CanuckInUSA

Hey I'm not saying that people shouldn't pull when something they can't handle happens. I just want some of the newer folks to know that they should not be hanging out on the flight line if they've pulled high. If you find yourself open (for whatever reason) above the normal pull altitudes for your drop zone, please fly your canopy off of the flight line as soon as possible. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Let's just say that it wasn't JT ... but was it someone else? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

How could we forget the sexy skygoddess flying the skysurfing board? Heck if I could I'd be there on a board as well, but I'm still going through my freeflying learning stages. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hmmm ... I witnessed this act (and believe me it wasn't me), but if I give up the name would I be finking on them? Was it Lou? or was it someone else? Check back for the next episode of "As the Bent Prop Turns". Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Oh it all makes sense now. I was in good health up until the point when sunshine gave me my first kiss pass. Then the next thing you know, I'm sick. But to tell you the truth, the kiss pass was worth it (I think as I'm on the mend and did jump five times yesterday and would be jumping today if I wasn't at work) and a good time was had by all. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hopefully a more experienced skydiver can interject here into this topic. But based on my Eloy boogie experience, just pulling (at any ole altitude) because one feels out of control is just as dangerous. At a busy dropzone, you've got to know that there'll be another skydiver in your airspace any minute and if you pull at the incorrect altitudes, you put yourself and the other skydiver(s) following you at risk. Now it's my understanding that if you do pull early (whether you did it, or had a pre-mature delpoyment) you must immediately fly your canopy off of the flight line. Just my two cents and I'm sure a more experience skydiver can add to all of this. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm in my 30s and my first jump was on July 14th, 2002 and I've been hooked ever since. By the way, I've wanted to try skydiving for years, but I had way too many whuffo issues back then (which have obviously been shed). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hi Arran ... welcome to DZ.COM If you're like the stereo-typical maritimer then I know you will be liked around here. For those who don't know this, maritimers from Canada are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. HH (aka Sangiro) is the cool dude who runs these forums. I got to meet him (and do one jump with him) last week while we were at Eloy. Oh and before I go, you forgot to mention that you also hope the jumpers here in Colorado (as well as Florida and Arizona) are having the time of our lives. Believe it or not, the weather here is awesome and very jumpable most weekends. But I didn't want to get your spirits down. You too will be in the air before you know it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm sorry about what happened with your Level IV jump. Have you determined what went wrong with your goggles? It's not something you want to get into the habit of doing (because it sucks) but it is possible to skydive without goggles. When all is said and done, it sounds like you just need to be more aware of your dynamically changing skydiving environment. The more you jump, the more experience you will gain and the more your internal clock will start to kick in. Thank you JM for being there when you had problems, but the next time something weird happens, try to think rationally and try not to hestitate with your actions. Learn to be an independent skydiver. This is a great sport and we want you to be part of it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I jumped five times today at my home DZ, but it just wasn't the same. I miss the good times at Eloy. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I actually witnessed this act (no that's not my Johnson in the picture). But I can not name names. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

On the 31st they flew the three Otters and the Porter in formation over the main building. But apparently last night's was the fly-by of fly-bys. But I had bid farewell to Eloy by that time and missed it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Unless I'm mistaken (and this wouldn't be the first time this has happened), you'll need to have a "B" or better license to jump at Rantoul. But with your current jump numbers, you are good to go and you just need to finish whatever "B" license requirements and you'll be ready to jump. But in terms of actual experience levels (which differ from person to person), you won't know if you're ready for something that big until you've actually experienced it. I just came back from the Eloy Christmas boogie and while I know I still have a long way to go before I can call myself an experienced skydiver, without a doubt I am a much better skydiver today that I was two weeks ago. I gained so much valuable cross-wind landing practice at Eloy's main landing area and not once did I feel that I didn't belong there. I knew better to stay away from the swooping beer line, so as long as I kept my head up and paid attention, I was fine landing there. It was such an awesome experience and I sure hope I can make it to Rantoul this summer. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hehe, as if i could ever forget!! Oh the things i've done while here in Eloy... And Kenny is no longer there to protect you. By the way, when are you leaving? I'm jealous ... I wish I was still there (even though my cold has taken over my body). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I sit a work today with an empty feeling in my gut. My life has changed in the last week and it's not easy getting back into the Whuffo's world. When I arrived at work this morning I was greated with "you have to fix all of your immediate priority defects by Monday" instead of "hi, how was your vacation, etc, etc, etc.". So here I sit, wishing I was still jumping in Eloy with all the others who may still be there. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm pretty sure she meant 'many'. LOL ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Not only did Sunshine give the Head Honcho a kiss pass at Eloy, but she also gave me one the jump before. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Yes I stand corrected. The funny thing about that was that when she kissed my just prior to jumping, neither one of us knew each other when DZ.COMers. But Holly was great.

Well I've had a few more hours to reflect upon my Eloy experiences this year and here's kind of a break down: - I was there for eight days of jumping and I stayed up late partying virtually every night (and it's catching up to me now). I have a cold and I'm tired, but I have these incredible memories from the 2002 Eloy Christmas boogie. Anyway ... - 42 jumps in total. - 23 Otter jumps, 9 Skyvan jumps, 6 King Air jumps, 3 Porters and one jump from the DC-3. The only aircraft I failed to jump out of was the hotair balloon (to early for me). - Of the 42 jumps, six were done trying to set the DZ.COM formation record (not my specialty), one hoop jump with some DZ.COMers, one was a fun cross-country jump from the DC-3 and I did one more hybrid jump with LouDiamond and Mouth. All the other jumps were freefly jumps with DZ.COMers (like Pablito, AggieDave, Sudysfist, Sunshine, Konradptr and Kristan just to name a few) as well as numerous freefly jumps done with non-DZ.COMers. - Sunshine gave me a kiss pass on one of our jumps and I was there lurking a Sangiro jump when Sunshine kiss him as well. Besides having fun, getting a lot of jumps in and drinking way too much beer. The biggest things I'm taking away from Eloy was the awesome landing advice Pablito gave me (not that my landings were bad before, they're just so much better now) and the awesome cross-wind landing experience I gained while landing on Eloy's main landing area. I know there's more, but that's all my tired brain can think of right now. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Patrick My boss changed his mind and let me attend the boogie (though I wasn't there as long as I had originally intended). It was an awesome trip ... and so many good experiences came out of this boogie, with two that really standing out. The first thing was the awesome information Pablito gave me concerning my landing procedures and the second was the awesome cross-wind landing practice I got landing in Eloy's main landing area. There were tons of other cool stuff I did (such as zen'ing out for 45-60 seconds head down during my high altitude jump) and I can tell you more in person the next time I see you. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Well I arrived safely home after one hell of a long drive today from Eloy (I stopped numerous times to take cat naps as several times I felt like I would fall asleep at the wheel). But I had such awesome experiences and met so many cool people (both DZ.COMers and non-DZ.COMers) that the long drives were worth it. Thanks to Mouth and LouDiamond (my hotel roommates) for putting up with me and my late nights. Thanks to Betsy for all of her hard work. Thanks to Pablito for the awesome landing advice he gave me (not to mention the couple of fun jumps I did with him). Thanks to Kristan for jumping with me a lot and videoing the results. Thanks to Sunshine for giving me my first kiss-pass (I wish I was there for your 500th). Thanks to AggieDave and Sudsy for being ... well ... AggieDave and Sudsy (you guys rock) and thanks to all the other cool DZ.COMers who were there. This boogie was such an awesome experience for us all. Maybe sometime tomorrow I will review my logbook and summarize all of the cool stuff I got to do with the 42 jumps I made while at Eloy. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Krishan It was awesome jumping with you. My door is always open if you want to come up and visit Longmont this year once our new Otter comes on line.

Well I fixed the bug I wanted to fix this morning at work. So now I'm off home to do a small amount of cleaning, feed the critter for the last time (don't worry someone will be coming in everyday to ffed her), prepare some sandwiches for the trip and then get into my Jeep to start the long drive to Eloy. If all goes well I'll be there sometime around noon tomorrow. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Welcome Rich I did see some of the stuff which was said in the other threads and one thing you/we must realize is that the people here on DZ.COM are a very diverse group of individuals and we all think differently. And often the only thing we have in common is our passion for the great sport of skydiving. Now despite the fact that I have jumped 91 times (since July 14th, 2002), I would only be considered a toddler in this sport when you compare myself to some of the people who have jumped thousands of times. And in the time that I have been jumping I have been humbled numerous times with what is said around here. Now that doesn't mean that us newbies to the sport aren't allowed to have opinions, in fact I think newbie opinions are good as we are approaching the sport from a different vantage point. But when all is said and done, we don't have the exposure that others have and we should listen to them to extract whatever experience they have to give us. Now before this post gets too long. Some of the stuff you said about automobile versus skydiving accident statistics is the same stuff I've been saying to a lot of whuffo friends and colleagues. I still thinking riding my motorcycle, the ice climmbing and mountaineering I have done are more dangerous than skydiving, but I have only been in the sport five months now and have yet to have someone I know be killed (and the same can not be said by some of the people here who have been in the sport longer). So I just wanted to try and help you get a feel for some of the people you may encounter here. Having an opinion is good, but also having big ears and an open mind is better. I hope you get to jump soon. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

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