Best AFF time frame.

[Sinkster 0]

Hi,
I am new here although I have lurked a lot reading all I can because I completed my first jump ever (yehaa!) which was AFF lvl 1 and I've been wanting to go up again so bad but haven't and won't be able to for a couple more weekends more at least due to weather and midterms.
My jump was not last weekend but the weekend before. So 2 weeks ago.
Anyways, my question is do you think I should do my best to try to jump tommorow even though I should study for midterms, or do you think it will be ok to wait 2 more weeks (next available time) to make the 2nd AFF jump?
In other words, MUST I jump tommorow just to jump (currency), or is it acceptable to have about 1 month in between my first and 2nd jump?
Also, should I try to wait until I can jump multiple weekends in a row (summer) to complete AFF, or do you think I can complete it just fine only jumping every couple weeks or once a month?
Any and all opinions appreciated.
-Sinkster
BTW, I will be jumping at Gold Coast Skydivers in Moss Point, MS. Mad props to Kevin, Luis, and Lynette (awesome videographer not only jump skill wise imho but also with video editing) for a truly memorable first jump! (i owe some beer too for throwing the rip cord) =)
P.S. Anyone else jump or learning to jump at Gold Coast and live near the Baton Rouge area OR have anything to comment on it or tips or whatever? I thought it was great how their twin otter got us up to 15,000 (logged 65 secs of FF time hehe!) unlike the typical 13.5k I hear about alot. I only wish it was a closer drive!

[Emmie 0]

Hi
I should be the last person on earth to give any advice on AFF, but, oh well. Try to be at your dropzone as much as possible. You never know what the weather will be like in the future, (students can't jump in winds above 14mph), so the more time you spend there the greater are your chances of finishing AFF. Also, the more current you are the less nervous you'll be the next time you jump. That's just from my own limited experience. Why don't you bring your homework to the dropzone and catch up reading while you're waiting for your load. Ok, I shouldn't be giving any advice on homework either... I just really need to jump, and if I was given a chance between jumping tomorrow and studying for the midterm, I would definetely jump. Ofcourse I'm not extremely responcible, (and I had a couple of beers) so you can just choose to disregard my words of wisdom and not jump. BUt you'll regret it!!!

[skyhawk 2]

hard one :) im not in instructer so my opinion on this aint woreth crap :) anyways nobody on here will really be able to tell you if you can you would have to ask your instructor. Because in the 2nd jump you are still being held on to it prob wont be that big an issue however they will probably(and if they dont you should ask) make you go thrue and refresh all the things you learnt especially emergancy procedures. In my opinion there shouldnt really be a problem but at the end of the day its up to the instructor
obvioulsy you really want to jump so when you should do it will be a personal decision. Some positives of waighting till the summer.
You can save money
You will prob have less repeats this is especially true with the later levels if you have long times between aff jumps you forget little things for eg dont drop a knee.
Go have a talk to you instuctor because they know your potential skill the best and can also spend more time talking about specific things like your ability to pay (if you could do 5 levels over a wkend or only 1) the weather in the area etc etc
the only thing you learn at school is to memorize

[Spy38W 0]

Congrats on your first AFF! BTW, when you say you did your 'first' whatever in skydiving, you owe beer. Quick question, how long have you been going to college, and what is your major? When I was in college studying for midterms was done an hour or two before test-time. College is all about time management. If you really do have a difficult major/course load this semester then try skimming chapters before class, take notes in class, and then just do a quick review before test time and whalla, more skydive time. If you're having trouble with a subject make index-cue cards and study at the DZ in between loads.
I can't say for sure what the USPA reccomends for currency through training, but in my teaching experience the more practice a student gets in a shorter amount of time results in less time going over things you may have forgotten since your last lesson (jump).
Next: How to make student loans pay for things other than school...

[Sinkster 0]

"Next: How to make student loans pay for things other than school..."
lol, good idea!
To answer your question I am a senior on my 4th year (but not last semester ;-) ) in computer science and philosophy (I will probably ditch the compter science once I graduate and choose the 'poor' philosophy graduate student route (money is overrated and you only live once!)) so them 'terms are kinda tough. Tis' true that many people can usually cram the night before, but by now I know when I can't. Probably smarter to suffer a short while so I don't end up with bad marks that might haunt me for long time. (but whoever wants to do the "smartest" thing in these cases right! :) )
So I will probably just to follow the recommendations from both skyhawk's and your post to wait until I can get a bunch of jumps all together. So until things die down a little bit I'm just gonna pinch every penny I can. I guess worst case they might want me to take the FJC again, but I doubt it. Plus, it would be a lot worse to have wait times between the more advanced jumps instead of just lvl 2 when it doesn't matter.
Nonetheless, I am going to set my alarm for early tommorow and when it goes off, if I feel the mind to, call the DZO and ask his opinion about the weather and/or my training in general. If the weather looks good, then I will decide whether or not to go based on my mood at the time and just study at the drop zone between loads like you guys are saying. I don't know how I'm going to concentrate on my work b.c of the anticipation but I'll try!
Ugh, why do I always end up pulling all-nighters before exams?! sheesh.
=)
-Sinkster
"The greatest risk in life is to risk nothing; The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing."

[crazymel 0]

I take my hat off to you....I finished my second year majoring in psychology & sociology part-time, and am just too damn lazy to finish the rest!!! I think I averaged about 3 -4 hours sleep a night during exam times (why do we always leave everything for the last minute??). As far as advise go...I have none. I earn a good salary, and with that came the wisdom that money can never make you happy. That's why I'm seriously considering giving it all up, and moving to a place where I'll never earn what I do now, but I'll get to jump in a beautiful place with people that I really like. At the end of the day, life is not about working, but making the most of it and being happy!! Work only to be able to live & jump.....that's my new motto in life!!!!

[riggerrob 643]

This instructor thinks you should study tomorrow and wait until next month to complete your AFF.
Save enough money to complete your AFF in one month. Few people learn much when they wait a month between jumps. You are far wiser to do four or six jumps a week and get it over with quickly.
Oh, and finish the university degree. You may not learn much practical stuff in university, but a degree opens a lot of doors. Then you can follow my lead by quitting your daytime job to become a professional skydiver and earn a fraction of what you would in a "real" job. Mind you, I would have to work three times as hard to buy as much fun as I get paid to have at work. You just have to wrap your mind around the concept of chasing spinning PFF students being "fun!"

[skyhawk 2]

you forgot all the free beer :)
the only thing you learn at school is to memorize

[Sinkster 0]

"This instructor thinks you should study tomorrow and wait until next month to complete your AFF."
Yeah, that's what I'm going to do. I actually did show up at the DZ today (2.5 hr drive heh) and sign up but it was too cold and windy to get any studying done and I doubted that I would even get to jump b/c of the wind plus I was in the middle of the list for AFF students when I signed up so I left to be sure to get something done.
It was kind of disappointing to drive for so long and accomplish nothing but at least I tried and got to think about things for a while. I know I will love to skydive, but I hope I'm able to meet more people and make some friends at the DZ without too much trouble. Anyone else go it alone into the world of skydiving?
"The greatest risk in life is to risk nothing; The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing."

[QuickDraw 0]

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Anyone else go it alone into the world of skydiving?

I suppose if you mean by not having any friends or peers who are involved in skydiving, then count me in.
Whilst I am going for my AFF, the people who I am going with may not (in my opinion) be following it up as I intend to.
I have lot's of question's to ask, and I rely a lot on the information that I find here.
Maybe a n00bies forum is what we need.
..Billions of people living out their lives..Oblivious..

[skymedic 0]

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Anyone else go it alone into the world of skydiving?

ME!!!!! I have been there...and I was very afraid too if these skydiving people would accept me...little did I know that they really dont care what you do on the outside as long as your nice and love to jump out of planes, helicopters, baloons.......
So I say congrats on getting into this sport...but definately take the time for school..then worry about jumping later...It is best to do all your AFF jumps as fast as you can because it helps you retain what you learned on the last jump and to help apply it to the next jumps....
oh and when you get to your level 3 or so release dive....remember to SMILE....it helps ya relax!!! and there for pass.....
Cheers....
marc
BSBD

[skyhawk 2]

i did by im arragont so i just assumed everyone would like me :)
the only thing you learn at school is to memorize

[Spy38W 0]

I did, uhm, kindof.. I didn't know anybody at the DZ when I got there (except the jump pilot), but they all quickly became friends, so I guess I started out alone, but that didn't last long. Met some awesome people, I did. Now a bunch of us take one skip day per month during the work week to go visit different DZ's around the state.