SkydiveNFlorida

You know, that feeling you get as you climb higher into the sky. Does one get used to this? Does it start to maybe go away, or are the effects of the ascent on ones ears lessened? Is the plugging your nose and blowing to pop your ears safe? How hard is too hard? What if your ears still feel wierd? It's worth it of course, but throughout the day today, I am still popping my ears from yesterday's jump. Just wondering how long it takes to go away and if it is always gonna be like this. thx! Angela.

Does 'woke' imply that you passed out? That is crazy! How do they keep advancing people who continually pass out in the air. That is dangerous, imo. I am not trying to be mean or anything, but if I kept passing out, I might reconsider whether this was for me. Is it normal to pass out? Angela.

Not really. I always knew i'd die one day, and always try to live life to the fullest. I have no $$ in savings cuz I spend it all on things I enjoy, whether they be food, my coral reef tanks, shopping for myself or for friends, etc... I just did my 1st 2 jumps this wknd. Always wanted to do it, but I guess I just realized that I could just go out and do it. It was great, and I can't wait to complete the other 6 AFF classes and be on my way to licensing. ! Not afraid of dying, it is inevitible... but if I do die, I hope it is doing something I love. Next i'm gonna take up scuba. Trying to get my friend to do a jump, even a tandem, she's scared she'll die. I told her never to drive again, and to not cross streets, and that she'd be better off living in a country that no one cares/knows about, cuz in the US we could be victims of terrorists at any moment. Don't move, you could die. Ok, a bit overboard, but that is my take on it. angela.

Awe, thanks!! I sure will. I plan to get out there someday, I was born in Richmond (don't remember it, tho). . Thx Frenchy & Bill. I knew I could do it, too. I was so happy to not disappoint myself. What a thrill! I'll remember that, Bill. It is nice to feel so welcomed, and i'll pass that on, too! Angela.

oh, yep, I do recall, tho not you. You gotta come up and say hi next time, k? ! I am hoping to close on the sale of my condo this week, if I do, then I might make it back out there this wknd. But, I have to move a coral reef tank from my mothers house to mine, so, we'll see if I can get the time. (hmm, if I move tank fri starting at midnight, I can sleep 2 hrs, drive to DZ, yep, ok, I can make the time, haha. ) Just waitin' on the $$. Angela.

Skyslut, Haha, yep, made it to Hiram's twice. Awesome chill place. I wrote a bit about it in the Places 2 jump forum. So, um, I bummed a smoke from ya? Sorry. My girls left me all alone, with no $$, and no cigs, I forgot to ask since I was so excited. Man, just trying to remember who'w who. So, who r u, ? (smoking catapillar voice). Canuck, thanks for the welcome and the tips. I'll message her when I see her post (when she gets back I suppose). thx! Andy, u r faar. But, i'm gonna do my best to get through this asap. As soon as i've got some $$ to burn, you can guess where i'll be at Fast, boy is it ever good to hear that i'm not the only one who considers landing to be difficult. I had my feet down the second time, but boy, it was a pretty hard landing, I think I probly flared at about 20ft. Can't wait to get back out there and start perfecting things! Thx again! Angela .

Hello everyone! It was fantastic, I had the time of my life. I completed AFF1 & 2 this weekend at Sebastian. Everyone there is major cool, and I think it seems to be something that goes with the sport. I'd like to make it to all of the Florida DZs eventually, and many more. I can honestly say that I love this sport. I realize that it is only gonna get better the more I learn and the better i'm able to control myself. I am broke, but i'm so happy. This is great! Just waiting for some $$ to go do Level 3 Bill, it was really nice meeting you, too. Mik is really a great guy, and gives A+++ instruction! Thanks to all for welcoming me into your family. I love it and your stuck with me now, haha Angela.

Hello Everyone! I just made my level 1 & 2 dives this weekend at Skydive Sebastian (Freefall Adventures) in Sebastian, FL. I had never jumped before. It was truly amazing. The place is great, i'm going to post more about them in the Places to Jump forum. Here's an account of my dives, and then i'll follow with a couple of my concerns. AFF1 (Sat 7-19) : 2 hrs sleep, super anxious, drove up to Sebastian. Met the super cool staff, and started my 6 hour Level 1 course. It was long, but very necessary and informative. Sometimes seemingly repetitive, but so very necessary. Got up into the plane, felt comfortable and relaxed. Kept altitude aware, and went through the upcoming dive in my head. When we came to 13500ft, they opened the door, and people started jumping one by one, I would be last as the L1 student. I saw how these people jumped out like it was nothing, and it built my confidence to do the same. Jumped, and flying! Wow!! Amazing!!! Never felt such a feeling of euphoria. Mouth went from dry to watering, body in flight, I felt invincible! Ok, position, circle of awareness... my legs were too in (about 90degrees), took advice, straightened out, but somehow ended up with them too bent again later. Did test pulls, circle of awareness, stared at the camera man and made funny faces, haha. Oh, yeah, tap tap, altitude check. Another.. Another.. Ok, 6000ft lock on, 5500ft, wave off, pull(a little harder than anticipated, but did it just fine)!! Weeee, flying up up up, head wasn't back enough, but just fine. Oh, yeah, check canopy... All is perfect. ahhh, relax, control check, relax. My landing wasn't the best, I was a bit crosswind, and flared a bit too late.,.. also picked my feet up. But, landed ok, got up, went in. AFF2 (Sun 7-20-03): Yay!! Already looking fwd to another day in paradise. School was a breeze, right turn, left turn, forward. Was having some problems looking before turning, and those ended up following me to the jump, but not that bad. On the plane, going up up.. wondering if i'd remember to do my 2 test pulls, and how I would do on my turns, and if I could do a better landing. . Check in, out, up down jump! Weeee!! Again I was flying! Arch, relax, Circle of awareness, fix position into a better arch, two test pulls, alti check, right turn (started turning then realized to look right), alti check, left turn (again, started turning, but quickly followed in looking left), ok, alti check... forward movement (I didn't even feel this, not sure it worked, haha), alti check, second fwd movement... ok, alti check, 8500ft, nothin left to do. . I was signaled to check alti, did, I was signaled to do a circle of awareness, but failed to do that, guess I was just not seeing it. Alti check, nearing 7000, past 7000... look away, look back, 6000 lock on, 5500 wave, pull! Off I go! Yay! Better pull this time, more strength. Oh, yea, check canopy... looking up, lines were twisted, I got them untwisted, slider down, all is well. . I spot what I think is our airfield, but it is not, and I was eventually told to turn toward the airfield. I did, it was right under me compared to the other. Took landing instructions on radio. . Ended up in a nice turn toward the wind for landing, except, fearing i'd flare too late, I flared too soon. I held it, and landed pretty hard. Got up, went in. Reviews were good, they said I did great. I was happy to hear this. The only problems were those I already was aware of. I am kinda concerned that i'll never learn how to land this thing properly. I need to get a better plan of what i'll do to get to final approach, when i'm in the air, coming down. I need to learn to flare more appropriately, and to stare at a 45degree angle rather than down. Those are my only concerns. I feel pretty comfortable in free fall, and with exit. Also comfortable turning the canopy, though not so much as when falling. Thanks for listening to my story. Thanks to everyone here who answered questions for me, and who welcomed me to the hobby. This is awesome, i'm completely broke and am still so happy. I am just waiting for the $$ to get back up there for Level 3. ! Angela.

Skydive Sebastian is an awesome place to hang out and jump from the sky! I just completed AFF1 & 2 there this weekend, and had a blast! Got excellent instruction from Mik and my 2nd JM Christina. Everyone on the staff is nice and welcoming. The place is run very smoothly, and the environment is just very welcoming. There is a bar/cafe on site, small, but pretty good food, and nice people. Recommended for beginners, saw many tandems having a blast, and recieved superior instruction from Mik for my AFF1 & 2 courses. Also many visitors, experienced and not, from other countries. A++++++ definitely pay them a visit!

Welcome to the forum JM!! Good to see you here!! As you know, i'm takin' my first jump 2moro,... yay!! Hopefully someone can answer your questions regarding foreign equipment usage. Otherwise, maybe you can e-mail your local DZ, or try posting the question in the subject line of a new thread in the General Skydiving forum. C ya around and blue skies 2 ya as well:) Angela.

Well, i'm waiting for my condo sale to go through next week, and in the mean time, I just borrowed another 150$ off my mother, i'll delve further into my overdraft account this weekend possibly to pay for AFF2, the plan was only AFF1, but i'll already be there. haha. . I have about 8000$ in cred card debt jus chillin'... Yeah, i'm not too bright Angela.

Ok, so, 'jump' is kinda a relative term, then. Still wondering how one would jump up, tho.. . But, I think I understand the concept of what i'm supposed to do. Thx! Angela.

I guess I don't understand fully. I was reading the article in the safety section here, which explained an exit as : "Once you are poised outside of the airplane, start your arch before you let go. Then it is a simple matter to open your hands, pivot into the wind, and you're flying! " No 'jump' involved. Which is why I suppose I got this whole question in my head... if you just let go, you end up falling, and not being pushed back? And, now you mention not to "jump up" and I don't understand why one would, when the instructions above state to arch and let go. Help me understand please. Thanks!! Angela.

Thanks all! I'll definitely ask them when i'm there. Angela.

I mean, you're supposed to 'fall' outta the plane, but would a wind knock u back into it? Is this a retarded question? Going for my AFF1 this Saturday in Sebastian. I've been reading the safety articles and such;.. just wondering about collisions whilst exiting the craft, if any do happen. This is probably not a normal question, but, i'm really abnormal. Thx! Angela.

Sweet! Let me know when your comin' milky hehe. Don't feel bad, my french-canadian arse isn't all that tan, tho I do try my best, I feel kinda obligated livin' in Fla & all, hehe. where r u from, btw? Freaky oddball career, might I add. I work on computers (yawn). Angela.

Cool, Champ. didn't even see ur reply 'til now. I am definitely going, worry not!! I was gonna go 2 pbx at first, but they can't do AFF1 training & jump same day, so I ended up looking elsewhere. I will probly end up jumping there one day, but 4 now, i'm gonna hit Sebastian. My girlfriends & I are making it a road trip, they're gonna chill at the tiki bar while i'm training:) Sweet u live so close 2 me. I just moved here from Coral Springs a month ago. PM anytime if ya wanna chat. Skydive Miami doesn't have food. Man, I just can't see myself anywhere for long without food. I eat very very often. haha. I've also read mixed opinions about it. Like I said, definitely going. I'll be up there this Saturday 9am ! Maybe we can go fly together once I ever finish my AFF training:) Angela.

How extremely cool!! You must have felt so in tune with the earth, to be flying with a bird, in sync, amazing! Man I can't wait to get up there!! Angela.

Hello!! Don't know anything about Madrid, but i'm doing my first AFF jump on Saturday at Sebastian, so i'll be able to give you my adventure story soon:) You can check out the ratings/feedback from users on both places, likely, if you click above on Dropzones and find your dropzone and ratings, etc. Sebastian has great reviews and I think it'll be great!! If you end up coming here for your AFF, i'll be doing my courses on weekends so maybe we can meet up and have a beer or two, maybe even be on the same flight:) Congrads on ur decision to do this. I think it'll be awesome, and even better, there seem to be a lot of really cool people in the sport!! I can't wait to meet them. Angela.

Hi, Jimmy! Good vibes comin' your way!!! *vibes, good ones*** What happened, did you not flare enough? Just curious. I'm starting AFF1 this Saturday, and am reading all I can to stay safe in flight.

haha!! True! oh, man, I can't wait until I can tell everyone the story of my first dive... This is just too awesome!! I am glad I moved it to Saturday, I can barely stop thinking about it as it is. I feel a little weird because i'm not scared, and it seems that people are scared. I know that i'm gonna get up to 14000 feet and be scared like hell, tho! At least that is what i'm expecting. But, for now, I can't think of even one part of me that is double guessing this. Maybe i'll even meet some new friends out there. This rocks! Angela.

lol!! Thanks for all texts!! :) I'm a post whore, too!! Angela.

Hello all!! Well, the short story::: I'll be starting my AFF training on Saturday at 9am at Skydive Sebastian. yea! Slightly longer version... broke up with bf, we've been having some problems... So, now I can focus on what is truly important.... almost falling to my death from 14k feet Jumpergirl, i'm sure they are great, but i've already booked at SS, and, well, at SM, there isn't any food, or beer, did I mention food & beer I think it'll really be great up there, they have great reviews as well

Thanks to all! I found much info in the Safety section.. .still reading in and out:) Angela.