raff

Each year, at this time, I imagine that THIS will be the year. It is so very possible, that I find it hard to believe that it hasn’t ever happened in the 33 years I’ve been skydiving. No fatalities this coming year. Why not? If it were possible to interview any of the folks who have died skydiving, or more accurately in recent years, parachuting, most would say a) their death was not intentional, and b) they’d said it would “never happen to me.” Must it ever be so? I continue to hope.

I’ve done 3500 jumps, mostly tandem since having a knee replaced. It has never been a factor, and my birthday coincides with the cooling of the earth’s crust.

...being ignored. Your choice.

I have two rigs; one with a Stiletto 150 and the other with a brand new Saber 1 - 170, and I'm 235# out the door. Both can be capricious. I put pocket sliders (ask your rigger) on both and they open like dreams.

It's futile, I know, but every year around this time, I start to fantasize about a year with -0- skydiving fatalities. To paraphrase Bill Booth, "People are dying because of decisions they make before they get in the plane." Must it ever be so? If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

Most of us can add two more if you include: The State of Confusion The State of Disarray Just sayin' If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

I'd like to say that my wing loading is 3.1416, but that would be Pi in the sky. If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

"That part about me having to always be right is absolutely wrong!" I've actually heard this comment. Great article. Glad I found it.

"This website does not accurately represent the culture of skydiving." I agree. I was referring to the skydiving culture. If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

You were not there, not knowing me, but you're pretty sure that I have exhibited bad judgement in the past. WOW!I can guarantee you've exhibited bad judgement before. You are coming here to solicit support against the person/persons who have disciplined you at your home DZ. That speaks volumes about your judgement. You have a lot to learn about getting along in the culture; this one and/or any other. If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

I don't know where you jumped or with whom you jumped, but I can think of several JM-related reasons you might have had this experience. They have to do with harnessing and harness adjustment before the jump, and, more importantly, after opening. PM to follow. If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

This IS the term for having the container "flipped through" the lines, either above or below the slider, causing the risers to be twisted. This term has been in use for the thirty years I've been jumping. (This problem may or may NOT evidence itself during a gear check.) If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

Every day I hear a tandem say "I'm glad I did a tandem. I could never have gone alone." Naturally they would say this, given the very limited amount of training they get preparatory to their jump. You, on the other hand, will be given all the information necessary to so a safe AFF skydive, and you will love it. Relax. If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

Two types of DZOs: 1. "Hit 'em as hard as you can once." 2. "Get them to come back as many times as possible." I've worked for both. I don't have to explain which was the more enjoyable environment. If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.

You are right on with the regular exercise suggestion. I would also suggest lots of sun and in the absence of same, a light box. I tend toward SAD and it certainly helps me. Good of you to be sensitive to this person's needs. If you leave the plane without a parachute, you will be fine for the rest of your life.