What dropzones have you been to? What kind of Chute? How Many Jumps?
By OOHCUTE2340
@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
United States
January 6, 2007 5:29am CST
I took my first jump in Orange Mass. It was awesome, but very clumsy -- I exited looking down (oops!) the chute (static line jump) open between my legs -- thank goodness I didn't get tangled in it -- I couldn't wait to go again. I did a few jumps at Zephyr-hills outside of Tampa, but alas I broke my leg, dislocated my ankle (corkscrewed in the ground) I was jumping with an old T-10 army chute I had bought it brought me down fast and I made a canopy adjustment to close to the ground and wound up in cast for the longest time. That kinda ended my skydiving days! But I am greatful for the experience, my family always thought it was some kind of death with -- I just said "Girls just wanna have fun" -- It's a trip - if you haven't and you want too you should :)
1 person likes this
3 responses
@fotychic (318)
• United States
8 Jan 07
I have only been skydiving once, in Florida. But it was the biggest rush of my life! My family, too, thought that I was crazy for doing it! But it was something that I had always wanted to do, and I don't regret it for a moment. I would do it again in a heartbeat, if I had the chance too!
2 people like this
@Silverchic (396)
• Australia
10 Jan 07
I would give my right arm to jump at Zephyr Hills! (Ok maybe not because I would need it for the jump) I've jumped quite a few of the dz's in New Zealand, one in Australia (soon to be more) but would love to see what a large American dz is like...and I've heard nothing but good things about ZH!
Most of my family think I'm nuts as well...I think that's just standard though! lol There isn't all that many parents out there that would encourage their children to skydive...and the ones that do are generally skydivers themselves!
Have you ever thought about jumping again? I had a bad accident that kept me on the ground for about 3 months but never considered not getting back in the air...
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@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
10 Jan 07
I think about jumping again at times, but I am getting older and the body doesn't take abuse as well as it used too. Although the technology of today for chutes has improved immensely, I'm told you can land "light as a feather" with the new squares etc. My knee is still 'messed up' from my accident and I'm sure it could take it even with a light landing.
I highly recommend jumping Z-hills, it is a great dz with people from all over the world jumping, they had a DC10 when I was jumping there, so I got to do some "stand up" exits, and actually my first free fall -- see now I'm talking about it I getting all geared up to do it again. I hope that you get to Z-hills some day soon. In the mean time take care and keep jumping safe! :)
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@Silverchic (396)
• Australia
10 Jan 07
He he...love the reference to the "new" squares! lol Yes they are a lot easier on landings than the rounds were - you have a lot more control and of course you aren't just going straight down! =)
Maybe take yourself up and do a tandem...or if you still have your licences go and get them recurrent and hire a nice big 240 square foot canopy for the day! =) Something like that will get you back to Mother Earth safe and sound!
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@OOHCUTE2340 (761)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Wow, a lot must have changed over the years, am I to understand you now need a "license" to jump out a plane! Is that just in New Zealand?
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@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
27 Mar 07
I haven't had the pleasure of Zephyr Hills, but it is almost legendary, isn't it.
My DZs are mostly from my military days.
~Fryar DZ (Alabama) was where I landed for my first 5 jumps. (army Jump school).
~I was in the Utah National Guard (19th Special Forces) at the time, so for the next year I was a dirt dart on Williams West DZ (Utah).
~I went Active Army as a parachute rigger, so my next jumps were at Blackstone DZ (VA), complete with the dreaded "Final test" for riggers... you get to jump the first paracute you ever packed (if you can ask how you did, you probably passed. ;~D )
~Then I spent the next 6 years at Fort Bragg, landing on one of a dozen or more DZs.
~After the Army I went to Ricks College in Rexburg Id. I made another dozen or so sport jumps there, onto a DZ with no name. Just a slip of tall grass west of I-15.
~"In a full malfunction, how long do you have to open your reserve?
~~The rest of your life. ;~D
