JCoonce

It might be helpful if you could put how many miles from London (and/or the nearest big airport) on the website. There are several cities named Bedford, and the map isn't quite large enough for us geographically- challenged folks to quickly understand where you're located. Other than that, I like the site!

After about 30 rental gear jumps, my husband and I spent about 8 grand on gear - 2 slightly used rigs(vector3+mirage) w/cypresses, new jumpsuits, altimeters, full face helmets, gloves, bags, etc.... After AFF and gear purchases, it's still expensive. Jumps are only $18-20, but you'll want to jump much more than one a day. Plus, you'll need to maintain your gear. So, be prepared to give up all of your disposable income. Over the course of one year, my husband and I completed AFF together, purchased our gear, joined a 4-way team (M4), did 6+ hours in the tunnel, made 450 jumps each, and then went to nationals. It was a lot, but the experience was amazing! After nationals, we decided to take a break. When we return, we figure we don't have to be that intense to stay current.

How many people do you think will actually make it through the 6-month program? I'm guessing just a few. Why? Skydiving is an amazing sport, but it requires determination, commitment, confidence w/ humility, knowledge, and sacrifice to succeed. It’s not for everyone. Even without the financial strains, the people in your study are still responsible for their own skydives, and they must work with their coaches to overcome the obstacles that skydiving presents. They must also be willing to make many physical, emotional, and time-consuming sacrifices. 500 jumps in 6 months is a lot! So, in your scenario, I'd ask each person: 1). Have you ever received an amazing reward after working your butt-off to reach a goal? 2). If yes, did you reach this goal on your own? 3). Do you think that becoming a world-class skydiver is a good goal? I'd say there would be a direct correlation between people that answer "yes, no, yes" with those that will be able to complete the program with the highest skydiving scores. What percentage of these people will have been classified as "athletic?" I'd guess a good number, but not all. Success in skydiving requires determination. Janet

The website is still under construction - but here it is: www.skydivethefarm.com Please let me know if you have any suggestions. Janet

Thanks for the info - my team wants to approach our home dzo about discounted jump tickets. We feel we're helping them when we train there (keeping the plane running and giving them some advertisement at meets and other stuff) - so I just wanted to have a ballpark idea of what other dzs were doing. See you at Nationals! Janet M4

In high school, I used to pretend I was skydiving while swimming - cause that's what my best friend (now husband) told me it was like after his 18th birthday tandem jump. I was only 16 and could only dream of flying. When I turned 18, my parents made a valid point that if I can afford a jump, then I can afford to live without any financial assistance from them.... So... as soon as I finished graduate school, we got married, and we both had jobs - Daniel and I decided to scratch "make a skydive" off of our list of 101 things to do (Aug. 17, 2002). Little did we know that our one AFF jump would turn into 3 AFF jumps in that same weekend - followed by the completion of AFF the next weekend! We threw away the list of things to do (a picnic ontop of Stone Mountain just didn't sounds as exciting anymore) - and we have been at the dropzone every weekend since. Now, I truly appreciate how lucky we are to have fallen in love with skydiving together. Janet

It's awesome! You'll notice your flying skills will improve dramatically in a short amount of time. The tunnel takes a lot of variables out of the equation - so you can actually focus on your flying and fix things on the spot. Janet

Thanks for the help - I'll look for you at Nationals.

Completely understandable. Janet

Just curious - approx. how many jumps is your team planning on making before Nationals? Also, does your dropzone offer discounts for team jumps? I'm on a new intermediate 4-way team in the GSL (M4) and absolutely loving it! Since I'm a newbie to skydiving, I'm just trying to soak in everything I can - and get an idea what other teams are doing. Janet "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" -- Sir Isaac Newton

Wow - skydiving has changed my life so much, it's hard to know where to begin. Ok, in everyday life, I'm... - more aware of my surroundings - more assertive and confident - more willing to "stop and smell the roses" and I now realize that some battles in a hectic life just aren't worth fighting - more willling to leave my comfort zone I notice dangerous situations more frequently (and realized how dumb I was to ride my bicycle by myself in Atlanta traffic everyday!) I realize that through teamwork, commitment, and determination - just about anything is possible. I understand the impact of actions more clearly. I realize that we are able experience all of these modern pleasures (skydiving, A/C, electricity, medicine, flying, computers, internet, ec.) because of the innovators that came before us - and we (today) have the chance make a difference in the future. Janet "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" -- Isaac Newton www.skydivemonroe.com

As our 1 year anniversary of jumping approaches, I thought I'd post an update to this old post- Daniel and I are still hopelessly addicted to skydiving, and you guys were right - it just gets better every jump! We couldn't be happier.

sounds cool!!!

Mint chocolate chip and cookie dough icecream!

260 in 11 months. Janet

22:23

My first 4-way meet - I'm outside center and was asked to hold onto the plane using only my head for the first time (ie. head jam). Well.... I stepped out of the plane and couldn't find one of the two leg grips I was supposed to have. I looked down pretty far to find it - and of course, I fell out! The team forgave me and even enjoyed my horrified expression as I left the plane without them -but the funniest part was the reaction I got when I nonchalantly told some wuffo friends that I "fell out of an airplane" that weekend.

235:1

FAR!

I have the pleasure of jumping with mochaskychick. :) And, she's funnier in person than in writing. Check out our dropzone's forum (Omar who?) for her hillarious account of her visit to Arizona. http://www.skydivemonroe.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=f989dd872d4488800c1ef3e8347ab5e8 Here's a pic of her 100th jump! Janet

It's expensive, but worth every penny! My husband and I have both been hit hard by the 4-way bug -Our team (M4) jumps 3-4 days a month together, and we've spent a good amount of time in the tunnel, too. I don't want to look at the actual total, but according to the Microsoft Money pie chart - it's big! (But the experience is priceless).

Bill, this sounds like an amazing invention - just curious, how many times have you tested the final design to determine that it works "every time?" Also, do you have an approximate price determined yet (say, to add it to a Vector III without a RSL already installed, not including shipping)? Thanks, Janet

yep - rings, pins, fire, and up to 4 balls - but still have a whole lot more to learn my husband and I have taught 2 of our pilots and a couple of jumpers to juggle while on weather holds. We're hoping to get a bunch of people at the DZ to learn cause passing "big ways" are a lot of fun. Anyone out there know how to pass pins?

I have a resting hr of 60, and when I was sitting going to altitude for the first time - I thought, wow, I actually feel kinda calm - then, I checked my pulse and my hr was over 180 - just sitting! I've been wanting to check my heart rate throughout the dive since my first jump - I'll wear a monitor this weekend (assuming I get to jump) and post the results.

Before we got married, Daniel and I made a "to do list" - and he added skydiving to it. He had done a tandem 6 years ago when he turned 18 and had been itching to go again ever since. I thought it sounded like fun - I've always wanted to fly- So, we went, did AFF level 1 - and we were both hooked - did levels 2+ 3 the next day. Been at the dz every weekend since (even though the clouds/weather have been very uncooperative). -- I added my picture from my first jump, but I'm not sure if it will look good....