regulator 0 #1 March 10, 2009 Allright I completed my A license last year right before I got laid off from my job and I havent jumped in around a year due to finances. I got a new job around 5 months ago and finances are back in order and jumping is right around the corner. I knew personally that I wouldn't be in skydiving much more unless I went out and bought my own rig (Which I did). I purchased a new container, new reserve and a used main (for easier packing). Now the question is...what do I do when I get back to the dropzone and get current again. I know that I will have to become more proficient on my belly so I got an RW suit but the thing is this...How do I practice RW if I'm not on a team? I realize that with my low jump numbers that most people wont want to jump with me because of newb status but if there a way I can practice RW alone so I can get better so when the opportunity arrives that I wont look so much like a tool? I plan on getting several jumps on rented gear in the next few weeks to get current again, until my new container and reserve arrives. I already have my main. I honestly dont have any plans to be on a team because I mostly want to do it at my own pace and jumping every other weekend isnt exactly inducive of becoming better on a team. I guess I feel like I'm stuck in the middle. Is there any advice I can get other than...go out to the DZ and meet people? Thanks Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #2 March 10, 2009 u got it nailed right there! “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #3 March 10, 2009 Don't know about your dropzone, but normally most jumpers aren't on teams. We just jump. Just go to the DZ or call and speak with an instructor about getting current. It won't be a big deal. Then get jumping. Your DZ will have people that will want to jump with you, I'm sure. Don't even worry about it. Just get out there and jump. It's great that you got your A before taking time off... Won't be nearly as much trouble to get current now. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mazz 0 #4 March 10, 2009 What does "getting current" entail?In the Navy, you can't put your hands in your pockets but I was always told not to put my hands in my pockets by people with their hands in their pockets. Kinda funny huh? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
regulator 0 #5 March 10, 2009 My DZ is pretty big...after all they are hosting the nationals this year! When I go out there it seems that there are lots of teams and I guess I never gave it much thought about talking to some of the instructors to get them to point me to some people that arent on a team that would like to jump with me. I guess since I didnt have a lot of time to hang out when I got my license before, that I never got to hang out with other jumpers that have their licenses that would want to jump with me. Besides even if I cant find anyone to jump with me I can always jump by myself and get better at tracking. I love tracking...so much fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reginald 0 #6 March 10, 2009 I see you jump at Spaceland. It's a great DZ with great people. I believe they have load organizers pretty well every weekend specifically to bring people, like yourself, together and jump. Yes Spaceland has a lot of teams but that doesn’t mean you won't have anyone to jump with. You are inventing a problem that doesn’t exist. Go to the DZ do your recurrency training and jump and ask the staff to introduce you to people you can jump with. It’s that simple. And BTW don’t tell anyone there I think it’s a great DZ I spend a lot of time giving those guys a hard time, I’d hate for them to figure out that I actually like them! "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
regulator 0 #7 March 10, 2009 Jumping within the USPA guidelines...which for me would probably mean getting a refresher course with an instructor and jumping to maintain my currency. And then jumping at least once a month to maintain the currency. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,559 #8 March 10, 2009 I jump at Spaceland. You can talk to me (although yes, this year I'm on a 10-way team -- Nationals IS at Spaceland, but there's fun jumping going on). The second weekend of every month Leah organizes. Also, you can tell manifest that you're looking for someone to jump with and they'll help you find someone. Now that we have a new packing room, the place where folks hang out has changed some. You'll have to do a re-currency jump when you come out, and if you talk to any of the instructors they'll walk you over to talk to someone. 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
regulator 0 #9 March 10, 2009 So do you think it will take me long to get used to jumping an RW suit with vented booties? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #10 March 10, 2009 They will probably put him in a hanging harness to practice his emergency procedures, quiz him a bit to make sure he remembers important stuff, and find someone trustworthy to take him up on a jump and air him out. He's probably stale from being on the ground so long. Safety Day is this Saturday. Some DZs do it on different dates. Regulator... don't miss Safety Day. Find out when your DZ is doing it and be there. Talk to an instructor beforehand... you might get some of your recurrency training out of the way right there. My DZ, being in the frozen northeast, puts on an AFF refresher course the day after safety day. All of last year's students that didn't finish up or anybody else that wants a FREE refresher course can come out and, well, get refreshed. Teams are busy doing their thing. Find the confused looking older people in worn out jumpsuits. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnDeere 0 #11 March 10, 2009 You jump at a great DZ! You should have no problems finding fun jumpers if you ask around.Nothing opens like a Deere! You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
regulator 0 #12 March 10, 2009 Thanks Dave! I called out and talked to Steve and he told me that they are having safety day next saturday. I plan on being there for that for sure. I know it will all start clicking together once I get current again and back in the jumping world once again. Thanks for your assistance. Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
countzero 7 #13 March 10, 2009 Quote I guess I feel like I'm stuck in the middle. Is there any advice I can get other than...go out to the DZ and meet people? read the "newbie blues" article by pat works and realise: that everyone has felt "stuck in the middle" at one time or another, and that only you are the one who can change things. i was there myself too, but: i went from not having anyone to jump with- to jumping with fellow newbies- to being on the first place team at two different RW scrambles- to learning to sit fly and am hoping to learn head down this spring/summer. and i did it by going out to the DZ. jumping and meeting people to jump with and learn from. also if you ever make it up to Skydive Houston i can definately find people for you to jump with. heck, i may even pull out my RW suit and join you. best of luck! now go jump!!diamonds are a dawgs best friend Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eightate8at8 0 #14 March 10, 2009 What exactly is safety day? I did my AFF 1 jump before winter came, and now I know that I need to take the refresher course and an additional skydive. My dz is going to have a free refresher course in may, which I might pay to do it in april if weather permits? I don't want to wait that long! Wow, that was so pointless, anyway.. what exactly is safety day? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #15 March 10, 2009 http://www.uspa.org/USPAMembers/Safety/SafetyDay.aspx Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLIDEANGLE 1 #16 March 11, 2009 1. Congratulations on completing your A license and having your own gear.... that puts you WAY ahead. 2. See the above suggestions about Spaceland and about asking the staff to point you in the correct direction. I look forward to being there during nationals this year. 3. Never forget the power of BEER. Be damned sure to hang around on a few Saturday nights and bring beer. Bring a case and walk around giving beer to everyone you meet. They will ask you what it is for... you can say "This is for my A-license...but I didn't bring the beer until now." or "I am new here and want to meet folks... so I have folks to jump with." If you do that on Saturday.... I would be astonished if you had trouble finding groups to jump with on Sunday. 4. If all else fails... come to Skydive Dallas. We have load organizers every weekend whose job it is to solve this problem (free). Don't worry about your beginner skill level, they often split off separate groups by skill to keep everybody happy. Not only do they organize before jumps, but they give excellent de-briefs which amount to free coaching. If you are really desperate... come to Skydive Dallas on a FRIDAY. The "old guys" will jump with ANYBODY... and you will laugh yourself silly.5. Remember, every jumper has been where you are at one time. Many experienced jumpers look forward to jumping with new folks. Smile, breathe, relax. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnDeere 0 #17 March 11, 2009 Quote If you are really desperate... come to Skydive Dallas on a FRIDAY. The "old guys" will jump with ANYBODY... and you will laugh yourself silly. I dont like that coment!Nothing opens like a Deere! You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
regulator 0 #18 March 11, 2009 I've jumped at Skydive Dallas at Whitewright before...I used to live in dallas and I did 4 AFF jumps there before losing my job and moving back to the houston area. Is Earnie still out there? And what about Mandy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnDeere 0 #19 March 11, 2009 Yes Ernie is still around. Mandy is also here, she left for a few years or so and came back. When did you jump up here??Nothing opens like a Deere! You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
regulator 0 #20 March 12, 2009 2006. Mandi Schaeffer was still there and so was Ernie but right after I left and moved back to Houston, Mandi left and its good to hear that shes back in Dallas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnDeere 0 #21 March 13, 2009 Cool i was there in 2006 maybe we ran into each other? You are at a great DZ now also hope you enjoy it down there.Nothing opens like a Deere! You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan1 0 #22 March 16, 2009 I'm still new at this too and don't know many people. I just moved to Tampa last week and this weekend I started jumping at my new home dz (z-hills) and out of 5 jumps only 1 was solo. Just go around and ask other people that have that "I'm-new-at-skydiving-so-I-look-kind-of-lost" look on their face and you'll find people to jump with. Just don't expect other new jumpers to come ask you if you want to jump with them, because they're thinking the same things you are. Just be pro-active about finding people to jump with, if you sit back and don't even attempt to ask other people if they want to jump, you'll probably always do solos and won't get any better at skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
