Weekend for the ages...

[gordonv]

Good for Her!

Try a lemon, if that smile isn't gone yet (hmmm, maybe with some tequila).

[The emperor has no clothes]

Kids look happy, wife looks happy.  But, why do they require a forehead tattoo on completion of 25th jump ? 

[Serk]

Kids look happy, wife looks happy.  But, why do they require a forehead tattoo on completion of 25th jump ? 

Ya' know how motorcycle riders have some traditions based around our passions (Thinking of gremlin bells specifically), well skydivers take the whole danger thing to the next level, skydivers never knock on Death's Door; they ring the bell and run away, Death really hates that.

They also take their traditions to the next level, and one of them is once you've achieved your first solo skydiving license ("A" level, the max is "D" level) they stamp your log book with a big letter "A" and then stamp the forehead of the skydiver, both in celebration, and also so everyone at the DZ can congratulate the new member of the brotherhood of the sky.

Another tradition we participated in is that if you achieve any "first" you owe the group a case of beer. (It's mainly an excuse to sit around and chat with friends. Funny how ever after hours of formal instruction, book learning etc some of the best learning you can do is sitting around a BBQ grill with folks more experienced than yourselves and having a few beers.)

I realize that was probably far more of an explanation than you were after, but there ya' go...

And yeah, she's still bouncy silly happy today. Think I might try to sneak in a new motorcycle while the mood lasts, or at least a new gun or two...

 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Kids look happy, wife looks happy.  But, why do they require a forehead tattoo on completion of 25th jump ? 

Ya' know how motorcycle riders have some traditions based around our passions (Thinking of gremlin bells specifically), well skydivers take the whole danger thing to the next level, skydivers never knock on Death's Door; they ring the bell and run away, Death really hates that.

They also take their traditions to the next level, and one of them is once you've achieved your first solo skydiving license ("A" level, the max is "D" level) they stamp your log book with a big letter "A" and then stamp the forehead of the skydiver, both in celebration, and also so everyone at the DZ can congratulate the new member of the brotherhood of the sky.

Another tradition we participated in is that if you achieve any "first" you owe the group a case of beer. (It's mainly an excuse to sit around and chat with friends. Funny how ever after hours of formal instruction, book learning etc some of the best learning you can do is sitting around a BBQ grill with folks more experienced than yourselves and having a few beers.)

I realize that was probably far more of an explanation than you were after, but there ya' go...

And yeah, she's still bouncy silly happy today. Think I might try to sneak in a new motorcycle while the mood lasts, or at least a new gun or two...

 

That was a perfect explanation. I know nothing about skydiving. 

[Rams]

98 jumps prior to RW flight school.  Found out I prefer to hover. 

Skydiving was fun, enjoy it.   Pretty sure my knees would no longer enjoy the landings.

[Serk]

All good things in life come with risk. The spousal unit got a reminder of that on Saturday. It doesn't help that she went against the direct coaching of her instructor in doing so. (She bought her own rig, and was eager to jump it, but it's a smaller size than she's been jumping. Instructor told her flat out she's not ready to jump that smaller size yet, she jumped it anyway, landed hard and broke her forearm.)



Does anyone know if a sticker will adhere to a cast, because I've got one of these that I'll put on there if it'll stick:

[Jess from VA]

Sorry to see it.

I suppose she's a righty?   

It could have been worse.

I don't want to jump out of an airplane, and I especially don't want to do it with too small a parachute. 

[DirtyDan]

Magic marker ?...... glad she is “ok”  except forearm

Joke.......

Why don’t blind people go skydiving ?

It scares the the STUFF out of the dogs

Dan

[The emperor has no clothes]

Do they use a smaller chute because it’s a smaller backpack ? Or the thrill of coming down faster ?

[Serk]

Sorry to see it.

I suppose she's a righty?   

It could have been worse.

I don't want to jump out of an airplane, and I especially don't want to do it with too small a parachute. 

Yup, she's a righty... And makes her living behind a keyboard and a mouse, but she's adjusting.

Joke.......

Why don’t blind people go skydiving ?

It scares the the STUFF out of the dogs

Not if you train the dog right!

Do they use a smaller chute because it’s a smaller backpack ? Or the thrill of coming down faster ?

Smaller and lighter pack, more nimble, too big of a canopy can be bad too, gets you blown around uncontrollably, etc... Just like we generally advise a new motorcyclist start with a smaller bike and work their way up to higher performance one instead of running out and buying a Hayabusa as their first bike...

[Jess from VA]

Isn't the smaller cute for more steer-ability/maneuverability (or to cover more horizontal distance during the drop), and you land more like a plane on a runway, yanking the risers to stall the chute at the end to slow down (maybe running)?  I've seen it on the TV. 

I still don't want to do it.

[Serk]

Isn't the smaller cute for more steer-ability/maneuverability (or to cover more horizontal distance during the drop), and you land more like a plane on a runway, yanking the risers to stall the chute at the end to slow down (maybe running)?  I've seen it on the TV. 

I still don't want to do it.

Any modern parachute (I.E. not a round one) is flown more like a airplane and lands it with horizontal motion. And yeah, you flare just before you land to slow down a bit more before touching down, learning exactly WHEN to flare is one of the tougher things she's had to learn, since if you do it too soon you'll use up your slowing altitude and plummet, do it too late and you'll bounce neither of which are optimal landing techniques...

Also different parachutists enjoy different aspects of the sport, some are for the freefall, some love piloting a canopy, some like both, some just like to hook up with the jump bunnies that invariably hang around drop zones.

Tarynn couldn't care less about being under canopy, that's just the way to get her back on the ground so she can do more freefall time, for her it's all about that freefall... (I'm the opposite, if I were to get in to it I'd wanna work on canopy piloting and flying it for fun, freefall was an awesome experience, but I really loved the sensation of flying without an airplane. Woulda been even better without some dude strapped to my back though.

You really should do it at least once. Just to know.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Woulda been even better without some dude strapped to my back though.

I imagine just about everything in life would be better without some dude strapped to your back. 

[Serk]

Woulda been even better without some dude strapped to my back though.

I imagine just about everything in life would be better without some dude strapped to your back. 

I agree with you on that one (It happens), although I've got several friends that would probably pay extra to have a guy strapped to heir back.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Woulda been even better without some dude strapped to my back though.

I imagine just about everything in life would be better without some dude strapped to your back. 

I agree with you on that one (It happens), although I've got several friends that would probably pay extra to have a guy strapped to heir back.

(it does happen) I’m not sure we need any details though. 

[Daniel Meyer]

 
Great post! Glad you jumped, sorry for her broken arm. Great pics!

[Jess from VA]

Isn't the smaller cute for more steer-ability/maneuverability (or to cover more horizontal distance during the drop), and you land more like a plane on a runway, yanking the risers to stall the chute at the end to slow down (maybe running)?  I've seen it on the TV.  

I still don't want to do it.

Any modern parachute (I.E. not a round one) is flown more like a airplane and lands it with horizontal motion. And yeah, you flare just before you land to slow down a bit more before touching down, learning exactly WHEN to flare is one of the tougher things she's had to learn, since if you do it too soon you'll use up your slowing altitude and plummet, do it too late and you'll bounce neither of which are optimal landing techniques...

Also different parachutists enjoy different aspects of the sport, some are for the freefall, some love piloting a canopy, some like both, some just like to hook up with the jump bunnies that invariably hang around drop zones.

Tarynn couldn't care less about being under canopy, that's just the way to get her back on the ground so she can do more freefall time, for her it's all about that freefall... (I'm the opposite, if I were to get in to it I'd wanna work on canopy piloting and flying it for fun, freefall was an awesome experience, but I really loved the sensation of flying without an airplane. Woulda been even better without some dude strapped to my back though.

You really should do it at least once. Just to know.

There's a lot of things I should have passed on in my life... instead of doing them just to know.

Like drinking two bottles (they're smaller than big fifths) of Mescal with the worm in them, one night in Rosarita Beach, Mexico (and I spilled some of the first one).  I was told I had a great time, not that I remember, but the next day was like waking up from a bad car accident with a head injury.

There are others.  

[ridingron]

For Christmas I bought a voucher to toss her out of an airplane. 

Reminds me of the movie "Throw Mama from the Train". But from the pictures you appear to be a "little" taller than Danny DeVito.

[Farside]

 :cooldude:e Really cool all round post! 

[Oldfishguy]

I’m with you on the jumping thing.

 A long time ago I made my first and only jump too; what a thrill, scared the crap out of me though.  And I had about 150 hours of flying time at that point.  I did the one day course with the “Dude” instructor and off we went.  In those days we did static line starter jumps by yourself.  I stood on that wheel hanging onto the wing strut at a 100 knots and looked back in at the pilot and thought , “What the hell am I doing out here, when I should be in there!” 

And stepped off the wheel.

The chute opened, I got the Polaraid, and one can sit on that bar stool and talk about the rest of ones life.  One never knows it’s not for you until you try. 

It is the ultimate adrenaline rush for those searching.

[DDT (12)]

Serk,

I signed up to jump back in the late 60s... A guy I worked with was really into it, and I was full of myself, so... All the while, I couldn't help but wonder if I actually had enough courage, or reckless abandon!, and could exit a plane voluntarily... I never found out... And, I've always wondered. I clearly don't have the urge any more, but back then I just might have! Oh well... You do know, however, so I tip my hat to ya!!! I also tip my hat and bow to your SO! Good job, both of you!

DDT

[Stitch_in_La]

Late to the discussion, but if you haven't put the sticker on, fiberglass cast should hold fine.  I think I would need the extra shorts myself.

Chuck