WhuffoNoMo

What i found very useful was just having fun on your solo jumps. Go out, get completely unstable, arch and stabalize. Just keep doing that until you can become stable without much thought. (ALTIMETER ALTIMETER ALTIMETER). You'll also find ways to become unstable in the process (more proactive than a result) and thus learn what not to do.

lol. I don't think they are SERIOUSLY expecting that much beer but everytime I turn around it's another first. Before you know it they are going to catch on that i'm on dz.com and hit me for my first post. i figure when i finally get licensed (at this rate i might have 100 jumps before i get an A - damned spotting rules) I'll just have a BBQ and Keg on me. Sounds like a sweet deal. We all win.

Let's See. First Jump: Check First Stand up Landing: Check First BOC Rig Jump: Check First Solo Jump: Check First Hop-N-Pop: Check First Hard Opening: Check First Dock: Check First 3-Way: Check First Accident Witness: Check First CloERRIndustrial Haze: Check First Sunset Load: Check First Pack Job: Check First Line Twist: Check First Jump on Monday: Check First Jump Landing near the football: Check First Jump directly after last jump: Check First..... I'm beginning to think my DZ likes to milk this beer thing. This upcoming weekend I should get about 3 more firsts and I don't think my little DZ can handle all this alcohol.. where shall I ship it to make good on my firsts?

Did 14 jumps this weekend trying to get my mind of some personal things (Only at 31 jumps mind you) and as I was walking in to lay my gear down a student (~20jumps) flared too high (looked at ground) and broke his left arm . His younger brother landed about a minute after he did. I hope everything turns out well and he doesn't lose his ambition for the sport. It was the first accident I've witnessed so it definitely brings me back to light on what I'm doing. I had to make another jump just to ease myself. I'm still surprised at how many people make their prayers on their way up to altitude yet don't think twice about driving an hour or two home in the rain! Off to review my SIM

The weather was getting pretty crappy today and as I was landing, (winds 3-5) I got a nice gust of 15 from 180° (as in wind direction change) which - in mid flare, held me above the ground, then dropped me. I partially plfed but got pulled backward anyway and was dragged a good 15 meters on my back. Many people told me there wasn't really anything I could have done to prevent the landing but a few people suggested I should have pulled my rsl and cut away. This just seemed and still seems a bit overkill for I didn't really run the risk of getting pulled into anything dangerous - no cars or planes or anything - just in a field. I also let go of one toggle and just kept reeling in the other. Any suggestions/hints/responses? Thanks! OH! and any suggestions on getting grass stains out of a container? The green doesn't really match. Eric

Haha. Thanks. Actually - you do know me and I'm sure you are very helpful. The first time I met you was when you critiqued my landing/flaring (it's ok to put in little inputs for turning during flaring - don't completely let up and let the wind take you..) I appreciate all the help I can get though - thanks!

Thanks a lot everyone. Yea, I had a talk with one of our instructors and a lot of things were cleared up as far as what I could know and what I NEED to know. I have a lot of fun out there and just wanted to make sure I'm being safe about it! Eric

Thanks! You've replied to both (my only two) posts and I appreciate both. I guess I did sound a bit overloaded - I'm guess I was more curious to know if they have "safety" courses like they do canopy control, freefall (+disciplines) coaching. I've already learned a LOT from dz.com and the SIM as well as my instructors. Around the dropzone, it's easy to get people to talk about theirs mals - but, given my built in bullshit detector - a lot of it is exaggerated and it's more focused on the excitement and not HOW it happened and what they did to really fix it. If anything they would say "i cut the line" but I would have to ask...cut what line? With what? why couldn't you just wiggle out of it. SO instead of being annoying with questions, I didn't know if there was a resource that wouldn't get annoyed with me! :) THANKS though :)

First off, I don't even know who my S&TA is. Secondly, I can arch, I can pull at the correct altitude and I'm over all very aware. I have been trained on how to not splat on the ground. I haven't, however, been trained on anything useful. Right now, if compared to driving, my gut instinct to ANY problem would be to slam on the breaks. Since I've been driving a while, I know this isn't a good idea, but that's how I feel with skydiving. I just read a thread on hook knives and to many it was a shock and congrats that it was pulled off - but for me.. I didn't even know a hook knife was part of the gear. Since my trust in "advisors" and overall knowledge of safety is being reevaluated - where can I go for actual training to make the safest skydives possible. I want to experience a cutaway, to ride a reserve, and overall to be more aware of what CAN happen and what ways are best to deal. In the aforementioned thread, the guy pulled at 3,5 and had time to cut the lines with the hook and ride his reserve. I would have had no clue what to do and would probably be riding an eternal jump run. So IN SHORT: Where do I go to learn what to do and what not to do. I don't care about learning how to swoop - I'd rather learn how to be safe and THEN enjoy the ride. As for now, I have a feeling incident reports are the place to be. Thanks for ANY help!! Eric

I figured goggles would be an easy 1st gear purchase but I tend to make things more difficult than they are. I come from a family of riflemen and am well versed in guns. We've always used different colored lenses for different objectives. In the sky... I have no targets and the trees aren't causing a contrast problem - so why so many color options? If anyone knows what color is best for what lemme know! Also - is there a one pair does all out there (interchangeable lenses of course!) Thank ya thank ya oh yea, this l&b altitrack doohicky looks pretty sweet - yay or nay?