{"id":29737,"date":"2020-11-20T13:01:17","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T13:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=29737"},"modified":"2025-03-20T16:40:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T16:40:00","slug":"bullet-proof","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/bullet-proof\/","title":{"rendered":"Bullet Proof?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you think you’re BULLETPROOF?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Image from the shooting of Largo Winch 2, by Rolf ‘Kuri’ Kuratle
Photo kindly supplied by ParaMag, used with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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When an accident has occurred we use hindsight to examine the steps that led to the event…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You could analyse the physical actions of the individual. For example, a sharp front riser manoeuvre in one direction followed by an immediate hard toggle action in the opposite direction led to line twists at low altitude, causing the jumper to lose control of the wing and impact heavily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

State of Mind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another approach is to examine the state of mind of the individual leading up to the accident. If you did then you might be able to classify them into five types of people\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Anti-authority<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These people tend not to listen to their peers that have recognisable authority and defy all common sense suggested to them. Such people are not necessarily stupid, they just don\u2019t like to be told that their actions may be stupid. These people tend to be very stubborn and need to be reminded regularly to take a long hard look at their actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Impulsive <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Impulsive people have a tendency to get charged up by spur of the moment thoughts. They don\u2019t take the time to consider the possibilities, nor consider the consequences of their choice of actions. \u201cI can swoop past that cameraman that I spotted moments ago\u201d. \u201cI just saw someone swoop downwind past the hangar. I\u2019ll give it a go too.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. \u2018Bulletproof\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Invulnerable people are otherwise known as being bullet proof. For reasons unbeknown to common man, some people believe that they can dodge bullets \u2018Matrix\u2019 style, where in reality they are have a large red target painted on their chest. \u2018Invulnerable\u2019 people are probably more vulnerable than everyone else because they are too caught up in where they want to go rather than where they are actually going. They tend to be interested in getting to their destination quickly rather than enjoying the journey along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people believe that they can dodge bullets \u2018Matrix\u2019 style, where in reality they have a large red target on their chest” <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Macho<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Macho people tend to speak for themselves and talk themselves up while doing so. An individuals \u2018macho-ness\u2019 or ego inflates beyond their actual skill level. Testosterone\/oestrogen levels may tend to be so inflated that their belief that \u2018I can do this\u2019 obscures the reality of \u2018I am sitting behind the eight ball waiting to be sunk\u2019. Macho people tend to jump parachutes that are beyond their skill level and jump in conditions beyond their ability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Resigned to failure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Resignation leads to devastation. After committing yourself to any particular style of landing, the jumper begins to travel on the recovery arc towards the destination point. Suddenly the image of what they believed was happening rapidly becomes disbelief and they resign yourself to giving up and do nothing. If you want to have an accident, then the simplest thing to do is nothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to have an accident, the simplest thing to do is nothing”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Antidotes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course there are antidotes to these problems….<\/p>\n\n\n\n