Archive for November, 2009

 

Back to BASE – 25. November, 2009


Last week I mentioned that I’ve been thinking more and more about my participation in BASE jumping.


Since then, it seems that the universe is tempting me even more by placing BASE videos square in front of my face. The BASE gods are calling me to the dark side (wait, that’s freefly…I’m confusing myself here).


Anyhow, given that it’s the day before Thanksgiving, I thought it appropriate to make a quick post about how thankful I am for the opportunities I have to huck myself out of aircraft, off balloons and one day, static objects.


I’m also extremely thankful for the video technologies available for us narcisistic jumpers to capture all these adventures and show them off to all our whuffo friends.


Here are a few of the videos that have found their way into my life recently. Hope they make your mouth water for BASE as much as they have mine. Enjoy!


A video by Dan Pushies, one of the tandem instructors at Skydive Tecumseh, featuring Ian, another jumper buddy I met in Michigan this year. This is going to be BAD ASS!


Raw footage from Jump Cuts – Rick’s jump at Bridge Day 2009


Click here to see Traventure Man’s Bridge Day Preview video. It’s a fun two minutes – with a snippet of my interview as well!


Blue Skies, turkeys!


Ashley

2 Comments
Posted in BASE Jumping

Winter vacation: skydiving – 23. November, 2009


Last year, after taking a week-long trip to the Caribbean at the end of the winter, I made a decision that every year I’d take at least one vacation to warmer climates to rejuvinate. Trips of 5+ days are just plain good for the soul.


Naturally, this year my trip will revolve around skydiving – which is also highly beneficial to the soul, if I do say so myself.

bora-bora(Do you think they skydive in Bora Bora?)


The dilemma that keeps rearing it’s ugly head is the where factor. Mid-season this year we had a number of friends who were planning a trip to Eloy for a week around Valentine’s Day. I was pumped! It was skydiving buddies from Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. But recent conversations prove that people are changing their minds at a quick clip.


Between boogies in Puerto Rico, Florida and Arizona throughout the winter, we skydivers are torn on where to end up.


Personally, I wouldn’t mind going to Florida and visiting a few DZs, including Skydive Miami where my career started at the end of my last vacation. But I also know that sticking to a single DZ and/or boogie will be a much more relaxing experience than chasing DZs for a week.

Tandem 1(With instructor Randy on the skydive that changed my life)


As of now, it’s me and my freefly partner making plans. Of course, we’re both pretty bad when it comes to making definititve decisions. It would be great to have other friends come along as well, though if it just ends up being us, I’m sure we’ll have no problem making new freefly friends at a week-long boogie.


So what are y’all planning for winter skydiving? Anyone going to an exciting boogie in warmer climates? We’re open to suggestions.


Blue skies!


Ashley

2 Comments
Posted in Drop Zones, Freefly, I'd Rather Be Skydiving, Jump buddies, Skydiving Community

BASE on the brain – 18. November, 2009


Until recently, BASE jumping was something I saw as too dangerous to even contemplate. I mean seriously? Who in their right mind hurls themselves off an object only hundreds of feet above the LZ, just to see if their one parachute is going to open?


Even as a skydiver who has come to love and trust my canopy as a life-saving device, I still couldn’t wrap my head around this seemingly life-threatening version of parachuting.

IMG_4127*Photo by Sandy Weltman


But since my visit to Bridge Day back in mid-October, and having seen the care taken with safety, packing and preparation, BASE jumping continues to be a regular topic of conversation between Rick and me.


As my trusted freefly partner, and someone who’s done his share of BASE jumping over the years, my considerations to take the plunge from a static object include him standing by my side.

IMG_2779_2

*Photo by Ashley Mead (We’ve talked about doing a 2-way like this at next year’s Bridge Day)


It’s an exciting picture, though not without it’s dangers.


For me, there are a few things that stick in my head when contemplating making my first BASE jump:


  • There’s no reserve parachute. You’ve only got one shot. REALLY? But doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance?
  • With the extremely low altitudes, a reserve would do you no good, anyhow. It also doesn’t give you much chance to toss your pilot. This girl certainly won’t be going stowed for a while.
  • On most jumps, your accuracy is critical as landing areas tend to be small. This is why the Perrine looks so desirable for my first.
  • The scary stat that 1 in 10 BASE jumpers die doing this. (read: 1 in 10 jumpERS, not 1 in 10 jumps…things like Bridge Day would never take place if that was the case). On the up side, at least they go doing what they love, right?


Most of these things are points of anxiety because they differ from skydiving. And frankly, the prospect of a badly timed flare that could break any number of body parts scares me to no end.


I hear it’s all about the PLF, but my stubborn ass just might decide I need to walk it out. Yep, I’m chick enough to admit that!


As I mentioned, I’d like to make my first jump off the Potato Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho. It’s a legal jump with a landing area that was cleared by parachutists so you’ve got room for error. Though I’ve been told that Bridge Day is by far the best place to make your first BASE, as you have access to a first jump course that teaches you all you need to know about safety, packing, and making the jump.


Personally, I’d rather not go through all that. Some of my skydiving friends are also accomplished BASE jumpers, I should have no trouble finding a mentor to show me the ropes. And it’s something we can do on our own time.


This is definitely still just an idea in the making, but the longer I’m in the sport, the more appealing new experience, like BASE, seem to grab my attention.


Ultimately, I’d love to do this the right way – to find a mentor to walk me through it, have someone to show me the ropes, teach me how to pack, so that when the day comes and I’m standing on the edge of that bridge, or piece of Earth, that I can know just how prepared I am to make this jump.


What are some of the steps that you took for your first BASE jump? Did you have a mentor or did you grab a rig and wing it? Was your first object a bridge, antenna…?


Blue skies!


Ashley

2 Comments
Posted in BASE Jumping, Under Canopy

Jumping with Gloves – 17. November, 2009


When I first started skydiving back in April, I was lucky that the weather was warm enough that I didn’t require too many layers, even at altitude.


Though after my first few AFF jumps, we had a spring cold spell here in NE Ohio and I was donning gloves and a hoodie. I was nervous the first time jumping with gloves. I was so used to reaching back and grabbing the hackey with my bare hands that I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to feel it, or worse yet, find it with gloves on.


Luckily, my winter gloves have grippers on the palms and fingers, so I felt confident that deploying my pilot ‘chute would not be an issue.


Sure enough, the gloves worked perfectly. In fact, I came down from that skydive with a preference for  gloves. Not only do they keep my fingers nice and toasty at altitude (as we’re all aware that I’m a little bit of a freeze baby), but they protect my hands in freefall too. After all, haven’t we all had those moments of,” hey, my hand is bleeding…how did that happen.”


No, just me? Well, okay then.


IMG_4077(Suited up in my RW gear, gloves and all)


Until the heat of summer set in, I was in the habit of donning gloves before every jump. It was something I became quite accustom to. It’s also something I’ve had to do this fall in order to ensure I can feel my hands post-freefall to work my toggles properly.


Not many of my skydiving buddies wear gloves on a regular basis, but I’ve heard from some who swear by it. I suppose it’s all what you get used to over time.


For me, gloves are where it’s at – though we’ll see if that holds true during heat waves next summer.


What’s your preference? Gloves or no gloves in freefall?


Blue skies!


Ashley

7 Comments
Posted in Free Fall, Jump buddies, Skydiving Gear

Dropzone Newbies – 12. November, 2009


We’ve all been there. Walking into a dropzone, practically shaking with nerves, knowing you’ll shortly be jumping out of an airplane for the first time.


On top of that, you’re entering a new world. A place that experienced jumpers call home, where the people are a community of their own. It’s completely new territory. And can be rather intimidating.


But from what I’ve seen this season, it’s all what you make of the experience.


As a girl who’s visited and jumped at seven different dropzones this year, I’ve become accustom to beng the DZ newbie Luckily, almost every experience has been beyond positive.

IMG_4091(Dirt diving a hybrid with friends I’ve met in and around my home DZ)


Skydivers are some of the most welcoming and encouraging people around. We love having visitors at our home DZ and we welcome new jumpers and students with open arms. It’s not uncommon for experienced skydivers to recruit  new students, either. After all, expanding our niche community with cool new jumpers can only be a good thing, right?


This was highly apparent last weekend when my buddy John from Traventure Man came down to my home DZ to do his first tandem. John’s enthusiasm and excitement for the sport helped him fit right in to the culture of our fast-paced DZ – he wasn’t just another passive tandem student.


IMG_9878


Hopefully, John will be back on the skydiving scene soon.


Sure, it can be nerve racking to be a newbie in the sport, but with time, determination and involvement, every DZ newbie can become a valued member of the community.


I’m so thankful that this community is such a welcoming one. Can’t wait to get back out there and play in the sky with everyone this weekend.


Blue Skies!


Ashley

3 Comments
Posted in Uncategorized

60s in November – 9. November, 2009


With the weather we had this weekend, it’s hard to believe we are already into the month of November.


Of course, I’m not complaining – that is, aside from the 20+ mph winds that kept us from flying on Saturday.


Sunday, on the other hand, was a different story. A number of my jumping buddies were turbine chasing that day, but Rick and I headed down to Canton Airsports to spend what could be one of the last good jumping days of the season at our home DZ.


With two C-182s running, we were able to knock out three great jumps during the day.


The first was a standard train exit into a sit. Rick and I did the train with Paul hanging out on the strut. It was fun to get to sitfly with Paul for a change.


Skydiving 005*Photo by Ken Daidone


On the ride up Paul mentioned that he had a ProDytter for sale and asked if I would be interested. As a freeflyer who’s been skydiving without an audible, I jumped at his offer (no pun intended). After the jump he handed me the Dytter and it went straight into my helmet for immediate use!


The next jump was a very fun freefly! For our exit I attempted to tackle Rick off the strut. In the video it appears that I do so quite successfully, however if he wouldn’t have grabbed me I’m not so sure we would have pulled it off.


From there we went straight into a horny gorilla, and Randy and Joe chased us down. You’ll notice Randy came in a little hot…at this point we broke off and I sat until it was time to deploy. The Dytter worked it’s magic and was screaming, as it should have been, when I dumped. I can tell this device is going to change my freefly experience!


*Video by Richard Simenc


The last jump of the day was a tandem chase. John from over at Traventure Man came to CAS to do his first skydive and we paired him up with our buddy Tod.


After exit I sat to get level with the tandem and watched them from a distance. It was cool to see them deploy, at which point I began tracking toward the DZ as the spot was a little long. During my track I missed one of the most exciting parts of the skydive: Tod’s cutaway.


IMG_9851*Photo by Sandy Weltman  (Tod and John under the crispy white reserve.)


With a line over, Tod asked John if he was ready to do it again, and with a “hell yeah!” Tod cut away and gave John a 2 for 1 deal.

IMG_9877*Photo by Sandy Weltman (Load 9 safely back on the ground.)


Hope everyone got out and enjoyed this beautiful fall weather. Fingers crossed for some more weekends just like this.


Blue Skies!


-Ashley

5 Comments
Posted in Uncategorized

I’d Rather be Skydiving – 5. November, 2009


skydiving-extreme-sports-11-2


The last month I’ve been in denial that winter is coming. We’ve had just enough good jumping days to keep me (mildly) satisfied.


But given that I’ve been wearing socks this week – the true indication that summer is over – it’s about time I start preparing myself for some cold weather activities.


Unfortunately, I’m not exactly sure where to begin. Typically, my winters are spent huddled by a space heater somewhere – yeah, I’m a little bit of a freeze baby – and the rest of my free time is spent sweating it out on a yoga mat in a 80+ degree room (something that I intend to continue this year).


Needless to say, I’m seeking out a winter sport to call my own. There are multiple offers on the table to learn how to snowboard, but I wasn’t even that great at skiing when I considered myself a skier so I’m a little leery.


snowboarding-wallpaper(Then again, I can only imagine how bad ass it would be to do something like this!)


Naturally, I’m looking to stick with adrenaline sports – they just suit me – but I’m at a little bit of a loss.


Don’t get me wrong, I still have every intention of jumping throughout the winter, though likely not with the same frequency as sunny days, no matter how cold, are few and far between from December-March up in these parts. And of course I’m hoping for a tunnel trip and a week spent in a warmer climate, but that’s just not enough to sustain this junkie.


So tell me, what do you do to get your adrenaline fix in the winter time? What is your winter sport of choice?


Blue skies!


Ashley

0 Comments
Posted in I'd Rather Be Skydiving, Trends

Trust among skydivers – 4. November, 2009



IMG_4546*Photo by Lonnie Kirk


“You can trust a skydiver with your life, but not your money or your wife.”


This is one of many sayings that I’ve heard in the recent past – and not all of them are specific to the skydiving community. I’ve had ski and snowboard friends quote similar lines like, “you never lose your girlfriend, you only lose your turn.”


But that’s not the point. Believe it or not, this isn’t about relationship theft among athletes, it’s about trust.


Skydiving is a sport where you’re regularly trusting others with your safety. Whether it’s the pre-flight pin check, jumping with newbies on big-ways, or having someone pack your parachute, there’s some element of trust that needs to be involved.


You need to trust that these people are going to be thorough in their gear check, that they’re going to be safe on a dive, that they’ll double-check their work. And just like all other relationships, you have to trust that people care enough to take the proper precautions in the air and on the ground.


This is something I’ve come to learn with my regular jump buddies. I don’t think twice about asking any of my skydiving friends to give me a pin check or set my Cypress after donning my rig (what can I say, occasionally my mind slips and I’m too lazy or in too much of a rush to take off my rig before the next load). I’m always willing to try something new and exciting in the sky with my freefly partner. In fact, he’s the first person I turn to when I have any sort of doubt.


IMG_4259*Photo by Sandy Weltman

(Freefly partners in crime!)


Every skydiver needs a voice of reason. I’m extremely lucky to have someone so close to me who’s so supportive.


When I was going through student training, my instructor Tom was always there to provide insight. Having gone through ground school with him, I learned quickly that I could turn to him with any question, concern or issue that arose. In fact, I still can.


There aren’t many skydivers that I jump with regularly, or have jumped with in the past for that matter, that I don’t trust with just about any element of the sport. Of course, I do like to do my own packing – but that’s just one of those things.


The more time I spend in the sport, around other jumpers at different events and dropzones, the more I realize just how important trust is.


Doubts that creep up in your gut, the ones that make you stop and question, are there for a reason. If there’s someone you don’t trust in a certain situation, maybe you should avoid it if possible. Safety needs to come first, and sometimes listening to your gut – even if it means sitting out a load or not participating in a particular jump – is the safest option.


IMG_2039*Photo by Paul Iglin

(Recent balloon jump: this weekend I encountered a number of great jumpers that are extremely trustworthy. Great jumping with you, Neil!)


Finding other jumpers you can trust is critical to a happy, healthy skydiving career. As in life, positive relationships are built on trust, and what’s more fun than having lots of positive skydiving relationships to count on?


Blue Skies!


Ashley

1 Comment
Posted in Drop Zones, Freefly, Jump buddies, Skydiving Community

Gatorz and Bunnies and Balloons, oh my! – 2. November, 2009

balloon

Wait, that’s not right.


But it does accurately describe my Halloween weekend.


Friday was spent running around getting all the pieces for my costume and enjoying the seasonably warm weather. Though windy, I do love an evening of 70+ degrees at the end of October!


Saturday started with an unexpected morning call from Rick, asking me to come over before the DZ party. Since he couldn’t go until late, a pre-party lunch was in order.


Before we headed to get some grub, he surprised me with a “just because” gift: a pair of Gatorz! He actually purchased two pairs, one for him and one for me. I ended up with the Radiators, brushed metal frames and photochromic grey lenses. His pair are very similar, brushed metal with grey lenses, though slightly bigger to fit his face.


Rad_BshGry_777F1L1_lg


Talk about a great gift! I was actually considering getting myself a pair – he knows me so well. :) I can’t wait to get a strap for them and give ‘em a spin in freefall.


Saturday night was spent at Skydive Pennsylvania with a bunch of our close friends. There were some great costumes that night: everything from fat strippers to Reagan (a la Point Break) to the woman who came as the Skyventure Wind Tunnel. I donned some bunny ears and rubbed dryer lint all over myself so I could be a dust bunny. Clever, eh?


Sunday the weather in PA didn’t start out like we’d imagined. The plan was to get in a bunch of freefly jumps, but upon waking, we were informed that the weather in Ohio was beautiful and that the balloon would be flying. So we un-manifested and headed over to the balloon launch.


Balloon1*Photo by Robyn Miller


Rick and I were last out of the balloon, doing a two- way with him falling backwards in an attempt to capture my entire jump on video. Unfortunately, his GoPro failed (again) and we didn’t capture the jump.


You’ll have to take my word for it, if you haven’t done one, that it’s the most tranquil experience ever. Falling, silently through the blue sky. There’s just nothing like it.


Balloon2*Photo by Robyn Miller


I can’t wait to have the opportunity to do one of these again. Let’s just hope for some more good weather before the snow starts to fall.


How did you spend your Halloween weekend?


Blue skies!


Ashley

1 Comment
Posted in Around the bonfire, Drop Zones, Free Fall, Jump buddies, Skydiving Community

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