solo jumps

[sonomatommy 0]

when i first got off student status and people asked me to jump, i would politly decline explaining how new I was and wasn't comfortable endangering anyones life but my own. now that I am confident in my own ability it seems harder to find someone to jump with and I usualy spend the weekend jumping solo. My question is were the experienced jumpers trying to help me out and I pissed them off by declining. the TI's and video guys are always willing to jump with me but they are so busy it is usually the last load of the day if I make it that late. what should I do to get more group jumps?

[MrBrant 0]

bribe them with beer

[JohnMitchell 16]

Does your DZ have a load organizer? Although your jump numbers are low, sometimes load organizers can help. Ask at manifest if there are any jumpers looking to do 2 ways. Make sure the other jumper has enough experience to make up for your current lack of experience.

You can always pay for coaching or offer to buy lift tickets for other jumpers, but that gets expensive. If you go that route, make sure you get some good instruction, not just another air bath.

Talk to experienced jumpers on the ground about what you're trying to learn in freefall. Ask them about techniques and skills you want to learn. When I see someone is interested in learning, I become more interested in jumping with them. Be sure to pay attention in the post dive, too. You'll learn much more, much faster, and you'll show your commitment to improving your free fall skills. That will help get you invited on the next load.
Come out to our DZ and Vskydiver and I will jump with you.

[NWFlyer 2]

Go find the people who asked you to jump before you felt comfortable.

Go visit some of the other DZs in your area that have regular load organizing and lots of folks who are willing to bring low-timers on jumps. MadJohn at Byron organizes newer jumpers most weekends, and I know that Davis often has organizers as well.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[cocheese 0]

Feast or famine. Sometimes i can't get a solo in if i tried. Other times i can't find someone on my level that isn't working or broke. So i just sign up for a load and go from there. I don't mind solos or zoo dives or teaching an old dog a new trick or chasing a tandem without video, or doing a high pull from 12,000.

The only thing i don't do is whine about not having someone to jump with a leave the sport.

[FallnAngel 0]

hi there -

Are you jumping out at Skydance in Davis? If you are, you are more than welcome to jump with my hubby Steve & I! We almost always do 2 to 4-ways. Nothing fancy, we make up a routine from the 2-20 way formation book and go from there. And if there are others around that want to get in on the jump, then that is great too!

We're out at SkyDance at least once a month, sometimes more (depending on babysitter availability :) ), so shoot me an email or PM me when you are going out and we can hook up.

Hope to see you soon,
Karen

[Fozz 0]

Tommy

I have run into the same thing at Lodi. You have to be pretty aggressive at Lodi as a newby (I am too) Thursday and Friday are good days to play there. Talk with Bill and Will and see if they can introduce you to people
I'll be there today and most of the weekend if you arch really well and can keep up your welcome to jump with me (I fall kinda fast) ask Kathy where I am
I'm thinking of running to Byron Sunday too as I can't go to the Boogie next weekend

I HIGHLY recommend you do the Byron Boogie and get on all the MADJOHN loads you can!!!! I jumped with him at Lost Prairie and learned a TON and am trying to figure a way to make at least sat of the boogie

I found Davis to be a great place to jump with a great group of instructors that will help you progress and I Jump there as much or more than Lodi now so don't be afraid to branch out some.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=hzrLyQSIkrQ

John Fosgate
"In the end, its always best to choose the hard right over the easy wrong." LouDiamond
MB 4310
www.N3Racing.com

[skybytch 273]

Davis has a good sized crop of new jumpers this year and quite a few more experienced jumpers who are more than happy to jump with them. Finding someone to jump with is usually not a problem on the weekends. Plus the people at Davis try to take good care of newbies and also try to include them in the social scene.

Tommy, I'd highly suggest taking Karen up on her offer - 2-4 ways are the best way to learn RW.

[Ironmanjay 0]

Hey hey
If your profile is right you drive past davis to get to lodi so just stop on in at davis one of these days and we'll jump. PM me before so I can tell you if Im going to be there or not but I would be more then happy to jump with you.