emmiwy

Hi ! :) I like your description of the addiction. I would say that mine is feeling like the fat kid who likes chocolate cake. Can't stop eating it and just want more. And I smile ecstatically in between big bites :)

I probably would have been cussing just as much as he was... Did I see a hole in the slider of his reserve? Yikes!

Ok, I think I finally get what you're talking about with rolling the cells before centering the nose...if I understand correctly, this video contradicts what you're saying? He is rolling the nose into the tail? Just want to be sure I understand the step you are describing (at around 3:30.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WXiK89iWhg&NR=1

No offense but you will miss your 'spot' more often than not with that basic approach. Anyway, congrats on 50... time to schedule some night jumps. This is what canopy piloting courses are for! I have to wait two weeks for mine :)

Thanks Spot. I continue to try to flake cleanly. Other reason why I'm asking about how to pack efficiently but without sacrificing the integrity of the canopy/opening, is if the slider travels down the lines too quickly I worry about wearing down the lines/grommets. I'm not quite sure about rolling the cells before centering the nose, I haven't been taught that...I'll just have to watch Jose+Aaron pack next time I'm there.

Sorry, still getting a hang of the terminology. Protecting the nose I meant by when you are done flaking, quarter the slider, pull up the tail, push the nose in to the center cells, and then roll ...? Does that make sense? Do you roll the slider? And roll the nose where? You have a really interesting packing style! No I don't roll the nose/slider, I think I'm just failing at describing how I'm doing it.

Well we were missing our main plane for the last few weeks as it was away for a service and some paperwork. I did jumps 48 and 49 on that day in the little replacement plane that takes ages and only gets to 8000ft. So i was pretty stoked when we were about to board the little plane for my 50th jump when suddenly our big plane came into view over the runway and landed. So got to jump in that back at 13000 ft Didn't do anything special, just some Atmo but it was fun and I had a wonderful skydive and hit my landing right on the spot! Atmo? That's awesome! There are so many different things I need to work on, landing being one of them, so glad to hear you hit your target. :) I'm not sure why my brain just freezes in terms of picking a target to land on--I think I'm so preoccupied with not colliding with other canopies, taking into account winds and flying a sport canopy [which reacts much differently than the student canopies I was used to] during the landing pattern that I don't think about when/where to start my pattern. That's the next thing I have to worry about. :)

Its such a coincidence that this weekend seems to be the one where everyone is learning lessons from doing their own packing. :) I think your point is a good one--complacency in general with this sport plays a big factor in how you progress, or perhaps learn tougher lessons. On the last few pack jobs I have had an experienced skydiver show me the "shortcut" way of packing [i.e. not necessarily having the flake the canopy so neatly and folding it very cleanly.] Now that I'm getting more proficient at packing, I am losing a bit of the meticulous method I learned. I do pack faster and the canopy does open, but I am paying the price now with a bit of a sore neck from harder openings. Basically can we say that harder openings in re: to packing [not body position] can be caused by (1) not protecting the nose and (2) not pushing the slider all the way down before rolling it up into a cone and (3) not rolling the nose into the tail? I have also had small asymmetry with the the canopy inflating more quickly on one side, once the slider has come down, which causes the canopy to dive a little bit. How can I remedy this? Thanks!

How sad.

And I thought love conquers all...

Congratulations! I'm one jump away and feeling the same rush you are. The new challenges and things we learn make it more and more fun, but also make me realize how much I don't know when it comes to flying. Do anything special on your 50th jump? :)

I wanted to revive this thread, despite it being a little old. I did my second tracking dive yesterday, had problems keeping up with the group. I was sinking low and was far behind but I know that's something that I can fix with time and more jumps. My question is, what is the technique/proper body positioning when exiting the plane? I arched once exiting [from the outside float position], but immediately went into a track, in order to not lose the leader. I was essentially going head down at one point, and could see the leader below me. I didn't know what to do from there to flatten out, other than arch more to go belly-earth, which explains why I had sunk so low...any thoughts? Haven't had a chance to look up tracking dive videos on youtube yet.

This pie is soooo gooood! I thought I was the only one who ate these. I would buy one each school term to celebrate me keeping to my diet and exercising right. :) I think they stopped selling it in my local grocery store though. Enjoy!!

Congratulations! I hope to get my coach rating at some point too. Please keep us updated on how your coach jumps go :)

Yeah, that's why I asked--as far as I know there isn't a signal I've learned that means cutaway :) I thought that was what two middle fingers meant... Oh, that means something else. I like Tom's flying turkey signal :)

+1 Thanks for reiterating. I was at a point this weekend where I had to decide whether to jump or not in high winds (15-18mph winds with 22mph gusts). Two of my mentors recommended highly that I not and were happy with my decision not to. On the same day I had a misrouted chest strap that was caught on the ground before we went up. I feel lucky I learned this lesson to scare me before its too late. Be safe and blue skies everyone!

Yeah, that's why I asked--as far as I know there isn't a signal I've learned that means cutaway :)

I'm also NOT an expert, so please ask/confirm with an instructor! This is what experienced skydivers told me on my first tracking dive: To fall faster, you almost want to think about going head down or more vertical to lose altitude more quickly. You can achieve this by maintaining your arch during the track, which will be helped by you keeping your chin up [just as in belly fly]. By decreasing your surface area or making yourself "smaller", become less resistant to the wind thereby allowing you to fly faster. To fall slower, you do the opposite by increasing your surface area presented to the wind by making yourself "bigger." You can do this by spreading your legs a bit further apart, push down on the wind with your hands, and shrug your shoulders as high as your ears. De-arch and cup the wind! Forward drive is the similar principle as in belly, extend legs, and point your toes. To counter this or to slow forward drive, bring your legs in slowly [otherwise someone behind you may crash into you if you slow too suddenly.] Turns you control, just as you would in belly fly, with your arms. Push down on the wind with left hand to bank left, right hand to bank right.

Thanks Dustin, I am lucky to fly with people who teach well and know how to relax :) I have to fly again with you soon, I did my FIRST successful 4-way side body exit. We did I think 3 blocks of zig zag to round ?? Mel and Andrea ARE AWESOME

Elsinore I take it? What left of my brain is packed with those visual memories and you're right...a most beautiful sight! Yep Elsinore. I don't think I can ever leave......I was already tempted with an offer by one of our packers a job to pack tandem rigs because I've been packing my borrowed rig that has a long bridle [which is equivalent to a drogue bridle.... ;)

Congrats to you too! :) Thanks for sharing, if anyone else wants to get in on the bubbly-ness of this thread feel free. I was just very inspired yesterday by my jumps. It's like learning how to walk all over again, except now I remember how hard the learning process can be.

First successful 2-way: did my first side-body points First tracking dive Being here for a friend's successful AFF level 1 First line twist and successful kick out of said line twist without cutaway And to top it all off, sunset jump with extra altitude, exit at 14,000ft. I was last one out so pulled high at 7k. Just watching the sunset over the mountains with wisp of clouds over the top was the most peaceful, beautiful sight I've ever seen. I already bought beer that I'm bringing in the morning :)

Collapsing is pretty awesome when you don't hear the flapping in the wind anymore :)

Congratulations, best wishes on a very successful skydiving career :)

+1 I really can't understand how safety can be seen as a "boring" subject when your life is at stake [put bluntly]. If anything, becoming more familiar and comfortable with safety aspects of a skydive will help me gain confidence in flying...