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From: curl@wjvax.UUCP (Jim Curl)
Newsgroups: net.rec.skydive
Subject: Novice under canopy
Message-ID: <643@wjvax.wjvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 20-Jan-86 20:44:53 EST
Article-I.D.: wjvax.643
Posted: Mon Jan 20 20:44:53 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jan-86 00:29:28 EST
Organization: Watkins Johnson Co., San Jose Ca. USA
Lines: 19


     I began jumping last year and made 16 jumps before a variety of
circumstances interrupted my training.  I really enjoyed skydiving and
I fully intend to return to the sport this year.  There is one aspect
of jumping which bothers me though.
     Although I *loved* freefalling, once I was under canopy I tended
to get nervous.  The old pros at the drop zone would tell me not to worry
about it when I had an end cell closure or when the wind knocked the
canopy around a little, but I couldn't help imagining it collapsing
with 100 feet to go.  Once while making a 180 degree turn downwind, the
wind gusted and the canopy appeared to be shrivelling up.  I was still
on radio at the time, and the instructor yelled at me to turn back into
the wind.  I also ran across someone who, on her second jump, stalled
her canopy on final approach and broke her leg.
     Am I crazy for having "gear-fear" *after* I've got a good canopy,
or are there some real malfunctions that can occur on the ride down?

                                               --- Jim Curl
                                               --- San Jose, California