VanillaSkyGirl

I definitely remember landing my canopy. It's all still crystal clear in my head. My first ever jump was an AFF1, btw. I had never even seen skydiving on TV or movies and knew very little about it at all, so it was pretty shocking, especially since I am the type of person who loves researching things to death. As Nike says, sometimes, you have to JUST DO IT. That is the only way that you will know what something is like. It's like the difference between masturbation and real sex with another human being. Both can be great, but who would ever prefer anything other than the real thing.

Evelyn ~ Even though you are older than me, I feel like you are younger/more naive because you are so shy and insecure, especially about your flying. Just remember to not feel badly about saying "no" to anything that you don't feel comfortable with (in the sky and on the ground), but be sure to be open to new, fun experiences. Also, please don't feel so insecure about your flying because everyone progresses at different speeds. At boogies, many times it's just about having fun and flying silly (but safe) jumps with friends, anyway. No need to feel such pressure to peform. I know that you feel stessed with performance anxiety around us RW freaks out here in SoCal, sometimes. Just be more confident! No worries, ok? I'm sure if you stick with someone like Jeannie, she will look after you and make sure that you have a wonderful time! Good luck with all, sweetie! You will have a fabulous time, I'm sure. Miss ya lots!

Is there anyone, who has yet to make an actual skydive, but who have a done a considerable amount of tunnel time? I know that some of the guys who work in the tunnel have first become proficient in the tunnel, then in the sky; the complete opposite of what most skydivers do. Yet, a few of them are true tunnel rats, and they don't seem to have the same desires as most skydivers to actually fly in the sky as opposed to flying in the tunnel. Is there anyone out there who prefers flying in the tunnel, more than skydiving? Do people who can fly in the tunnel and not yet in the sky, consider themselves a whuffo? Why not just make a skydive and see what they are missing out on? Imho, there absolutely NO real substitute for the real thing...well, unless you make jumps AND train with tunnel time. Yet, as much as I greatly enjoy flying in the tunnel from time to time to work on my skydiving skills, I LOVE the high from actual FLYING IN THE SKY. No amount of tunnel time could ever be the same as skydiving. Personally, I currently have much more tunnel time (approx. 5 hours thus far) as opposed to jumps (188). I went into the tunnel for the first time, when I had 107 jumps and had already been flying the mantis, since jump 32, when it was taught to me. This coming new year, I hope to do MANY MORE SKYDIVES vs. tunnel time. What do you all think? There is nothing like kissing the sky, right?

COMPLETELY AGREED, LIZ! (See my post above.)

I love Sparky.

That's SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

OK, now that's insane. You are tiny. I am small, too, except for my bustline. I don't want to get a top that is loose and long in some areas, yet ok around my bustline. That is why I prefer things that are cut well for women. If the fit is an issue, I will not buy it. I am going to REI, tonight. I will report back what I think of it.

I'm no going to Eloy. Actually, I haven't really been skydiving at all (maybe 5 jumps max & only 15 minutes of tunnel) since Memorial Day Boogie 7 months ago. (A few days later, I broke my ankle.) I have had other health issues (including a recent surgery), so I'm not flying until maybe late Jan/February. I will have to wait to experiment with Atmonauti. Probably not...it was a while ago, and a slow weekday, when there were no RW people at all. A FF LO was helping those of us who were there, expert FFers (with 1000's of skydives +) and myself with no FF experience and 70 jumps...hehe. He was really encouraging, though, when he was flying with me, and he greatly complimented my hybrid and tracking dives. I don't think that he LOs there anymore, and I am unsure if he was showing me this or not. I was/am newbie. Are you sure? I didn't learn headdown at all in the FF tunnel camp last winter. I had NO FF experience going into the FF tunnel camp, but I got at most 1.5 hrs. of tunnel time from my camp. During that time, I learned to backfly (easy for me and sooo much fun), to sit, to take grips, to do L & R turns, to do flips and to do forward/ backward/sideways/up/down movement... NOT that I was amazingly good at any of that stuff, except for the back flying. I have not freeflown at all since. Anyway, I was wondering how on earth the sitflying translates to Atmonauti? That just doesn't make any sense to me. Please explain further. Also, if this is truly so much like headdown, then I cannot try this, yet. My rig is not suitable on my body at all (too big everywhere, loose leg straps even with bungy, huge lateral strap, etc, which causes it to move around easily) for FFing. If this is something that is not recommended because of my rig, then I will wait until I have a proper rig. I sure hope so because then I would become MUCH more interested in FF. This is all so exciting for the sport! Until that gets much more prevalent, I will probably continue with mostly with RW 4-way, which with I am sooo in love. However, I am VERY interested in exploring more areas in unique ways of body flight!

You're a riot, cutie...heehee. SOUNDS GREAT...as long as we can get some 4-way, as well as freeflying in there! "MADNESS" indeed...bwahahahaha!!!

You LOVED it.

Oh no, the Pixie is ill! It's probably from all the hard work and stress involved in making sure Eloy's holiday boogie is A+++, which it most definitely will be! Betsy, please feel better soon, and make those DZ.commers' dreams come true by sharing a little dance in the sky with them. (((((((((((((((((((((HUGS & FEEL BETTER VIBES)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Of course you have a harem, Sunny! (Or, was that a stalker? *shrug*) Mmmm...twirly cookies...drool. Dammit, what was I thinking? I should have sent some to MYSELF, too!!! Chris ~ You're so awesome!!! Thank you for just being a wonderful friend whom I really, really look forward to meeting, someday. Hopefully, we will even jump together at some point.

Oh...I sooo want to fly someday with the beautiful, flying ballerina "Pocket Paige", too.

You are so cute, Sunny! I love ya so much, girl! Missed your Sunshine love, yesterday. Val~ He is yummy, I know. I promise to introduce him to you soon. He also OKed you and I having HOT SEX. Wait till he finds out that you, me, Sunny, him and Sunny's harem are all getting married when he returns from Iraq! YAY!

What exactly does the "just checkin" test involve? Why do you want to "check", too, sweetie? Chris is a good friend with whom I share some chats with sometimes, just like with you or Val. I think that he meant his post in the most respectful and flattering way possible.

Because he's not green! Well, no comment on HH and horniness, but I like to think that he is red because not only is he COOL...he is also HOT. Anyone who has met him knows what I mean.

Oh, how very, very sad! May Catherine rest in peace. My prayer go out to all her loved ones, friends and family.

Just have heard about how cold it can be so want to be prepared. Want to get in as many jumps as I can, not sitting out cuz I'm too cold to jump. Evelyn, please don't be so worried. It probably will not be as cold as last year was, but if it is, then I suggest to definitely wear the neck warmer, full-face, gloves, warmest socks and layer up well! Last year, I had on between 2-4 very warm layers under my jumpsuit (including my cold weather rash guard), but after I wore the 4-layers+ suit...I realized that I really only usually needed two warmest layers + jumpsuit on most jumps. Flying is what kept me warm. If you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, then you will be warm from all the fast moving and concentration. I honestly (swear) was colder when on the ground doing nothing if I was in between jumps, than when I was in freefall. The only hard parts are being cold under canopy and sometimes on the plane depending on where I am sitting (by the door). Please don't let the fear of being cold stop you from jumping. It's honestly not so bad once you begin jumping regularly. If you stop or sit around too much in between jumps, then you will get lazy and feel cold. Remember, it's mental, baby! Keep a positive attitude & you'll be fine!

I've met Natasha while taking my first Airspeed camp late last fall/early winter. She had about 250-300 jumps at the time. When the Airspeed camp was beginning, she had already been in the tunnel for a full week geting personal coaching every day/all day. Plus, she was staying on to take yet another Airspeed camp, as well. (She had taken many Airspeed camps prior to that.) Even back then, she had so many tunnel hours and coached skydives that one or two other tunnel camp participants seemed almost envious about her ability to have such an accelerated skydiving progression due to her finances. My thoughts are that no matter how you look at it, Natasha is very dedicated to becoming an amazing 4-way skydiver through not only spending the $$$$, but also through time, dedication, hard-work, focus and drive. All the money in the world cannot give those qualities to a person. Personally, I think that she is a lovely person, and I hope that she kicks ass. Greatly looking forward to watching all the new teams in '05! Edited for typo.

Awww...Daizey is so cute! I still think Tallguy's picture of Girlfalldown next to him and Bigben is even funnier, though. Daizey should stand next to, them next! LOL! Amazon~ We so love those Amazon style hugs, Jeannie. BRING IT ON!!! You mean like this? (See pic.) Btw, sorry for the poor quality of the scanned pic. (The flash didn't go off (remember?), and it was taken after sunset load. I tried to lighten it in the 2nd one.) Anyhoo, now I know what awaits me from you in Vegas! Woohoo...headdown the hard way!

WHAT??? I hoping for brand names and size and stuff. This doesn't help me. My hands are REALLY small with longer, yet more narrow fingers and thinner wrists than children's. (I am very small-boned.) I am thinking of just buying small children gloves and maybe cutting the fingertips off, but I need more ideas. I will look into the "driving ones", too. P.S. I never wear gloves. Gloves not fitting well are why I landed poorly and hurt my ankle.

You can't be 5'4" look how small you look in this photo. You know what's funny, Tallguy? I was just thinking of that very picture. OMG...

I HATE that, too! Also, rude women who toss their long hair right in your face. WTH? Questions for all the small people: What kind of gloves do you all wear? What about rigs? Any special features that make the rigs fit better besides just the custom measurements? What about small goggles? Any favorites or preferences?

For that comment alone, if it's even possible to like you anymore than I already did, I do! Lmao..."She had the hands of a man!"

Now that's a beautiful dog!