Frodo 0 #1 January 1, 2005 I got a nice surprise from my JM, right after my landing yesterday. He cleared me for solo jumping! I've got 11 jumps so far. Of course I need, and want, to do lots of coaching. What things should I focus on? Some important things that come to my mind, which must be learned first: * Packing * Canopy control - accuracy, better understanding of risers, crosswind/downwind landings, etc. * Good tracking skills * back-to-earth * 2-way RW * sit-flying In the long run I'm interested in wingsuits (among other things). Oh and of course I'd love to do night jumps (but i guess i need a B license so thats gonna be a while). I'm not that interested in big-ways, or mastering RW, although I understand that RW gives any jumper a solid base for whatever discipline they choose to progress in. Any thoughts on which of these I should focus the most? Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fab 0 #2 January 1, 2005 I think, focus on getting your A-license and learn how to pack _______________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slotperfect 7 #3 January 1, 2005 Sit down with your Instructor(s) and come up with a personalized plan based on his (their) knowledge of your performance thus far. Make a couple of solo jumps doing whatever you like just to celebrate your independence! Then learn to pack so you can jump your own pack job a few times. All the while you can be getting good canopy coaching. It will be good for you to build finely honed canopy piloting skills from early in your career. Good luck!Arrive Safely John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 January 1, 2005 Remember all those canopy control exercises (front riser turns, rear riser turns, rear riser stalls, etc.) that you did on student canopies? Guess what? You get to repeat all those exercises every time you try a new canopy. If you were in Canada or Britain, your next dozen jumps would be "consolidation dives" with a coach. They would involve repeating and refining all the skills you demonstrated once during your student progression. Repeating skills helps burn them into longer term memory. Oh! If you want to jump a wingsuit, start learning how to flat-track early. Far too few skydivers learn anything more than a wimpy delta-ish way of wallowing around the sky. Anyways, sit down with a coach - or one of your old instructors - to map out a 20-jump plan to refine your solo skills. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #5 January 1, 2005 Focus on survival skills first - canopy control and tracking are two skills that just may save your life someday. Other than those, I'd suggest working on belly skills over back and sit flying for your first 100 or so jumps. There's plenty of time to get into flying on your back or your butt later. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #6 January 1, 2005 1st thing I reckon you should do is do a couple of FUN jumps get get out there and relax in the air with no drills to do, and no instructors to impress. My 1st sol (jump #7) was awe(& then)some and it's still my most favoured jumpJUST HAVE SOME FUNYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #7 January 1, 2005 QuoteI got a nice surprise from my JM, right after my landing yesterday. He cleared me for solo jumping! I've got 11 jumps so far. I was where you were at a month ago – but I had even less jumps when I did my first solo. I put in 11 consecutive jumps solo after AFF. I practiced a bunch of things during those. I learned to pack and jumped my packjob more than once. I spotted the plane more than once since I was the only non-freeflyer or tandem and thus going first (if you can believe they trusted me). My learning progression was very accelerated during these jumps... I asked coaches for drills to practice and did them. I gave myself at least two learning objectives for every jump (except for my first solo which I just relaxed and enjoyed the view) I sat in on an instructor teaching some people to be coaches. I spent hours talking to people at the DZ. I learned a lot. My skills improved a lot. But... I tried to get more people to jump with me (coaches) during those jumps, either as official coaching sessions or just “fun jumps” - but with the holidays and some advanced classes going on, they were all busy... Instead of waiting, I kept jumping solo. I wish I had more opportunities to jump with other people to practice working in proximity with others. Once I was able to get in the air with other people I learned my fall rate and forward movement skills were less fine tuned than turning, stability, heading control, and other things I could practice alone. For an example, I practiced tracking and forward movement a lot alone, so much so that I ended up having too much speed too quick (which is not a bad thing when needed), thus docking harder than probably necessary and overshooting the first time I tried. Now I got to learn to use less and apply the brakes sooner when docking. Anyway, that is my experience. I wish I would have done three jumps a day with the middle one always being a coaching jump... I am also a student so take it for what it is worth… And – as other people said, I strongly believe that canopy skills are neglected in a lot of learning programs, yet it saves your life every time you jump… I am signed up for the next canopy class. I have been giving myself just as many canopy learning objectives as freefall – and I enjoy pulling higher than most (letting the other guys on the plane know of course) so I can play around with those skills. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,488 #8 January 2, 2005 If you'll break out the SIM manual, there's a path of knowledge lined out for your progression towards the "A" license. Please be sure and do the oral exams after each category and the assigned reading. And, I agree with John (Slotperfect).. work on thos canopy control skills... You can be a great skydiver, but you got to be a good parachutist also. Take a look at BillVon's checklist here in the "Safety" section. If you follow that, you'll also be meeting the "A" License requirements while learning good canopy control skills. If your interest lies in wingsuits; contact Skymonkeyone to assist on the path towards achieving that goal.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimoke 0 #9 January 2, 2005 QuoteSome important things that come to my mind, which must be learned first: altitude awareness and the development of your mental clock. another thing I stress to newbies doing solos, altitude awareness over the ground, knowing where you are above the dz. pulling at 3k sucks if you need to be at 4k to make it back to the dz. be a successful canopy pilot it will save your life. stay safe, JimokeThe ground always, remembers where you are! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racer42 0 #10 January 3, 2005 I highly recommend a copy of Brian Germains book on Canopy flight. There are many useful lessons there that can really save your bacon. If you get a chance to take his course it is money well spent. Other than that develop your belly skills and exits and just make a whole bunch of no stress FUN jumps as you progress toward your A. KevL.A.S.T. #24 Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team Electric Toaster #3 Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor Co-Founder Team Happy Sock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
