Wind Limits
Wind Limits
Feb 17By Merry Regan Gusty winds are common at Skydive Spaceland and many other dropzones. As an experienced jumper, I have thought a lot about what my personal wind limit is–in other words, when I will sit down even though the dropzone is not on a wind hold. Recently, I made the decision not to jump after watching other fun jumpers and tandems land. Later in the day, the tandems went on a wind hold. I was surprised to see that many newer jumpers flying larger canopies with lighter wing loadings than I have continued to jump that morning and afternoon, even after the dropzone put the tandems on a hold. Once you graduate STP, you are responsible for determining your own wind limit. What is safe for someone with 100-200 jumps flying a canopy loaded around 1.0 is very different from what is safe for someone with thousands of jumps on a crossbraced canopy. To quote Brian Germain,”…until your skills and knowledge are ready to fly smaller, faster parachutes, you should stay out of the sky until the winds come down. I still haven’t been hurt by a jump I didn’t do.” There are many questions you can ask yourself and ways to observe the conditions at the DZ that will help you make a safe, informed choice. I often ask myself the following: Are people with more experience than me sitting it out? Particularly, are people with thousands of skydives standing down? How are the landings of other people jumping canopies loaded similarly to yours? Are they coming straight down or landing backwards? Are their canopies “breathing” a lot or do you see their end cells folding under? What is the spread between the peak gust and lowest reading on the wind-meter at manifest? Is the wind sock standing straight up and then going limp or whipping up and down? What is the wind direction and is it consistent or changing? Are there obstacles near my target landing area that are likely to cause turbulence? Just because you can jump, doesn’t mean you should. What is your personal wind limit? What do you consider when you decide whether or not it is safe for you to jump? Factors You Should Consider How your canopy’s groundspeed will affect your accuracy and landing Consider the speed of the upper winds and the speed of the winds on the ground. If...
Helaine Rumaner
Helaine Rumaner
Aug 20First jump June 1998, a few of my friends were making a tandem and they invited me, so I said yes! Jumps 2,600+ Ratings USPA Coach Future ratings none Container Javelin Odyssey, I like it Main canopy I have a Samurai 105 and a Sabre2 107 Favorite discipline Relative work (belly flying) Skydiving Training Mile High in Colorado Most common mistake you see new jumpers make? Men assume women can do the same thing when they first start out. They don’t realize the student rigs can be way too big and overwhelming. I wish there were smaller rigs for new women jumpers to fly. Watching and reaching for the ground when they land. I think everyone should go through a canopy course and have someone video their...
Rita Sandt
Rita Sandt
Aug 20First jump 2010, for fun! Jumps 650+ Ratings none Future ratings USPA Coach Container Infinity for comfort and safety Main canopy Pulse 150 for confidence while landing in all conditions Favorite discipline Relative work (belly flying), Freeflying Skydiving Training Skydive Skyranch What would you most like to improve about the sport of skydiving? Everything. There is always room for improvement! Most common mistake you see new jumpers make? Jumping in conditions that exceed their limitations and comfort zones. Know yourselves and don’t let anyone pressure...
Brooke Fleming
Brooke Fleming
Aug 20First jump May 20th, 2012!! Two weeks prior I was 100% against Skydiving but I was forced to drive my fiance out there to do his first jump. After seeing the excitement on everyone’s face around the DZ and realizing that the world of skydiving was nothing remotely close to what I thought it was it decided to give it a try. Jumps 230 Ratings none Future ratings USPA Coach Container I am the proud owner of a Javelin Odyssey and I LOVE IT!! I love the custom fit and design. I have been blown away by the excellent customer service I have received from SUNPATH and to top it all off SKYHOOKS are awesome!! Main canopy I fly a Spectre 120; it is super easy to pack, the openings are docile and consistent and it flies like a champ!! Favorite discipline Freeflying Skydiving Training Skydive Spaceland What would you most like to improve about the sport of skydiving? How naive new jumpers are to the dangers of freeflying generally not considering the increased rate at which things are occurring and how very little input can make a huge difference. Get coaching!! Most common mistake you see new jumpers make? Disregarding the winds is one of the most common mistakes I see new jumpers make. Once they are no longer under the supervision of instructors, most new jumpers don’t have a personal wind limit, which can be potentially dangerous. A wise person once told me, “It is always better to be on the ground wishing you were in the sky, than to be in the sky wishing you were on the ground.” –Fly safe,...
Jessica Rankin
Jessica Rankin
Aug 20First jump 2008, it was a gift from my brother, the whole family participated. Jumps 600ish Ratings none Future ratings USPA Coach Container Javelin for now because it fit and was cheap but waiting on my new vector to come in!!!! Main canopy Katana 107, because I enjoy flying it!!!:) Favorite discipline Freeflying Skydiving Training Skydive Spaceland What would you most like to improve about the sport of skydiving? Female retention and more awareness in new jumpers…… For example what is ground speed, jump run, why should you know?! Canopy safety!!!! Let’s not be those “ignorance is bliss jumpers”. Most common mistake you see new jumpers make? Not asking questions! Educate yourself!!!! Be safe and know why you do what you...