SkyPainter 0 #1 August 10, 2008 Well, here is the tale: Thursday, did the FCJ, (finally!). Also, the S&TA invited me to attend the "B" license Water Trainng after the FJC! Several more advanced jumpers told me I should take the water training class ...that it is not scheduled that often, and I should do it now, if possible. So , I did BOTH the FJC (including hanging harness training, and spinning EPs), AND the water training the same day! Saturday I came out and was the first name on the board for the Cat A AFF jump ..... but this is New England, and the *&^%&%#^%(* WEATHER killed that! I actually got on the first load with two AFF instructors and a video guy, actually GOT to 13 K, and the jump was scrubbed due to heavy clouds which rolled in. I rode the plane down with the video guy. But the DZ is laser-focused on safety - so I didn't mind! Pepperell is *very* safety conscious, and I was very glad that they scrubbed the student jumps after landing! Real scud up there! Showed-up first thing today (Sunday) and got manifested on the first load. Got to 13 K + and ACTUALLY GOT TO JUMP!!! I was extremely calm the whole time (did a bunch-o-tunnel time prior, and the FCJ was excellent!). Had calm air, blue skies, and LOVED both the jump in FF, AND the canopy ride down!!! This is the best thing you can do with your clothes on! The BEST thing I found was a thought - when doing the "Hotel Check", I decided that "Up, Down, ARCH" was too rooted in the 'arch', which induced stiffness (at least to ME!) So, I did: "UP, Down, WATERBED!" ..... it allowed me to totally RELAX almost instantly! ARCH felt like 'fighting', or /pushing' against the relative wind in FreeFall, while WATERBED allowed me to expect an environment that would rock, sway, wave, and move under my body. And on a waterbed, your belly sinks a bit lower, as well! WORKED LIKE A CHARM! I will be using that from now on! Smooth opening, and I wanted to stay up there under canopy forever! Even though the 260 student rig was pretty doclile, I *LOVED flying around up there!!!! Both parts of the jump were a gas! Flying my body in FF, AND zipping around the sky under canopy! I did back riser turns, 360-s, 180s, and generally had a ball up there! Had a bit of a bumpy landing (radio called the flare a tad late, but *I* am responsible for MY jump), but wanted to sit-slide in anyway, as my knee was a bit balky. Was fine, though! I got manifested immediately for the Cat B dive, but we got weathered-out again ! :( A huge THANK YOU to Stacy (HI, STAC!!!) for allowing me to at least get on the board 2X during a busy Tandem day! Thank you also, to my AFF instructors, Bill Purdin, Dalton, and Ramon (and Luciano!) for an excellent ramp-up to the jumps! I felt totally relaxed during the whole process! Thanks also to Darren and Lauren, for being great, calming coaches while waiting! One cool part was meeting the more experienced jumpers during the water training .... now when I hit the DZ I actually KNOW some people! Even met a couple of others who are willing to coach when I hit that level! We have a Boogie coming up the end of the month, and maybe I can get to coaching status by then to jump the CASA! So, NOW I can get myself what I promised - a closing pin necklace for making that first real jump. Now ....on to the rest of skydiving .... what a cool road to be on! AND with some pretty good new friends! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always! SkyPainterLive deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LuckyMcSwervy 0 #2 August 10, 2008 Congratulations! That's awesome! Your excitement is coming through on your post. Blue skies - Karen PS - When I got up this morning I didn't feel well enough to go do my 2 last tandem jumps this morning - good thing I didn't make the drive to the DZ - bad weather (lightning storms and tornado warnings all day) was sure to rule the day. There's always next weekend. Always be kinder than you feel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyPainter 0 #3 August 11, 2008 Hi! Good luck on your next jumps!! This is THE COOLEST thing one can do! I hope to blast through a few more AFF jumps, and maybe get to coaching status by the Boogie here the end of the month! If not, I will try to get the remaining AFF jumps in! Yes, VERY exciting! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always, SkyPainterLive deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreaming13000 1 #4 August 11, 2008 Hooray! Congrats on starting your AFF!!! BLUE SKIES! jess "A man only gets in life what he is believing for, nothing more and nothing less" Kenneth Hagen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
