Am I a poser?

[Muenkel 0]

Someone told me today in a PM that some skydivers would consider me a poser because I only have 2 jumps and alot of posts. In other words, I should "put up or shut up".
I discovered skydiving last December while on vacation in Florida. I always wanted to do a skydive, but never thought I would have the guts. Well, it was the right time and the right place. At first I thought I would do 1 tandem as a touristy thing and to know I did it. Well something really special happened to me. I don't need to describe it because you have all experienced it. So I did a 2nd tandem and I felt I was hooked. Immediately upon returning to New England I decided to book my AFF back at Skydive Space Center. I wanted to learn there because it had special memories for me. I had to wait till May because I wanted to be able to take a couple of weeks off from work to devote to my training. I had a long winter to contend with in New England, so I registered at DZ.com in order to be connected with the skydive community as I waited. It kept me excited about the new adventure. I racked up alot of posts, hence the post to number of jumps ratio.
I began AFF...barely, when a couple of unfortunate incidents postponed it and I returned to New England. So now I wait some more because of an injury. I want to keep the dream alive and continue to be part of DZ.com, but this will mean my posts will go even higher while my jump numbers remain the same. I guess I could lie on my profile and put a higher number, but I am proud of what I have accomplished so far.
I guess my message is to all of those who consider some to be posers, just remember...you can't get to jump #3, 4, etc. until you have completed #2.
Blue skies everyone and be safe. Do some jumps for me. I'm going to let my shoulder heal.If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris

[skycat 0]

Hey have you thought about checking out the local DZs. It would have helped had you did your jumps in New England so you could establish a "home" DZ. Even injured there is alot you can learn on the ground just by being out at the DZ. You can watch other people land which will help down the road when you are learning canopy control. You can learn about gear and packing so you will be ahead of the game by the time it is time to learn to pack and to choose gear. Really being injured isn't an excuse to not continue to learn, yes this website has lots of good info, but being at the DZ will put that info into perspective.

[hooked 0]

Well said, Chris! I too, have very few jumps. I unfortunately waited too long to do my first jump. Does anyone out there realize to have a dream and probably won't be able to live that dream? For several reasons I am not sure I will be able to do AFF or static line. Maybe winning the Lottery would help or maybe some younger body (no puns, please)!
Chris, skydiving is in your heart, so go for it when you heal and learn all you can in the mean time. Skydiving changes you and I wish I could have realized how much many years ago. The freedom of the skies and the accomplishment is hard to put into words.
J
Live your dream, go skydiving!

[Jessica 0]

Skycat makes a very good point. I pretty much sat out of skdiving for a long while early in my jumpin' career, but I still went out to the dz and got my ear talked off and picked up jumpers landing out and hung out with my friends and drank beer and sat in on FJCs and stuff. I learned a shitload.
Dropzone.com is good, but there's nothing like watching 10 loads of canopies land if you can't be under a canopy yourself.

[Muenkel 0]

Yes, I have checked out my local DZ which is Jumptown in Massachusetts. I have made some visits and I will be making another visit shortly. Also, for the 2 days I was at SSC, I did watch the jumpers and packers. I really wanted to do my training there because the jumpmaster and everyone else there made me feel very comfortable. In fact I still keep in touch with my jumpmaster via email. He has given me alot of advice. I also looked forward to seeing them all again.
Great suggestion Skycat.
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris

[Muenkel 0]

Hooked,
I still believe you are not too old. Skydiving is in your blood or you would not have hung out here so long...and of course that would have been all of our loss.
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris

[skybytch 273]

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Does anyone out there realize to have a dream and probably won't be able to live that dream?

*raising my hand*
My dream is to be part of a world record skydive. A year and a half ago that dream seemed forever out of reach as I lay flat on my back with two blown out discs, in excruciating pain, facing surgery that could easily have put me out of the sport completely. Add to that the fact that I've never been able to spend on skydiving the kind of money that you have to spend to be good enough to be part of a world record jump - most of the time I really couldn't afford to jump period.
I haven't let either of those "facts" stop me from chasing my dream. Through sheer determination I got myself back in the sky a year and a day after having three vertebrae fused - the same type of surgery that has ended many jumpers skydiving careers. My back still hurts; some pain is a constant companion, but I've learned to ignore it and get on with what I want to do.
With a lot of sacrifice on my and my son's part and a lot of help from some very good friends, in the five months since I started jumping again I've jumped more than I did in the three years before I got hurt. My flying skills have come a long way in a very short time - because I've made sacrifices and because I am determined to be "good enough." I've earned my slot on my dream event - JFTC, the Women's World Record attempts coming up in October. I'm going to be a world record holder.

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For several reasons I am not sure I will be able to do AFF or static line.

You can do it. If skydiving is your dream... live it. If money is the problem - make whatever sacrifices are needed to come up with enough to do AFF and get yourself some good used gear. If physical condition is the problem - do whatever it takes to get into better shape. Age is not a limiting factor in this sport - the only limits are in your mind, and you can change your mind. pull & flare,
lisa
"Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda sez

[quade 4]

I guess it depends on your surroundings and who is walking by.
I feel like a poser when I stand next to Ray Cottingham or Pat Works.
Kate Cooper says that if you haven't been in the sport for 10 years then you're just a tourist. She said that to me while we were knocking back beers that Raoul Gravell brewed up for the 112-way sequentials.
So, yeah, I guess it all depends on the situation.
quade
http://futurecam.com

[Muenkel 0]

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Kate Cooper says that if you haven't been in the sport for 10 years then you're just a tourist

Well I guess I have 10 more years of being a tourist. Being a tourist isn't so bad. I can deal with that.
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris

[hooked 0]

Oh, you are too kind Yes, that is about all I think about.....how great it was to be in the sky. I think maybe it has been too long since my last skydive, and I am due for another one. I missed the opportunity in Eloy, in December due to a head cold! In the meantime, I am thinking of all possible ways to continue this sport. My health is (I think) generally good except for some old bones (no puns, please). I live quite a distance from my DZ and no one around me seems to think it is as important as I do, to skydive! Isn't that always the case? If I let too much time go by, you start rationalizing too much! Haha! We'll see how things go this summer.
J

[hooked 0]

Oooh, that "10 year tourist" thing bothers me!!!
J

[Muenkel 0]

Jan,
I know it is expensive, but why don't you do a tandem every now and then. No one says you have to go right into AFF. Also, the jumpmaster is experienced and will be very careful with you.
Just a thought.......If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris

[hooked 0]

Oh, I plan on it, and until I can work something out, I will always try. I keep talking to everyone around me to come and do a tandem, you would love it and most of them will!
J

[Muenkel 0]

I did my tandems alone and had a blast. The people at the DZ were very welcoming. Of course they were making money off me!
I'm going to sleep now. It's 2am here on the east coast and believe it or not I have a funeral to go to in the morning (my coworkers 17 year old son).
Too much death lately!
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris

[skycat 0]

Don't be scared to go out to the DZ alone, all of us had to do it one time or another. Don't forget that you can also do working tandems where you pull your own ripcord stear the canopy yourself and as a bonus you have your instructor right there wispering sweet nothings....oops I mean telling you what to do and why.

[hooked 0]

Nice! You learn more every day about the great people who post here. Believe me, I am working on it! I am in "shape". Without boring everyone with details, there are some things I have to work out in my mind. I believe in some cases, age is a factor. You see, I tend to 'rationalize' too much sometimes. I have a bad back already and some arthritis, etc. Comes with age people!!! As I stated in another thread, it's been too long since my last jump, so I am going again.
Thanks Lisa for the kind words of encouragement.
J

[hooked 0]

Don't everybody get me wrong, I'm not scared to go to the DZ alone! It's only when I meet people and tell them of my experience, there is always someone who has always wanted to do this, so I tell them I'll go with you! Good reason, huh? However......when I did my other tandems, everyone there was young, and you do feel a little 'out of place' as being 'older'. Didn't matter though, because I had FUN!!!!!!
Oh, helps if the tandem instructor is cute!
J

[n2skdvn 0]

hooked this sport is the most diverse crowd i have ever met
when i meet new skydivers i dont worry how old they are how much they weigh....ect im just glad they share a special bond
skydiving talk to people relate with them this sport has no boundries between people just a common bond!!!
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again
click me

[hooked 0]

Geez, you guys/gals are GREAT! I think I've posted more tonight than in any single day! Enough J

[drenaline 0]

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So I did a 2nd tandem and I felt I was hooked

You were hooked? as in *ahem* hooked? I think you should seriously change instructor cause getting "hooked" in a tandem can be a lil unethical. J/K
Dude you are a skydiver in vacation, when your holidays are over you will back up in the air and post whore more than usual
About the tandem getting you "hooked", my dad says he wants to do tandem but only if he can get a metal plate in his butt or if the instructor tandem has an iron underwear.
"Life is full of danger, so why be afraid?"
drenaline

[skycat 0]

hey hun, age doesn't mean a thing at the DZ, trust me I spent 2 hrs today talking to a guy who has been jumping 1 year longer than I've been alive and I'm 27. What was really cool is he wasn't telling old war stories, he was asking about the canopy I jump cause he saw my last 2 landings on it and was surprised by how easy I made it look to land without doing a hook turn. Luckly he didn't seem my first 3 landings up here on it.
Age really doesn't matter, there was a guy yesterday who graduated aff who was in his early 50s, only thing he said about age was that he wishes he would have found out about this sport sooner. Trust me if he can do it you can do it too, plus when you graduated AFF it doesn't matter how old you are we have no problem drinking you beer

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[f1freak 0]

Dude, just the fact that you ask this question shows me that you aint no poser.
I know how it gets in your blood. I had been making 125+ jumps a year (this is in North Dakota, 3 good months of jump weather a year) then i had to move, i was 4+ hours from a DZ and just tried to give it all up. hell i couldnt even watch it on TV it would get me to down. well now i have moved south and i have bought some gear and i will fly again. some will call me a poser, but i know deep in myself, I am a skydiver... I will always be a skydiver, and so are you man. people who think you are not; they are the posers. This is a family, when you become part of that family you stay part of the family.
Lets share some air sometime.
"Listen dude; if you’re into playin it close that’s cool, but we're talkin major malfunction here" T Sparks