Wingsuit Weekend

Between last weekend spent at the Ranch for my birthday and the long Memorial Weekend spent back at home (Skydive PA) I’ve got a lot of catching up to do – blog wise.

Today I want to touch on the event that was most exciting for me this weekend. (I promise, soon I’ll get to talking about The Ranch…but this just has to come first while it’s fresh in my mind).

Upon arrival at Skydive PA on Friday evening, I was prepared for a long weekend of freeflying, but that all changed when the beer light came on and my rigger brought out his wingsuit for me to try on.

After hooking it up to my rig and donning the suit, I’d decided that this was the weekend to give wingsuiting a whirl.

Saturday morning I went up for a solo jump to practice some head down moves, then went up again to prove to Rick that I can stick a head down out the door . Just as an aside, this was an incredible skydive. I went head down and he stood to keep relative – when I flipped out we were right there the whole time. We’re really getting it together!

So after a couple warmup jumps, it was time to get suited up for that first wingsuit flight.

Yes, for all those who are screaming “beer” in your heads, that case has already been purchased and drank.

I am extremely lucky to have Moe Viletto as my wingsuit instructor – and that he also had a wingsuit to fit me. After a few hours over the course of a couple days chatting about that first flight, the emergency procedures and how to go about find the “sweet spot,” it was time to become a bird!

Exiting last was strange. I’m used to seeing the tandems on my way out the door, not watching them go before me. It is nice, however, not to have to stress about the spot so much. When you’re a bird, especially one who is pulling a little high, making it back isn’t much of an issue.

Anyway – back to the first flight. So I’m crouched at the door, wings all tucked in and I huck myself out. That first jump I was nervous about opening up too soon and hitting the tail, so I stayed balled up a little longer than necessary, but when I came out of it and caught that first lift, I couldn’t believe what I was experiencing. The forward speed is incredible.

I had a flight path figured out and after doing my practice touches to make sure I could find my hackey with my new set of wings, I looked to my right to see him gliding next to me. What an incredible sight! For once I’m flying next to someone instead of looking down, hoping to get my speed up enough to catch the group.

Wingsuiting is an entirely different experience than a typical skydive…you’re actually going somewhere other than just down.

One of the things I’ve always said I love about freeflying is the speed, and that’s no exception with a wingsuit; difference being, the speed is horizontal, rather than vertical.

The rest of the weekend was spent obsessing over the wingsuit jumps. A couple sunset loads made me realize just how much my eyes have been missing during freefly. The sky is so beautiful, and the clouds are your friends. This is definitely something I want to continue experiencing.

Hopefully in the not so distant future I’ll feel comfortable enough to strap my camera back on my head and give you a little perspective of what it’s like to be a bird!

Until then, here are some pictures from the ground, captured by the lovely Sandy Weltman – love having you out at SPA Sandy!!

(Suiting up for the first jump)

(Sipping up our legs and getting to booties situated.)

(Beyond pumped from that flight…amazing!)

(Running it out with wings is a little more challenging!)

(Coming down from a beautiful sunset flight)

(If I look exhausted it’s because I am…but it’s worth every second!)

Blue skies!

Ashley

BASE on the brain

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.

*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.

*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

A friend and mentor: Danger

As I’ve mentioned a number of times before, one of the best parts about being in the skydiving community is the people.

Since the community is rather small, when skydivers meet each other they find an instant bond. I’ve been extremely fortunate in my first season as a skydiver to have met some of the best friends and mentors a girl could ask for. Today, I’d like to remember one in particular.

My skydiving career started with a tandem jump, just for kicks, while on vacation. I knew after that first jump that I had to do it again. So I did. Another tandem. This time, at my home DZ, Cleveland Parachute Center in Garrettsville, Ohio.

My dear friend Christina and I headed down on a Sunday morning in April to meet our tandem instructors and learn a little bit more about the sport. Through 45 minutes of on-the-ground instruction by Dan, we were able to learn about circle of awareness and pull our own ripcords during the jump.

I was lucky enough to be paired with Dan on this jump and had a blast. This was the jump where I walked away knowing that this was the sport for me. Dan and I de-briefed and we talked about the next steps of the AFF program. Three weeks later I was back at the DZ, ready to become a skydiver.

When I walked in, Dan immediately recognized me as his former tandem student. He gave me a great deal on my video packages for my first two AFF jumps, and acted as my instructor for my third.

Throughout my time as a student, Dan was there to walk me through everything from landing patterns, to equipment checks, to my first attempts at freeflying. He became much more than an instructor and mentor, he became a friend.

Dan was the person who inspired me to reach the highest goals in skydiving. He recommended the freefall photography path that I so much desire to achieve. He taught me to relax. He encouraged me.

I was even lucky enough to be his ground crew on demos – even if it was only to take pictures on the ground.

Dan has not only been a positive skydiving influence, but he’s taught me so much about life, and living it to it’s fullest. For a man of little words, each one was filled with the passion that he had for life.

I am forever grateful to have met, worked with, and befriended such a wonderful person, and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to fly with him this season.

Danger, you will forever be loved and missed. You will continue to inspire freeflyers, belly flyers, and swoopers alike, as your stories live on. Thanks for all you taught me about skydiving, about passion, about life.

Blue skies.

Ashley

Dan ‘Danger’ Mathie: 1979-2009

Update: Today’s memorial for Dan was beautiful. His closest friends and family joined together to mourn the loss of this wonderful man, and to celebrate his life just as he’d want. There was even the appropriate toast with shots of Mountain Dew. Having been a part of Dan’s life means the world to me, as does being a part of the wonderful skydiving community that celebrated together this evening. Dan’s spirit will forever live on in the lives of those he’s touched. Blue skies, buddy.

Down to Earth

Speaking literally and figuratively, actually.

The one thing I love most about the drop zones that I’ve been to is that the people, for the most part, are extremely down to Earth, even the experts. 

It’s been rare that I’ve encountered elitist attitudes from even the most talented skydivers. As my experience has shown, these jumpers are not only willing, but happy to jump with you, provide advice, or just talk you through an area where you might be struggling.

(With Tom and Bob. The two best AFF instructors and skydivers I will always look up to.)

As someone who’s not the most confident canopy pilot, I’ve been given a lot great advice from jumpers with years of experience that has helped me get safely to the ground.

In fact, I have Larry and Dan at Cleveland Parachute to thank for teaching me the spotting and landing skills I have today. If there’s one skill I’ve acquired, it’s landing close to my target.

These experts just love talking about the sport, recounting memories of their best and worst jumps, and teaching newbies the tricks of the trade. 

Of course we all know how much I love talking about it – I have a blog devoted to it, after all. I’m thankful that I have great mentors that will help keep me level-headed as I progress in the sport. 

(My mentor, coach and friend, Lonnie!)

In my short time as a part of the skydiving community, I’ve come to cherish this attribute and I gravitate toward the experienced skydivers who welcome me with open arms. One day I hope to be as skilled and just as humble as they are.

Blue Skies!

Ashley