WrongWay 0 #1 October 8, 2003 I've seen freeflyers come and go at our dropzone since I started jumping a few years ago. When I first got there, we were many, at least ten experienced freeflyers out there every weekend. Of course at that time, I was a newbie skydiver, and so I had lots of people to learn from. Over the last year in particular, I've seen several experienced freeflyers leave for various reasons. Some just moved, some we don't really know what happened to, and some left because they had no one left here to learn from. I'm now beginning to fall into this last category, and can't figure out what to do. All that is left of our strong group is me and 2 other guys, and I still find myself spending most of my jumps there chasing newbies or teaching bellyflyers to sitfly. Granted, it's still a wonderful time, and I love the people out there, but I need to find people (freeflyers) more experienced than me to jump with, so that I can move my own skills forward. Every time there are coaches and pros out here, I jump my ass off with them, but it seems nowadays that's all I learn from, aside from the ONE other guy at the DZ that flies well on his head. So here's my dilemma. I want to learn more, find coaching, find experienced jumpers to hang with and jump with every weekend. Sure, I could do this going somewhere else, but then I'm faced with the fact that not only will I have to drive a few more hours, but I won't get to go as often, and I don't want to get mixed up with the "wrong crowd" if ya know what I mean. The thing is, I love my dropzone. Those are my best friends, and my family, and it's my home. I can't leave that, and I can't leave them. So what do I do???? Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dgskydive 0 #3 October 8, 2003 Growing pains dude! That's what you are going through. If my quess is right you are at a real small DZ. I learned at a place like that. Everyone is the best of friends and you really feel close to them and it's almost like you are a turn coat if you go somewhere else to jump. You feel like you are hurting your family by going else where. If you want to grow in the sport you will have to get out and find the good jumpers, they won't always come to you. Why don't you dedicate certain weekends to go to a bigger Dz and some to stay home. That way you are learning, and still jumping with your friends at you home DZ. You can then take the skills you learn and bring that back to your Dz and make it a better place for everyone. Dom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BikerBabe 0 #4 October 8, 2003 why not try to learn 4-way? I mean, really good, fast, rockin' 4-way. You laugh, but I've seen many a freeflyer get flung around the sky by an Airspeeder or two, and they come down saying how incredible it was. Or, stick with the newbies. Pretty soon, they won't be so new anymore. Nothing says you have to leave your DZ altogether to find good coaching. Come to the Xmas boogie at eloy and get FF coaching. Go to Rantoul, etc. Try the tunnel with it's new high-speed engines. One of the cool things about getting coaching elsewhere is you get to bring all these great new ideas home with you. Then you can show other people, they'll get better, and it will grow.Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #5 October 8, 2003 Thats a big pain in the ass.... I'll tell you what I did. I was jumping at a little DZ. I would get a really eager young jumper and teach him for 10 or so two ways....(now most of my jumps were free since I worked at the DZ one day making money then spent the next day jumping it off). Then after I got him to a certain level I would then go get another young one...I would get him to a certain level and then I would have those two do two ways while I got a new guy...Part of the deal is that you had to help the guys below you. Even one of my jumpsuits got handed down twice in this group (BTW the suit was given to me by one of MY mentors). One weekend a Mth I would go to a bigger DZ that had a boogie and I would hook up with MY mentors and they would work with me....In time my students came with me to these boogies and we all worked on things. By the time I moved to Florida, I had quite a good group. Some of my past students are now running groups just like this. Its called giving back. But don't let yourself get caught in the trap of helping others and not working on your own stuff. So get away once a mth and learn more... BTW when I started doing this I only had 300 jumps or so....But to a guy with 10 jumps you are a God and can teach him alot. Also I only picked people with the right attitude...If they acted like "know it alls"...I got another student. One of the best feelings you can have is when someone you taught to skydive is now an instructor, or someone you taught to turn in place is almost beating you in the turns....When they start to beat you..give them some bad advice..trust me they will listen."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #6 October 8, 2003 Amen to that Ron. I had the exact same experience as Ron at my DZ (it was 4-way, but it should apply to any discipline). Except, I have one guy getting pretty good now, literally knocking right at my door - I never thought of sending him some bad advice. Hmmmmm.. Or I can go get more tunnel training. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidlayne 5 #7 October 8, 2003 Wrong Way profile says he jumps at Greene County. I would hardly class Greene County as a small drop zone.QuoteI don't care how many skydives you've got, until you stepped into complete darkness at 800' wearing 95 lbs of equipment and 42 lbs of parachute, son you are still a leg! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites sssbc99 0 #8 October 8, 2003 Dood, Move to Riverside county. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites whocares 0 #9 October 8, 2003 It all depends on how importand freeflying is to you. Can you move to a more progressive DZ, Change jobs, are you single or married, kids or no kids. All those factors fall into play here. If you are solo hit the road . I know you will be visiting SDC soon. Check out the place and people. If you are in the computer area you can get a job in Chicago, shit you can probally make more green too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites PhreeZone 20 #10 October 9, 2003 David... nice to see you posting, I've heard good things about you from a few of our jumpers that have came through your DZ recently. I found it a great break to mix it up... Do some RW today, some Video the next, a little freefly in the afternoon and a LONG Birdman flight at sunset. Sure, I'll never be invited to "Project Horizon" or invited on the next 300 way. But I have a really great time working on skills that a lot of people don't have. Instead I'll get invited on 10 and 20 ways, get invited to do a 3 or 4 way freefly or a 6-10 way flock. I personally find it more challenging to see what new skills I can learn rather then what small subset I can master. Wrongway... when was the last time you did a Woody way? Or have you ever sought out Solent Greene to fill in a slot and get your ass handed to you like they did to me time after time at the start of this year? There are a lot of challenges if you look outside of playing with a Skyball.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Vertifly 0 #11 October 9, 2003 One word: VIDEO. Get videos. Of yourself, others, boogie-videos, competition video, etc., etc. Analyze what the pro (and very experienced) freeflyers are doing. You would be surprised how much you can learn on the ground by maticulously watching video. Keep a watch on everything from foot-movement - to - eye-contact. My best freefly jumps are when I've had a week off from jumping and I have gone through videos to find stuff to test out in the air. Most importantly, don't get discouraged. This sport takes time to get good at. Lots of time. We all have the "growing pain" period. Honestly, at bigger DZ's it can be even more discouraging - trust me. Too many clicks and agendas to help you get the information that you need. Best of luck and let us know how it works out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flyhi 24 #12 October 9, 2003 Start a team, get people to commit to it, establish a schedule, get better together, hire a high priced coach once or twice a year and build on that, go to boogies, and finally, read any issue of Parachutist or Skydiving and find out what the Sugar Gliderz are doing and emulate them. But I like the "Do More RW" advice. It is righteous.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ifics 0 #13 October 9, 2003 QuoteBut to a guy with 10 jumps you are a God and can teach him alot. Amen to that, I feel that way, I only have 16 jumps. I can't wait to start learning from all kinds of different people!! I hope you find what you're looking for! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites WrongWay 0 #14 October 9, 2003 QuoteWrongway... when was the last time you did a Woody way? Or have you ever sought out Solent Greene to fill in a slot and get your ass handed to you like they did to me time after time at the start of this year? There are a lot of challenges if you look outside of playing with a Skyball. Dude, I could name two bellyflyers that even know my name, Woody and Kim, and face it, cuz of recent events, I don't think those teams are gonna want much to do with me if ya know what I mean. And yes, I understand that there are a lot of other things out there, but I want to become very proficient in one skill before moving on. remember I have less jumps than you. You just started birdman, and you love that shit. But IMHO I need to stick with freefly, something I know and love, and while other stuff is secondary, freefly is what I want to be good at, and there aren't hardly any freeflyers out there anymore. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites PhreeZone 20 #15 October 9, 2003 You can't expect everyone to just walk up and offer things to you. You need to seek them out. I was'nt at the DZ for some of the boogies this year since I was off learning things in Perris, Raeford and Atlanta. Travel.... You'll learn a lot of things, and meet a lot of people. WFFC is an incredible chance to bump into people that are just off the wall on their skill levels. But no matter what you can't just assume people don't want to help or jump with you if you don't make the effort to seek out new people and new situations to jump into.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflybella 0 #16 October 16, 2003 QuoteOne word: VIDEO Can't say enough how much this is true. Get a ton of video of yourself (if possible), of the pros doing their thing - all you can get your hands on and watch it religiously. Visualize, dissect, etc. Then save some $$ and book a coaching week with someone - someone really effing good and who knows how to teach - not just fly. Then watch all the video of yourself over and over and over. Then teach what you learned to your buddies and encourage them to do the same. Repeat. Seriously, Heath Richardson had just joined PsychoCirkus when he was sent on a 7 month deployment. He watched video non-stop day and night and swears he came back a better flyer than when he left. Good luck. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi 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. 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sssbc99 0 #8 October 8, 2003 Dood, Move to Riverside county. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whocares 0 #9 October 8, 2003 It all depends on how importand freeflying is to you. Can you move to a more progressive DZ, Change jobs, are you single or married, kids or no kids. All those factors fall into play here. If you are solo hit the road . I know you will be visiting SDC soon. Check out the place and people. If you are in the computer area you can get a job in Chicago, shit you can probally make more green too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #10 October 9, 2003 David... nice to see you posting, I've heard good things about you from a few of our jumpers that have came through your DZ recently. I found it a great break to mix it up... Do some RW today, some Video the next, a little freefly in the afternoon and a LONG Birdman flight at sunset. Sure, I'll never be invited to "Project Horizon" or invited on the next 300 way. But I have a really great time working on skills that a lot of people don't have. Instead I'll get invited on 10 and 20 ways, get invited to do a 3 or 4 way freefly or a 6-10 way flock. I personally find it more challenging to see what new skills I can learn rather then what small subset I can master. Wrongway... when was the last time you did a Woody way? Or have you ever sought out Solent Greene to fill in a slot and get your ass handed to you like they did to me time after time at the start of this year? There are a lot of challenges if you look outside of playing with a Skyball.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vertifly 0 #11 October 9, 2003 One word: VIDEO. Get videos. Of yourself, others, boogie-videos, competition video, etc., etc. Analyze what the pro (and very experienced) freeflyers are doing. You would be surprised how much you can learn on the ground by maticulously watching video. Keep a watch on everything from foot-movement - to - eye-contact. My best freefly jumps are when I've had a week off from jumping and I have gone through videos to find stuff to test out in the air. Most importantly, don't get discouraged. This sport takes time to get good at. Lots of time. We all have the "growing pain" period. Honestly, at bigger DZ's it can be even more discouraging - trust me. Too many clicks and agendas to help you get the information that you need. Best of luck and let us know how it works out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flyhi 24 #12 October 9, 2003 Start a team, get people to commit to it, establish a schedule, get better together, hire a high priced coach once or twice a year and build on that, go to boogies, and finally, read any issue of Parachutist or Skydiving and find out what the Sugar Gliderz are doing and emulate them. But I like the "Do More RW" advice. It is righteous.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ifics 0 #13 October 9, 2003 QuoteBut to a guy with 10 jumps you are a God and can teach him alot. Amen to that, I feel that way, I only have 16 jumps. I can't wait to start learning from all kinds of different people!! I hope you find what you're looking for! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites WrongWay 0 #14 October 9, 2003 QuoteWrongway... when was the last time you did a Woody way? Or have you ever sought out Solent Greene to fill in a slot and get your ass handed to you like they did to me time after time at the start of this year? There are a lot of challenges if you look outside of playing with a Skyball. Dude, I could name two bellyflyers that even know my name, Woody and Kim, and face it, cuz of recent events, I don't think those teams are gonna want much to do with me if ya know what I mean. And yes, I understand that there are a lot of other things out there, but I want to become very proficient in one skill before moving on. remember I have less jumps than you. You just started birdman, and you love that shit. But IMHO I need to stick with freefly, something I know and love, and while other stuff is secondary, freefly is what I want to be good at, and there aren't hardly any freeflyers out there anymore. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites PhreeZone 20 #15 October 9, 2003 You can't expect everyone to just walk up and offer things to you. You need to seek them out. I was'nt at the DZ for some of the boogies this year since I was off learning things in Perris, Raeford and Atlanta. Travel.... You'll learn a lot of things, and meet a lot of people. WFFC is an incredible chance to bump into people that are just off the wall on their skill levels. But no matter what you can't just assume people don't want to help or jump with you if you don't make the effort to seek out new people and new situations to jump into.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflybella 0 #16 October 16, 2003 QuoteOne word: VIDEO Can't say enough how much this is true. Get a ton of video of yourself (if possible), of the pros doing their thing - all you can get your hands on and watch it religiously. Visualize, dissect, etc. Then save some $$ and book a coaching week with someone - someone really effing good and who knows how to teach - not just fly. Then watch all the video of yourself over and over and over. Then teach what you learned to your buddies and encourage them to do the same. Repeat. Seriously, Heath Richardson had just joined PsychoCirkus when he was sent on a 7 month deployment. He watched video non-stop day and night and swears he came back a better flyer than when he left. Good luck. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi 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
flyhi 24 #12 October 9, 2003 Start a team, get people to commit to it, establish a schedule, get better together, hire a high priced coach once or twice a year and build on that, go to boogies, and finally, read any issue of Parachutist or Skydiving and find out what the Sugar Gliderz are doing and emulate them. But I like the "Do More RW" advice. It is righteous.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ifics 0 #13 October 9, 2003 QuoteBut to a guy with 10 jumps you are a God and can teach him alot. Amen to that, I feel that way, I only have 16 jumps. I can't wait to start learning from all kinds of different people!! I hope you find what you're looking for! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WrongWay 0 #14 October 9, 2003 QuoteWrongway... when was the last time you did a Woody way? Or have you ever sought out Solent Greene to fill in a slot and get your ass handed to you like they did to me time after time at the start of this year? There are a lot of challenges if you look outside of playing with a Skyball. Dude, I could name two bellyflyers that even know my name, Woody and Kim, and face it, cuz of recent events, I don't think those teams are gonna want much to do with me if ya know what I mean. And yes, I understand that there are a lot of other things out there, but I want to become very proficient in one skill before moving on. remember I have less jumps than you. You just started birdman, and you love that shit. But IMHO I need to stick with freefly, something I know and love, and while other stuff is secondary, freefly is what I want to be good at, and there aren't hardly any freeflyers out there anymore. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #15 October 9, 2003 You can't expect everyone to just walk up and offer things to you. You need to seek them out. I was'nt at the DZ for some of the boogies this year since I was off learning things in Perris, Raeford and Atlanta. Travel.... You'll learn a lot of things, and meet a lot of people. WFFC is an incredible chance to bump into people that are just off the wall on their skill levels. But no matter what you can't just assume people don't want to help or jump with you if you don't make the effort to seek out new people and new situations to jump into.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflybella 0 #16 October 16, 2003 QuoteOne word: VIDEO Can't say enough how much this is true. Get a ton of video of yourself (if possible), of the pros doing their thing - all you can get your hands on and watch it religiously. Visualize, dissect, etc. Then save some $$ and book a coaching week with someone - someone really effing good and who knows how to teach - not just fly. Then watch all the video of yourself over and over and over. Then teach what you learned to your buddies and encourage them to do the same. Repeat. Seriously, Heath Richardson had just joined PsychoCirkus when he was sent on a 7 month deployment. He watched video non-stop day and night and swears he came back a better flyer than when he left. Good luck. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
