Joellercoaster

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Everything posted by Joellercoaster

  1. Joellercoaster
    I've seen a few now. So far I've never personally seen an AFF program graduate someone who was dangerous, though - for some people it's a mighty struggle but we're always happy when they get there! Which isn't to say some people don't become dangerous after they get their licenses -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  2. Joellercoaster
    Much. One thing that might not seem obvious to you is that depending on the wind, your pattern needs to move. To consistently land in the same place, you need to start in different places - sometimes very different. When you say, "I'm still only at 800 instead of the desired 600", what you should hear is, "I started my downwind leg too far downwind". Your downwind leg will be different lengths depending on how much the wind is pushing you! So where you start needs to move. This can take a while to work out. Stick with it though, you'll get there. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  3. Joellercoaster
    I didn't know that. Which countries? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  4. Joellercoaster
    [edit: removed a bunch of Arguing On The Internet] -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  5. Joellercoaster
    I was gonna make a smartass comment about the fossil record suggesting the dinosaurs dying out about 65 million years before the cavemen were running from anything, but then I remembered: fossils schmossils, Twardo was there. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  6. Joellercoaster
    That's pretty cool :) A few years ago, I was on a load that got called back down due to changing weather. It was too heavy to land on the runway, so they asked for volunteers to do hop and pops - so a handful of us did. After we landed, the girl who landed next to me told me she'd volunteered straight away because she had never landed in a plane in her life, and the whole idea freaked her out! I think she had a few hundred jumps at the time. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  7. Joellercoaster
    Maybe no firm rules, but a full-face is a good way of limiting your field of view (even the new fishbowl-y ones like the G3 and Phantom do this to some extent). There is a contraction of awareness and attention that goes with it, a tendency to see only what is straight in front of you. New jumpers have a lot of new stuff to think about, and the more you can see even out of the corner of your eye, the less you are likely to be distracted by any one thing. Full faces are great for keeping your pretty face unbruised, especially when you start doing 4-way and tunnel, but there is a tradeoff! I think the wind in your face, even if you don't like it, is not a good reason to make that tradeoff, especially for the first 50 or even 100 jumps. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  8. Joellercoaster
    The systems diverge a bit between the UK and US at this point, and possibly even between dropzones. Here in the UK, the ten jumps after completing the 8 AFF levels are 'consolidation' jumps, generally solos, and charged at something closer to the 'experienced jumper' rate (although you still need instructor supervision, you need less of it). During this time you can be working on skills, on the canopy requirements for your A license or just enjoying being in the air on your own - there are suggestions but you are on your own. Coach jumps (here) are for post-A-license jumpers who are working on their skills for FS1 or FF1 or whatever. Coach jumps are, again, with another person and require two tickets, so they're generally more expensive. Is that what you were after? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  9. Joellercoaster
    Just to add one thing, AFF 8 is not qualified, you are still a student at this point, just one who is trusted to jump and learn without an instructor in freefall next to you (there still has to be one in the plane with you though). Don't get me wrong, it's an achievement (equivalent to making it to freefall in RAPS), but you're square in the middle of your A license training at this point, rather than at the end! Anyway, it sounds like you're in the UK. You have loads of options available to you and can't really go wrong... good luck, you're going to have a blast! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  10. Joellercoaster
    Yeah, you can tell by the way he says 'fall' when he means 'autumn' -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  11. Joellercoaster
    The costs only get worse, though the rewards do get better. On the upside... uh... tents are nice? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  12. Joellercoaster
    For some. I couldn't care less if everybody and their granny skydives, as long as I get to keep doing it. I don't do it because it's dangerous. I sure as hell don't do it because it makes me some kind of elite. I do it because it's difficult, and beautiful, and because the people I love do it with me. I voted 'perfectly safe', so they could keep doing it with me until we all die of old age. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  13. Joellercoaster
    Great writeup! This has been a while coming, I'm glad you eventually made it - congratulations on your A, now hopefully the summer gets a bit better. I look forward to jumping with you at some point -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  14. Joellercoaster
    FYFIFYFY -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  15. Joellercoaster
    Heh. If it helps anyone, I borrowed one for a weekend of maybe ten jumps a while ago, a 150 loaded at about 1.5. It opened beautifully, the best thing about it. I thought it was an OK canopy, reliable and lacking in surprises. And you just had to look at it sternly to get it into the bag - utterly hassle-free. Downside: not great glide ratio, kind of stodgy on the toggles. But if the price is right..? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  16. Joellercoaster
    Like a lot of negative ideas in skydiving, old dropzone reviews die hard. But they're not necessarily still relevant. I've been hearing 'oh Headcorn sucks' since I started jumping. It's not local to me so I haven't been there much, but every time I've had cause to go I've had a great time. It certainly has its own vibe, but so do lots of places. There are quite a few Headcorn locals who are also regulars at the London Skydivers meetups, and they're a really nice lot. Speaking of London Skydivers - last Thursday of every month at the Montagu Pyke on Charing Cross Road, newbies very welcome - people from lots of places there who will be only too eager to buy you a drink and try and persuade you that their dropzone is where you should train (See also Facebook group of same name.) -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  17. Joellercoaster
    I suspect that's the first time the Bene Gesserit Litany has been quoted on dz.com, but it shouldn't be the last. Also this: http://www.goats.com/archive/990517.html -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  18. Joellercoaster
    +1 on getting the right tool for the job. The leg grippers will also catch air and be a massive hassle sit-flying (this is the voice of comical experience) -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  19. Joellercoaster
    No. But someone might introduce you to RSS -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  20. Joellercoaster
    You can see for a split second that he does indeed launch from two hands on the strut - just freaks out and lunges for his hackey straight away afterwards. OP: AFF or SL, doesn't really matter: if you do this on your clear and pull, then your opening will suck -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  21. Joellercoaster
    Stretching and loosening up for landing is not a bad idea! But I reckon you'd be better off warming up really well before you get in the plane... doing things other than flying the canopy while you're flying the canopy, maybe not so much to start with
  22. Joellercoaster
    If you're having trouble jumping a lot, then multiple rigs is definitely pointless. Sell the one you like the least. If the goal is the most important thing, and the goal really is becoming an awesome freeflier, then the very best use for your money is tunnel time, and a lot of it. You could conceivably take a year or two away from skydiving, pour your effort into becoming a tunnel badass, and return to the sky when your life is more amenable to jumping? Of course, there is the problem with this plan: the sky is a powerful drug, and hard to give up. But you sound like you're willing to consider it, at least for a while? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  23. Joellercoaster
    I disagree a tiny bit, at least with the waste part. I wouldn't pay money for it either, but it might be worth the cost of a reline and a new slider to get it airborne for someone, if it's what's available. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  24. Joellercoaster
    It could just be me, but curly Q seems to have gone out of fashion. Are people just finding it too much hassle? Or am I just not watching enough 4-way the last couple of years? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  25. Joellercoaster
    In what way? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?