terminalrush40

Very sad loss indeed. I'll echo another's thoughts in saying I never imagined Harry would be a skydiving fatality. He was always so safety conscious. Had a lot of laughs with him, fun jumps, he gave great skydiving advice, and he was one of the "old time skydivers" I much admired. The man in red will be greatly missed. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to Janna. Blue Skies Harry. Stacy Giarrusso

Thanks Scott. Yep, after reading all the advice, and talking with a few other jumper friends, I think my plan of action is going to be: Jump the PD150 at first, get some canopy control coaching/class right away, and then when I'm feeling comfortable, start checking out the ZP canopies. Thanks again all for the input.

Great input - thanks all! Not sure if a bigger PD will fit in my container - it was made for a PD 150. So I think probably moving to zp will be the viable option. Thanks Steve for the name, and I'll probably see you at the dz. I think I've jumped with you on Fielding loads? :)

Canopy control course!! Excellent idea. I had no idea that even existed. I appreciate the input Lisa. Eventually I will try zero p...once I'm comfortably "back in the saddle" again. I'm thinking for the first couple of jumps waiting for a little wind to pick up would be a good idea..just to play it safe and get a feel for my canopy again. Any other thoughts out there?

Hi all: I'm Stacy, and I'm returning to the sport after a long break. A little history - roughly 8 years in the sport, almost 800 jumps. Mostly 16, 20 ways, a few big ways. Pretty competent belly flyer (I think?), but landing was never my strong suite. I jump a PD 150. During the newbie years I had some accuracy issues, which I eventually overcame, meaning that I can pick a general area and land there. But I've never been one of those people that can hit dead center any time, any jump. Also, the dozen or so jumps before quitting, I seemed to have lost my flare point. Sometimes too early, mostly too late. It might have been currency issues, or maybe just the canopy getting old, or a combo of both...not sure. I left the sport in '99 due to a herniated disc. Had surgery in 2000, and did one jump in June of 2001. For various reasons, haven't jumped since then. However, after working for a year and a half with a chiropractor, I'm now good to get back in the air! Of course, I'm excited, and a little nervous, and the main worry is landing. Since it wasn't an area in which I felt completely competent to begin with, it's even more of challenge after being out of practice for so long, and being mindful now of the metal in my neck. The only thing I've been doing to prepare is going over the basics in my head, and watching "Fly Like a Pro". Not sure if there is anything else to do. However, I'd appreciate any advice, input, thoughts, support any of you would like to offer. A well meaning person suggested using a zero P canopy right away to get a better landing. Since I've never jumped a zero p, I'm not sure that's such a hot idea. Plus the whole "borrowed gear" factor on the first jump back makes me a little edgy. Thanks in advance. Blue Skies, Stacy P.S. I remember seeing a computer canopy flight simulator - I think in skydiving magazine. Any one know where I can use/rent one in the So Cal area? I checked the Elsinore & Perris website, and nothing about that.