skydivecat

For first CRW jumps that we coach, we have a hard deck on docks of 3k. We want to give plenty of time to practice flare and get a feel for landing the Lightening. As they progress, it can be variable based on skill, comfort, type of dock, decision altitude and scenario as discussed above.

Long story short, shoulder was injured and requires surgery. Anyone else been through this that wouldn't mind sharing their experiences and recommendations for recovery?

Why choose? Jump at both. I do. Both have a ton to offer depending on your attitude and what you're looking for on any given weekend!

Sunshine Superman

Camping is always and option and so is the bunkhouse. Look forward to seeing you out here in May!

I apologize for not being more clear in my reply. I did not mean to imply it had never been done or never could be done, more that it was not a usual method of student learning that is commonly offered as training anywhere I have seen/jumped. If that is something you do at your dz, then I learned something new.

Heavier/larger jumpers can wear suits that will assist in slowing down their fall rate. Small/light jumpers also can wear suits that help them fall fast and wear weight belts. Congrats on your weight loss so far and definitely keep working. The more weight you are able to lose the easier it will be for you to jump with others once you get licensed. After getting licensed, get some coaching and really focus on body position for flying. If you have a wind tunnel accessible, that is a great place to do that type of training. I'm a 5'6 female with an average/athletic build and my jump buddy after getting licensed was another newbie, 240lb guy. I could stay with him no problem. The more weight you have the tougher it can be but it sounds like you're taking awesome steps to get where you want. Once you start jumping, I find I always lose weight at the dz. jumping always seems to win out over eating

Competitive 4 Way flyer here... First, how about asking the solo if the mind getting off and offering to buy their next jump. It's not a tell, it's an ask. Makes a pretty big difference on how that is received. If solo says no, team gets off and remanifests. Just because we are a team doesn't mean anyone else's jump matters less. Also agree to the statement of if the 4 way team didn't have video, can't be that serious of a team. And 3 slots ($75ish) should not make or break a dzs bottom line.

Asking the same question different ways does not change the answer: an instructor cannot fly down to help you on a static line jump, no matter what altitude you jump from. A student jump = personal responsibility. If you are unable to handle or accept that, you should not jump. No, you cannot do a tandem static line jump.

Even if an IAD instructor jumps after you, there is no "helping" you. Skydiving is a sport centered on personal responsibility. You cannot rely on anyone else to help or do it for you, whether you choose IAD or AFF. Yes, in AFF, instructors are with you until pull time, once your parachute is deployed however, it is on YOU to react, deal with any possible malfunctions, steer and land. If you want to jump with an instructor there to help, do a tandem first. Deciding to become a student jumper needs to come with the understanding that no one is going to be able to take all the risk away or be there to help when/if shit hits the fan.

Mid America Sport Parachute in Taylorville IL isn't too far. Look them up on FB, group is friendly and helpful! Fly Free in Festus looks like it will be open this weekend. Also on FB. Shoot either a message, they'll help you out!

One of my 4 way teammates has a shoulder brace he wears for all tunnel and jumping. I am not helpful enough to know what it is or who makes it, but I do know that they exist...

Be very comfortable landing out. Know how to identify obstacles and wind direction.

As a belly flyer with a lower wingloading on a typical jump at a busy turbine dz, my entire canopy flight is spent locating the other canopies I am going to be in the air with and setting myself up for a safe landing. I find the small zippy canopies who are going to overtake me, I look for the guy with the huge canopy who insists on spiraling down but I'll end up passing once they stop diving. I look for my teammates to make sure they opened ok. I figure out who I'm on level with and will be entering/flying the pattern/landing with so we can share the air and all land safely where we are aiming. I set myself up to fly a predictable pattern while giving myself outs for someone doing something unpredictable or for myself misjudging the conditions. If I want to play, enjoy the view, or practice canopy skills, I do a dedicated canopy jump or exit last/pull high.

It depends.... What's your experience level? What's your altitude? What canopy types? Are sizes similar? Are they playing nice? Landing area options? How/why did the 2 out happen? And most important, are they entangled in any way and are you SURE enough of that to risk it when you have enough material flying over your head to land safely? These are all the questions I would ask myself before deciding anything. What a student/newer jumper should do varies drastically from what an experienced crw dawg or jumper would feel comfortable doing. I was taught that if they are playing nice to not touch a thing (besides disconnecting RSL), don't unstow brakes, anything. Only steer with lite outside rear input to avoid obstacles (for side by side, for biplane the dominant/more overhead canopy) or a dangerous landing situation, if it downplanes, cutaway main. Don't flare, PLF. I'm inclined to lean that direction but have heard arguments for and against... it's a situation I have thought a lot about and hope to never be in.