HillerMyLife 0 #1 April 5, 2007 Lots of us here skydive and while that is a fairly obvious statement how we got to that point seems to vary quite greatly. Some started jumping rounds 25+ years ago using the S/L method...some still learn through that method and have less than a year in the sport. Others went through AFF and had access to turbine aircraft and great weather year round. Still others have great windtunnel access and freefall skill but have a relatively low number of jumps due to living in an area with bad weather or just not being skydivers at all. And I'm sure there are other methods I don't realize are out there, or haven't considered. This purpose of this thread is for everyone to share how they learned to skydive and what worked for them. Also I'd like to hear opinions on what method or combination of methods would create the ultimate skydiver(natural talent not considered) I guess I'll go first. I did a tandem skydive near my hometown while on leave from the military. I really liked it, but didn't know how to get into the sport until I found out about the dz that I jump right now. I went through AFF and failed level 3 (90 degree turns) it was then that I discovered wind tunnels and I began to supplement my training with that tool in my pocket. I now have the ability to do basic freefly and RW skydives in what is a very low number of jumps. If I could do it all over again and try and create the ultimate skydiver I would recommend that they spend 10 minutes in a wind tunnel the day prior to ground school and an AFF course. I would have them spend an additional 5 minutes of time in the tunnel every other AFF level to work out various kinks that seem to be SO much more problematic to work out in the air!! Once AFF and an A license were achieved it would be a matter of jumping with others who were skilled enough and patient enough to take the new jumper under their wing and help 'save' that person jumps by correcting early mistakes and building good habits from the get go. What say you DZ.commers???Someday Never Comes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OSOK 0 #2 April 5, 2007 To reply to your post, it'd be great to add tunnel time in there, but prices for a course are already so much, plus the tunnel... it would for sure turn off A LOT more people than it already does. I started with a tandem, never thinking I'd like to be a skydiver. I liked it so much, and my DZ has a special that if you buy the second tandem the same day (you can use it whenever) it's much cheaper, so I bought it. Thinking "what the heck" I used it the same day, on the next load. After that I did IAF and failed many levels... maybe 3 of the 9, got the rest done as fast as I could, and now here I am :D What I would like to see implemented in the course? More canopy training, that's it. Just like the instructor is with you in freefall, it'd be nice to make it if he'd be with you under canopy as well, and have you perform certain manuevers, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #3 April 5, 2007 One day 9 years ago or so, I did a tandem. in the next month I did 2 more, 4 AFF levels, and then got my A. A couple ratings later, tons of tunnel time, winning a couple medals, and a bunch o' students trained, I'm just now starting not to suck. My dream program for training students would be 2 tandems (first one is an "optional fun ride), 3 to 5 S/L or IAD jumps and then 4 or 5 AFF single jump master levels. If I had a wind tunnel I'd probably sneak in a 10 minute requirement just before the AFF part. Figure I'd have some pretty competent skydivers coming out of a program like that and could still get them to an "A" for under 2 grand.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #4 April 5, 2007 Started on gutter gear (rounds with a front mount reserve) back in the 70's. Lived through the gear transitions to what we have today. I've been rated in 3 different types of instruction (all but IAD). Sometimes I feel like a walking history lesson, but it's been a lot of fun. I'm glad to still be jumping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites popsjumper 2 #5 April 5, 2007 Not bad...not bad at all. I'd also throw in a couple of high H&P's with a canopy piloting coach on two-way radio under canopy with the student. Started on T-10s with 26 ft belly reserves. 26 ft!!! Take THAT Luigi Canni! Ok, Ok...so it was diameter, not sq. ft. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites diablopilot 2 #6 April 5, 2007 You know, that brings to mind a story. I had probably around 35 to 45 jumps and was eager to try every piece of demo gear that the shop had. So I rented the 150 Omega they had just recieved (about a 1.2 loading at the time, too much too soon but that's a different story) and packed it up. Just as I was going to manifest one of the DZO's, Dan O'Brien came up to me and asked what I was doing on this jump. I said "Not much." and he asked if I wanted to do a high altitude hop and pop, which I hadn't done before. I was excited! He got out the student radios and said let's plan something. So we did, basically a dive flow to get me comfortable with the canopy for the first half of the dive, and then follow him if I could for the second half. What fun, and I learned alot. I still think of that and hope instructors and DZO's are still taking the time to know what's happening around them and how to help people stay safe.Now I'm trying to remember if DOB still has a cast on his leg when he made that jump with me.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites HillerMyLife 0 #7 April 5, 2007 I'm with you there...a DZ is only as good as its more experienced jumpers allow the lower experienced jumpers to be. I've had the benefit of being on a great many(obviously relatively speaking!! ) skydives with VERY talented flyers and I KNOW this has improved and sped my progression much better than just trying to learn on my own or by jumping with others of similar ablility/jump numbers. In order to be the best you have to learn from the best. THEN you can try and beat the best.Someday Never Comes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
popsjumper 2 #5 April 5, 2007 Not bad...not bad at all. I'd also throw in a couple of high H&P's with a canopy piloting coach on two-way radio under canopy with the student. Started on T-10s with 26 ft belly reserves. 26 ft!!! Take THAT Luigi Canni! Ok, Ok...so it was diameter, not sq. ft. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #6 April 5, 2007 You know, that brings to mind a story. I had probably around 35 to 45 jumps and was eager to try every piece of demo gear that the shop had. So I rented the 150 Omega they had just recieved (about a 1.2 loading at the time, too much too soon but that's a different story) and packed it up. Just as I was going to manifest one of the DZO's, Dan O'Brien came up to me and asked what I was doing on this jump. I said "Not much." and he asked if I wanted to do a high altitude hop and pop, which I hadn't done before. I was excited! He got out the student radios and said let's plan something. So we did, basically a dive flow to get me comfortable with the canopy for the first half of the dive, and then follow him if I could for the second half. What fun, and I learned alot. I still think of that and hope instructors and DZO's are still taking the time to know what's happening around them and how to help people stay safe.Now I'm trying to remember if DOB still has a cast on his leg when he made that jump with me.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HillerMyLife 0 #7 April 5, 2007 I'm with you there...a DZ is only as good as its more experienced jumpers allow the lower experienced jumpers to be. I've had the benefit of being on a great many(obviously relatively speaking!! ) skydives with VERY talented flyers and I KNOW this has improved and sped my progression much better than just trying to learn on my own or by jumping with others of similar ablility/jump numbers. In order to be the best you have to learn from the best. THEN you can try and beat the best.Someday Never Comes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
