
  4. lowie
    Hinton tickets were £17 to top last time I was there (a month ago).
  5. lowie
    I've got a weak ankle (broken like yours with metal work out) but I never consider landing on my butt an option. You could seriously screw your back like that. If you keep your landing gear down, both ankles together and PLF you'll reduce your chances of getting hurt again a lot. If in doubt PLF - I'm sure it's saved me many a time paragliding and a few times diving. Good Luck. cheers Mike
  6. lowie
    I failed stage 5 once. In 20 jumps or so you'll be stable,sorted doing solos and either holding the A license or well on the way and this will just be in the dim distant past.
  7. lowie
    Short answer I dont think it's safe. I have to admit that after a few jumps it can look safe but since being involved in this sport I have seen 5 serious (Major hospital time) injuries to divers of varying skill levels. This is a bad sport to become complacent in and I think you have to be conscious of the risk. I liked the saying somebody else posted that went something like skydiving is like commiting suicide and changing your mind in the last few seconds.
  8. lowie
    Somebody suggested in another forum that you should try to equalize asap after your canopy has opened. When I remember to do this I've never had problems afterwards.
  9. lowie
    On the days that I've called in sick I genuinely have been too sick to work but amazingly, I'm fine to skydive
  10. lowie
    For me the best buzz came off the earlier jumps. Enjoy the afterglow you get after jumping now before it wears off. By the time I had 20 jumps the real full on adrenalin rush calmed right down. On my level 2-6 AFF plane ride I was thinking non stop that I dont have to do this to my self - I've nothing to prove etc to be followed by the after glow that rocked. Soon it will fade.
  11. lowie
    I think this is a really valid point - there is danger in nearly every activity we undertake and who even feels remotely at risk whilst driving. I find denial is an excellent way of dealing with rational fear. I only worry about it at the DZ long enough to make sure I'm focused on safety - otherwise it's the "never going to happen to me" psyche.
  12. lowie
    Shit, forgot about that one, I was so wrapped up in posting the "scary" tandem... Yup, thats happened to me too. It sounds like it, then when we got down she had the correct flushing around her face and chest (lower cut top) that I'm about 90% sure as well. Damned if I'm going to let either of you 2 guys give my missus a tandem ride
  13. lowie
    We were taught (Sydney skydiving centre) that if at any time you find yourself without an instructor attached (or very close by) for stages 1 to 3 then pull. At no time in the FJC did the instructor make any mention of being able to rescue you. We took it for granted that they would be there but when I got unstable and was backsliding rapidly from my JM on stage 5 I pulled for myself rather than wait for him to come and fix me up. Your solo in 9 jumps if all goes well and in the last couple of stages you can get isolated easily from your JM. I think you should be taking responsibilty for your dives from day 1. cheers Mike
  14. lowie
    I really hate to rain more cold water on your parade but Skydiving must have the biggest and fastest dropout rate of any sport I've been involved in (including martial arts). You may withdraw from the sport way before this even becomes an issue. From my original AFF class half stopped at just 1 jump. Then by stage 5 there was only 5 of us out of the original 14 left. Until you get though to you consul jumps the instructors are expecting you drop out at any time (for a number of reasons - frustration being biggest one). Just take it one jump at a time and see how you go. Good luck and enjoy.
  15. lowie
    That was one hell of a low opening - good effort to avoid the building
  16. lowie
    I tend to skydive everyother w/e (weather allowing) and that seems to work ok for us. When you first do your Aff training you will need to go nearly very w/e to keep current and pass. Once your past your cat 8 you will be able to jump less often (although it will drive you crazy when the weather is good and your not diving). If your lucky you may convince them to take it up once your commited.
  17. lowie
    I started last year in March aged 39 (now 40). I'd always planned on doing it but never got around to it. I've met plenty of people who have taken it up in their late 30's early 40's. People seem a lot more active in their 40's these days and the cost of the training is less likely to gobble all of your salary. cheers Mike
  18. lowie
    In my limited jumping experience I've enjoyed going out of a tail gate the most and it seems to me to be the easiest way to launch 8+ ways. Is there any time that a side door is an advantage? If not I'd say any purpose built skydiving plane would have to have a tail gate - safer and easier.
  19. lowie
    Our sport started from a military background and I think it is still run a bit like that. I think the military training thing has shown that with students if you give them the brain washing they will get it right - even under duress. Once they are beyond student status then I think you have to reason with people. I have low jump numbers and hence am a skydiving newbie but comparing it with paragliding (in which I have a lot of experience) I know it works. It's not nice but it's effective. Wondering what to do next is not an option in this sport. Well just my opinion anyway. cheers and merry xmas and happy new year
  20. lowie
    I can agree with some of what your saying but at the end of the day this is a skydiving forum - naturally everything is going to be about the sport. It can be pretty hard to fit your life around such a time consuming (not to mention dangerous pastime) and it's good for us to blow off a bit of steam. I'm sure most comments were tongue in cheek and no insult intended. cheers
  21. lowie
    You may want to think about switching to AFF if you can afford it. having 2 very experienced instructors hanging on to you can help reduce the stress. Either way just push yourself and try hard not to think about it on the flight up. Enjoy the extra rush you get afterwards as a result of being so scared. All too soon you get over the terror and the buzz you get after is alot less.
  22. lowie
    I did my first solo out of a skyvan and I think I was fairly nervous going up to Altitude but once the door was open I was switched into jump mode and it all went fine. Before I went up my instructors told me to go for an unstable exit and fix it and fly which helped a bit for some strange reason. Good luck
  23. lowie
    Try and finish your AFF I say. I completed my AFF in Sydney plus two solos then moved to London and didnt get to jump for nearly 3 months. After a breifing I went for the third solo and it was fine. I have now got my cat8 (A).
  24. lowie
    I don't know if this is too late for you but Hinton is simillar in distance to Weston from London and best of all you can get there by train from Marylebone (London) station, getting out at banbury Station. Takes 1.5 hrs (by train) and then a short £12 taxi. Operates with a turbo beavor.Quote