Minna's 9th tandem progression sky dive

[SANDMANCASTHISSPELL]

Holy SHIT! You rule! I love this!

Sandman Cast His Spell

[SpinergyDude]

Young lady,

You define the word COOL!

[extremewheelchairs]

LOL, there are SO MANY OF US, wheelies out there who "re-difine" the word COOL!

I'd like to see sort of like "trading cards" of Paralympic Atheletes, wheelies in "extreme" sports, wheelies who are academic geniuses, artists, musicisians etc. folks like us.. who are just "normal people" but we do things that push us to our limits, grit our teeth n bear it through enduring feats, etc.

folks who in the "walking" world, are the heroes of youth, in various walks of life.. our youth need the same.

[CheZariny]

May I ask why one needs to make 9 tandem jumps? No offence meant of course!!! Is this AFF zero level?

[extremewheelchairs]

Hi,

I'm glad you asked -NO offense taken.

I'm a paraplegic and it is my dream to eventually become one of the few para's in the world to actually get my A licence.

[extremewheelchairs]

I am currently doing these tandem jumps as a modified form of "tandem progression" learning curve.

Which basically means that rather then going directly into an AFF program I am doing several of the progression steps with my tandem instructor attached to me until we figure out how to keep my legs from "flopping around.(which would otherwise send me into an uncontrollable spin and I would a very quick end to a a very bad day).

[extremewheelchairs]

We are developing (currently) braces for my legs to keep them affixed at an optimum angle for free fall. Also we are developing pants (sort of like "birdman pants" that will help keep my legs somewhat seperated during free fall.

As you may see in the landing, I land on my butt, so we will have "SKIP PLATE" for those days when the landing is not as smooth as it was on this particular one

[extremewheelchairs]

I am just about ready to go into the windtunnel to test our pant/knee brace model idea and if all goes as planned we can start tossing this gimp out of the plane with two AFF instructors and go through the process as any other sky diver would.

We are developing instructional video which describes a little more detailed as to how we need to pull my legs up after deployment of the parachute to get ready for landing

[CheZariny]

Wow! That sounds like a dreaming coming true. Accept my deepest respect and admiration for that.

I'll tell my friends and relatives about your example.

Do you have a livejournal page to follow your successes?

In fact, I am going to have my third, fourth and fifth tandems in the coming months and off to AFF in spring. (I live in Moscow, Russia, and it's snowing and freezing now, non-flying weather).

Kindest regards,

Julia.

[extremewheelchairs]

Hello Julia,

Thanks for writing back. We are former "neighbours" (I'm from Finland), and my best friends at the sky diving school are Russians.

I have deep respect for you also, for asking the questions, and for coming back to read more.

I wish you much luck in your AFF progression.

[extremewheelchairs]

We also have very cold weather now.

I was at the sky diving school yesterday and today just to meet my coach

(Angus-the tandem instructor in the video)

to make our plans for the knee braces and special flying pants we will need to make for me.

[extremewheelchairs]

It was -21C at ground level, no one got to sky dive although all the Russians showed up with the hopes that at least the runway could be cleared of the snow and then they will jump from 4,500f (propably about -40C up there plus wind chill factor).

They are "hardcore" guys.

[extremewheelchairs]

My school is the only one that is open during the winter months and some jump all winter.

This weekends snow storm was so strong that a 3 1/2 hr drive took us 8 hours to get back from there.

But it is still always great to be at the sky diving school. Even if I cannot dive right now due to the weather being too cold.

[extremewheelchairs]

Parachute School of Toronto has made great efforts to help me.

They even let me borrow an old canopy so I can practice packing it.

I go to the local gym, use their large floor space and pack it there dragging my body along the floor.

I want to do everything myself.

So no one will need to help me once I get up to diving on my own.

[extremewheelchairs]

I do not have a journal page, but I have been keeping many notes so that when the time comes that this is finished and I have made it through solo student status on to my A license, I will be able to put the videos and all my notes together and give it away to any sky diving school who is willing to give us a try to learn to sky dive.

Through here, I will keep short updates as something new comes along.

Be well Julia and remain strong,

-minna

[Bongwater4Breakfast]

Great video! Thanks for posting it.

Nice to see your smile again. ;)

[extremewheelchairs]

Thanks,

glad you stopped by.

it feels good to smile again :)

[jjpiper]

You rock.

[extremewheelchairs]

thanks :)

I think your music selections rock!

Thanks for stopping by and watching my video.

Come by again in a while, I'll have a wind tunnel video up next (planned for Feb. or earlier).

[Slider84]

Very cool. I saw your posts and had to watch :)

[extremewheelchairs]

Thanks for stopping by, (and for reading my posts) :)

[irusev]

Awesome:) Good Job Minna !!you are flying!!! It is soo god to see someone that cannot walk to fly.. hehe ..Can't wait to do my next jump!

[extremewheelchairs]

walkings over rated ;)

flying - It's huge for me to be able to do back flips etc. and NOT be IN my wheelchair for so many minutes.

I can't wait to get some kitewing video footage this winter.

[wasted456]

YOU ROCK GIRL!!!!!!!!!