AFFI

Guess I am excluded from the "we are all" as I have read SIM's cover to cover, even back when it was in a blue 3 ring binder, and no full color pictures like the snazzy one we have today. In the past I have been referred to as" "SIM Thumper". The way I look at it, something as serious a commitment as skydiving merits study, not just the experience gained 60 seconds at a time. For the most part though, I am lazy... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Aint that the truth!

That is what it would seem like to me, I dont see what all the fuss is about. One of the biggest reasons for failure I have read about here is not tracking properly and tracking is ultra important before you can advance in skydiving in any discipline, here in the states tracking is one of the important requirements befroe getting an A Liscense. A 4 point 4 way with a proper track before deployment sounds like a simple and very basic requirement to me. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Not for editing tandem videos - it is too time comsuming, you will need to go linear editing using a mixer board. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Exit Separation Revisited Posted Wed May 10 2006 By Bill von Novak Bill goes into detail about the 45degree thing... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=628

Ummmm, is that a good thing or a bad thing? I thoughts Mormons were Christians...

I swore I would never swoop either, then one day (years ago) I screwed up during an off landing and found myself in a very bad situation - power lines to the front, and each side and I had no idea what a braked turn was yet and I was getting low so I made the decision to do a 180 and cranked a toggle down - To see nothing but ground coming up at me was as exhilarating as freefall and the feeling when the canopy leveled off as my feet skimmed just inches above the grass felt incredibly wonderful! Definitely felt as good as freefall! I could have easily died or been severely injured that day, but the timing of the hook was perfect (lucky) for swooping, the surf was up and the adrenalin tasted so good - I had to have more! The DZO took me under his wing over the next 500+ jumps and taught me how to better fly my parachute; he made me take my time and regulated my downsizing - Today I am no "super swooper" but I can get nice ones that are long for me anyway, this is a huge portion of satisfaction I get from the whole of skydiving, it feels really really GOOD... That being said, I do not recommend ANYONE take up high performance landings unless you get proper training, take your time and fully accept the added risk. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

It's gotta be that I don't know you yet and that I am simply reading you wrong...literary sarcasm or just being obtuse? If there is one thing I almost never am, its obtuse. If I had to guess, it was written in Don's blood but since he is dead I probably cannot say that but since he and I were friends he probably wouldent mind - so here goes, no wait, I already did it... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Human blood? Whose?

100 bucks to shoot the video - dont have to edit or pack and comes with a comp back rub while the DZO gets the camera flyers packed up... No wait, I am dreaming... Is the Video forum a better place for this posting?

How about the SIM on Audio Book fer all dem lazy bastids out dere? Call Simon and Schuster Huked un phunix rully wurked fer me!

AND if you use the digital version (PDF) there is a search so you can find your answers easily, probably as easy if not easier than making a post here and faster than waiting for a correct reply while everyone gets their groove on...

What's a SIM? When I first reat the Subject: RTFM I did'nt get it, now I have a sore tummy from laughing (very clever), still better than situps...

At a safe altitude? Sounds like fun to mix stalling with choppy wind conditions. The only time turbulence is an issue for me is close to the ground - up high I have fun with it. It's like water skiing and skipping across the boats wake... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Bill, is that en educated reply? Cuz I was just about to make the same points - we have an 18 jump program that does include a sit exit for exactly the uneducated response you gave... Maybe I am just jealous of the "freeflyers" since I am just a meager instructor who only freeflys occasionally. I'm not in a bad mood, just tired of the ...

Bill is uneducated in his answers concerning skydiving? Ummmmmm, ok...

Makes sense to me - Freeflyers deploy on their heads right? Who needs to deploy on your belly when you have a “freefly” rig (pretty soon they will have their own “freefly” canopy) and a “freefly” suit and get all the babes cuz they are the cream that rises to the top – right? After cutting away freeflyers don’t arch away from a cutaway, no need to if you’re a freeflyer - they just go back into a sit and deploy the reserve from a sit, or maybe carving around thier freebag, right? Freeflyers never ever need to associate (in the air) with other skydivers right? Well of course except on a hybrid, and even then the really accomplished freeflyers don’t need to fly on their bellies at all right? I mean, they are so ultimately bass-ass that they just make the hybrid happen without ever flying on their belly right? And lets not forget the wholly bas-ass freeflyers that get their instructional rating totally in a head down orientation, wooing their evaluators with their superior uniqueness, right? Freeflyers certainly dont need to track, right? Are freeflyers even expected to stand in line at the grocery store or pay taxes? Of course not! They are freeflyers… Red light? no worries, I'm a "freeflyer"... Right? Huh? Hmm? RIGHT????

Also depends on how much "above 2000ft" you are. When trying to fix a partial malfunction altitude awareness is essential. I think stalling up high is fun but I still dont have the balls to take it into a full stall, maybe this weekend... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Sand blasting canopies?

Do a search on fear, there has been a lot of discussion on it. I am as you described when I was first learning to skydive - read everything I could get my hands on. Experiencing fear is normal, it will pass with time. Relax and have fun and ummmm, yes, listen to your instructors... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

The Main Police

You can go to USPA.org and download the Skydivers Information Manual in PDF format for free. It will tell you everything you need to know. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

His training could have been first rate and given by god himself, but judgement and decision making can either enchance or nullify all the training in the world. I've heard jumpers say they would reach back and try to pull their pin if they have a PC in tow. Is that taught anywhere? Not to my knowledge, but since decision making is introduced they can choose to ignore their training and have an entirely different choice. Smart decision making needs to be taught, not just reactions. Eric makes a rock solid point! 130 skydives after initial training how could someone possibly blame the solo freefall instruction at the beginning of the jumping career of an individual that screws a pooch? To follow the original posting further – Anyone who knows me hears me preach about continual training after acquisition of the A License ad nauseam. Personally, I will work with individuals after graduation as long as they are willing to listen but it is not an AFF instructor’s responsibility to “continually teach and review people well after their license” - that is the responsibility of the individual and not everyone does it. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Now thats what I'm talking about!

Ummm, been thinking about this question - I think I really began to relax at around 150/200 jumps and totally relaxed closer to 1,000, and I mean totally. Keep in mind that your brain wants to protect you from harm, to keep you alive and now you are throwing your body towards certain death willingly – your brain is probably wondering what the hell you are doing and it will take a while to convince your protector (brain) that everything will be alright. Hell, sometimes I still get the sensory thing; sometimes my brain tries to convince me that jumping is insane, so for me at least, it has never totally gone away. Relaxation in freefall is bred from knowledge about the gear, using it properly and knowing that you will be able to safely land. Anytime I work with a student that is nervous to the point that it is affecting them adversely I take a bit of extra time and thoroughly go over the gear and using is safely and this knowledge dispels the fear noticeably. We encourage taking a packing class early on in our solo freefall progression. So if you are looking for point blank advice, learn all you can about the gear, take a packing class and most importantly, LISTEN to your instructors. Keep jumping and before you know it you will get comfortable in the environment. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…