skylord

I know. I did a Level 6 jump a couple weeks ago, my first jump on my own in almost a year. What helped me tremendously was biting the bullet and getting some tunnel time before the jump later that day. I'm not saying that is what you should do, but the tunnel really helped settle some of the fears I had prior to my recurrency jump. It seemed to me like a different person had done all my previous AFF dives (I passed AFF-7 with flying colors) when I thought about it. My currency jump went no where near as well as I had hoped, but it wasn't bad. I mean, I hadn't jumped on my own in almost a year and with 13 jumps total there I was admiring either the Elsinore sky or ground, depending on what part of my jump you want to look at. Point is, once I was out there, even on my back, I loved it. "It" is why I keep coming back. I can't even define "It". "It" is why we jump. Anyway, relax and have fun. I'm hoping to do my grad dive tomorrow, and I am having some nerves about it. It is completely normal, that "It" is what keeps us alive. I'll try to remember my own advice in the door tomorrow. I'll pretend you're next out and watching.... Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Shark, I'll be there! Hopefully with an A-license to learn ticket in my pocket. Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Randy, Thanks! With the tunnel time, I did the freefall equivalent of 11 jumps. I did feel the shoulder a couple times, but not like it was going to pop out. It felt like a really hard PT session. I am glad I took the extra time to make sure it was up to snuff. I had a lot of pre-seconds that day, too bad I got this after I used the F word!! Good job on the jumps, talk to you later! Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Bob, No problem, I'll tell stories all day long, they get funnier and I get better looking the more beer is bought! This was a real transition jump for me, and I think we have enough of us air traffic controller types to do our own boogie. Let's call it "Traffic 12 o'clock and a block, opposite direction, at your altitude". Congrats on the A license, I'll be there soon! Bob Marks Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Shark, I figured that since you were driving that Viper I'd make you earn your money! For a sex symbol man hunk like myself, women wanting a piece of me is no big deal. Sorry about the beer, but against my better judgment, I will admit to: -first tunnel work -first altimeter failure -first no radio pattern and landing -first time I had to kick out of that many line twists -first time landing that close to my X -second time I had proper field packing "explained" to me. (No beer owed, just apologies). -first time I got grounded for wind So it appears I owe beer for the next seven years. I was very impressed with SD Elsinore shutting down the students. Even when the wind died down for about 15 minutes they stuck to the forecast. Winds kicked up again, badly, and I would not have wanted to fly and land in those conditions. That is a no shit safety-first class act on the part of your DZ. I'm tied up this week, but I hope to get out there in about 10 days and owe more beer!! Later, my man! Bob

Nate, I could not believe it when I saw the altimeter stick. This jump was not my best by any measure, although I knew I met the technical objectives. Just getting up in the air again was so sweet. I was taught not to rely on my mechanical altimeter from the beginning. If I felt something was wrong, pull and deal with it later. I travel a lot, and if I happen to be seated close enough to the front of the airliner, I can hear the digitized voice of the radar altimeter calling out the altitudes, starting at 2,500. I look out the window and eyeball it. If I am there, this is what I'd do. I knew I was way above my hard deck. I also use the ride up to look out and re-acclimate myself with how things look. This was my closest to the target landing ever even with the malfunctioning altimeter. Skydive Elsinore had a burial for it this weekend. Anyway, it was great to get air again, and while the winds kicked up, it was still a fun currency weekend for me. Thanks to all my skydive friends and trainers!! AFF-8 next! Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

All, After a layoff of almost one year, I was able to get up to both Perris and Elsinore to continue my quest to become a licensed skydiver. Last March, I did my AFF-6 and 7 jumps and was on a real roll when the pain in my left shoulder went from nuisance to impossible. A visit to the doc showed a torn rotator cuff that had to be surgically repaired. There was a great deal of scar tissue that had built up in the socket, so after the surgery my arm was very "loose" and extremely sensitive to movement that put any torsion on the joint. I completed a rigorous rehab program, and I also did one for the shoulder. Anyway this is Safety and Training, so let me get to the points. It was suggested by Marie and Shark that given the nature of my surgery, I test fly my shoulder in the wind tunnel. I thought that was a great idea, so I did it. Shark also mentioned we could do my ground re-train, tunnel, and recurrency jump the same day if everything went well. Off to the Perris Tunnel of Humility and Ego Destruction after Shark did my re-train at Elsinore. We checked in, and went up the stairs to the Tunnel Ready Room for Crushed Expectations. I am kidding about all this, of course, but it was a humbling experience. I heard the air start to roar through the tunnel, and that deep, visceral "thar be dragons" dread starts through me. This is wierd, I thought. It is the same door anxiety feeling. Hmmm. We get inside, I meet Keith who is going to be my tunnel master, and we coordinate when I'm supposed to watch him and when I watch Shark. The previous group composed of Tunnel Olympians finish, and now it is my turn along with a couple. I guess since I was the "experienced skydiver", I got to go first. The entry door closes, and the engine fires up. Oh, shit. The entry to the wind tunnel itself sounds like an open door, and I'm up. The Experienced Skydiver. Keith motions me to the door, gives me the thumbs up, and damn if I don't get close to locking up. In a wind tunnel of all things. I can feel and hear the wind. It reminds me of being spooked in the door of the Otter on my jumps the previous year. I fold my arms across my chest and force myself out into the slipstream. I arch as soon as I am all in, like Keith told me. While I didn't flip around or anything like that, I had a hard time holding my position. Sometimes I would fly up in the tunnel for no apparent reason (at least to me) or be stuck on the netting below. When I was flying, I thought about if I had music for the video that was recording me, it would have been "Pinball Wizard". Shark was right there, coaching me, and my first of 5 two minute sessions was done. I felt like I sucked. Shark, however, had a much different take, and hit the positive aspects of the first session, including the fact lost to me at the time that the tunnel is only about 12-14 feet wide. I did feel better about the rest of that first session, and I began to relax next time I was in. It showed. I did 360s and even tried some of the up and down movements Shark taught me. On a few of the 360s, I actually stayed dead center in the tunnel. Wow! When you are a true tunnel master like myself this stuff happens easily. Anyway, I got really tired by the end of the fifth session, and it was pretty sloppy. But it was a most excellent learning experience. Shark was great at spotting my chief problems (especially the chin up sign) and his coaching really helped me. Now, I am just a brand new person in this sport, but I would like to make an observation. Flying the tunnel got me used to wind blast. Right square in the middle of my face. It got me used to wind. Keep that in mind for a second. Shark and I headed back to my home DZ in his Dodge Viper, one of which the DZ gives to all their instructors at Elsinore. Actually it was my 1998 Saturn, but I digressify. I did well in the tunnel, now it is time to do my recurrency jump. A real one. AFF-6. Solo floater exit. My first since last March. Nail this one, and it is AFF-8 next. I have to tell you, that I am one of those students who has never completely come to terms with that damned door opening. I mean, I got better with it last year when I was jumping, but now it has been almost a year since being out there alone. I PMd Shark and Skyyhi about it, because I had concerns about what my reaction may be. I did call the open door the "Maw of Hell" in my earlier posts. Our Otter showed up, and on I went. Shark and I were to be the last out, and first on. What was new to me, was my complete lack of paralyzing fear. There was apprehension, no doubt, but when a hop 'n pop went out, I wanted to be in the door, if that makes sense. I wanted to jump. Up we go, and I noticed that my wrist altimeter tended to lag behind a bit, and was jumpy. I thought for a moment that all my door anxiety had been transferred to this mechanical device, but it was accurate when we reached our jump altitude. The green light is on and the door opens. Out goes everyone else, and we slide, slide, slide toward the open door. The noise is like the wind tunnel, and I'm not bothered by it. Out goes the preceding AFF-4 student and JM. I'm up and Shark told me I would spot and ensure exit separation. We are directly over the runways, about 200 yards from my landing area. I count, I point, get the thumbs up from Shark, and climb out for my solo floater exit. While I was aware of what I was doing, I felt completely comfortable because the jump felt just like going into the wind tunnel. But I still tumbled the exit. What was different was I knew I was on my back and how to fix it, calmly. It seemed almost a non-event since from the tunnel I knew that I knew how to get stable. After two times on my back, and a great sign from Shark to just relax, I did the opposite direction 360s. While I was checking my altimeter, I was surprised to see it jump from 10,000+ to 8,000, suddenly. I kept watching it, and decided that since I was doing my right 360 when it hit 8,000, I would waveoff and pull when I got done. Shark was out there, obviously, when I rolled out, and I thought I saw him give the waveoff sign. I waved off too, and when I checked my altimeter, it still showed 8,000. I kind of panicked and rushed my pull. I dropped a leg and was in a left 270 when I threw the pilot chute. Shark knew something was a bit amiss and was tracking toward me when I pulled. As the bag lifted off my back, I was already reaching for the risers to undo the inevitable line twists I knew would be there. My pull sucked, and it was all my fault. The risers knew that as well, and smacked the back and side of my head. I kicked out of the twists, released the brakes, and did my control checks. I was perfectly positioned directly over the DZ. Altitude check, 5,800. Shit, I pulled EARLY!! I must have mis read the altimeter!! OK, left 360, right 360, flare and stall, do it again since I'm so high........after that, check altimeter, 5,800. I must be in an updraft. Let's do some deep toggle turns since the "X" is right underneath me. Left, right, left, right. Pop ears since I'm descending. Check altitude, 5,800. Oh, you bitch. Don't quit on me. I let go of my right toggle and bang on my left hand mounted Alti-Shitmaster. No success. 5,800. OK, I'm on my own. Shark calls me on my student radio and asks me if I need help landing. Elsinore has earpieces now, which I think is great. I am supposed to kick my legs if I need him to help me, and I evaluate my situation. Shark is watching me to the ground, and we already worked out the kick legs help sign. I felt comfortable enough to fly the pattern on my own. I eyeballed the 1,000 ft, 600 ft., 300 ft. stuff. I set up for a right hand traffic pattern, following the other students that went out before me. I make a 180, fly downwind, turn right for base, turn right to final, and the X is right there, I'm set up for my closest target landing ever! It looks good to me, let's check the altimeter. 5,800. OK, that means I'll be landing in New Hampshire. Anyway, I landed stand up completely on my own with a non-functioning altimeter. Please understand I am just poking good-natured fun at my situation, these altimeters are very good and reliable. The lessons to be learned I believe are that our own training and skills are indispensable. The training I got at Elsinore helped me deal with this in a routine manner. They have an incredibly talented staff. Tomorrow is AFF-8. I'll let you know how that goes! Bob Marks Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Here's one. TM: If you have a lump in your throat, you're enjoying yourself. If you feel a lump in your back, I'm enjoying myself. Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Quade, Wasn't that hilarious???? It took the whole movie to get coffee!!! And watch out for that last 2,000 feet, it goes really quick!!!! It was just amazing to me to see my neighborhood from the 60s. The shoot out and high speed chase, at an almost unthinkable 30 mph, was shot on Avenue M. Just a couple hundred yards from my old house............ Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

All, For those of you who are fellow Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (MST3K) fans, I got their DVD of a skydiving movie called, "The Skydivers". For those of you not familiar with the format, this show takes the worst movies ever made, and has one guy and two robots watch it while doing hilarious voice overs as the movie is played. Anyway, I watched it and found that the movie was filmed only 200 feet from my home I lived at during the 1992-1995 time frame, at the old Quartz Hill airport. My daughter walked to school on a street that appeared in the movie, which I think was filmed in the early 1960s. So, has anyone else seen this movie? If so, was there a dropzone there? I had heard that the original cast was still in the area, but angry that MST3K ridiculed the movie the way they did. So, if there is anyone out there who has info, or if you are a castmember who was in the movie, let me know. I'd love to chat with you about the old Quartz Hill airport and former drop zone. Bob Marks Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Randy, Congratulations! Dammit, I am downright proud of you!! I'm in the process of re-habbing a shoulder after rotator cuff surgery, and I look forward to getting up in the air again. I'm going to test fly in the tunnel, and if it all goes well I'm off and running again! You really capture the essence of your skydives from your perspective very, very well. As a couple of people pointed out, you did it so well I know I was on the edge of my seat just reading about it. I think most of us newbies go through the anxiety you wrote about. I will say that on my AFF-7 jump, I did tumble the exit just a bit, and like you said, the recovery was quick and automatic. But my shoulder was hurting worse and worse after every jump. So, go get 'em, jump aggressive, jump safe, and jump relaxed. And get ready to give me the same advice!! Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Shark, What a story! I think all TMs need to write a book about this stuff. You weren't talking about me, right? This embarrasses me, as a beginner. I cannot begin to tell you the respect I have for all of you who put up with just the normal learning stuff and then have to put up with attitude like this. (Shark was my main side JM on my AFF-1, by the way.) There is no excuse for this, and it sucks this happened. All of you at Elsinore are outstanding, and I look forward to wrapping up my AFF and A license requirements without barfing all over you. Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Bob, Same EPs I'm taught. Look red, hands on red, look silver, pull red, pull silver. Great job!! When it happens to me I'm pulling everything except chest and leg straps!! You made the decision above what I assume is your hard deck, kudos! The RSL may have initiated the reserve deployment, but like I said, I'm pulling everything myself in the situation you found yourself in. All the automatic shit is back up, and you have to assume it won't work. Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

I love Australia. I hate vegemite. In my younger days I think I cleaned it out of my kids' diapers. . On a whitewater raft trip, though, I was told about certain killer koalas that hang in trees and wait for you to drift by, then drop on your head, scratch your eyes out, and pull your ear lobes off. Smearing vegemite on your neck and behind your ears repels the killer koalas. I'm no fool. I immediately spread it all over me, much to the entertainment of the others in the raft. But I didn't get koala ambushed, either. I thought those things were always too cute to really trust. Koala Dundee Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Shark, Now there's some motivation for me. Merv told me if I had a lump in my throat I was having a good time. If I had a lump in my back, he was having a good time. I don't think I'm going to give you that chance See you all out there soon. Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Darcy, Yep, what a jump! 14,000 ft. I had it videoed, too. A little more pumping iron and I'm back!! Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Hey all! I took my reconstructed shoulder out for a test jump while on vacation in Australia. Wow! It was GREAT to get back in the air! We jumped from South Mission Beach, 14,000 feet, and landed right next to the ocean. Merv, my TM, let me try and steer the chute, and I found that I have almost no muscle strength in my left arm when it comes to maneuvering. My arm was fine in freefall, but I have to work on getting the strength rebuilt. Merv helped me out, and I'm now working on the physical therapy part. What a great, great trip this was! The skydivers I jumped with are exactly like those at my home DZ, Elsinore. They just talk really, really funny. Also, they put beetroot and vegemite on everything. Watch out. A hamburger from "Hungry Jack's" (Burger King) has beets, ham, and egg. And they drive on the left side of the road. While eating beets off of an otherwise perfectly good sammich. Vegemite, well, I don't actually know what that is just yet. One of my sons turned 18 while we were there, and had his first jump. He loved it. The Cresca is a nice airplane for skydiving. An "Oy, Oy, Oy" shout out to my new down under family!! Bob Marks, Aussie in training

That's so true. I have passed myself at airports. You're on! Test flight of the shoulder.....coming to a dz.com forum near you soon..... Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Shark, You got it. I'll show those Aussies how we Americans get it done!!! ; ) Bob, the Ambassador Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Cairns for the skydive, Bargara for the week before. I'm doing the Skydive the Beach. Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

All, I'm headed out on vacation for the next two and a half weeks. I'm taking my recently reconstructed left shoulder out for a tandem test run down under. Is is true that when upside down on the world you have to jump FROM the DZ INTO the airplane???? Just kidding. Looking forward to getting down there and having some skydive fun. Let you all know how it went....... Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Thanks! Got it, and I've sent an email thanking him for putting it together. I think TMs should use it as a recruiting tool! Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Hey Darcy! That is actually Dr. Evil's face. I'm far more handsome Rehab on the shoulder is going well. Mark and I talked about retraining, so I hope to take to the blue skies over Elsinore again in a couple months. You're jumping up a storm! Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

Hi All, About four or five months ago, someone posted a link, I believe, that had a video called, "Why we love our job" or something like that. It was video of tandems where the female passengers were terrified moving to the door, but then had the footage from on the ground where their reaction to the skydive was quite a bit different. One woman knocked her TM to the ground and kissed him. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Thanks! Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

I must agree. She is a true trailblazer! I will try to live up to the legend! Bob Bob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman