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Barely got my A before my DZ closed this past fall. Now I need to redo the ground course and psych myself up to get up and out and refamiliarize myself with everything all over again. I will use coaching for a while to get my basics and good form down well. I see that a Michigan DZ is offering a CANOPY CONTROL class sometime soon... Should I wait til I get refamiliarized with jumping again BEFORE I take a class like this? Typically are CANOPY CONTROL classes offered thru out the jumping seaon or mostly just at the beginning? I'd love any input anyone can give me! THANX. (edited for spelling )

ina sport as intensely exciting and risk laden as ours is, i think whatever keeps ya centered and calm for your jump is cool. i try to spend some time pre-jump stretching and meditating some... get checked before getting on the 182 plane by more experienced jumpers... pray walking to the plane- actaully i pray at each stage of the jump and like crazy at deployment... tend to walk in step with the jumpers to plane... make eye contact with each jumper and do 'the hand shake with each jumper before we prepare to exit' ...big smile and yahoo when under a good canopy. blues...lila.

Hmm. I've thought over all the above pretty thoroughly myself off and on while I was venturing to get my A license, too. NO I don't think sweeping generalities ought to be appied to the whole of skydiving to consider it to be self-destructive, or suicidal. WHY? People have long sought to understand and capture the ability to fly. Consider the great Leonardo! For an individual to move thru the skies by own's own capabilities has long been a dream, a desire to find an invention, a way to fly, to soar, to feel like a bird! YES, it is potentially dangerous. NO, it is not crazy, nor is it necessarily suicidal. Many sport and adventure activities carry risk and danger to life and limb. As caring individuals, in regards to ourselves AND others we must always seek to go about our adventures with thoughtfulness to safety, proceedure, planning for the best possible risk management... and hopefully a happy longer life, too! Blues to ya

I don't always understand the possible repercussions about my jumps and "what could have happened" to me... For my 24th jump I did my first pack job under supervision- and later jumped it- during deployment the pilot chute became unattached to the main chute and floated away(never found it either). Later when I told the Satefy dude at our DZ about it (when I took my A Test with him), he looked incredibly serious and solemnly told me that the worse case scenario could've ended up with a total mal and with me needing to pull my reserve- because the pilot was not attached to the main! Even tho the jump turned out OK, It really shook me, even tho it was like DAYS LATER- that I didn't know- nor did any body really drive home the seriousness of what had occured during that deployment malfunction. PS A reserve ride on my first solo AND first pack job would've made me think twice about if I really believe in omens and signs and all that kinda thing! Think SPRING!

I guess I'm in the minority too... Rarely drink, and drink lightly, usually, when I do....Last time was at my dz's halloween party. I am a fairly private person So won't answer the other questions... Sorry...I'm not gonna " 'kiss' and tell" Especially on the world wide web! Blues!- LuLu

After several jumper conversations at the last DZ party, I looked into the dazed eyes of my nonjumper date and realized with a laugh, "WE" do speak a different language sometimes! Especially in the beginning, you may need an interpreter, but after a season or so jumping/hanging out at the DZ, you'll learn 'the language' well enough thru emersion... Then you'll find like me, that you'll be the one interpretting for others! - LuLu.

45 miles. On this twisting 2-lane high-way, M-20, it takes about an hour or so in good weather...lots of speed traps, tho w/ staties lurking for lead foots like me! - LuLu

Hmm. Only jumped 182 & 206 so far so... I've only done 2 DIVING EXITS so far- they are very smooth! And I feel like a diving HAWK doing them! HANGING EXITS are very easy. But I don't like POISED EXITS at all. It'll be interesting varying exits out of other planes...

Wow... Did you say it is only about $500.00 to get a license at your DZ?!? I can tell you that I have definitely spent a whole lot more than that! I figure it's cost me around 2 grand so far! PS I just got my A in the mail just last week! LiLa

I'm single (7 years Now)... But kinda uncertain of whether I'm available- OR NOT- ? 'cause I'm "kinda" starting to see somebody. It's all too new to tell yet...

I'm still a newbie for all extents and purposes, but I'll attempt to tell you what I know, and the differences between AFF & IAD. If I'm off-base or wrong, I'm sure somebody will correct me... This is How I think the differences compare, ok? IAD (Instructor Aided Deployment) may use one instructor, who will assist you with your jumps- inside the plane and with exit when it's S/L(Static Line) and in freefall as you progress thru the program and are jumping with your own chute w/ a ripcord or throw out pilot chute. AFF(Accelerated FreeFall) starts you out with your own rig and you jump out of the plane with two intructors with you. You need to progress thru each of 6 to 8 levels accomplishing particular tasks/skills in each jump to be ok'd to move on to the next level and to get closer to finishing the program & working towards your A. I initially I went thru a variation of AFF - AFP - that used one AFF qualified instructor to work with me thru the program. Static Line and the IAD progression program is much more affordable. Static lIne jumps were something like $60. Complared to over $160? for an AFF jump. Don't quote me on the AFF price. I really don't remember what the actual cost is... BLUES!

Heya, Frank! Howyadoin? Here's my $.02 worth, Okay? I've done training in AFF & IAD. Started with AFF and finished up 2 YEARS LATER at different DZ with my DZ's own kinda program which included Tandem, S/L and IAD. I personally did better with IAD. AND I finally finished the program in one season! YEAH! Because S/L & IAD is much more affordable than AFF you can afford more jumps to get you thru the program & get your A.

Heya COuncilman! Thanx for the great tips. I'll check em out! Sent you a PM.

Thanx for the cool link. I appreciate it!

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SUNSHINE, thanx for your help

I do love winter. Just need to dress right, RIGHT? Any special tips about how to gear up well for winter jumps? I want to keep current. Will only manage to get in one monthly probably! Northern winters can be ROUGH! But even if they are not, with needing to travel to places to get rental gear, I'll really be going against the odds of having the rare beautious winter weather happen on a weekend day. What's a really RELIABLE WEATHER SITE to check to plan out winter jumps for weekend travelling???? Thanx

Hiya Sunshine! SDC sounds good. And I DO know how to get to Chicago, anyways! I have only been jumping at Central Michigan Skydivers this year. I just finished the requirements for my "A" and basically have been jumpng student gear. I've down-sized to 220, tho, and so far have jumped out of 182s mostly, and once a 206. Will these be available or something like it at SDC this winter? HMMM...So far, so good! Blues! -LiLa.

Thanx... A needed a little perspecive. I'm gonna have to get out my mapbook and figure out a game plan for checking out different dzs for winter jumping possibilities I think. I tell ya, If a dz is a cool place, WHEN IT'S COLD- It should be even more so when the weather's good..So will consider summer junping again if a place workes out well when I'm dong winter currency jumps.

Heya Ladyskydiver! Wisconsin! That's possible...Where is East Troy situated in relation to Michigan? I live on the West -side of Central Michigan, so to go either East or West I need to travel North or South FIRST to get around the Lake. State to state travel can be "interesting" when you live in state that's a peninsula that for the most part is surrounded by water, ya know?! Blues! -LiLa.

Where is Skydive Hutchinson in relationship to Wisconsin? Do you get some decent days to actually jump? What kind of rental gear/planes do they have available? It's good to know THERE IS OPTONS for us hardy northern skydivers. THANX- LiLa.

Yeah...It IS looking like that'll be the only option. Maybe... HOW ABOUT SKYDIVE CHICAGO? DO they have rental gear available in the winter for hardy souls who wanna keep current BUT who don't have their own gear????? If I do trek SOUTH to get in currency jumps- Will I get greif b/c I ONLY have 25 jumps and a hot off the presses "A" License? Where are the truly NEWBIE FRIENDLY DZs?

Help Me if you CAN! Soon will have my A official. I really want to jump SOME over the winter- BUT my DZ will be closed...AND although Tecumseh WILL be having some winter jumping they won't have any rental gear available. Where can I go to get in my winter jumps- IF I need to rent my gear? I'd appecaite your input and all CREATIVE IDEAS ARE WELCOME too! BLUES- LiLa.

VERY COOL CHRISSY! Emailed my dz's saftety dude and working out the necessities to getting everything in line to get my A so soon as it's official... Tecumseh, I'll be seein ya'all- SOON! Blues- LiLa.

THANX KIY. I was like - WHOA!- It opened! And SOFTLY TOO...