Casch

I was just wondering what the percentages were for the different training methods.

Hey thanks for reminding me. I saw the preview a few days ago and I completely forgot about it. It should be quite interesting

well what I was thinking was that I could work with infinite and basically assist them. Almost like a job shadow. I wouldn't be the one actually *making* the container, just assisting etc.. Anyway, thanks for the info.

For my senior project I am thinking of building my own harness/container (with a rigger of course). I was wondering how you would go about getting a riggers certification.

LOL That's hilarious! I want one!

Hehe, I felt so bad. All the guys at Kapowsin left without Wlie, so I gave him a ride to Mugs and Jugs where they were hangin out for karaoke, and the bouncers wouldn't let me in!!!!! I may be 17 but I AM a responsible alcoholic hehe j/k. Anyways he didn't want me to feel left out so he went back to the DZ wit me. Poor guy didn't get to show off his Axl Rose!!! He was even going to try a Mic Jagger!!!

WOW! That looks really cool! Are they jumping into a hole in the ground? That looks like it'd be freakin scary!

I did 9 jumps this weekend from friday to sunday and it kicked a$$! I learned backloops and tracking and improved my turning and got to jump out of the caravan most importantly! Unfortunately the otter wasn't there, but oh well. Hehe, I spent a lot of time on my back when I was trying to learn backloops, it was AWESOME! I screwed up one of my jumps pretty bad though, I accidently tracked right under Tom Heelen's formation...he got a little pissed...oops. So I have 19 jumps under my belt, next jump is my graduation jump from student status! I'm SOOO happy! Did I mention that skydiving kicks BLEEPIN BLEEP!

On my "Last" PRCP, I went to pull and my chute was out of the bag already and all I could find was the openening of the container, not the cord. I was sooo P O'd. I am certain it's because of having a different JM, I didn't feel comfortable with him. So I had to do it again so I am a jump behind in the course, but this time my JM was Andy Ferrington, I think he's my fav. JM at kapowsin and I did fine. You have to go through the count smoothly but not too slow or your friend may have the same problem as I did, and have to spend another $40-$50 or whatever it cost for ya.

I'm used to having a broken tail bone, believe it or not, it doesn't hurt much. hehe, you should have seen the x-ray though on the first break...HILARIOUS! I wasn't even being xrayed for that hehe I didn't know about it until then

"Two of the three injuries I've gotten from skydiving were landing related (one bruised tailbone and one sprained ankle). " At 250 lbs flying the manta 288, Kapowsin was not used to students getting so much performance out of student gear so it took my ground instructors a while to learn where to tell me to flare. It got to the point where the DZO talked me through and had me flare WAY too high...(15-20 feet or so) thinking that the effect of the flare would be relativly slow...well it wasn't and I PLF'd from about 18 feet. More than once this happened. The rest of the time I flare low, and swoop about 25-30 feet with my butt inches off the ground and I have to ride it in that way. On one of my landings I was trying to adjust to fly into the wind but my instuctor told me to fly straight, so I did. When I flared I got nothin, and I didn't expect it and I landed on my butt and bounced a few inches too, then slid about 6 feet. That makes the 5th time I've broken my tail bone to date! **The most helpless feeling I've found is that point when you realise that you flared too high...it's almost comical for a moment.

Is the first night jump scary? I'm just imagining jumping out into a black void.

Can anyone recommend a relativly inexpensive but sturdy camcorder? I can't afford $600-$800 for one right now.

hehe...speaking of freaking out your instructors, on my first solo(hop-n-pop), Jessie (DZO) was telling me to get a good look at the plane then pull...so I got a good look...and kept looking for about 3 extra seconds and scared the shit out of her. I didn't do this on purpose, it was the first time I actually looked at the plane after jumping and I thought it was bitchin!. Then on my 10 second delay, I did an accidental back flip off the step and freaked out my JM, but I stabilized quickly. Anyways, I can see why your instructor said what he said...you had him worried.

I am so glad to hear it! My parents divorced when i was 4, and the courts gave custody to my mother who married like...a week after the divorce...my dad fought as hard as he could with the little money he had but couldn't win. I made the choice at age 11 to live with my father and I am soooo glad. Boys NEED their father, and I am so glad to hear that you are winning. I hope that you will soon have full custody

Most likely you will be doing a 5 second delay (at least that was what my second solo was) in which case you will be about 45 deg forward when you pull, when you hit line stretch, you will be almost belly to earth. If you have been doing well so far, they may end up letting you do a 10 second delay in which case you will just reach terminal velocity and will be belly to earch when you pull. If your like me though, you will do an accidental back flip on exit and spend your 10 seconds trying to get stable hehe...don't do that...my mistake was not stretching my legs out, they were bend 90 deg at the knees...oops. Anyways good luck on your jumps. I am also jumping this weekend, doing my 5th solo, 30 second freefall, actually I am planning on doing 5-8 jumps so I may end up getting a full 60 in...(I'm crossing my fingers). If any of you more experienced jumpers would like to correct me on the belly2earth Q, please do....I'm just a newb and this is just what I understand from my experience so far

Well hell if I can't jump as much then screw it! I'll live in a tent and have tandem students piss on me...

I have been thinking of starting a business after graduation for the last couple years, and I just recently started thinking about making it a skydiving store. Selling the usual T's and such, and also all kinds of altimeters and other gear. Does anyone here operate a store like this outside of a DZ? I could use some tips on how to go about this.

I'm not quite what I would call a skydiver...haven't led the life yet anywayz..but it has changed my life and I am Christian. I don't go to church regularly, sometimes I will go with a friend if I happen to be at their place. I don't necessarily agree with all their beliefs, but yes I am a Christian and a Skydiver (per say)

I Found Kapowsin before I found Eugene and also Kapowsin was the first DZ I found that accepted parental consent for minors, I know now that Eugene accepts it also, but it's only an hour closer (Forest Grove is about 20-30mins out of portland) and I have really become acquainted with the people and the DZ itself. That and I am still on student status so I don't want to leave yet. ALSO, my mom has decided to become a jumper too...she always copies me...and she lives in Spokane WA (I am a Washingtonian at heart) so it is more convienient for her. I haven't heard anything about a court case...care to enlighten me?

LOL, that's funny! 17 yo drivin up with beer for the DZ (although they didn't card me last time when my mom was in line behind me). Actually I'm not sure if I will even have my A license before winter starts. I hope so...I am on jump #11 in the staticline course, I just did a 15 second delay. I should hopefully have my license by the end of the month or mid november (crossing fingers). Working part-time at a movie rental joint at min-wage doesn't pull in a whole lot, and each month my entire paycheck goes to pay off my credit card with which I have a habbit of going overboard with when it comes to skydiving (that's why I set a $500 limit...I don't trust myself)

Yeah, I jump in WA at Kapowsin. Love the DZ but I just wish we had better winter jumping weather, summers are great though

This sucks, there are no boogies in the NW cause we have CRAPPY WEATHER!!! As soon as I graduate I am moving to florida or somethin. I hate Oregon!

It's probably slow because we're ALL DOWNLOADING FROM IT AT THE SAME TIME AAHHHHH, POOR ROUTERS!

Ok I have only done 4 solo jumps, but is it normal to not recall actually SEEING anything during freefall? I know for newbies it is major sensory overload but it just seems odd that I don't remember seeing anything but the plane flying away (vaguely at best). I was fully conscious and going through my count and I could FEEL if I was stable or not, but I don't even remember seeing the ground or anything?