0:5:0, Two Way with Jim Wallace

[sinister69 0]

I had a great day yesterday. Was able to get 5 jumps in, two of em RW (one more RW for my A license!!).
Let me tell you about em. The first RW was with Mark Brown. All I was supposed to do was go in and dock with him, then let go, he would change position, then I would redock. The dirt dive went great!! (don't they always?) Well, we exited the plane, I went in to dock with him. Being my first RW, as soon as I would get close, I would reach out to him (big mistake), I would gain little alt and start to backslide away. So I would come in again, came in little too much, nothing to cause a major collision, hit his pack and tumbled head over heels. Arched and stabilised, came in again. Got a couple of decent docks out of the dive. Got debriefed, learned that I don't need to reach, just come in with my arms in good position and do a nice easy touch.
Now here's the good part.
I was on Gypsy 13. Was planning on doing a solo exit and pulling at 4500'. Couple of tandems on the plane with videographers, another solo, solo videographer, and a three way. Really light load. Jim Wallace was also on the plane, sitting right across from me. (Those that don't know, Jim Wallace has over 16,000 dives and owns the other Skydiving School out at Perris, very well qualified instructor)
Anyways, just striking up conversation on the way up, I ask Jim if he is jumping with a student or with his two tandem instructors. He says "I don't have one, you wanna do a two way?" I was kinda shocked but was able to stammer out that it was only my 16th jump. He said "That's okay, between us we have 16,016 jumps." My reply was sure, just sign my logbook for the RW.
So we proceeded to plan the dive. He was to exit first, I would do a diving exit right to a dock. Then we would release, 360 to the right, redock, 360 to the left, redock. If we still had plenty of altitude we would do this again. I had to clear a few things up, asked if I should wait a second or two to follow him or come out immediately. Whether I should track away at 6000' and pull at 4500'. He said I should come out immediately, and not to track, he would track away from me when I got ready to pull.
Now time for the dive, our jump run is coming up. Needless to say I was never as hell, jumping with a guy that has over 16 thousand skydives and piddly little me only has 15, doing my 16th.
We get to the door, he's first. We do our count, 1, 2, 3, and out we go! I do a diving exit following him. His face was only about 2 or 3 feet away from me. We come off the hill and dock, nod our heads, then do a 360 to the right and redock. Nod again, 360 to the left and redock. Check altitude, nod and 360 to the right again and recock. Check altitude, nod and 360 to the left. Check altitude, now at about 7000'. Still time to do one more. 360 to the right and redock. At 6000' now, I shake my head for no more maneuvers, he extends his had and we shake hands and give thumbs up to each other. I pulled at 4500'. He tracked and pulled lower.
Landed my chute, had a PLF, Wasn't very pretty but got down in one piece. By the time I got down he was already on his way in back to his school.
Took my gear to the rigger, Then I went over to the school to get him to sign my logbook. When I got there people were already talking about the dive. Said I did good. People were jokingly saying that I owed 65 dollars for the RW jump. I found Jim and he said I did excellent. He said I had great smooth turns and very good docks. (Learned from my first RW not to reach, that screws you up).
Then he gave me the best compliment that I have ever had so far. He said "You've only got 16 jumps? You fly like you have sixteen hundred. It was a pleasure to jump with you."
I am a pretty fast learner, but this was totally unexpected and I was so glad to hear this.
My solo's that I have been doing I have been practicing my turns alot, and have got them to be pretty smooth.
Needless to say I am one happy camper right now, but I am not going to let this go to my head. I know I still have alot of work to do. But right now I am feeling good that this very experienced diver thinks I am doing very well.
That's how my Sunday was. God I love this sport!!!
Blue Skies!!
Sinister69
http://home.pacbell.net/n1elson1

[mouth 0]

You rock....congrats!

[Michele 1]

Sinister -
I owe you a huge apology. I was so far in my head about how horrid I had done, that I couldn't share your joy. Forgive me for being a selfish brat.
I am so proud of you, and happy for you. I admire you - you have attacked the air, gotten most of your requirements out of the way so fast!
And you know what, Jim meant what he said. When we left yesterday, and stopped to talk to him, he was very proud of you, too. I saw the look in his eyes - he would not hesitate to jump with you again, ever!
Good for you (and again, please forgive me).
YYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY FOR YOU!!!!
ciel bleu -
Michele

[DiverDave 0]

Sinister,
WOOHOO! Good job, sounds like that dive went even better it sounded yesterday. How did your accuracy attempt go?
I just watched your level 1 aff off of your homepage... looks like you are a quick learner all around.
Anyway, hurry up and get that A license so we can do some dives together!
Cheers... Dave

[skybytch 273]

Congrats! What a great dive! People aren't kidding when they say you did extremely well; that was an awesome dive for someone with 16 jumps.
And isn't Jim the coolest? pull and flare,
lisa
----
I don't think much, therefore I might not be

[sinister69 0]

Michele, I apoligize for yesterday. I wasn't completely there for you. I was so high after that jump with Jim that I just couldn't come down. I know you are going to do great for your next jump. Do the practices on your bed for your body position, be aware of where your arms and legs are. Build up that muscle memory so that it becomes instinct.
You can't always get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation!