Surviving the WFFC

[PhillyKev 0]

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skydivers have to make the effort to go out and get the education.

Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the only effort that can be made in this area is to fly to Cali and visit Jim Slaton. If there are other dz's offering comprehensive canopy training, I haven't found them.

I don't understand why noone has picked up on this. Personally I haven't done any coached RW or FF jumps except for right off student status because I just didn't think the price was worth it (I will someday when I have the spare cash laying around), but I'll jump on an opportunity for some canopy flight lessons without having to fly across the country.

It's not a matter of cash, it's a matter of time. I can't take time off work to fly to Cali. But if it was offered somewhere I could get to for the weekend I'd be all over it.

So how come none of you hot shit canopy pilots are whoring yourselves out for our benefit?

[PhreeZone 20]

Skydive Dallas was starting a program, Freaksis's man is running it. Skydive Deland has one with the PD team I've heard. Scott Miller is their teacher. I can't believe Xkeys don't have one. SDC kinda has/had one, unsure of the status of this one. Mike Ortiz advertised advanced canopy training also if you would rather have that then Freefly at SDA. Brian Germain is always up for teaching people about canopy flight as is John Leblanc.

Perris has the best known training, but if you look around there are lots of teachers that are well known, but don't advertise. Some might cost more then Jim and that crew, but its probally worth it for good coaching.

BTW, I know you can have your DZ make arangements to have PD come to your DZ with demo canopies or demo pilots for a training session. SDD had Scott Miller there when i was there 2 weeks ago for a weekend training session. Freaksis was the one that set it up . Contact PD if you want details and cost.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[Jessica 0]

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So how come none of you hot shit canopy pilots are whoring yourselves out for our benefit?

Good question. I know I'd be all up on that.

Skydiving is for cool people only

[Jimbo 0]

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Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the only effort that can be made in this area is to fly to Cali and visit Jim Slaton. If there are other dz's offering comprehensive canopy training, I haven't found them.

Then you haven't looked hard enough. For example, DelMarva is offering canopy flight training with Scott Miller. Scott runs the canopy school at Deland. Otherwise, ask people. There are always people at any dropzone who are approachable and more than willing to help out. Sometimes it's free, sometimes it's costs a jump ticket, sometimes a bit more. There are people out there willing to provide this service, not all of them advertise, but they are out there. If you look hard enough you'll find them.

-
Jim

"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

[weid14 0]

Brian Germain was at CK's two weekends ago... you must have missed him, good stuff, people learned something which is a good thing.

[PhillyKev 0]

Didn't know about Delmarva, I'll have to check that out. All the other places mentioned are at least 12 hours away. Jimbo...who at XKeys will give canopy flight instruction? I know who should, and have asked them but they weren't interested. I'm not talking about getting some pointers from someone. I mean a structured instructional program with pre and post briefs, video, etc.

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Brian Germain was at CK's two weekends ago... you must have missed him,

Nope...was flying kites with him. Unfortanately missed him on Saturday when the winds were jumpable. But the high winds on Sunday made for some fun kite flying.

BTW...He said something that made a lot of sense. I said, "Man, it's windy. Even if it's only a B license hold I don't have enough jumps to go up in this wind". Brian's response was, "I don't have enough jumps to go up in this either. Only 4000."

[Jimbo 0]

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Didn't know about Delmarva, I'll have to check that out. All the other places mentioned are at least 12 hours away. Jimbo...who at XKeys will give canopy flight instruction? I know who should, and have asked them but they weren't interested. I'm not talking about getting some pointers from someone. I mean a structured instructional program with pre and post briefs, video, etc.

There are people there who are happy to give pointers and occasionally you can even get a landing videod and debriefed if it's the right day and the right time.

Don't you think it's kind of silly to say that you'll only take instruction method "A" when instruction method "B" is available? Don't think that because there isn't a structured program out there that you can't get help. Getting pointers from someone is certainly better than nothing, don't ya think? Hell, it seems to me that you got a few pointers on how to land your canopy on your feet earlier this year, remember that? Now you're standing them up consistently.

Finally - What exactly is it that you're looking for in a canopy control class or seminar? It's probably best to know the answer to that question before you go any further.

-
Jim

"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

[PhillyKev 0]

No, you're completely right. Getting pointers etc. is definitely helpful. Didn't say I wouldn't take that kind of help, just that I'd like to see more structured training available, like there is for RW and FF.

What am I looking for? At this point I'd like some instruction in accuracy, landing in brakes, adjusting landing spot during final, adjusting sink/glide during final using brakes and/or risers, etc. I know the theories behind what you should do and practice it up high. But I don't have the confidence to try it when actually coming up on the ground. If I could get someone to hop & pop with me. Fly next to me and instruct me in the air, confirm that I'm doing it right and talk me through it on radio when coming it to land, I'd feel much better about experimenting.

[weid14 0]

yeah those winds were getting a bit squirrly, we saw those tandems landing backwards and it was like OK, we're done.

Brian also gave a pretty cool seminar in the hanger before we could jump on saturday. Flying those kites would help to, seeing what inputs to what to the wing.

As for help... what about Toby, Heath, or Aron?

[Snowwhite 0]

I don't intend to hijack this thread, but I wanted to add a little to HOW TO SURVIVE THE WFFC. I have worked in registration for about 5 years now. I have seen some great conventions, and I was there for the worst. There were a few main people who worked extremely hard to make sure that the skydivers who had become such a part of the Quincy community, were thought of as druggies and whores. Although the majority of the Quincy community doesn't believe that, the vocal few spoke their mind to their elected officials, based on the misinformation those few people were working to diseminate. It has come to my attention that those same few BASTARDS have decided that they should come and be a part of the WFFC wherever we locate, and for some strange reason, they assume that it is ok. I want to warn all of my good buddies in the skydiving community, that you may be approached by people to use your name on the registration form so these BASTARDS may gain entry as 'friend of a skydiver'. All of us at the WFFC want this to be the BEST WFFC ever, and the good folks of Rantoul have made it clear that they intend to do everything in their power to make it so. Please be wary if you are approached by anyone who wants to come to the WFFC using your name as entry. If you have any questions about this, please contact me. beth@freefall.com

[DivaSkyChick 0]

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Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the only effort that can be made in this area is to fly to Cali and visit Jim Slaton. If there are other dz's offering comprehensive canopy training, I haven't found them. {unquote)

You haven't met Wyat Drews from Skydive Elsinore Evolution. check it out: [url]http://www.skydiveelsinore.com/teams/evolution/index.html

Oh why can't I get hyperlinks to work???

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www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

[PhreeZone 20]

Well... thats a west coast school, we need something like that in the midwest and east coast. Oh well....

for the url... use the buttons right under the text box area. Hit the url, type the address then press the button again and it will work.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com