Solo "camp" in Eloy in March

[sebinoslo 0]

Hi all and happy new year,

in order to start the season ideally I am looking into flying to AZ in march for 2 weeks and just make as many jumps as i possibly can.

It seems Gary (Beyer) has some coaching availability towards the end of the month so that is a period i could be aiming for.

Alternatively, Airspeed has a 5-day camp at the beginning of the month.

What would be the best option in your mind? I have 6 hours in the tunnel and 80 jumps the past 8 months (all FS) and my goal for 2010 is to be selected to be part of the Norwegian bigway record (120-way) by end August. I do not plan on competing in 4-way.

Also, if anyone can give me a heads up regarding the different alternatives concerning accomodation/transportation that would be great. booking a team room and a car for 2 weeks on my own would be way too expensive (i reckon around $1,000)

Finally, how hard would it be to be part of loads at that DZ? are there some load organizers there?

Thanks for any info you can provide and hopefully I'll be able to hand out some cold ones after my first day in AZ to some of you.

Sebastien

PS: it seems i should have posted it here in the first place and not in "Events" - sorry about that

[davelepka 4]

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I have 6 hours in the tunnel and 80 jumps the past 8 months (all FS) and my goal for 2010 is to be selected to be part of the Norwegian bigway record (120-way)

You should check with the organizers of the record to see what the requirements are. They may have a minimum jump number needed to participate.

That said, tunnel time isn't going to help you with big way stuff like diving down to the formation, and proper big-way break off techniques.

I know the Perris does big way camps where they work on big way specific skills, and participating in one of those might buy you some additional consideration from the record organizers. Maybe check and see when the next camp is, and alter your travel plans. If you're coming all the way from Norway, Eloy and Perris are really only a few hundred miles apart, not that far at all given the scope of your trip.

[sebinoslo 0]

Hi,

The only requirement that was given out (so far) is that the participant should be comfortable docking to a 8-,10-way. There will be a long weekend at the end of May to narrow the selection down - so this is obviously my first deadline
Thanks a lot for the tip regarding Perris - there is a bigway camp early May

I know it is a very ambitious plan but it is definitely keeping me motivated for the year to come.

[davelepka 4]

Quote

I know it is a very ambitious plan but it is definitely keeping me motivated for the year to come.

There's a guy on here, his screen name is somthing like 'MDREJohn' or something like that, and he did exactly what you want to do. He started with relatively low jump numbers and went to camps and worked his way on to some big way jumps.

Maybe get in touch with him, and see if he has any suggestions.

Anyone out there know the guy I'm talking about? I don't have the screen name exactly right, so searching that won't help. I think he's Canadian, if that helps. Who know his exact screen name?

[wmw999 2,587]

It's mdrejhon -- you can PM him, or do a search on his posts. He's taken an energetic and disciplined approach to this, and it'd be well worth your time to read what he has to say, and to talk to him.

BTW -- starting with a specific goal is a great way to go about it.

Wendy P.

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)

[MakeItHappen 15]

Quote

Hi all and happy new year,

in order to start the season ideally I am looking into flying to AZ in march for 2 weeks and just make as many jumps as i possibly can.

It seems Gary (Beyer) has some coaching availability towards the end of the month so that is a period i could be aiming for.

Alternatively, Airspeed has a 5-day camp at the beginning of the month.

What would be the best option in your mind? I have 6 hours in the tunnel and 80 jumps the past 8 months (all FS) and my goal for 2010 is to be selected to be part of the Norwegian bigway record (120-way) by end August. I do not plan on competing in 4-way.

Also, if anyone can give me a heads up regarding the different alternatives concerning accomodation/transportation that would be great. booking a team room and a car for 2 weeks on my own would be way too expensive (i reckon around $1,000)

Finally, how hard would it be to be part of loads at that DZ? are there some load organizers there?

Thanks for any info you can provide and hopefully I'll be able to hand out some cold ones after my first day in AZ to some of you.

Sebastien

PS: it seems i should have posted it here in the first place and not in "Events" - sorry about that

Competitive or even recreational 4-way is actually a faster track to get on bigways.
Transferable skills from 4-way include
- timing and presentation on exit
- build sequence
- slot position and orientation before grips
- primary and secondary grips
- reading the formation to know when it is ok to dock
- re-establishment of formation in case of a funneled exit.

Skills a 4-way type would have to master that are not usually learned in 4-way include
- following someone to the formation
- tracking off in groups
- pulling at assigned altitudes
- canopy control in congested patterns

Skills that a fun-jumper type learns include
- learning how to sheep dog someone down to the formation
- slot position and orientation before grips (sometimes you learn this, sometimes not)
- tracking off in groups (sometimes you learn this, sometimes not)
- pulling at assigned altitudes (sometimes you learn this, sometimes not)
- canopy control in congested patterns

Skills that a fun-jumper type would have to master include
- trusting or having confidence in teammates to do their job
- knowing when it is ok to dock
- taking primary grips first

Some generalizations about the differences between funjumpers and 4-way jumpers (recreational or competitive) include
- 4-way jumpers have more discipline and take instruction better ie they are teachable
- funjumpers usually have the mindset of 'hey -I did my job.' and don't see how they can actually help their teammates, even when their teammates brainlock or screwup
- funjumpers usually stop flying the formation after they dock. They know who was out after every load.
- 4-way jumpers concentrate on flying the formation after they dock and generally don't know if the formation was complete unless there was someone across from them that they saw out.

In a nutshell, it is easier to teach 4-way jumpers bigway skills in a few jumps than it is to teach funjumpers 4-way skills in a few jumps.

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Make It Happen
Parachute History
DiveMaker

[BikerBabe 0]

Have to agree with everything Jan said.

also:

Quote

That said, tunnel time isn't going to help you with big way stuff like diving down to the formation, and proper big-way break off techniques.

I think this is one of the biggest fallacies out there. tunnel time helps you learn how to FLY YOUR BODY. it doesn't matter what type of skydiving you do, learning how changes in your body position affects the airflow and thus how you fly is INVALUABLE to any discipline.

As for breakoff...I'd say being able to do a center point turn IN PLACE without sinking 50 feet as you go is a great skill to have. Something that is easily taught in the tunnel.

I'm not trying to do an ad for the tunnel here, but to answer the OP's question, I would HIGHLY recommend the airspeed camps. They are worth it, no matter WHAT you want to do later on in skydiving.

And after that, start hitting the bigway camps at Perris or wherever (i think Kate plans on doing some in Europe this year, too).

As a product of both, I can say hands down they are the best money i've spent in skydiving.

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!