Lesson Learned

[guest]

So last night after an uneventful freefall from 420' off an A, I CREAMED in HARD!!! I have not mastered the carving flare that would have made this much less painful. However, I am quite sure that had I not been wearing my knee pads, I would not have walked away from this one on my own. All I have to show is a good case of road rash on the hand and a tender wrist. After closer inspection of my knee pads, I found out they definately took the brunt of the crash, one may not even be usable anymore. I am very much a rookie BASE jumper, and every time I don my "gay appearal", I wonder, "do I really need this on this jump"??? Well, last night reaffirmed that I still need my protec, knee and elbow pads on EVERY jump. I'm not saying everyone does, because some of the guys I jump with are EXCELLENT canopy pilots and always touch down extra soft, I think its a personal choice. Anyway, I know alot of other low timers read this stuff so I thought I'd put in my .02 just in case anyone is thinking that "this jump is a no brainer, done it dozens of times, I know the landing area etc etc" My mentor heard me hit and he was still on the object, and my bros on the ground came a runnin' and everyone was concerned so the other lesson I learned was the "brotherhood of BASE" thanks guys, look forward to jumping with you again soon! C-ya 700:7

[guest]

real men don't mind a little blood on their MOJOs!!!
701:7

[guest]

Try wrist guards, like for roller hockey. They have save me from lots of that type injury. I too had road rash on my hands, once. Then I got the wrist guards. Some people have asked about the velcro, it has never been a problem. I've used them on hundreds of BASE jumps, and the marks on them make me happy I wore them.

[imported_Tom Aiello]

Any problems with pitching?

I've worn wrist guards like that, and I'm pretty uncomfortable with the one on my right (pull) hand. I know several people who jump with just one (on the left hand), which is my practice for gnarly objects (low altitude and/or bad landings). I only know one guy who uses both of them, though.

I guess I'm just too scared about a wristguard/pilot chute/bridle entanglement. How long did it take you to get used to them?

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[guest]

Gay apparel???
I have no problem chuckin on my helmet and pads on every jump!!
it is not just the landing you should be thinking of!!
i have many friends who have had many parts of their body still in intact after an object strike because of their Protective equipment!!
If you are worried about how you LOOK when you basejump then maybe you need to take another LOOK at why you basejump!!
its more about how it FEEEELS!!!

anyway i am already a bit odd looking without the pads so i like to think they ENHANCE the look!!

never heard a guy say he didn't think TANK GIRL was SEXY!!!

peace love and mungbeans...7
:x

[space]

700 wrote:
"I have not mastered the carving flare that would have made this much less painful.",
Hmmmm, You have not mastered the half-deep brake approach. It seems your approach is all wrong, That´s a skydiving swoop technique, mostly used at full glide or accelerated speed glides under sport canopies mostly in wide open DZ areas, Try deep brake approaches, you can land in a turn and stand it up, very sweet for tight LZs.
Think of landing your BASE canopy like parking a car in a garage, Full speed to full stop is not a very precise way to park it where you want, I gather you were trying to go from full speed to a turning full stop..Try to park a car like that in a garage.. I´d be impressed.
Hope this helps..
Take care,
space..

[base615]

The Blues Brothers were able to do it!

Craig

[guest]

Yes, but the Blues Brothers were on a mission from God.:D

[guest]

700 wrote:"some of the guys I jump with are EXCELLENT canopy pilots and always touch down extra soft"........you MUST be talkin' about 515, because i know it's not me, or 701........we "thump" in just as often.....i've just been fortunate, and have been able to stay on my feet most of the time!..........keep a LOW profile........70?.........still waiting....hehe

[guest]

You're are so right in what you said, Space. I'm sure many people are flying their canopies like skydivers (and thinking that all other BASE jumpers "just need to learn how to fly their canopies, dude"), but even if they fly them well in places like Moab or other places with wide open landing areas, it doesn't mean that they wouldn't get hurt in sketchier situations. Accuracy might not be "cool" in the typical skydiver-turned-BASEjumper opinion, but it saves limbs in BASE. And feeling confident even knowing that you have to stomp a small clearing amongst tall trees or other obstacles is a good feeling indeed. Accuracy definatley opens up new site possibilities.

[base515]

What was meant by carving flare, was the ability to turn and land at the same time. Sometimes you do it in half brakes, sometimes not in half brakes, all depends on the site, and especially wind conditions. It's usually the low ones, where this ability comes in handy. To turn back into the wind and land at the same time is a skill that every BASE jumper should learn and possess and continue to improve upon. It will save your save your ass.
Mike

ps did you build nice fires in Norway this season?:-)

[base570]

A buddy of mine had a wrist brace on his right hand while going hand-held from the Perrine and had the mesh get caught up on the velcro. The video shows a distinct snag then as the PC inflated more it released. It convinced me not to wear anything on my right hand. I even take of the ring I wear. It sure would suck to get a finger ripped off!

[base570]

700 must not know 515 that well yet because he has been less than graceful on many occasions. Ask him about the gondola jump:D
Nice jumping with you last night 700. If i'm thinking of the same person.

[guest]

Yea, that's me, it was a pleasure as well...and the gondola jump, I saw the video and your audio is classic!!!! Let's do it again sometime soon. c-ya 700