smous 0 #1 October 23, 2011 It all started October 11th, when I was bored at work, as I am now! I called the local DZ, Plymouth Sky Sports, in Plymouth, IN, to see if they had an opening for a tandem the next day, and as luck would have it, they did! I was a bit early to the DZ, got to watch 2 tandems go before me, and began to question my sanity... At this point i was thinking 'Seriously, jumping out of an airplane??' Right about then, I was introduced to my instructor. He went through the training with me, and before I knew it, it was time to get on the plane... The climb to 10,000' seemed to go really quick, as my instructor went over most everything again. Next thing I know he got this big smile on his face and asked me 'are you ready to skydive?' Of course I was! So... he opened the door, and I thought to myself '....or maybe not', but I got this far, I HAD to do it. He tells me to put my feet on the 'step', which at this point looked really small (It's a Cessna 182, for what its worth), and put my arms in the safety position. I felt a little lean out, then in, then out and we left the plane. By the time he tapped me on the arms arms to move them from the safety position, I knew I had to do it again. It was completely amazing! Before I was back on the ground, I was figuring out how to budget the money for their AFF program... I did my second tandem October 21st, complete with video and a stand up landing, which caught me by surprise! I can't wait until spring for the AFF class and jumps to start!!!I'm everything you'd never expect! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #2 October 23, 2011 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
smous 0 #3 October 25, 2011 Hey, thanks for the warm welcome!! Yeah, I'll need a lot of money next year, but its so worth it! Funny thing is people STILL don't believe I did it, even with photos and video... They all say I'm so quiet and reserved. Apparently they just haven't seen me doing something I really like. I'm just hoping the weather holds up here for a few more weeks. The DZ is supposed to get a Caravan for one more weekend, and I really want to jump from something bigger than their usual Cessna 182.I'm everything you'd never expect! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrmrangers 0 #4 October 25, 2011 Welcome to the forums, and welcome to the addiction!! My story and many other people on heres stories are pretty much the same! It only gets better, stick with it and Blue Skies!!Wait , I pull what first? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marinus 0 #5 October 25, 2011 I was thrown from a different plane, and I only did one tandem, but the rest of the story is about the same. The tandem was supposed to be a "try before you die" thing, and now I'm liberating money to fund my AFF next spring. I really didn't see that coming..Welcome. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #6 October 26, 2011 QuoteThey all say I'm so quiet and reserved. Apparently they just haven't seen me doing something I really like. Haha...that's exactly what people said about me when they heard I did a tandem. After being in the sport for 11 years, I'm still pretty quiet and reserved; I just find skydiving really enjoyable!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
smous 0 #7 October 27, 2011 Well, it's official, I'm an STP (my DZs version of AFF) student!! DZ was slow today, so they did ground school... First jump Saturday, hopefully!!!I'm everything you'd never expect! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TriGirl 343 #8 October 30, 2011 Did you get your jump yesterday? How did you feel? Did you have the chance to do more than one? Welcome! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marinus 0 #9 October 30, 2011 Quote I can't wait until spring for the AFF class and jumps to start!!! Quote First jump Saturday, hopefully!!! So you literally meant you couldn't wait until spring.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smous 0 #10 October 30, 2011 Quote So you literally meant you couldn't wait until spring.... Yeah, I couldn't wait!!! It's addictive, I swear! ...and about the jump... It was COLD... 36 on the ground, so, what, 6 at 10k, giving a wind chill at exit of between -25 and -30. good thing I brought my snowboard coat and pants - light and windproof! Exit cadence needs work, got 'got legs out' signal a couple times, I put them out, but forgot to HOLD them there, deployed at 5500'. Until now, I was looking at canopy flight as a way to get to the ground, so I could jump again, for more freefall time. I was very surprised that I enjoyed the canopy stuff just as much as freefall! Actually flying the canopy was great, I just wish it lasted longer! Almost had a stand up landing, however, the grass was wet, so my feet slipped out from under me... Now, just 22 more and I'll have a license...I'm everything you'd never expect! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowwhite 0 #11 October 31, 2011 WOOOOOOOHOOOO! See you at the dz's this summer! Don't be shy, the whole country has terrific places and terrific people who can't wait to share their little corner of the sky with you!skydiveTaylorville.org freefallbeth@yahoo.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smous 0 #12 October 31, 2011 QuoteWOOOOOOOHOOOO! I think that was my exact response after I first saw that canopy overhead!! I have a feeling my DZ is going to get tired of me next year... I have some plans next summer to get over to Skydive Chicago after I get my license...I'm everything you'd never expect! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marinus 0 #13 October 31, 2011 Quote Yeah, I couldn't wait!!! It's addictive, I swear! I made my jump on the 28th of September, and I seriously considered to do something irresponsible like selling my car/kidney/mother-in-law to fund AFF before winter. I understand AFF can be done year round in the Netherlands, but during wintertime I usually hibernate. But anyway, I really get the addiction part now, but I didn't see it coming before the jump..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
