wmw999 2,583 #1 March 28, 2005 Here is the link. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #2 March 29, 2005 Thanks for the help That's me. I'm trying to figure out if I can pull this off. Thanks for the comments people have been posting. I wasn't sure if I should have posted here or in the Instructors area. In any case, I'm pretty anxious to try to get at least freefall solo certification this summer. Would especially love to hear from people who are familiar with Ganonque or Mile High, or any other nearby dropzones within 3 hours driving of Ottawa. (Montreal is just within this distance, too, although I cannot speak French.) I often travel to the U.S. (about 4 times a year), so if it is better for me to train at a U.S. drop zone, I would consider it on their reputation for training the deaf. QuoteHi from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada I am writing to ask what it would take to get me certified, considering that I am hearing impaired (deaf). I have jumped twice tandem at Ganonque, including one that was videotaped (and I converted to web format) http://www.marky.com/misc/video/yes-i-did-it.mpeg This video was my first jump... edited down to 3 minutes to show only the relevant parts. Very funny video ;-) As you can see, I seem to learn fast -- I started myself off in a 360-degree spin and stopped to face the camera, using my own control (The instructor may have helped, but it felt like I was controlling my own 360-degree spin, you can see my hands trying to balance myself during the spin if you watch the video!) As a deaf guy, I would not be able to use radios. I was wondering what it would take to get me certified. I'd like to know what it would take for me to become licensed and be allowed to freefall solo and/or formation. I also am checking out http://www.deafskydivers.org/ to see how they trained themselves. I'm looking for the best way to train myself, preferably or primarily domestically, without breaking the bank way too much (i.e. having to travel internationally several times just to get certified, would be incredibly expensive). I love travelling, just need to be within my means. I am shopping around for the right training system for me that does not require me to travel to the USA to get the instruction I need.... Eventually I'd like to do solo freefalls. I have jumped tandem twice already so I know I am ready for it... Comments? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #3 March 30, 2005 Hi Mark, Welcome to skydiving! I do not know anything about the Canadian drop zones, but there are many drop zones in the U.S. that have had deaf tandems and students who went on to become skydivers. I'm a deaf skydiver. There are several others who post on the forums here. Have you seen our website? Check this out www.deafskydivers.org Read some of the threads in this forum that pertains to Deaf Skydivers. There are some that explains how to train deaf people to skydive and making accomodations for their disability. I can get into a lengthy discussion with you if you like via email. Let me know how we can help. Blue Skies Billy Vance"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #4 March 30, 2005 Hey Billy, Glad to hear from you! I did see the deaf skydivers website already, and it is one of my inspirations to pursue a certification. I just sent you an email from the website three days ago, with no response yet. Perhaps you should check the Junk Mail folder for anything coming from the "@marky.com" domain name. (Spam filter probably caught my email before you read it.) I'll send you a private message; Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #5 March 30, 2005 Which one did you send it to? My aol or hotmail account? I seem to be keeping up with my aol email better than my hotmail email lately... I'll go check both tonight anyway... Thanks, Billy"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #6 March 30, 2005 You now have the email in your PM -- just forwarded a copy of the email I sent to hotmail (which was listed on the deafskydivers.org website). No worries, would love to hear back from you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maggott 0 #7 April 6, 2005 hi folks! I am Hard of Hearing ASL Instructor! I don't run into Deaf folks at the DZ that often but when I do it always warms my heart! And who else can have such easy conversations in the airplane when the hearing people are struggling to communicate? Blue skies!~Maggott __________________________________________________________________________________ "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #8 April 11, 2005 I just went yesterday! My experience is posted HERE. Can't wait to start the PFF course this May! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #9 April 12, 2005 May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #10 April 12, 2005 Quote And quite possibly the first licensed Deaf skydiver in Canada! Congratulations Mark! Keep it up! "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #11 April 12, 2005 Quote"And quite possibly the first licensed Deaf skydiver in Canada!"REALLY! That'd be such a honour! I definitely want to try to go for CSPA this year, if I can afford it. I'll see what I can do in PFF and beyond... safely. I know some deaf skydivers trained at the Alberta dropzone, but I don't know if they were Canadians, or if they got certified by CSPA. I'll have to find out. But if this is true... it'd be such a honour! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #12 April 12, 2005 QuoteUnfortunately, I'm a Cued Speech trained guy....But I'm a very fast thumbboard typist (BlackBerry or Sidekick pager), typing 70 WPM on a thumb keyboard with just my thumbs. However, I am training myself in ASL fingerspell, and will learn the Freefall sign language too; before my training as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #13 April 12, 2005 QuoteQuote"And quite possibly the first licensed Deaf skydiver in Canada!"REALLY! That'd be such a honour! I definitely want to try to go for CSPA this year, if I can afford it. I'll see what I can do in PFF and beyond... safely. I know some deaf skydivers trained at the Alberta dropzone, but I don't know if they were Canadians, or if they got certified by CSPA. I'll have to find out. But if this is true... it'd be such a honour! I have heard of and from a couple other deaf Canadians that were wanting to learn to skydive and had made a tandem in the past, but I never heard from them again. If you get licensed, you'll be the first one I know of, until I hear otherwise. Come to think of it, any of you Canadians remember a story in CanPara magazine back in 1995 or 1996 about a certain Deaf skydiver from Alabama? Namely... moi? Maybe your home DZ has some old issues laying around, Mark... Blue Skies Billy"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy 0 #14 April 12, 2005 I'll check out the Canpara's, we have a few back issues kicking around (my wife started jumping in the 70's) Also going to put up a message on CSPA Chat to see if anyone there knows about other Canadians. Who knows - If there are other Canadians out there, maybe one day Mark could orgnaize a Canadian Record Jump Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #15 April 12, 2005 QuoteHowever, I am training myself in ASL fingerspell, I saw where you posted that before. I'm an interpreter for the deaf, and have never heard about ASL fingerspelling. Are you meaning fingerspelling or ASL? I just finger spell the old fashion way, I didn't know there were different types of fingerspelling. I do know there is a differences with ASL SEE Contact English (ASL Signed used in English order) Cued speech Lip reading Edit cause I can't typeMay your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #16 April 12, 2005 QuoteI saw were you posted that before. I'm an interpreter for the deaf, and have never heard about ASL fingerspelling. Are you meaning fingerspelling or ASL? I just finger spell the old fashion way, I didn't know there were different types of fingerspelling. My bad! I meant just fingerspelling, the standard sign language fingerspelling. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #17 April 12, 2005 QuoteI'll check out the Canpara's, we have a few back issues kicking around (my wife started jumping in the 70's) Also going to put up a message on CSPA Chat to see if anyone there knows about other Canadians. Who knows - If there are other Canadians out there, maybe one day Mark could orgnaize a Canadian Record JumpThat would be cool. I am pretty curious if I would be setting any records, just simply by getting my first CSPA certification. (By the way, how many jumps does CSPA equivalent of USPA "A" require? 25 jumps? I'll go check the CSPA website... Also, where's CSPA chat?) Yeah, someday I'd like to try joining the other deafies in a deaf boogie. I am mainstreamed mainly with hearies, and do not have many deaf friends, but it would be interesting if I was a part of some future record attempt. This means serious money though, I think, in courses and practice jumps. I'm not sure if I can afford more than 100 jumps this year (I might end up only doing 50 but we'll see, it's just simply a money and carpool issue), unless I get a really great discount on a recent used inspector-approved rig, save the rental costs. (Yes, yes, I'll make sure it's no smaller than 1:1... Yes, yes, I'll post here before I buy it, *and* talk to at least 3 different experts at my DZ) We'll see... I really wanna get "more serious" this year on this sport. The only thing keeping me from PFF training now is the paycheque. May 1. Seems like most deaf guys are poor (i.e. deafness limits their progress). However, I'm somewhat of an anomaly thanks to my technical talent (www.marky.com/resume) and have enough salary to afford to throw a few grand TOTAL this year at this sport (including car rentals, training, gas for car, carpool bribes, food at DZ, camping gear for DZ campsite, etc). I live downtown, so don't need a car. I use a Canadian carsharing service similiar to the Zipcar found in USA, but that's only for a few hours of driving. Canada is fortunately more inexpensive than USA. Lucky that Gananoque has better prices than many USA dropzones ($200 spring discount tandems - It appears that in April, they charge the equivalent of only $160 USD for first jump and only $125 USD for second jump, $1200 CDN = $1000 USD for full AFF-type course, the Canadian PFF course including 8 IAF jumps). I'm lucky I'm just able to just about afford these. I'm still scared about the cost of a rig (canopy, reserve, container, and all!) and the equipment (jumpsuit, etc), but we'll see how the summer progresses! I don't mind that it's freezing (0) at 11,000ft in April... Fortunately, I am close to solving the carpool issue. Made several contacts at the DZ already! But need to solve other issues like fast typist volunteers for interpreting (typing the teacher speeches onto laptop during ground school class). Moneysaver tips welcome! ;) (Wish I could start PFF earlier than first weekend of May!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites