Thursday. June 5. 1980 The Tar Hwl 1 1
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Fallout of on airplane?
Some jump at the chance
By John Drescher
Picture this: you are in a small airplane, 3,000 feet above acres
and acres of tobacco farms in rural Franklin County. The side
dwr opens. You adjust your goggles one last time and run your
hand across your back, checking your parachute pack for about
the 40th time. The man next to you shakes your hand and wishes
you luck. You creep closer and closer to the edge, take a deep
breath and jump.
Sound fun? Hundreds of people think so, says Paul Fayard of
Franklin County Sport Center. The Sport Center, located on
Highway 56 in Louisburg, is the only parachuting center in the
area certified by the U.S. Parachuting Association.
Fayard and the staff at the Sport Center train beginning
parachuters and aid those who have jumped previously. First
timers pay a $55 fee, which covers the use of the equipment,
training and the actual jump itself. Prices godowq considerably
the more the parachuter jumps. The second jump is only $12.
First-timers get five to six hours of training, depending on the
individual. The object, Fayard said, is to train the student
"enough so he can enjoy the jump on a personalized basis."
Training starts wjth .orientation with the equipment and
continues by explaining hcw t$ eiere aircraft and become
comfortable in it. Next, shidents are taught how to exit the plane
and what to expect once they do exit, said Fayard,. Students are
taught how to steer,; land and prepare, for unusual landing
conditions. :: 1 "' -r f;
Beginning parachuters io not pull the rip cord that releases
the parachute. A- static line is pulled by jfte jurriprnaster in the
plane, although Fayard said that there, is a dummy rip cord that
students can practice with. A back-up chute is used if the main
chute does not open properly,:; I
Parachuters must jump a minimum of five times before they
can jump without a static line and pull their own rip cord.
Parachuters must, also be critiqued by the jumpmaster. Their last
three jumps! must be successful in all phases as judged by the
jumpmaster for them to jump without the static cord.
"It's really not that difficult," Fayard said. "It's just a matter of
getting your head (mind) to catch up with your body."
In seven years, there has been one death at the Sport Center.
The jumper was an experienced parachuter, Fayard said, who
did "several things wrong he knew better not to do." The
jumper's first chute did not open, and instead of pulling his
back-up chute he tried to fix his first chute. By the time he finally
did pull his second chute, it was too late. Favard said.
Most parachuting centers in North Carolina, other than the
ones at Louisburg, Midland and Raeford, are small "fly-by-night,
out-of-the-trunk" operations, Fayard said.
The Franklin County Sport Center has 11 instructors, who
give on-the-ground training, and 15 jumpmasters, who control
activity inside the aircraft and critique the students. The Sport
Center is open from 10 a.m. until dark on weekdays and from 8
a.m. until dark on weekends.
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UTH tile photo
Gaynor Collester (above left) of the Chapel Hill Cycle
Shop with bike outfitted for cross-country touring.
Equipment for safety and comfort includes a light-weight
luggage rack and panniers or saddle bags. A safety helmet
also can be worn.
i
'Staff photo by Jack Mohr
Bicycling
High gas price spurs rise in pedal power;
racing, touring, socializing are other lures
By Sarah West
Bicycling, a long-standing mode of transportation for
the American pre teen, is taking on an expanded role. With
gas prices spiraling even higher, bicycles provide a more
economical means of getting around for all ages. Bicycling
has also become increasingly popular as a sport.
According to Grady Ballenger of The Chapel Hill Cycle
Shop, there is a big interest in cross-country touring on
bikes. Ballenger, who does a lot of touring himself,
advocates it as a good way to meet people.
"When you come into a small town on a bicycle, you are
less of an intruder than if you were in a car. You can talk to
people more easily and people are more interested in you,
too."
Gaynor Collester, who works at The Chapel Hill Cycle
Shop, says Chapel Hill is a good location for bikers
because of the surrounding countryside. "Within a 10
minute ride, you'll find some good roads with very little
traffic."
Bikers interested in long-distance touring should check
out the cross-North Carolina trail from Murphy to Manteo
as well as the cross-America trail. Maps of the North
Carolina trail, which runs through Chapel Hill and
t
Carrboro, can be obtained by writing to Curtis Yates at the
Department of Transportation in Raleigh.
The cross-America trail was established as part of the
Bicentennial by a group from Montana. Ballenger went on
the trail with a group of five from Chapel Hill. Starting in
Oregon, he stopped in Colorado, although others in the
group biked all the way to Williamsburg, Va.
Ballenger's group carried tarps and stoves on their bikes,
camping out along the way. They averaged a distance of 80
miles a day, but Ballenger says he prefers to take it more
slowly to goof off and enjoy the country-side.
Collester says it takes only a short time for the average
individual to build up to 60-80 miles a day. In addition to
getting in shape before embarking on a long tour, a basic
knowledge of bicycle maintenance is necessary, Collester
says.
"You might be out'in the middle of nowhere and have a
problem with your bike," he says.
Ballenger stresses that only first-rate components should
be on your bike if you're planning a tour. He warns that
skimping on gears or other parts can lead to serious
problems on the road.
"For instance, you need a good luggage rack that can
a
V
er by remembering rules while afloat
r
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'oor or indoor pool," Colvard says,
ider, get out because there's the
hock."
ocean is a harsher environment,
ugoing current rather than tiring
," Colvard says. "If you get tangled
r to say calm and slowly untangle
rashing movements only get you
f the marine life and know what to
ish stings and so on."
ther safety precautions need to be
gers in boats must have U.S. Coast
personal floatation devices," says
superintendent of the Crabtree
d State Park near Raleigh.
rth Carolina you are not required
you must have one available for
n boating, always keep that vest on
' says Colvard. "Also anyone that is
hhould have basic swimming skills
survival float."
lving a person who is in trouble in
owning is one that should be
reat caution, Billings says. Often
s to dive in and rush tp the person's
aid. However, this is often the worst action to take,
and may result in the loss of two lives.
Billings stresses that unless you are skilled in
lifesaving techniques, it is best not to attempt a
rescue. Instead, you should throw or hold out an
object for the person in trouble to grasp.
A significant number of water and boating
drownings are the result of combining drinking with
water activities. "Don't mix drinking and water
sports," says Sparky Carpenter, social research
assistant at the Center for Alcohol Studies. "It causes
weakness and makes you physically incapable of
what you normally would be able to do.
"You could eventually become confused or
disoriented in the water," says Carpenter. "The
potential risk is there even with small levels of alcohol
because of your increased activity."
Whether you are swimming or boating, you should
have some sort of emergency plan. "The most
important thing is to find out where the nearest
phone is and know what numbers to call for help,"
Billings says. "Decide who would go for help and
what your procedure will be."
Summer sports are fun, but only if they're safe.
"Just use common sense at all times," Billings says,
md remember, we are our brother's keeper."
J I
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Joe Coates friction climbing
Rock climbing:
Ey Jack Mohr
When asked why he climbs rocks Owen Silver
replied, "It's like Sysiphus pushing the rock up the
hill a climber pushes himself up the rock face to the
summit. At the summit, the pause is an exhilarating
feeling of personal achievement."
Rock climbing is a sport in which the climber seeks
personal challenge. Terry O'Brien of The Trail Shop
says that an individual does not have to be physically
strong to be a climber, although he should be in good
physical condition.
"Climbers must have a good mental and emotional
outlook, though," O'Brien says. "They have to be
honest with themselves about their own ability."
O'Brien says that climbers tended to be
individualistic people. "They are usually good
planners, and attentive to details," he says.
Learning to climb requires training and
supervision by an experienced climber. The best way
to get into climbing is to try "bouldering."
Bouldering involves practicing the types of moves
used to scale cliffs but carrying them out on large
rocks or rock walls near the ground. When
bouldering, as when rock climbing, a friend is needed
to help prevent falls. Bouldering is an excellent way
to stay in shape for more serious climbing. It can be a
lot of fun and is challenging as well. Some of the best
climbers in the world spend hours honing their skills
on boulders.
hold 40 pounds of equipment. You don't want one that's
going to shake from side to side," he says.
Ballenger also advocates wearing a safety helmet as a
guard against head injuries.
Most of the bicycles sold at the Cycle Shop are set up for
touring, and have a wide range of gearings. Owner Dave
Wit ten says the best bikes to buy for touring are the Trek,
which is an American bike and the Fuji, made in Japan.
"The Trekis a high-priced, handmade touring bike and
isn't sold widely," Witten says. "The only decent mass
produced American bikes are made by Schwinn, and they
were made in Japan until a few years ago."
Racing bikes are constructed and equipped differently
than touring bikes, Collester says. Those interested in
competitive cycling should check out the Carolina Velo
Club, which is dedicated to the sport. There are local races
in Carrboro, as well as in Raleigh and Durham.
Witten says he feels that interest in competitive cycling
has declined and that bikes are being taken more seriously
as a means of transportation. Witten himself cycles the five
miles in to work each day. As Ballenger puts it, "With gas
at $1.25 a gallon, bikes are definitely a prime method of
transportation."
From the white Cliffs
to the mountains
Places to boulder locally include the Forest Theatre
and at an outcropping of rocks in Duke Forest. The
outcropping's located off the trail which originates at
Gate 26 off Rigsbee Road.
There are three basic styles of climbing face,
friction and crack climbing. Face climbing, O'Brien
says, involves taking advantage of hand- and
footholds in the rock surface. "In face climbing, it's
often difficult to see above you because of the
steepness of the incline."
Friction climbing involves climbing a rock fate
which has nothing to hold on to. "You rely on the
friction of your feet and hands," O'Brien says. "It's a
lot like balletit's all footwork."
In crack climbing the climber ascends by wedging
his feet or hands into cracks in the rock.
O'Brien advises would-be climbers to climb with a
partner. "When you solo climb, you lose thr
protection inherent in having someone else there.
Solo climbing is strictly for experts."
Many climbs are made more safe because bolts, or
metal rings, are left in the rock face by the first
climbm to make the ascent. These bolts, O'Brien
says, allow successive climbers to attach rojes,
providing them with a good protection system.
The best way to avoid accidents while climbing.
O'Brien says, is to climb within your potential.
"Every time a person makes a climb that is not within
his potential, he's just building up the potential for
an accident."