48 replies to this topic

[kate]

This site is worth checking out for all those concerned about being able to skydive solo... Russel is going for his BASE number!

[endrik]

kate, on Nov 15 2007, 04:03 PM, said:

This site is worth checking out for all those concerned about being able to skydive solo... Russel is going for his BASE number!

That's the address I already gave in my earlier post, perhaps not ponting it out enough
Still you have to remember that the hard part is the (not shown) landing - and they are landing in the water as standard. As for landing on the ground, I described it previously.

Edited by endrik, 11 January 2008 - 06:33 PM.

[1ab]

My name is Angus Smith and I am a tandem and solo freefall skydiving instructor in Canada. I have approx 6000 skydives (27 years) and 1700 tandem instructor jumps (16 years). I have done approx. 20 tandems with persons of various disabilities (paraplegic, quad., MS, MD, blind, etc....).

I am currently involved with freefall and parachute training for a women, Minna Mettinen_Kekalainen, who requires the use of a wheel chair. She has no control or feeling in her legs (due to ALS), but has hip flexor contol (which is a big advantage for freefall). She also has some finger control issues.

So far Minna has done 12 tandem jumps since last fall and has recently completed 2 instructor assisted solo skydives. We have also completed some wind tunnel training, which is HIGHLY recommended. We hope to get Minna jumping completely solo (no instructor assistance) by the end of June 2008.

I don't know of any skydiving facility that speciallises in this type of training, but generally the larger operations would have a larger collection of expericanced staff available. I would like to stress to anyone that is thinking of taking up skydiving (including ABs) that it is a very intensive activity that requires sufficient amounts of capability, time and money. It is even more intensive if adaptive equipment and techniques are involved. Only HIGHLY experianced instructors should be utilised. Aquiring the services of a suitable instructor MAY be difficult, as these persons are usually very constrained on available time (due to their capabilities). Freefall training when adaptive equipment and techniques are used is more time consuming.

I am NOT an expert on physical limitations due to disabilities, but as with ABs, there are some situations where freefall and parachute landings are not possible, unless the tandem method is employed. Every case is different. Similarly we have turned away some people due to their mental conditions (unable to focus, incapacity to learn the basics, etc...).

The most critical questions that need to be answered are:

-Can unassisted freefall stability be achieved (with or without adaptive equipment - leg braces, etc..)?
-Can unassisted parachute landing be achieved in a safe and controlled manner?

The wind tunnel is a GREAT tool to answer the question regarding freefall stability. I adopted the equipment that was used by Peter Hewitt (para from South Africa), who re-learned to skydive after an accident on his 27th jump. He had custom leg braces and special freefall pants built to help him stabalise his legs. I have also communicated with numerous other individuals, who have managed to be succesful in overcoming their own physical limitations.

My recommendations regarding parachute landings is: Do a bunch of tandems (with the same instructor) BEFORE attempting a solo landing. A veteran instructor will be able to talk you thru the landing techique and be able to decide for you if it is safe for you to continue. The parachute of choice will be a BIG one. Slower is better and more predictable. Large sized student parachutes are the best choice. Also regarding landings, the conditions (wind) for landings will be more constained for persons that can not stand or walk. The landing accuracy is also critical, as off drop zone landings are potential a more dangerous situation for people without mobility.

This is not an activity that can be taken lightly, so be certian that it is something that you really want. The rewards can be amazing, especially when everyone says " it can't be done".

Please find attached photo of Minna on her first Instructor Assisted Freefall.

Blue Skies,

Angus Smith

Attached Thumbnails

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[Abbey22]

I went sky diving for the first time this past weekend and it was incredible!!! I went to a place in Titusville, FL (near Orlando) and the instructors didn't blink an eye. I will def. be going back...jumping out of an airplane at 15,000 feet is so addicting!!!

[Chilepepper]

Abbey22, on Jul 13 2008, 09:26 PM, said:

I went sky diving for the first time this past weekend and it was incredible!!! I went to a place in Titusville, FL (near Orlando) and the instructors didn't blink an eye. I will def. be going back...jumping out of an airplane at 15,000 feet is so addicting!!!

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Now that is cool. How was the landing?

Cheers

[Abbey22]

The landing was actually really smooth...we put a strap around my knees and right before we landed I pulled on the strap to pull my legs up to my chest...nothin to it!

[Slowlegs]

glamisgirl, on Feb 7 2007, 09:45 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.

I have definitely heard of someone who tried it. He was a para or amputee and I think he ended up doing fine other than when he was free falling one of his legs came up and kicked him in the head. It may even have been in a book about Douglas Bader.

[twisted_ophelia]

I actually emailed a couple skydiving places over the weekend around Ontario to see if they have issues letting me jump. It will be my first time and I've talked a couple of the boys at my shop into doing it with me. Now we just need to find the best place in the area to try it out. If anyone is in Ontario (particularly around Toronto) and knows of a good place, let me know.

[Yasko]

Nice pics! I was wondering how much they charge for the jump?

[twisted_ophelia]

I got an email back from The Parachute School here in the Toronto area (they are located about an hour outside of Toronto) and they said they are more than happy to have me skydive which is awesome. They said that it just takes some extra prep time but it's "not a big deal" to get me in the air. So I think we're gonna do it in mid-June. Yay! Their website lists the various prices http://www.parachuteschool.com/ and a tandem jump is $299 CDN.

[Yasko]

twisted_ophelia, on May 19 2009, 08:55 PM, said:

I got an email back from The Parachute School here in the Toronto area (they are located about an hour outside of Toronto) and they said they are more than happy to have me skydive which is awesome. They said that it just takes some extra prep time but it's "not a big deal" to get me in the air. So I think we're gonna do it in mid-June. Yay! Their website lists the various prices http://www.parachuteschool.com/ and a tandem jump is $299 CDN.

Thanks for the update Mimi. I would love to jump but my wife is terrified.
Take care girl!

[twisted_ophelia]

Yasko, on May 20 2009, 09:56 AM, said:

Thanks for the update Mimi. I would love to jump but my wife is terrified.
Take care girl!

It took me a while to talk two of my friends into going with me. They're not chickens either, they're into a lot of different adrenaline-rush type of things like drag racing and motorcycle racing and they were like 'uhhh... i dunno......' It's amazing how many people find skydiving to be beyond terrifying and don't want to do it. I've been asking more friends if they want to join us and everyone is saying no way. I can't wait to do it! I can only imagine how awesome the feeling of falling out of the sky will be! I'm going to email the Parachute back and see what they mean by the extra prep work because I'd to know what the deal is before we get there and start getting ready to jump. The price is a lot more reasonable than I thought it would be, I thought it would cost at least double that to do it. Off-topic, but now that it's summer, I cannot WAIT to start wake-boarding again. I have my own adapted wake-board that a friend of mine made for me a few years ago and I think I'm going to rent a cottage up in Wasaga Beach with a few pals for a week, also in June, that includes a private dock/boat rental and have a blast all week long. Ah, I love summer.

Edited by twisted_ophelia, 20 May 2009 - 04:58 PM.

[CollegeGirl]

Aw, I'm way excited!! I've always wanted to sky dive and I thought before how awesome it would be to go with my boyfriend. I didn't know if he'd be able to to since his a quad C-5, but from the looks of this thread I'm thinking it's possible! I will definately be asking him! Hopefully he'd be able to cause I think it'd be way fun!

Twisted, good luck on your dive! Please come back and let me know how it goes! I'm very curious and anxious to hear about it! Also, your FRIEND made you a wake-board? Wow, good friend, and very handy for them to know how to do that for you!!! Keep him/her around for future use for sure!

Anyone here a quad and has done sky diving before??

[twisted_ophelia]

CollegeGirl, on May 23 2009, 11:28 PM, said:

Aw, I'm way excited!! I've always wanted to sky dive and I thought before how awesome it would be to go with my boyfriend. I didn't know if he'd be able to to since his a quad C-5, but from the looks of this thread I'm thinking it's possible! I will definately be asking him! Hopefully he'd be able to cause I think it'd be way fun!

Twisted, good luck on your dive! Please come back and let me know how it goes! I'm very curious and anxious to hear about it! Also, your FRIEND made you a wake-board? Wow, good friend, and very handy for them to know how to do that for you!!! Keep him/her around for future use for sure!

Anyone here a quad and has done sky diving before??

Yup, it has the shittiest homemade adaptations to the wakeboard you can possibly imagine but it works great and gets the job done--and is RELATIVELY safe ! He's used to building stuff and playing around and we did some experimenting with it one summer.

Anyway, back to skydiving! I think we're going to jump the second weekend in June. Weekends are the busiest time at my shop so we're debating about whether or not to try book it for mid-week sometime. Either way, I can't wait! I'm sure that you could find a way for a quad to jump as well. He'd probably love it!

[knightrider]

CollegeGirl, on May 24 2009, 04:28 AM, said:

Anyone here a quad and has done sky diving before??

I'm not a quad but i do have a friend who's a C4 who done a jump last september, So depending what your skydive centre is like, i'm sure they would be more than helpful to get your BF in the plane and do a jump. My friend loved it and had no problems.

[CollegeGirl]

knightrider, on May 27 2009, 08:24 AM, said:

CollegeGirl, on May 24 2009, 04:28 AM, said:

Anyone here a quad and has done sky diving before??

I'm not a quad but i do have a friend who's a C4 who done a jump last september, So depending what your skydive centre is like, i'm sure they would be more than helpful to get your BF in the plane and do a jump. My friend loved it and had no problems.

Awesome! Thanks so much! I'm sure it will take some doing to figure out how we could get him up there and out of the plane (not to mention talking him into doing it) but I'm sure I will figure out a way to work my magic ;)

Any other helpful hints/tips would be wonderful!!

[tmcph]

CollegeGirl, on May 27 2009, 06:53 PM, said:

knightrider, on May 27 2009, 08:24 AM, said:

CollegeGirl, on May 24 2009, 04:28 AM, said:

Anyone here a quad and has done sky diving before??

I'm not a quad but i do have a friend who's a C4 who done a jump last september, So depending what your skydive centre is like, i'm sure they would be more than helpful to get your BF in the plane and do a jump. My friend loved it and had no problems.

Awesome! Thanks so much! I'm sure it will take some doing to figure out how we could get him up there and out of the plane (not to mention talking him into doing it) but I'm sure I will figure out a way to work my magic ;)

Any other helpful hints/tips would be wonderful!!

i'm contacting places in CA to skydive this summer, i can't wait because i've always wanted to. i've heard of quads jumping but haven't talked to any of them. i'll let you know how it goes

also, being a quad he won't be able to put up much a fight or be able to run away, just take him to the plane, strap him to a chute & send him flying!

Edited by tmcph, 29 May 2009 - 05:34 PM.

[Mandy B]

www.parachutecenter.com. It is in Lodi, CA I called there and they said that they will do it. We were going to go but my brother chickened out LOL

[animadversor]

I'm a C5/6 and hve jumped tandem 3 times. My first 2 rocked-i had an awesome guy that took the time to plan the entire process with me.

3rd jump was a gong show. i booked my day 3 weeks in advance and tried REPEATEDLY to get a planning session w/ the guy i was to be strapped to. in the end i had 10 minutes of prep time. wound up with 2 broken legs. (that was 6 mnths ago. i just got the all clear from my doc that i'm fully healed and have booked this summer's jump already)

Don't be scared to jump, just plan it carefully and make sure you're comfortable with the team/process before you jump. The rush of free fall is sooo worth it!