Islandcool

I'd like to put some faces with some names. Anyone going to be at Otay in San Diego this weekend. I'd like to say hi. Ed

Hey that's another thing. I have a DVD player but no VCR. That blows. I've been meaning to get some video done so I can learn from it. Well there's more cash gone. Blah...I'm sure one of my friends has one of several they don't use.

Ok so I've done 26 jumps in 5 weeks. I bought a rig after my 6th jump. (it was a deal I couldn't pass up) I've bought an altimeter. Still need a helmet, goggles, jumpsuit and some packing lessons. I just shut off my cable to save $60 a month (3.3 more jumps amonth) Never home anyway. My budget now converts savings into how many more times I can jump and what equipment can I buy. From what I read I have a feeling this is normal...lol. Today I asked my boss to re-evaluate my salary and consider giving me a raise. That is not a joke by the way. So any suggestions on how to make a little side money help pad the expense. Hell I would cut the grass at the DZ with a push mower at this point. I swear if my parent lived here I would move back home so I wouldn't have to pay rent! LOL Ed

I've only been skydiving for 5 weeks and put in 26 jumps. The risks of skydiving bothered the hell out of me. From when you first sign that wavier to everytime you see the disclaimer "Skydiving is a dangerous sport. Serious injury or death may occur" Well it goes something like that. I did tend to freak myself out on a few jumps with all the risks going through my head. I remember doing a gear check (again) on the plane when I realized I was wearing rig #13. Gulp! That actually turned out to be my favorite rig for some reason and I always tried to get that one. A few weeks ago someone told me fear and faith cannot exist in the same place. That really sank into me and now I feel very good about the sport. So the trick for me was to increase my faith. I do a complete gear check and make mental notes of everything so I am not second guessing myself on the plane. When I first started and the instructors were doing the gear checks I was always preoccupied with thoughts of.."gee...I hope he remembered everything" Anyway...enough rambling. The gains I get from skydiving outweigh the risks. Cielos azules amigos Ed

High School Spanish is about the best I can do. LOL Yep...Portuguese name but I was born and raised in Hawaii. (Mom is Hawaiian dad is Portuguese). I can't wait to jump in Hawaii.

Oops.... Sorry I'm a little inexperienced with message boards.

Hi Everyone... I just started skydiving on jan 11 and I've put in 26 skydives and got my A license. Man do I have it bad. At this rate I should be broke in no time flat. I used to sit in my car on a hill above the DZ at Otay in San Diego wishing I could skydive. I had been pretty overweight most of my life and about 20 months ago I was 450 pounds. I know I had no business walking on to a dropzone at that weight. I swear the Tandem instructors would have probably had a heart attack. LOL. Anyway had to have a gastric bypass and now I'm 170 now and started skydiving and you know how it is. I don't really think of much else. Anyway I asked one of the instructors what I could try and he suggested trying some sit flying. So I did and I can't quite get it. I can get into this reclining position but start tumbling when I try to plant my feet. This day however I opened right above someone. She was not happy but forgiving as I apologized. I didn't know it but I guess I had drifted right over her in freefall somehow. I got together with some of the instructors and the gave me some basic freefly rules. In anycase I having a blast. Total newbie and always looking to learn. I've been at the dropzone every weekend. If you see me there and don't mind teaching a newbie a few things say hi. Take care and Cielos azules! Ed

Hi everyone. I thought I'd throwout the introduction. I'm a newbie and just got my A license. I have 22 jumps. I started a month ago and I got it bad. I bought my own rig after my 6th jump but my instructor wouldn't let me jump it until I got my Lic. They guys (and ladies) at the DZ are great and always looking out for the newbies. I jump in San Diego at Skydive San Diego. Nice relaxed place. I have a triathlon 190 and a reflex container. I like it. I want to further educate myself and start doing something a little more advanced. The solo jumps are getting kind of dull. I would like to develop some canopy and freefall skills and start practicing. Anyone have any suggestions? Any books I could read? Looking forward to meeting everyone.