AFFI

Would you mind clearing the confusion up and spelling that out for us? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I am not easily upset or offended, and since I understand you are probably frustrated and do not know what you are talking about there is not need for me to get upset. But I know a lot of awfully good instructors that do teach students, and work very hard at being the best solo freefall instructors they can be and give years of their lives dedicated to that aspect of the sport. Just because you have had an experience in your small corner of the world there is no need to make such degrading generalizations because there are some very good people that do their best because they do give a damn about teaching students and the future of this sport... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I do not understand your question either... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

There is a program called SnagIt5 that you can use to capture avi's that are not downlodable - Google it it is a free app... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

BUT I WANT IT NNOOWWWW!

"Elaina (Arizona Airspeed) and Chuck are the "stars"" Chuck Norris???

What make an experienced skydiver? One who is proficient at: Emergency procedures, and all that that implies. Canopy piloting, and all that that implies (like making a radical change in direction at or below 200’ SAFELY in order to avoid an obstacle). Flying in various freefall orientations, and all that that implies. Willing to ask for advice and willing to learn more, and all that that implies. Willing to recognize and admit that they do not have it all figured out (make a mistake), and all that that implies. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Negative. But you should do everything you can to prevent that accident. What I am saying is you need to take all possible precautions to ensure the situation from happening. The case of the kid running out onto the field obviously could not be planned for. The other posts saying they don't even try to catch the flag because of the heavy weight seem to me to be simply poor planning. I understand the need for the weight on a flag, but the planners really need to ask, "Do we really need a flag so big that it HAS TO HIT THE GROUND?" That just seems to me to be disrespectful to put the want before the need to show proper respect. Hell, I have a flag on the back of my bike. I could get in a wreck, dump the bike or whatever, but I am taking every precaution I can to fly that flag with the respect it deserves. When the flag gets too dirty from road gunk, I wash it. When it starts getting frayed, I replace it and strip and burn the old one as it should be. Is everyone going to show the flag the respect it deserves? No. Am I, and many others, going to be vocal about disrespect to the flag. HELL YES!!! Great post... Is burning a flag that touched the ground the way to go? Sould a burning ceremony be held at demos whenever the flag makes contact with the ground? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Until I took a course with Jay Stokes, I didn't think course directors taught at all. Their function has usually been to test, not teach. Having Jay help me get ready for the tests was a pleasant surprise. Blues, Dave Yup, Jay is awesome... I have not taken a course with him yet, but he gives them often at Skydive Spaceland and I watch him very closely. Another reason to take your course at www.skydivespaceland.com... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Thanks for the reminder; I know/knew exactly how that feels. Even though these spinal tumors and surgeries have affected my ability to jump much, and that I went from a broke skydiver to a really poor underprivileged broke skydiver because of the medical issues, I am going to make it a point to go to a newbie and just ask them out of the blue to go make a fun jump with me. It would mean a lot to them, more than I realize. Even if someone is a top notch natural, I really consider 200 jumps still a beginner, still inexperienced and I felt that way back when I had 200. But someone who is struggling to get on loads with others because of their low jump numbers, I am going to target one of those from now on every time I am healthy to make some jumps and go make a sport jump with them. Even if they are a spoiled whinny individual, because it really would mean a lot to them, build their confidence and give them practice jumping with others. I really do remember how much it sucked finding it hard to get on a formation with others because I had low jump numbers – but I often times forget so thank you for the reminder… Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Do you like puppies, sushi and walks on the beach???

these days, it seem cheaper to buy 2 desktops then 1 laptop... One for home, one for the DZ I just bought a 3.2, Gig of ram. 256 meg G-force, DVD burner 400 gig HD for $500! Getting unreasonably inexpensive... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I wish I could afford to do it more. I always feel bad when someone has to cover my slot for coaching, but hey, I am poor as hell... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

With you on that one - It can be more rewarding to organize a small way with very inexperienced skydivers, getting no points and doing it again making a small improvement rather than sticking with those who have "proven" themselves and making million point skydives. To me, there is nothing better than helping others learn… Jeezzz, sounds like Paris Hilton started this one... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Perhaps it could be stated with a high level of accuracy that a recognizable percentage of posts in these forums fit into that category? I have been surprised at how many dissertations in these forums can be identified as whiny self-centered and spoiled individuals wanting their own way and crying about how they are not getting it bleed onto the overall scheme of things. There are so many variables involved the people who are doing the whining do not take into consideration simply because they are not getting the car they wanted for their 16th birthday... For crying out loud! Which is what everyone seems to be doing… Waaahhhhhh ….. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

But Walt, you are a big name... And you are right, (most) boogie-goers want to have fun. Lots of beer (or you fill in you choice of mood enhansers), good times and good friends, nekkid bodies in the pool/pond, a boozeluge or two and hardcore hangovers. Big-ways are just a bunch of small ways put together anyway right? But what the hell do I know? My favorite kind of dive is a two way, me and a student on a first release dive, second favorite is anything involving a bunch of fellow skydivers (friends) just out to have fun and I have never once traveled to a boogie to jump with a specific individual, but to have fun. All that organizing is for them serious experienced skydivers wanting to strut their stuff on jump # 201... Someone throwing a fit cuz they couldent get on a load with so and so is just whinning cuz dey didnt get their way, they better never go to a guitar clinic with Yngwie, they will just be dissapointed. Seems rampant in skydiving these days... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

[qoute]I've been organized more than a few times by the advertised organizer[/qoute] So the organizers are spending their “most of the times” jumping with you and no other inexperienced jumpers? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Disagreeing is cool, very… So you are telling me that of all the 8 candidates that took the course when I did, all of us are equal to one another in terms of how well we teach? How well we communicate with students? How well we take care of our duties around the workplace? And that the only reason I am at the level of quality as an instructor that I am is due to the way that Don conducted his AFFCC? Are you saying that if I had taken the course with someone other than Don Y (don’t get much more dark age than him with a huge ego who loved making $$) that I would be a better (or worse) instructor? So I would be a better instructor today had Jay Stokes been my course director? I am left to wallow in the throws of mediocrity because I got stuck with Don??? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Is the question - who you take the course with or which is a good DZ in which to take the course? It does not really matter who conducts the course that you EARN your rating from. Don Yahrling taught the course I took, some liked him, some did not but it was not who gives the course that makes a really good instructor, it is the person acquiring the rating. If you endeavor to be the very best instructor you can possibly be and work hard at it, you will be a good instructor. And it does not matter if the best course director in the history of the universe conducts the course you take, that person will not make you a good instructor, only you can do that… So if you are looking for a good DZ to take the course at, I stand by my previous recommendation (www.skydivespaceland.com)because they have well maintained planes, very good gear and 130 acre landing area surrounded by fields for off landings. If you are looking for someone to make you a good instructor, then you do not have to travel farther than the nearest mirror… - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

So if that person is on every load, you are not going to jump? I understand your frustration, (believe me you are not alone), but there will always be others who do not live up to and meet certain expectations. There will always be others who do not track, fly and land their canopy in manners that are different than the standards you set for yourself. There are all kinds of skydivers at varying experience levels and intellectual levels and you can either choose to live along side of them, or decide that skydiving is not safe enough for you because of all the individuals out there who are not as aware and willing to follow rules as you who are and let it irritate you until it drives you away from the sport. The longer you stay in the sport, the more you will realize that most do not stay for long, most fizzle out for whatever reason and few make it to the 10+ year mark, so be patient, see how you feel about it 10 years from now… Really, all you can do is keep your side of the street clean and lead by example (it is infectious), rise above the mindsets that you are experiencing distaste for. And remember, as you pointed out, we all make mistakes, and sometimes we learn for them quickly, sometimes not and the practices some think are acceptable, are not to others. So there is no real need to condemn those who “do not get it” in your perspective… - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

That is funny, I am terrified of horses! Only time I want to be near one is when it is on my plate, medium rare... Poor lady, she is probably still in therapy...

Let’s not forget this guy tried to kill Spottswoode and destroyed on of the countries greatest treasures, Mt. Rushmore! How he was able to actually detonate all those explosives while gobbling down ketchup-slathered hotdogs with both hands proves what a total pig he is. The amazing part is he was somehow able to survive that horrendous explosion to make another one of his decietful movies! Must has been all his blubber that shielded him from the blast! He should be on the FBI’s most wanted list for that act of terrorism! I always wanted to see Mt. Rushmore and now thanks to that pig, I will never be able to go see it, much less take my children one day… Just terrible…

This guy I am talking about had 150 ripcord jumps, de-arched, when ape shit when let go, when he deployed, held the PC, looked over his shoulder and thinking he has a total, fired his reserve! After saddling in under his reserve, proceeded to stow the PC in his jumpsuit as if it were a ripcord, and landed without further incident. He was trained really well, just a testament to how old muscle memory is difficult to overwrite. Yes, very exciting video… - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

what is jumping smike??? Its a generic, non-name-brand, less expensive, version of smoke. Ahhh, AKA flour...

Wax On - Wax Off...