dterrick 0 #1 August 30, 2003 Ugh. On the eve of Labour Day weekend 2001 I was shit scared at how my life would change the next morning. It was September 1, 2001 that I took my first jump course at Winnipeg Skydiving Centre at Gimli Manitoba. Life hasn't been the same since. I feel like a 'terrible two year old' and I'm not sure that's good. Living in a Cessna dropzone open for only six months of the year (if mother nature cooperates), one hundred and sixty jumps seems like a whole lot. My first 'season' lasted all of six weeks before the plane's annual inspection shut us down early despite an unseasonably warm October. I was a permanent fixture on the DZ in 2002. I had it in my mind that I would achieve the FAI 'B' license and a hundred jumps in the season and it took attending every single open weekend for me to achieve that goal. Sadly, no sooner was I group RW endorsed with my B it was time for the DZ to close for the winter. Despite my attempts to organize winter jumps and para-ski, mother nature didn't cooperate with our cantankerous old Cessna or common sense. Among the coldest winters on record, the skies were clear but who wants to hop n pop at minus 20 farenheight and below? I've paid the price this year for neglecting my business, property, and family in 2002. All my surplus funds spent on jump tickets, I had nothing leftover for a replacement to my aging Raven 220 main that delights in thumping me both on opening and landing. RW skills advancement ... one one good weekend a month? Hah! Not going to happen, so I elected to pursue flying the absolute shit out of my Raven in search of the edge. Accuracy was out of the question not because of the anvil-like glide slope at less than full drive but the following crash-landings! Nobody on DZ is in a position to teach CReW (one of my great aspirations) so I've found myself doing a lot of 4k hop n pops with aggressive canopy manouvers until hard-deck followed by what could pass for a hi-performance landing under a 7 cell. Sometimes they've been a bit too aggressive for the equipment. Old Ravens, by the way, stall VERY rapidly on a rear riser flare - maybe that, um, performance is why I've ignored the inflight toggles for most of the season. Of course, demo's down to a Sabre 2 170 have also proven I can abort an aproach and runout a light down/crosswinder when rogue traffic (???) intercedes... The two year old in me is bored. Bored, bored, bored. A new (used)main an a hundred jump tickets will cost me more than a recreational (VFR-day) pilot's license. And, as an over-qualified backyard mechanic with many vintage auto reatorations beind me, I also have a desire to build an experimental aircraft and fly the Fokker (pun intended). Helpppppp! I need some vibes! Maybe it's just my Gemini nature but with the boredom comes apathy. I do NOT want to give up the sport but I can't even 'scare' myself in a full and proper stall (with the pilot chute inflated in front of the nose) anymore. Who's been there? Who knows the Way? -Dave PS: My best thought for the weekend is to arrive at DZ and 'pretend' I am a FJC student again, take the 6 hour class, and fly a Manta 288 to the cookie. Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 August 30, 2003 QuoteWho knows the Way? Pack your stuff. Move to a place where they jump year round. Okay, that wasn't very nice. I don't know what to tell you though. I do know that quitting jumping is not the answer. Congrats on two years! Considering how short your seasons are, 160 jumps in two years is awesome. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #3 August 30, 2003 Hey Dave... Do what Lisa says. It's for your own good Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dterrick 0 #4 August 30, 2003 QuoteI do know that quitting jumping is not the answer. Thanks Lisa, you display the wisdom of the Green Genie. Like I said, I hope NOT to quit jumping, though the next level of fun seems a very large $ away... and move as you suggest. I have a (married) sister in the Bay Area and I've had two GREAT visits to Hoillister (all of 7 jumps between them) and maybe it's the 'greener grass' problem rearing its' head. Does greenie status entitle you to grant Green cards? No freefly from 9k ($27.50 per go) to speak of, and certainly not with a 20 year old Racer and a reserve as a main... even if someone would teach me CRW dudes moved away. DZO has the qualifications (5000+ jumps, BASE # under #200, National championships, etc) but can't right now for health reasons. Likely a season away at best. Too much time on these forums have convinced me to be more conserative on canopy selection (a la Billvon) despite the OK to move to an eliptical 170 class by the DZO a long time ago (agressive in my mind but the demos brought back feelings of racing a GT-2 Datsun 240Z at 140 mph Worse yet, Maniotoba is flat flat FLAT. the biggest 'B' is barely jumpable (30 stories). There is no 'E' to speak of and of course that meand no 'S' either. Gimme an 'A'? Where should I move to? B.Comm with a Certified Financial Planner designation and 12 years in the financial industry (and hopefully no more than 13). I'm waaay too young o have a midlife crisis, I still havn' t grown up yet . Ye Gods, methinks Married with Children would be the end of me! -Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dterrick 0 #5 August 30, 2003 So Seb, Tell me what it will cost me to get my ratings (PM's cool) so I can get a Green card and snivel lodging in the Bay area until I find something to do for 'real work'? Gotta admit, Manitoba winters are draggin' me down.. -Dave Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #6 August 30, 2003 A long time ago, you invited me to a picnic... YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO QUIT UNTIL WE GET OUR PICNIC. After that, you can do whatever you want. But you realize this means you'll have to come down to glorious Elsinore and meet me at the picnic tables, right? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
