Bill_K 0 #1 October 16, 2005 Hello all, I finally did it. 20 years ago yesterday my father was killed in an auto accident, so this year rather than sit at home and get depressed my wife decided that I should do something that I've been talking about for some time now. So yesterday we drove 2 hours to a DZ up state from us a bit and I did it. My wife and three boys were there to enjoy the moment with me. We had to wait a loooong time because there were a lot of people there. Once we got on the plane and finally got to it I was pumped. The only point that I had any apprehension at all was when the instructor told me not to put my hands where the latches that attached me to him were about half way down when we were under canopy. So we moved them to the guide ropes? What ever the things are that you use to steer with? So I got to drive it around a bit. All that being said; I'm hooked for life. I bought a log book and am hoping to go back this weekend and get two or three more jumps toward the AFF 7 jump thing and then move on to the 25 and get my license. I want to do it now without anybody on my back. I really, really want to be solo up there to enjoy the entire ride, not that I did not enjoy it with an instructor too, but I’m just really looking forward to doing this more. I found this site because I was already looking for gear of my own. I’m sure that I’ll be asking plenty of dumb questions so bare with me. Until next time, Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
artistcalledian 0 #2 October 16, 2005 from one newbie to the sport to another.......... good isn't it ! ________________________________________ drive it like you stole it and f*ck the police Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_K 0 #3 October 16, 2005 Quotefrom one newbie to the sport to another.......... good isn't it ! Not sure if good is a strong enough word for it. I'm still on cloud 9, reliving it over and over in my mind. I keep getting that feeling in my gut over and over and wanting it again. You know that one that says in one way this scares the heck out of me, but that's why I want to do it again so bad... I'm hoping to go to a closer DZ on Thursday after work and get setup with an instructor to really get going. My wife is so awesome for letting me do this, in fact she's saying that she'll do it too. I can't think of anything better than my wife and I doing this together on a regular basis. BK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nbblood 0 #4 October 16, 2005 QuoteI can't think of anything better than my wife and I doing this together on a regular basis. My wife and I spend every available weekend at the DZ. It's awesome. Wouldn't have it any other way. Welcome. On another note, I know you're energized and looking for gear, but you'll want to make sure you get gear that is suitable for your skill level and that fits correctly. Get with your instructor before you impulse buy gear. It will probably save you from buying something that's not right for you. Blues, NathanBlues, Nathan If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #5 October 17, 2005 Welcome to the forums! She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_K 0 #6 October 17, 2005 QuoteWelcome to the forums! My wife has already agreed to go, not sure if she'll just go once or take up the sport too, I'm hoping the latter. My 9 year old boy wants to go now, but I don't know if he can, I'm not sure on all the rules regarding kids jumping. Excited is a good word, I'm pumped. Have spent most of the free time that I've had today reading and reading and reading. I really want to learn. I'm trying to find a recommendation or idea of what I should get as a first rig. I'm trying to find something that will be safe and usable. I'm not a small guy and want to make sure that I get the right size. BK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_K 0 #7 October 17, 2005 QuoteQuoteI can't think of anything better than my wife and I doing this together on a regular basis. My wife and I spend every available weekend at the DZ. It's awesome. Wouldn't have it any other way. Welcome. On another note, I know you're energized and looking for gear, but you'll want to make sure you get gear that is suitable for your skill level and that fits correctly. Get with your instructor before you impulse buy gear. It will probably save you from buying something that's not right for you. Blues, Nathan Thanks Nathan, I'm completely commited to waiting until I speak with my instructor and probably will wait until I'm on jump 5 or 6 before I get to serious about it. I hope to have the AFF 7 jumps out of the way by the middle of next month. Weather and time permitting I'll be working my way toward the 25 for a class A by Thanks Giving. I want to enjoy this for a long time and am therefore commited to learning and doing it right. BK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
intheclouds 0 #8 October 17, 2005 Welcome to DZ.com and this sport.. Glad you liked it so much, keep us updated on how your AFF goes. Stay safe, always keep learning, & blue skies.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites gstukey 0 #9 October 17, 2005 Congrats and welcome to skydiving!! Your motivation and dedication is mutual--Blue Skies! gstukey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Eule 0 #10 October 17, 2005 QuoteHello all, I finally did it. Congratulations! Good feeling, isn't it? :) QuoteThe only point that I had any apprehension at all was when the instructor told me not to put my hands where the latches that attached me to him were about half way down when we were under canopy. So we moved them to the guide ropes? What ever the things are that you use to steer with? The whole rope is a steering line. The loop at the end that you put your hand through is a toggle. You will learn all about this when you go through your first jump class. Pay attention, there will be two quizzes later. One will be on paper and the second one will consist of having a large planet thrown at you. QuoteI bought a log book and am hoping to go back this weekend and get two or three more jumps toward the AFF 7 jump thing and then move on to the 25 and get my license. I started right in on the first AFF jump and if I was starting from scratch again I'd do a tandem first, like you did. The first several seconds of my first AFF jump were entirely occupied with me thinking "oh sh-t I let go of the plane and I'm hurtling towards the ground", before I calmed down and started doing the things I was supposed to do. If I had done a tandem, I could have done that part while I didn't have to *do* anything else. Also, don't freak if you end up doing an AFF level more than once. Some people get right through it in 7 jumps and some people (like me) take longer. QuoteI found this site because I was already looking for gear of my own. I've got over 30 times as many jumps as you have and I still don't have my own gear. The way it was explained to me: Imagine you're 16, you just learned to drive, and you found Bill Gates' (or Scott McNeely's) credit card on the sidewalk. If you go buy a new Corvette, you'll probably wrap yourself around a tree within a week. If you go buy a '52 Ford, you'll probably spend more time under it (or at the shop with it) than you do driving it. Or, you can rent a lot of nice cars until you figure out what you really need or want. QuoteI’m sure that I’ll be asking plenty of dumb questions so bare with me. As I understand it, usually you have to have at least an A license before jumping naked. (I think it's a requirement for the D license.) On the kids jumping: it varies by state and country. In the US, _usually_ you have to be 18 to jump. I think there might be a few states where it's 21. Some dropzones will let someone who's 16 jump, but there is usually extra paperwork involved. Check with some local DZs to find out what their rules are. Welcome! EulePLF does not stand for Please Land on Face. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Bill_K 0 #11 October 17, 2005 Thanks for all the very encouraging responses guys'n'gals. I like the advice of renting a bunch until I find what I like. Frankly after I spent 4 or 5 hours reading about why this one is better than that one, I think this is very good advice. I don't know how long it will take to get through the AFF stuff, be it 7 or 10 jumps, so long as I'm still alive at the end and being safe, then it was a success. Then as they say when learning to fly, then I really start learning. A private is a license to learn, and instructor rating is a license to learn what you really don't know that you think you know. Anyway, right now I'm wanting to learn a bunch. I find myself thinking about the next time, I'm living for it right now I think. Heck I can't even sleep with the excitement of it. Well that and I go to work real early anyway. Thanks again for the kindness already, Bill K. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skymama 37 #12 October 17, 2005 QuoteAs I understand it, usually you have to have at least an A license before jumping naked. (I think it's a requirement for the D license.) LOL...no, a naked jump is not a requirement for the D license. Bill...don't worry too much about your gear right now. You're going to downsize your canopy as you progress and you want to wait until you get to a comfortable wing loading before you buy a rig. For me, that was somewhere around the 40 jump range.She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Bill_K 0 #13 October 18, 2005 LOL, you guys kill me. I assure you, nobody wants to see me skydiving naked!! The sport would be ruined for everybody else!! As for gear, I can wait. I just want to get back in the sky! But if I keep looking I think that I'll know when the time is right. Last year I lost a bunch of weight, like 80 lbs, after Saturday, I got the motivation that I need to take the 30ish or so that I put back on, back off. Now I have a reason to take it off and keep it off. Last night I was kind of nervous, just like all of the sudden it kind of hit me. As the day went on today though it went away and I was pumped again. Now I'm chomping at the bit to go again, and soon. I've got family and business stuff that will keep me from the ground school for two weeks though. As soon as I can though, I'm taking it and I'm moving on with this. Thanks again for the welcome and advice. I noticed the USPA.org site is up and I've been reading up on it. So much to learn, so worth it though. -Me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ngawang01 0 #14 October 18, 2005 I'm very busy guy, too. I did my AFF last spring. It took me about 5 months to complete it. I did one or two jumps every 30 days. I passed all the levels all right. I repeated level 6 because I wait too long (45 days) and nailed both times. You need to log at least one jump within 30 days. I will not recommend wait too long, but I want you to know that it can be done. Just stay focus on each skydive. If is too windy and you can't jump, look at other skydivers landing and learn from their mistakes. Ask questions, a stupid question is the one you do not ask. Other Sdver are always willing to share their knowledge. Nobody in the DZ like to see anybody getting hurt. Get graduation jump filmed. I did not and I regret it. Nothing like see yourself tumbling through the sky at the exit and then getting stable...... by yourself. "Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I". pf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Bill_K 0 #15 October 18, 2005 QuoteI'm very busy guy, too. I did my AFF last spring. It took me about 5 months to complete it. I did one or two jumps every 30 days. I passed all the levels all right. I repeated level 6 because I wait too long (45 days) and nailed both times. You need to log at least one jump within 30 days. I will not recommend wait too long, but I want you to know that it can be done. Just stay focus on each skydive. If is too windy and you can't jump, look at other skydivers landing and learn from their mistakes. Ask questions, a stupid question is the one you do not ask. Other Sdver are always willing to share their knowledge. Nobody in the DZ like to see anybody getting hurt. Get graduation jump filmed. I did not and I regret it. Nothing like see yourself tumbling through the sky at the exit and then getting stable...... by yourself. Funny you should say that about getting it filmed. I was thinking about that and talking to my wife about it last night. I was commenting that I bet the video is a very, very useful tool for training and it might not hurt to get one done every 25 or 50 jumps, just a progress type of thing. Thanks for the encouragement!! I'm going to drive out there on Thursday and at least try and get setup with a regular instructor so that when I can come back and take the ground classes and can start doing the AFF jumps I know who I'll be working with. BK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ngawang01 0 #16 October 19, 2005 You will find out that sometimes you need to do jump levels with different instructors. This is really good, too. You get different point of views about your skydiving progression. Whatever you do, Don't forget to smile and to pull. "Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I". pf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. 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gstukey 0 #9 October 17, 2005 Congrats and welcome to skydiving!! Your motivation and dedication is mutual--Blue Skies! gstukey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eule 0 #10 October 17, 2005 QuoteHello all, I finally did it. Congratulations! Good feeling, isn't it? :) QuoteThe only point that I had any apprehension at all was when the instructor told me not to put my hands where the latches that attached me to him were about half way down when we were under canopy. So we moved them to the guide ropes? What ever the things are that you use to steer with? The whole rope is a steering line. The loop at the end that you put your hand through is a toggle. You will learn all about this when you go through your first jump class. Pay attention, there will be two quizzes later. One will be on paper and the second one will consist of having a large planet thrown at you. QuoteI bought a log book and am hoping to go back this weekend and get two or three more jumps toward the AFF 7 jump thing and then move on to the 25 and get my license. I started right in on the first AFF jump and if I was starting from scratch again I'd do a tandem first, like you did. The first several seconds of my first AFF jump were entirely occupied with me thinking "oh sh-t I let go of the plane and I'm hurtling towards the ground", before I calmed down and started doing the things I was supposed to do. If I had done a tandem, I could have done that part while I didn't have to *do* anything else. Also, don't freak if you end up doing an AFF level more than once. Some people get right through it in 7 jumps and some people (like me) take longer. QuoteI found this site because I was already looking for gear of my own. I've got over 30 times as many jumps as you have and I still don't have my own gear. The way it was explained to me: Imagine you're 16, you just learned to drive, and you found Bill Gates' (or Scott McNeely's) credit card on the sidewalk. If you go buy a new Corvette, you'll probably wrap yourself around a tree within a week. If you go buy a '52 Ford, you'll probably spend more time under it (or at the shop with it) than you do driving it. Or, you can rent a lot of nice cars until you figure out what you really need or want. QuoteI’m sure that I’ll be asking plenty of dumb questions so bare with me. As I understand it, usually you have to have at least an A license before jumping naked. (I think it's a requirement for the D license.) On the kids jumping: it varies by state and country. In the US, _usually_ you have to be 18 to jump. I think there might be a few states where it's 21. Some dropzones will let someone who's 16 jump, but there is usually extra paperwork involved. Check with some local DZs to find out what their rules are. Welcome! EulePLF does not stand for Please Land on Face. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_K 0 #11 October 17, 2005 Thanks for all the very encouraging responses guys'n'gals. I like the advice of renting a bunch until I find what I like. Frankly after I spent 4 or 5 hours reading about why this one is better than that one, I think this is very good advice. I don't know how long it will take to get through the AFF stuff, be it 7 or 10 jumps, so long as I'm still alive at the end and being safe, then it was a success. Then as they say when learning to fly, then I really start learning. A private is a license to learn, and instructor rating is a license to learn what you really don't know that you think you know. Anyway, right now I'm wanting to learn a bunch. I find myself thinking about the next time, I'm living for it right now I think. Heck I can't even sleep with the excitement of it. Well that and I go to work real early anyway. Thanks again for the kindness already, Bill K. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #12 October 17, 2005 QuoteAs I understand it, usually you have to have at least an A license before jumping naked. (I think it's a requirement for the D license.) LOL...no, a naked jump is not a requirement for the D license. Bill...don't worry too much about your gear right now. You're going to downsize your canopy as you progress and you want to wait until you get to a comfortable wing loading before you buy a rig. For me, that was somewhere around the 40 jump range.She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_K 0 #13 October 18, 2005 LOL, you guys kill me. I assure you, nobody wants to see me skydiving naked!! The sport would be ruined for everybody else!! As for gear, I can wait. I just want to get back in the sky! But if I keep looking I think that I'll know when the time is right. Last year I lost a bunch of weight, like 80 lbs, after Saturday, I got the motivation that I need to take the 30ish or so that I put back on, back off. Now I have a reason to take it off and keep it off. Last night I was kind of nervous, just like all of the sudden it kind of hit me. As the day went on today though it went away and I was pumped again. Now I'm chomping at the bit to go again, and soon. I've got family and business stuff that will keep me from the ground school for two weeks though. As soon as I can though, I'm taking it and I'm moving on with this. Thanks again for the welcome and advice. I noticed the USPA.org site is up and I've been reading up on it. So much to learn, so worth it though. -Me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ngawang01 0 #14 October 18, 2005 I'm very busy guy, too. I did my AFF last spring. It took me about 5 months to complete it. I did one or two jumps every 30 days. I passed all the levels all right. I repeated level 6 because I wait too long (45 days) and nailed both times. You need to log at least one jump within 30 days. I will not recommend wait too long, but I want you to know that it can be done. Just stay focus on each skydive. If is too windy and you can't jump, look at other skydivers landing and learn from their mistakes. Ask questions, a stupid question is the one you do not ask. Other Sdver are always willing to share their knowledge. Nobody in the DZ like to see anybody getting hurt. Get graduation jump filmed. I did not and I regret it. Nothing like see yourself tumbling through the sky at the exit and then getting stable...... by yourself. "Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I". pf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_K 0 #15 October 18, 2005 QuoteI'm very busy guy, too. I did my AFF last spring. It took me about 5 months to complete it. I did one or two jumps every 30 days. I passed all the levels all right. I repeated level 6 because I wait too long (45 days) and nailed both times. You need to log at least one jump within 30 days. I will not recommend wait too long, but I want you to know that it can be done. Just stay focus on each skydive. If is too windy and you can't jump, look at other skydivers landing and learn from their mistakes. Ask questions, a stupid question is the one you do not ask. Other Sdver are always willing to share their knowledge. Nobody in the DZ like to see anybody getting hurt. Get graduation jump filmed. I did not and I regret it. Nothing like see yourself tumbling through the sky at the exit and then getting stable...... by yourself. Funny you should say that about getting it filmed. I was thinking about that and talking to my wife about it last night. I was commenting that I bet the video is a very, very useful tool for training and it might not hurt to get one done every 25 or 50 jumps, just a progress type of thing. Thanks for the encouragement!! I'm going to drive out there on Thursday and at least try and get setup with a regular instructor so that when I can come back and take the ground classes and can start doing the AFF jumps I know who I'll be working with. BK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ngawang01 0 #16 October 19, 2005 You will find out that sometimes you need to do jump levels with different instructors. This is really good, too. You get different point of views about your skydiving progression. Whatever you do, Don't forget to smile and to pull. "Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I". pf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
