matthias 0 #1 June 26, 2006 I've been lurking for a while, posting here and there but never got around to making an intro post. I've always dreamt of skydiving but just never got around to it as I felt it would be too expensive (which..hasn't changed, heh). The last 6 years after leaving the Marines, I mostly pursued my passion in electronic music. Back in April, had the chance to meet Brittany S (who I see is pretty famous on here) and the way she described the sport and the way her eyes lit up convinced me to head to Skydive Houston 2 weekends ago and do my first tandem. I was hooked, and the weekend after I did the AFF level 1 ground course, tho due to rain I had to wait until yesterday to do the jump. I ended up having to repeat level one because apparently I was unable to reach the PC well enough to pull it in time, mainside JM pulled it for me. Ah well. Got it and passed the second time around even though on that jump we exited very unstable and the reserve-side JM went flying off. That was utter insanity. Canopy control was relatively easy and was able to steer it back to the dz even on the first jump when the radio failed. I'm not sure how far into the far I plan to go..but like many other beginners I've found it so far to be a very rewarding experience and its helping me deal with alot of tough times. I look forward to meeting alot of new people both on the forum and at SDH, and having a good time. Blue skies, Matt_________________________________________ trance/house mixes for download: www.djmattm.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #2 June 26, 2006 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
matthias 0 #3 June 26, 2006 QuoteI think it's very impressive that you landed correctly without the radio working. I would have been scared to death! Heh...it was a pretty uneasy feeling. I think what may of helped me out just a tad was playing ms flight simulator in the past. After not receiving anything over the comm I looked around to spot the DZ from the air and steered toward the staging area. I'm not certain if I followed the flight plan to a T and decided to come in alongside the runway. Not the best choice as I was landing in a 5mph crosswind but not too much of a problem. Landing was more of a crash landing/semi-PLF rather than a standup as I flared a little too early... I have confidence the rest of the training will work out. Relaxing during sensory overload part of the freefall seems to be the greatest challenge._________________________________________ trance/house mixes for download: www.djmattm.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mangledspoon 0 #4 June 26, 2006 Hehe, our radios never work. I think in all my training jumps it only worked about 3 times! My canopy control is dodgy at best, so I can't say this was a good thing for me haha. Glad you did well without it though. On my first jump I was so concentrated on the freefall that under canopy I was bloody glad I had that radio and arrow to follow (not sure if your dropzone has the big arrow they move around, but it sure helped me!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthias 0 #5 June 26, 2006 QuoteHehe, our radios never work. I think in all my training jumps it only worked about 3 times! My canopy control is dodgy at best, so I can't say this was a good thing for me haha. Glad you did well without it though. On my first jump I was so concentrated on the freefall that under canopy I was bloody glad I had that radio and arrow to follow (not sure if your dropzone has the big arrow they move around, but it sure helped me!) The only arrow I'm aware of is the one of the overhead map. While under canopy I difted forward for the first minute anticipating radio instruction, heard only static/distorted audio followed by the radio beep...so figured it wasn't going to help me much. It was an uneasy feeling and what should of been a relaxing canopy ride turned out to be otherwise. I was wired from the freefall and after determining the radio wasn't working, felt my heart start pounding. "Shit...okay, relax...let's find that dropzone." I looked around and first spotted the runway with the white X's a tad behind me over my left shoulder and turned toward. I was still at 3,500 feet so I was good on altitude. As I neared 1,000 feet I decided to come in alongside the runway to give myself plenty of landing space without obsticals. The last 100 I started to get ground rush and had trouble determining my distance from the ground. I tried to use the windsock for reference but I must have been at least 20-25ft when I flared rather than 10. The brakes worked, but the canopy took a dive for the final 10 feet. "Shiiiiiiiit!!!!!!" *IMPACT* Life flashed before my eyes, rolled a few times. Few bumps below the left knee and the shoulder. Got up, bit shaken up but no broken bones._________________________________________ trance/house mixes for download: www.djmattm.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
countzero 7 #6 June 28, 2006 blue skies! i'll be out at SDH this sat. (weather permiting) for my level 8. i haven't had radio failure but i have picked up all kinds of cross talk making it hard to hear the instructors. best of luck!diamonds are a dawgs best friend Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladydyver 0 #7 July 1, 2006 I seem to be having the same landing problem (hehehehehehe). Oh well, it will come in time.DPH # 2 "I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~ I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
