[glamisgirl]

I called a place here in San Diego about sky diving, they said they don't let paras jump, they say that in the past people have slide out of the body harness. Has anyone out there done it? I need an adrenaline fix bad.

[Dancingdolphin]

glamisgirl, on Feb 7 2007, 07:45 PM, said:

I called a place here in San Diego about sky diving, they said they don't let paras jump, they say that in the past people have slide out of the body harness. Has anyone out there done it? I need an adrenaline fix bad.

Hi.....if you look up www.dropzone.com....go into forums into the disabled section..there's a para skydiver there.....he may be able to help you........

Good luck....

[Chilepepper]

glamisgirl I've never heard of that before. I think this guy you were talking to just did not want to admit that he did not want to take a chance with a para. So he lied.

I was talking to this guy who had done 100's of jumps and said it would be no problem for me to jump if I wanted too. At the time I did but I chickend out But I still would love to try it. My problem is I've got a fear of heights. Anyway I would try somewhere else, because I'm sure you can do it.

Dancingdolphin, on Feb 7 2007, 07:49 PM, said:

glamisgirl, on Feb 7 2007, 07:45 PM, said:

I called a place here in San Diego about sky diving, they said they don't let paras jump, they say that in the past people have slide out of the body harness. Has anyone out there done it? I need an adrenaline fix bad.

Hi.....if you look up www.dropzone.com....go into forums into the disabled section..there's a para skydiver there.....he may be able to help you........

Good luck....

Dancingdolphin cool website

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

Hey glamisgirl..... I have 19 jumps to my credit, 5 of those since i've been paralyzed.....I use a batsuit that have braces in the legs, as to keep them stable durring flight. If you have never skydived before, you will need to tandem jump for the first few of times.... Since we are classified as "special needs divers" I would recommend going to a large dive school that has a wind tunnel, those are a HUGE help for us when training.....Once you earn your certification, you won't have issues with chartering planes and freediving on your own.

[Tinbasher]

glamisgirl, on Feb 7 2007, 07:45 PM, said:

I called a place here in San Diego about sky diving, they said they don't let paras jump, they say that in the past people have slide out of the body harness. Has anyone out there done it? I need an adrenaline fix bad.

Did he know what a PARA is?

You could see how a double amp might have difficulty with the harness but with all four limbs you'd need to be rubberboy to slip out!

T

[glamisgirl]

Thanks for your replys. Went to dropzone.com-cool site. Hey Santa Cruz Soul Surfer where do you go? Do you own the batsuit or do they have them where you go?

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

yes, I have my own suit and I run a 124 mamba pack.....Out here, my friends and I fly out of watsonville airport.... Which is only about 15 minutes from santa cruz, which work out great for us!....If you ever head up here, you are more than welcome to come jump with us.

[glamisgirl]

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Feb 9 2007, 06:41 AM, said:

yes, I have my own suit and I run a 124 mamba pack.....Out here, my friends and I fly out of watsonville airport.... Which is only about 15 minutes from santa cruz, which work out great for us!....If you ever head up here, you are more than welcome to come jump with us.

Thanks for the invite, I just might take you up on it.

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

The only thing I ask, is that you get your certifications first.....This is essential if you plan on jumping by yourself....Since you are a T6,7,8 complete, we will have to modify a suit for you once you get one..... You injury is much higher then mine and posses some issues we will have to address ahead of time. Finding a wind tunnel is crucial to this process. If you like, I can ask around for you.?.?

-Christiaan

[glamisgirl]

That dropzone.com listed a bunch of places I can call. Do you think the wind tunnel is a good idea even before my 1st tandum jump?

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

With a tandem jump, you won't have to worry about these issues....I would recommend you spending some time in one, when/if you plan on jumping by yourself....

[bigwheelzrme]

Dancingdolphin, on Feb 7 2007, 10:19 PM, said:

glamisgirl, on Feb 7 2007, 07:45 PM, said:

I called a place here in San Diego about sky diving, they said they don't let paras jump, they say that in the past people have slide out of the body harness. Has anyone out there done it? I need an adrenaline fix bad.

Hi.....if you look up www.dropzone.com....go into forums into the disabled section..there's a para skydiver there.....he may be able to help you........

Good luck....

glamisgirl' somebody is not telling you the truth I I am c3--4 quad and I went tandem twice in 2005 and I'm a big guy six-foot 2 inches tall and 225 pounds I am in Florida and went to http://www.skydivetallahassee.com/ is about 25 miles from my hometown. It was the greatest feeling I've ever felt in my life. So keep trying to find someone because it can be done and it is the most awesome feeling you can imagine.

[bigwheelzrme]

bigwheelzrme, on Apr 13 2007, 05:06 AM, said:

Dancingdolphin, on Feb 7 2007, 10:19 PM, said:

glamisgirl, on Feb 7 2007, 07:45 PM, said:

I called a place here in San Diego about sky diving, they said they don't let paras jump, they say that in the past people have slide out of the body harness. Has anyone out there done it? I need an adrenaline fix bad.

Hi.....if you look up www.dropzone.com....go into forums into the disabled section..there's a para skydiver there.....he may be able to help you........

Good luck....

glamisgirl' somebody is not telling you the truth I I am c3--4 quad and I went tandem twice in 2005 and I'm a big guy six-foot 2 inches tall and 225 pounds I am in Florida and went to http://www.skydivetallahassee.com/ is about 25 miles from my hometown. It was the greatest feeling I've ever felt in my life. So keep trying to find someone because it can be done and it is the most awesome feeling you can imagine.

I forgot to add look at the frequently asked questions page. Here is a quote from that page

What if I have a physical handicap?
We have skydived with many people with various handicaps. Each individual case must be studied for possibilities. Please call us. We want to help you realise your dream and will work something out if possible.

Thanks Mickey.
www.myspace.com/bigwheelzrme

[rjames]

Ricky went skydidiving for his first time a few weeks ago at the drop zone in perris california, Had an awesome time. I'm not so sure I could do it. Sorry the picture files are so big.

Rick

[kabal]

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Feb 9 2007, 11:53 PM, said:

With a tandem jump, you won't have to worry about these issues....I would recommend you spending some time in one, when/if you plan on jumping by yourself....

never thought it would be possible to jump by yourself. What about the landing ? and do u only need braces to ur legs ?can u give me some details about modifications one would need ?

[Chilepepper]

Great pictures. Yes how was the landing? Do you still have to do the same training to prepare yourself for the jump, or since you are doing tandam there was not need to prepare for this?

[Texaswheelz]

WOW, thanks for lighting the fire again. I've been wanting to jump for ever, but every time I've had the money i haven't had the time and when I've had the time I haven't had the money. One of these days though.....

[glamisgirl]

rjames, on Apr 15 2007, 02:23 AM, said:

Ricky went skydidiving for his first time a few weeks ago at the drop zone in perris california, Had an awesome time. I'm not so sure I could do it. Sorry the picture files are so big.

Rick

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The pictures are awsome, it looks like he's having the time of his life. Perris in't too far from San Diego, I'll defenitly be making a trip up there soon. I've read alot of your posts and just wanted to tell you it sounds like you are a killer dad, I hope Ricky knows how lucky he is to have you.

[hockeydahc]

yea like everyone's said. paras can skydive.

I went last Oct. and had it videotaped to show my friends too chicken to go. I'd love to know how to land on my own, because I was unsure, I went tandem. and we landed on the instructor's feet. he didnt even fall carrying my 200 pounds.

How do you keep from shattering everything on impact? I'm a t5/t6 incomplete, and fairly functional, so I'm less likely to throw caution to the wind.

I'm so much waiting for a reply because I want to go again, and its much cheaper single than tandem.

[edlee]

I'm kinda curious about the landing myself.

I tried sky diving once as an AB, and the landing was such that I broke a piece of my tailbone off. I wasn't aware of it until I had an X-ray of my back a year later and was asked about it by the doctor.

Obviously it's possible , but how do you work up to the skills needed when the learning curve is so steep?

I hope it can all be worked out for you as the experience was definitely a rush.

ed

[hockeydahc]

please please someone reply. I'm looking to skydive again, and I want to know how to land on my own so I don't have to tandem.

last jump I went tandem and had it videotaped. i sent it to my SCI doctor, and now shes actually saying she wants to try it. wouldnt that be a trip?!

thanks

[Texaswheelz]

I haven't done it yet, but have you asked the person that you tandemed with or the place where you went what the recommended or thought about you being able to solo jump?

[hockeydahc]

Texaswheelz, on Jun 26 2007, 03:59 PM, said:

I haven't done it yet, but have you asked the person that you tandemed with or the place where you went what the recommended or thought about you being able to solo jump?

of course! but how would an AB know how a para should attempt a landing? I have some mobility, and they said it would be a cinch if I strengthened my leg muscles to be able to hold them up and land on my butt. problem is, I don;t want to cause injury as I'm doing that. I'm not a low injury, I have a t5/6 so a lot of trunk stability is lacking.

[endrik]

hockeydahc, on Jun 29 2007, 12:44 AM, said:

I have some mobility, and they said it would be a cinch if I strengthened my leg muscles to be able to hold them up and land on my butt. problem is, I don;t want to cause injury as I'm doing that. I'm not a low injury, I have a t5/6 so a lot of trunk stability is lacking.

And you are right being cautious. I have some experience - 900+ jumps as an AB and active paraglider pilot ever since. All my butt landings are OK, but:

- when I do land on my butt, it is rather well padded since my paraglider harness is equipped with a kind of airbag (see pics)





- a paraglider has less energy to dissipate at landing than a parachute
- I am really an experienced pilot and can land rather safely, but I can hardly imagine learning such a landing by someone with no previous experience. We did teach two paraplegics to fly and land a paraglider, but they were learning using a chair (visible on some pics and mpgs at my website ). One of them did learn to land on his butt/harness, but only after a couple of weeks using the chair.

Now, there are two kind of speeds when you are approaching ground: sink speed and forward speed. Usual method of landing all aircraft including these we are talking about is to convert your forward speed into climb precisely at the moment you are going to touch down. The problem is, it can be done on a paraglider and on a state-of-the-art parachute, but not on a parachute the students use. And nobody will let you jump a 'fast' parachute from the start on, as it would be suicidal. I myself with would be reluctant to jump it.

There is a paraplegic guy from California jumping a parachute, but he is either landing in the water, or with a kind of lightweight trike: (see also his website)



To sum it up - landing a parachute by a paraplegic theoretically can be done, but there is really a lot of 'ifs' in it. At least a safe system of holding your legs up with some braces and substantial reinforcing of the harness, as the speed needed to keep you flying and not falling is significant. Look at some learning process here and you'll know what I'm talking about - the guy was supposed to slide over water, but with these speeds slight mistake is enough to make water hard. When somebody (instructor) tells you "No problem, let's go for it", this is a very wishful thinking and he is not a person I would trust. When somebody tells you "well, perhaps it could be done, but there are some problems to be be solved..." - you can start talking to him

Good luck nevertheless

[Texaswheelz]

hockeydahc, on Jun 28 2007, 05:44 PM, said:

of course! but how would an AB know how a para should attempt a landing?

I was thinking more along the lines that if they had been working there for awhile and teaching people, then there is a chance that they could have crossed the path's of another para that jumps on his own coming through there, thus giving them some insight as to how one might go about doing it.

[hockeydahc]

I see. no they were all walking in circles confused how to approach it. until one guy stepped up that had tandemed a para before. no one but him was any help.

[wheeels]

I am a T12 incomplete I have some function but not a lot, cant walk but can stand for about a min.
I did a solo jump from 11,000 feet post injury with afo's and the student gear.
I landed with the help of about 4-5 people catching me as a came in.

[WilliamCraig]

How do you land in a parachute. Those pics have a guy with his knees down and other ones have it butt down. One slip and you could end up looking like a pretzel.

I'd have to get paid to do that lol

[hockeydahc]

i'd hate to put all my hopes into several people lining up just right to catch my 200 pounds. I had a good tandem experience, but to go solo again... I just need as much info on landing as possible. any way to land completely solo and safely. just people standing by to bring my cair to me is all I want.

[Califanna]

wheeels, on Jul 7 2007, 04:58 PM, said:

I am a T12 incomplete I have some function but not a lot, cant walk but can stand for about a min.
I did a solo jump from 11,000 feet post injury with afo's and the student gear.
I landed with the help of about 4-5 people catching me as a came in.

Do you have any pics.? I have braces too, but just maneurving to where the people are must have been a feat in itself. Please share pics. if you have them.

I want to jump, but wonder if SantaCruz Surfer has more information about where he trained???
Califanna