Keys

If you can still think and react while your in a state of fear, I think you should keep trying. Not only will you accomplish a goal of finishing but the fear will make you a stronger person. Plus, SKYDIVING ROCKS! There was a girl at our DZ who did level 4 - 11 times. She didn't give up. She passed, graduated and now is a descent diver. Her nickname of course is 4.

I agree with Katz on that, but I did a Tandem before starting AFF. I LOVED THE FREEFALL! I didn't even want to do my hop n pop Warp jump. A year ago I would have said "GO AFF!", but after watching students do real crazy things under canopy it's probably safer to learn to work the canopy first. I like this new USPA program AFP or something.

I was you. I started the weekend before Quincy, then weather, then the plane broke. Had to repeat level 4 once. Was told the same thing. RELAX. I bombed out, did my PRCP's then shook my hands and arms to make sure I was relaxed. The JM saw this too and took it as me getting more relaxed. I was still a spaz but I managed to pass.

Please define "adult" playground, because my imagination is running wild.

I've got 150 jumps, started AFF last August. I don't get the "fear" rush when I'm in the door anymore. But I am still flying high an hour after landing. I think I find other things give me more of a rush, enhance it. I'm lacing my skydiving with good big ways, hitting a lot of points, that half a second where I actuall have the headown. And there is always more to learn and experience. God, it's to early in the week for me to be getting excited again.

That's funny this came up. I got 6 in on Saturday, all RW and at the end of the day someone asked me to manifest again and I said..... (sit down)...... "I can't". I was exhausted. I didn't even want to walk out to the plane. I workout everyday and am in good shape, but I was gone. I didn't even stick around and slam a few. Instead I slept 9 hours, got up and made 4 more on Sunday. For those of us in the north it might be the heat and sun too.

I will probably get slammed for saying this... but some people just shouldn't skydive. case in point, I watched a guy slam into the ground under a downplane. The lines were clear for a cutaway, the radio on his harness was telling him "pull the yellow handle", and he froze. I don't think it's safe for people who have difficulty responding under pressure to be jumping out of airplanes. Get over the pressure problem doing something safer, then come out to the DZ. Edited by keys on 5/21/01 02:21 PM.

This "work" thing sounds interesting. What is this "work" you speak of?

Too Funny! Kids grow up so fast anyway. I was out to dinner with my step daughter (age 6) and a friend (age 7) of hers. Blah Blah Blah the friend pissed her off, saw how upset she was then turned and said, "aw shit!". I was really shocked to hear it from a 7 year old but lets face it, at school all day they probably swear out on the playground. The best we can hope for is to teach our kids to refrain from it when they should. And yes, my daughter is a DZ kid and she knows all the lingo.

Man, that sounds like a real trip. 140 in and no cutaway yet. We had water training when I was a student, and I'm never anywhere near any water. I think they should have you do a cutaway before you get off student status. I like to think I can do it but you never REALLY know until you have to. What alt did you pull your main?

140 Jumps on it and I'm not really sure what color the reserve is. I'm assuming my rigger didn't shove some towels in there and sell the reserve. But he hasn't made eye contact with me recently. Hmmmmm.

I'm with MountainMan on this one. That sounds really odd. Uhhhh...... GO!

Uhhhmmmm.... Arch?

What the #@%$ are you people doing?!?!?!? We are spending out day here so we don't have to be reminded that we have work to do! @#$%, here comes my bos....

Hey Joolee, I'm more or less new too. At least thats what my tag says. I've been a little more active since the season is back in full swing and it's hard to actually do any work. CyberSkyDive and I have something in common, my drinking club has a skydiving problem too.

No, I'm up jump in WI but we lease the plane from Morris and I think it's from the guy who owns Skydive Illinois. I'm not totally sure, I've only been to Chicagoland and Skydive Chicago.

Ya Hey Der up in Canada, Does that price include gear rental, eahhhh?

It really depends on the plane. Turbine is going to cost more to get you up but at least your not going to be crammed into a 182 for 30 minutes. The single engine planes are still relatively inexpensive to fly. We lease a King Air (which costs us more than owning). We own a 182, if your willing to take the time it will take you to 12G for $13.

God no, don't start that again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun Exits: Get out on the strut backwards, close your eyes and let go. Also if you have a cool pilot, do a couple Zero-G exits, but be sure to push hard on exit and spin around so you can see the plane (very cool). Get a partner and start doing 2 ways. You'll be surprised at how fast you'll improve. I worked with an experienced RW coach then started jumping with people off student status. You develop real quick chasing people around the sky. Freeflying is cool but be careful and remember to flatten out for a while before you pull.

Just out of curiosity, and to avoid doing any work: What are you guys paying for a lift? We're $18USD for 13,000 (but we usually get 14,000).

Cloud9: OK, I'll suffer that last punch and agree to disagree. But don't blame me if I sneak up behind you and pull your pilot chute at 12000!

Lets keep this in perspective. The US encouraged Russia to export maintaing consistant supply of oil. There was no lowering of crude supply or raising of price per barrel by OPEC. And the Clinton stepped in mid summer and asked OPEC to increase supply, which they did. I doubt we'll see Bush do the same, take a look at where his money is invested. The Oil companies are recording record profits. That is annoying as it is. But most people don't realize that Environmental standards that they claim are causing the increase in price are not even in effect, further more the standards were initiated by the industry. Also keep in mind that there is accounting process allowing you to use current amortization for future expenses. The are already expensing refining processes that they aren't even using yet. And gee wiz, they still manage to record 40+% increases in profit. The federal gas tax is one of the most equitable taxes we have. It is used to pay for our crappy roads. The more you drive on them the more gas you need. So people who use the roads more pay more. Seems fair to me. My understanding is that in the UK they don't segregate tax revenue, so there you might be paying for your local VD clinic when you fill the tank. Of course you could link that by suggesting that more people get VD in the back of cars than in the bed........ Thanks. I feel better.

I've been trying to get my wife to let me get a cheap Honda Rebel or something like that. What do those things get per gallon. I might just be able to use this to get it. My Jeep is avg's about 18mpg. In Chicago prices are up to $2.10 for the cheap stuff.

Oh yeah, in terms of the original question. My parents live in Florida and next time I visit I plan on dragging my father out for a Tandem. I think it would be cool to fly up to him.