Minna's 9th tandem progression sky dive

Left my wheelchair at the drop zone, and started sky diving 3 months ago.
This is my double backflip on exit with two 360's, followed by a fairly decent canopy control under no wind conditions.
Smooth landing and a great season's end.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• sky
• dive
• disabled
• wheelchair
• tandem
• paraplegic
• paralyzed
• fun
• diving

[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.

[SANDMANCASTHISSPELL]

Holy SHIT! You rule!  I love this!

Sandman Cast His Spell

[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

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[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.