Luna

Man, that sucks! I'm still in my student progression, too, so take this for what it's worth. I had trouble on my very first jump seeing my altimeter. I really thought I was around 1-2 grand higher than I was. Then when my instructors started pointing their fingers in my face (signal to pull), it took me a bit before I realized what they were telling me. I managed to get pulled right before he would have pulled for me, so I passed. It scared me, though. From my experience, you don't need to practice altitude awareness. Ever since then, all of my instructors can tell you, and have told me, that I have great altitude awareness. I guess that it just scared me enough that I have become super-vigilant about checking my altitude all the time. As far as your situation, personally, if I had my goggles blow off and I couldn't see, I would have waved off and pulled right then. But, don't let it get you down! Try again. You know now that you can do the required maneuvers for the jump (you did get those turns signed off on your proficiency card, right?). You just have to go do it one more time, and this time your goggles shouldn't be a factor. But, talk to your instructor about what you should do if they are. I say I would have pulled, but ask your instructor what you should have done. That way you will be prepared if it ever happens again. Just don't give up! You'll get through it. We all do, eventually. Good luck! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

I'm learning to pack right now myself, through the school. What is really helpful is instead of me unpacking it when I'm done, they unpack it for me and point out any problems along the way. Like I had line stows that came off really badly, and then there were lines underneath the canopy once it opened. If I had unpacked it myself, I would not have known what problems I need to work on. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Michele, I am beyond happy for you! I just knew things would turn around for you eventually. What an incredible start to an incredible new year for you.

You must not be married. They aren't kidding when they talk about the "marriage penalty." I don't know I think they have tried to lessen it somewhat in the last year or two, but a few years back, for fun, I did our taxes as married filing jointly and then as if we were single. Let me tell you true, there is NO tax benefit to being married! We owed more. I'm not saying that is a reason to not get married, though, just pointing it out. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

You need a choice for "Wouldn't do it," as apparently I'm not alone in the sentiment. Yeah, of course I have some regrets. But really, if I had changed much, my life would be drastically different than it is now, and I'm really happy with it right now. The only thing I wish is that I could have learned a few hard lessons a little earlier so I could have been really happy and enjoyed most of my 20's more. It's done, though, and I try to live for the present now. I've spent too much of my time living in the past. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

According to the TSA, yes, they will break the lock on your suitcase if they find cause to inspect it, then they will put a note in the bag indicating that it has been searched. This is taken from USPA's web site in regards to the AAD's possibly triggering such a search: I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Cool! You can watch me do my Hop & Pop. See ya there!

So, when are we going to see you out there again? I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

We were just talking to our DZO about this last weekend, and I was frankly shocked at the incredibly small amount of money that the pilot is paid by the DZ. According to all of the regulations we have read, the pilot is held responsible by the FAA for anything and everything that goes wrong on a flight, from jumpers not wearing their seatbelts to ensuring that every jumper has an in-date reserve. Obviously it is totally unrealistic for the pilot to actually check everything that they are responsible for, so they just have to trust all those jumpers to be doing right by them. But if something goes wrong, it is their butt on the line. For the small amount they get paid, I would never do it. I have total respect for anyone who does, especially those of you who are not just doing it to get more hours to move on, but who are really committed to the sport. Another case of people who must truly love their job!

Don't worry Michele, the newest Gunslinger isn't due out until September of 2003, followed by the next in November and the last in March of 2004, all tentative dates. His newest is From a Buick 8 as someone previously mentioned. I haven't picked that one up yet. I just finished catching up on all of the Harry Potter books that I had not read until now. Before that it was Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in anticipation of the movie, as I had not read the books before. I'm reading each one before each movie. Before that was the two Ya-Ya Sisterhood books. Taking a bit of a break now as I've been reading like crazy for the last several months. Probably will pick up the last LOTR book when I decide to get back to it, unless the new Harry Potter is out by then. I'm also totally envious of a $100 GC to Barnes & Noble! I could spend it in a minute! I've been reading so much lately, I've turned to the library and borrowing from friends. That way I can put more money toward skydiving (still a student, with my husband, so it's really draining the bank account!). I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

I am afraid of heights, but not when skydiving. Here is what I've come up with. What you said above is right on the mark. Fear of heights basically comes down to a fear that you are going to fall and get hurt. At 14,000 feet in the air, there is no immediate feeling that you are going to fall and get hurt. In fact, the whole object is to fall and NOT get hurt. So, that kind of defeats the reasoning behind the fear. I talk to people all the time who say the same thing, that they could never skydive because they are afraid of heights. But really, I did the skydiving thing knowing I was afraid of heights, and while I have no problem with jumping out of a plane, I still am not over my fear of heights. I try to explain to them that it really has nothing to do with fear of heights, but it doesn't work. I think the truth is that is just an excuse. It is funny, though, how quick people are to hang on to society's accepted beliefs than to listen to someone who has actually done it, with a fear of heights even. People are just brainwashed. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

I'd like to nominate Michele! She not only got national recognition for DZ.com by wearing her shirt on ESPN, but she is always helping anyone who needs help, offering an encouraging word, and enthralling us with her wonderfully written stories. These forums wouldn't be the same without her! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Clicky link: http://www.eco.utexas.edu/~faulkner/skydive/howcrw.html I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Don't get discouraged! Don't let this stop you. I'm learning that a lot of people have trouble with spinning. I finally got it together enough to pass my turn jumps, then proceeded on to the jumps with inversions (barrel rolls and front & back loops) and while I managed to do the inversions, I also managed to get some spinning in there as well. Despite that, on my last jump my instructor told me that while he should not be having to come in and help me at this point (to stop my spin), he does feel that I'm safe in the air and that I really just need to do a few solo dives where there is no pressure to perform so that I can learn to just relax in the air. I'm not giving up, and neither should you! Don't wait until Spring. Putting that much time between jumps is going to make you more tense and nervous, which is the opposite of what you need. Don't let it get you down, just get back up there and try again! You'll get it! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

The East Coast stretches pretty far south, and depending on how well you take cold, pretty much Maryland/Virginia on south will jump year-round. I'm in Virginia and they scale down to a King Air at my DZ for the winter because there is a drop in business, but they still jump all year. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

I know, I know, but you helped me to sort it all out and decide to go back and give it another try. And I'm so happy with that decision right now!

After a very early cutaway that almost put me out of the sport (thanks tons Michele!!), and a double-repeat of one level, I have GRADUATED!!!

Everyone is right! I'm also going through as a student and spinning has become a problem for me. I had to repeat a level for spinning. The next time I tried it, I couldn't make myself turn. Third time was a charm, but then the next jump (my last jump), I was doing barrel rolls and back flips, and after doing one of each, I went into a spin again. I saw my instructor coming closer each time I went around, but I got the feeling he wasn't coming in to stop me (and he didn't). I was trying everything to stop it, doing those toe-taps like mad, but nothing worked. I just kept thinking about the wicked line-twists I was going to have when I deployed, but amazingly enough, I didn't have one. Instructor says that I actually stopped the spin right as I went to deploy. He said that I was just too stiff from panic (I've had a bad experience with spins and they just freak me out), and that if I had RELAXED, I would have come out of it. Apparently when I went to deploy I must have relaxed finally and it stopped. I know that everyone says that relaxing is the key, but it is probably the hardest thing about this sport to learn. I told my instructor though that this is one of the reasons I am doing this. I have a very hard time with stress and not being able to relax in my "real life." I figure, if I can figure out how to relax in freefall, I should be set! If you can relax in a skydive, you should be able to relax anywhere! At least, that's my theory. And one of these days I'm going to get it. Incidentally, my husband also had terrible spinning problems on 2 jumps, so he went to the tunnel for an Airspeed camp. Problem solved. Wish I could go! Most of us just have to keep plugging away at it until we get it right. Hang in there. You'll get it one day too!

Oh, and let's not forget that families and victims of the snipers are also now going to get compensation as well. Where will it end? What makes them more special that someone's mother who is killed by a drunk driver? Etc. Man it really pisses me off. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Do you have videos of your jumps? My husband started spinning on his 4th jump, when you are supposed to be doing 90 degree turns. He did it twice, and then he did go to an AirSpeed camp in Orlando. What he learned about the spin is that it's leg position. I've since gone into a spin myself, and it's the same thing. You can see it clearly if you have video. If you find out about how knee turns work (I think most experience people use knee turns as opposed to arm turns), then you'll understand the principle, but basically, either one leg is extended more than the other, or one leg (knee or foot) is dropping below the other one. The best way I have heard to try to correct for this is a toe tap. You just tap your feet together. If they aren't level, they won't touch when you try bringing them together. If you can get them to touch, they will be level and the spin should not be a problem. So, I haven't tried this, but someone more experienced can help me out here if needed, if you get in a spin, to get out of it you should just need to drop the knee corresponding to the direction that you are spinning. Once you stop, be sure to level you legs out again. Oh, and ARCH! I've been told that being flat will hugely exaggerate any problems caused by leg position. If you arch hard, it helps to minimize the effects of bad leg position. If hope this helps, and if I need any correction, please step in. I'm still a student, too, and am really trying to learn about this. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

If you are in Richmond, West Point is very close for you. It is a small, club DZ. Everyone is super nice. It's very laid back. They usually have either an Otter or a King Air, and they do jump all winter. We'd love to see you out there! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

I like Drakkar a lot, but I just can't resist Eternity. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

I jump at The Point, but live in Williamsburg. There are a lot of people who jump there who come down from Richmond and Northern Virginia who could probably give you a ride, but I don't think too many of them post here (at least I haven't seen them yet). You might try getting in touch with Jim Crouch. He could probably hook you up with someone, if he couldn't pick you up on his way down from Alexandria himself. He works for USPA so you can look him up on their web site. Good luck!

I've walked 3 marathons. Anyone think walking one is not as impressive as running? They took me anywhere from 7 to 7 1/2 hours to complete! Try walking non-stop for that long! I really envy the runners who are home taking showers before I've even hit the halfway mark! I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

Please forgive my total lack of knowledge about the New York area. We are staying at a hotel on West 44th Street. Not too far from the theater district as I understand. We'll be flying into LaGuardia. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!