flyinchicken

So much for sympathy! Don't you know that hockey means winter? Ice, cold, freezing, no skydiving........ "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

Arrrrrrrrrrggg was expecting some sweet words of encouragement! Wait till you jump and it's -30 at altitude! Then, then Karri you will know! "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

Congrats! Nothing like a new baby. "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

Today was the day! Sadly, our drop zone's rented Twin Otter went back to the US. A few of us drove the 1hr 1/2 to the DZ in order to say good-bye, and were hoping for one last jump as she was leaving. Sadly, weather was coming in and we had to get home, so we didn't even get the chance to say good -bye. Everyone was trying to put on a good face but there are many sad hearts in southern Ontario today. Gone are the days of nekked skydives, big-ways, quick trips to altitude and 14000 ft drops. Now there is nothing but a c-182 that takes 25 mins to get to 10500ft, and if someone farts, you can't open the door! Cold weather, less jumps, with less people on them. Do I need to add, SNOW. I'm already getting itchy, and dreaming of running away south(I hate my job right now). Pretty soon I'll be shaking, chewing on things and putting on my rig and running up to the 28th floor. Some words of encouragement would be good right now. The winter is just beginning, I have 4 months to go b4 jumping is not a frost bite hazard! I will be taking a quick trip to Cali in Jan and then to Morocco for a week after that. However, there is nothing like a twin otter and blue skies 1 1/2 hrs away from your home. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

1- Are DZs there going to be happy doing a L4 with someone they've never seen before? 2- Should I treat it merely as logged flight time - and then come back to do l4 again at home base? 3- if yes to 1 and 2, who to go to?*** Your best bet is to talk to the S&TA at your home DZ. Ask them to make a lil phone call to the DZ you will be visiting. More than likely between them they will come up with a solution for you which will keep everyone informed and SAFE. I was training here in Canada on static line, went for a trip to Cali and did L1 there after 3 static line jumps. When I got back to my home DZ they let me skip one static line jump, I lost a lil money but got to stay current with my jumping and was a lil further ahead when I returned home. "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

Well here's one for ya..... When I went to Minisotta, I jumped at skydive Twin Cities. It's in Wisconsin, not even the same state as the Twin Cities. So I believe it's correct to assume the DZ's just use the name of the largest city closest to them that they will be drawing their clientelle from. "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

I began my skydiving training at STI. I found the staff at first very helpful and informative, however after I progressed past my first 5 jumps it was very difficult to find an instructor with the time to help out a new skydiver. In 19 jumps I experienced a strange thing where my spring loaded pilot chute went over the front of my canopy and dragged behind my main. This was very confusing and terrifying to me. The owner of the DZ, when aproached by me on this subject, informed me that he would check out the gear. I jumped the gear again after it was "checked" and encountered the same problem. This time I cut it away as it was snagged on my steering lines. The DZ owner sent me looking in a hay feild for 6 hrs in the sun for the free bag and afterwards informed me I owed him $300(can) for it as it was lost. I almost gave up skydiving, however this weekend will be doing my 100th jump naked! There are other DZ's in Ontario that train very frightened baby skydivers to overcome thier fear of slight mals in their canopies, as well as provide them with the proper size canopy for thier body weight.

Good luck! I could only dream of 2 a day!!!! Darn dayjob gets in the way(think it's time to get rid of that pain in the butt) Wait, then I won't have money for jumps arrrrrrrrghh! #%^$#@^@ I neeeeed more air! (Whatch out this be u b4 long) "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

woooooooo hoooooooooo! Congrats! Got my first rig in Sept and she is in having a repack right now! I feel sooooo lonely! I miss her! Nothing like having your own baby! "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

Well! I am not in Cali(I wish)! However, there are a few things I can tell you about Elsinore, after spending a week and a half there. The owner Carl, is a pretty cool cat indeed, and from what I gathered(dun quote me on this), is looking for another pilot. Of the 6 DZ's I have visited in my short lil career, Elsinor was the most beautiful, and friendly of em all(my DZ being number one hehe)! If you are anywhere near Fallbrooke, I know a few peeps who could give you a lift. A few friends keep their planes at the Elsinor airport and are always willing to help out a fellow pilot. "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

Thanx skymama! That was a very sobering article to read, my heart goes out to Dave an his friend. I will not be doing any freefly work outside of my solo jumps for a very long time. I plan to make sure that I am more than proficeint b4 attempting anything of the sort, as that incedent shows, even experiance can't assure safety, but I am sure it is a very good tool to have. "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

hmmmmmmm got this pic at a CANADIAN dz! "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman

Well! I finally made it! After two years of struggling with money and finding just the right Dz, I am welcoming the spring of 2003! With a total of 68 jumps, my own gear an an A(soon to be B) license! Well my sit is coming along REALLY well thnx to the help of Chris at Esinore this past March! Last Sun I did my FIRST stable head down which I held for 3000 ft! I am new to these forums, and hope I am not asking a repeatedly asked question but..........ANY and ALL advice on headown would be welcome at this time! "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman