Belgian_Skygirl

My first and last name are not very common... When I am on the phone, people think I am from Asia, s my last name is Moi... but I am not. As i am half Italian, I inherited the name from my father as it is a name that comes from Sardinia. Many people's last naes are Moi, Loi, Boi, ... it is funny... My first name is an italian non-catholic name... but when I pronounce in properly, many people (not Italians) think it is a Chinese name due to its pronounciation. However... my name is the Italian equivalent for Cynthia. ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

It is winter and last Sunday in was very cold up there!!! I wore: ski-socks, a jeans, 4 sweaters (1 wind-stop), 2 pairs of loves (one paire was windstop)... my helmet kept my ears warm... I didn't suffer that much from cold feet or a cold body... unless for my fingers and my face. When I jumped out of the plane, I thought: oh my God... that cold!!! It was the first time I jumped in such low tempereatures. When I landed I was thinking: I won't jump any more today... but I did it again... I do not intend to stop jumping in wintertime.. but if I would have had balls on my body... I think they would have frozen!!!!!!! However, just put on several layers of clothes, so that the air between the clothes is isolation. Be sure ou can still move comfortably and that safety remains. To keep warm, you can buy windstop materials to wear under your suit and what about thermic underwear? that is what I intend to buy this week.... But I guess that I will wear several clothes anyway... ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

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As long as the beer is good ... ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

Well, You only see things from 1 perspective... I have severe problems with my health and parachute jumping helps me to put things in the right perspective. It is a dangerous sport, but it makes me realize ow precious life is, how beautiful our world is... you are speaking about "christian values" and suicide. I am not going to talk about religion, but is is better to be good at heart and do dangerous things than behaving as a asshole in daily life. When I see a beggar, I give hime some money or something to eat... I go to a shop and buy something. But according to you I am egoïstic.. let's put it that way... the beggar would probably prefer to bump into a person like me... a suicidal, egocentric skydiver, that really cares about other people, than a christian maniac that lives in a christian town with christian values, with no beggars and people that go to church every Sunday to talk about christian values... I don't care!!!!!! If you consider us, Skydivers as egocentric, maybe you should take a look at yourself and... you shouldn't forget that not everybody is a christian and that every person lives by means of his own values. ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

between antwerp en brussels ... ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

I did not tip my instructors. But... when I finished my AFF course I gave a drink in the local bar... much more fun :). But our club is not huge, so I gave away free drinks that evening to everybody present. It was fun ... In Belgium, the instructors are volunteers that took a AFF-instructor-course. The receive an etra-ticket to jump with a student which they ca use whenever they want I get along very well with them and sometimes when I ak them to learn me somthing, they say I only have to use a tiket for myself. That means that they do not make a personal benefit when doing something together... but in the evening of course I pay them a drink and we have lots of fun. I have the impression that they appreciate a person that is eager to learn and willing to do some more jumps... ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

Well... I don't know Canada as I have never been there... where in Canada is Vancouver, North, West, South, East, middle? ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

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...lol... I love Switzerland... it is very beautiful. Are you from the French, Italian or German-speaking part? Brodes, I wish I were you, as New Zealand is on my list of countreys I want to visit... but be carefull that you do not land on the Mount Doom while jumping ;)... ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

mmm... they have great food... and... are our neighbours ... ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

I hope you can sing... because... I don't know the song... Merry Christmas. ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

Hi, I am new on this frum... and I have the impression there are people from all over the world present here... I just wonder: where are you from? ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

Yes, I guess we women are more carefull... that is what I see when I look around... ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

Well, my instructor is probably more carefull with me... fact is that he saw me flying backwards a couple of times.... and landing backwards hanging against the wind, with no extreme wind. He is very experienced (about 3000 jumps)and most times when oher students are allowed to jump on a windy day, he does not take that risk to let me get into the plane as I risk to land 'outdoors' and backwards.. as with 30 jumps you still don't controll your canopy like experienced jumpers and his view is that you jump safely when the canopy does what you want as you are the person controlling it and not vice versa. So with a too big canopy wind masters you. But after reading all the reactions, I think it will be better to look for a slow canopy 150 and use it for one year. And as one stated before: t is better to stay on the ground and wishing you were in the air than vice versa.... This is what my instructor told me as well. He considers everybody with less than 200 jumps as a studiant and without experience... as many accidents happen because people think they are experienced. When I did not jump for a while due to the whether, he always does a jump with me for free as I am very eager ro learn and stated that I consider myself as a student the first 200 jumps. So, before I get into the plane we always get together to plan my landing... I tell him how and where I intend to land, talk about wind and the direction.... so that I can evaluate afterwards. I really love this sport, and I don't want to end it due to a stupid accident that could be avoided. Maybe he ment that I should buy a 120, but rent the equipment to downsize gradually of course. As I am a very carefull person, maybe he has the idea that i won't do crazy stuff... maybe he trusts me more than I do myself :). However, I did read many interesting things... and it is not harmfull to know oher people's opinion. The following 1,5 year I won't fly with a 12O as it reacts faster... I will certainly let you guys know what I wil have bought... but that will take a month or two ... I am considering a slow canopy 150... but I don't know of which brand... I will cerainly visit the websites suggested in your reactions... Thank you very much... and be sure... I will have to ask much more questions in the future and in a further future I hope my advice will help other starters as well. ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

Hi, Thank you for all your reactions. My aim is not to start to jump immediately with a 120. ... it is just that I need to think about buying a parachute... and many people say different things and that confused me... But this topic already helpt me to see things in perspective. Sometimes it is great to read other people's opinions, as people that know you in person are not neutral all the time. F.i. some people told me that I should not take a parachute smaller than a 170... then my instructor told me that the difference with a 210 for my weight is not that huge and that in some circumstances I would still be blown away... I think the problem is that the smaller parachutes react faster and that I am not experienced enough to react on that. But let's put it that way... I want to jump safely... a parachute that is too big is not safe... but a parachute that is too small neither... ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

OK, It is not only the wingload that matters. This is very important information. I don't think that my instructor ment to downgrade immediatly to a small parachute... I will rent the equipment or use a demo-parachute. So... if i want to buy something... I guess I will have to wait a bit longer... my aim was just to buy a parachute so that I would already have it when time is ready, but I will first do some downsizes before buying one... But of course... all your tips and tricks are welcome! ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

Of course I will downgrade gradually... in the meantime I will rent the equipment when I start to downgrade. My instructor told me that I have to start to jump with a 170. Is there a huge difference with a 210? I think it is a big step for me. i do trust my instructor... but my colleague jumpers always confuse me and that makes me a bit insecure... ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

As I am new in the sport, I have some basic goals: - to land without falling and rolling (It is getting better, but sometimes it is quiet spectacular), - to downsize my parachute - to follow some rw coaching - to jump with other people I just want to learn the basic stuff and do it well!!!! When I see the goals of other people... I think in myself... within some time, I want to do that too Quote ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?

Hi fellow Skydivers, I did 30 jumps up to now. As I am from Belgium, I had to learn to jump with a nine - cell parachute (manta)... later I took the Fury (7-cell). My problem is that I am very light (46 kilo's at the moment). So when there is some wind... I fly backwards. My instructor told me I should decrease and go to a parachute of 120 square feet maximum, but that I should take a slow parachute. Of course I won't use a small parachute tomorrow... fellow jumpers tell me that I should go to a 150 square feet... but than my former instructor tells me that people see a small parachute as dangerous, but that they don't think about weight. I am convinced that such a small parachute goes faster... but he tells me that it is better to take a low-performance parachute that really carries my weight. Everybody tells me something else and I don't know what to do... within some months I want to buy a new parachute, but al the information people give me is very confusing. Now, I just want to know your opinions and I guess I will do what the majority would do... on the other hand... my former instructor is very careful towards me and when there is a bit too much wind I am not allowed to jump, whilst others (fellow jumpers - not instructors) don't understand why i am not allowed to jump... I did fly backwards during a landing one day, when the air goes up, it takes mh more time than the others before I land. I guess my instructor is right, but I think that small parachute have more speed whilel landing and that frightens me... Thank you for your advice!!! ------------------------------------------------- No dive, like skydive... wanna bet on it?