SkydiveNFlorida

It as more a general comment, not really directed at you specifically. I should have made that clear. I have excellent instructors at my dz. Why should I listen to the opinions of people online that haven't even seen my fly, but judge me based on hearsay? Why exactly do you feel that way? I mean, as far as I understand it, a 100 jump wonder is "gee, I wonder how this person made it to 100 jumps?". So, how is it that you feel i've been so unsafe that it's a wonder that i've made it this far? Am I radical under canopy? Am I attempting headdown with newbies in the air? What justifies your opinion of me? Is it actually a wonder that i've made it to 100 jumps because I argue with people online? That doesn't make much sense to me. I do relate my experiences, that is what my advice is based on. There are a lot of people who post on this site. What are the chances that i'm going to be the only one replying to a given thread, anyhow? I like to reply to people, and yes, often my advice isn't the best out there. People correct me, and I learn things, and i'm sure others do, too. I do not at all feel like the advice I am giving is going to hurt someone, but most certainly I will think about that before posting in the future. Angela.

I hear ya, Dave. Here's a thought. I wasn't banned for landing near a plane, but lets go with that event as an example. I got down from that jump, and the S&TA came up to me. Before he could tell me, I said "I know" and he nodded and told me to be more careful. I told him he was right, I agreed to be more careful. I did not argue with him that I was in the right landing where I landed. I knew I was in front of the beerline, and should've realized that I wasn't going to get penetration with the wind and turned sooner. I didn't, and I was in the wrong there and I knew that. I have gotten a lot of attitudes from enforcers on here and the majority of the time, when someone approaches me with a nasty attitude, that is exactly what they can expect to get back. I am a reasonable person. I do not simply disgard things that are said because they aren't what I want to hear. I just don't accept everything that is said as if it is the only way. Let's talk canopy size for a moment. I got some arguments from people on here when I downsized. Many people wanted me to stay on my 190sf student canopy. I did not find this reasonable. I argued a point and people got pissed off. I couldn't be bothered at that point because no one was going to acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, I didn't need to be on a 190sf chute. The only thing that would've changed people getting pissed off is if i'd have listened and stayed on a 190sf parachute. I was not going to do that just to keep some people happy. It is a shame that I am well known across the country. I didn't even do anything that serious, but people think I have a very bad attitude when honestly, that isn't the case. There are plenty of people that likely need more watching over than myself, but again, i've been put in the spotlight already and what's more fun that keeping me there, right? Thanks for your post. Excellent contribution to this thread. Jackass. Angela.

lol! I am so glad I've never heard that shit! Angela.

Wow, thanks for your post. It has helped me so greatly and I now realize that everything I perceived to have happened in that situation is wrong. Seriously, I know when i'm getting screwed, I don't need you or your trusted advisors to tell me what happened there. I know what happened, I was there, so even though you may convince everyone you speak to about this that I am a danger under canopy, you can not convince me, I was there. I did not at all say that landing near a plane was not dangerous. I simply do not believe that to be the factor which caused me to not be able to jump my canopy there. There were other issues, not my canopy flight. Rest assured that my life is not incomplete because you all think I am a danger. I am very careful and even though what has been posted here makes me look like a very bad canopy pilot, I am really not. Yes, I have made a couple of mistakes as many people have, but I am put in the spotlight time and time again and it is pretty shitty. However, i'm not about to cry about it at night. I know that I am careful, and I do not have a wreckless attitude about jumping. I do not want to kill myself or anyone else. I continue to learn and grow in this sport and plan to keep doing that. Yes, this internet is a place where people with strong personalities come off as assholes or careless. And, when people are put on the defense, they tend to get, well, defensive. Well, so be it, I can't change that nor am I willing to go to great lengths to try. I have good instructors where I jump and I get good instruction from people I trust and who thankfully let me prove myself rather than simply banning me because a dz called them and told them I was unsafe. I plan to be in this sport for a very long time. It sucks that I have to prove myself moreso than most everywhere I go, assuming they even let me... but I suppose I will just do that, not much else I can do at this point, is there? I should probably not even post on this site anymore, or re-register, but somehow I think that would be selling out. I am strong willed, and if you think that makes me an asshole, screw you! Take care. Angela.

Wow, isn't sounding promising for me I have virtually no time on my belly, most of my jumps are sitfly and i'd only have a little over a hundred total when I get there. Thx. Angela.

Hey, do you know how long that usually takes? If I buy a 10 mins block of time, how long will it likely take to get a grip on backflying in the tunnel? also consider that I don't belly fly so i'm not a spectacular rw person or anything. thx! angela.

Cool, see if you can get a good belly flyer to go out with you on a jump after you've done a couple solos, that way you can see how you move in relation to someone else, or if you're completely stable and not sliding around. Have fun, I wish I could go to freefly camp! Damn lack of funds! angela.

I hope you get to come do a jump soon! I live in S. Fla and jump at skydive south beach in Pahokee, FL. www.skydivesouthbeach.com It's an awesome sport! I just started in July and i'm a complete addict:) Hope you come out and join us! Angela.

Man, I went to buy some xmas cards and saw a winnie the pooh pack. Cool! Well, pick it up, and it has been damaged.. I open and count the cards, and they took 3. . . there are three of each picture, so I suppose it was the cover photo. I bought them anyhow, but how shitty is that?! Stealing xmas cards. That just can't be good karma! Just had to vent! Angela.

This is some funny shit (unintended pun)! LOL! Angela.

Oh, i'm such a sap. I'm crying now. This was a nice story *sniffle sniffle* . Thanks for sharing. Angela.

Also be prepared to do some belly & back flying to prove stability before freeflying in the tunnel, unless you've already been there. :)

Yeah, I am going to do some solos this wknd to try to do cartwheels. I wonder how much actual progress i'll be able to make before I need to have someone jump with me and give me tips. Not much, quite likely:P Sunnydee had mentioned coach jumps not too long back, saying that she'd tried it on her own and that a coach jump helps trememdously. I hope to be able to cough up some $$ for that next month:o) Update on your progress and what helped you. All help is good help for me, still, too. :) angela.

:( I would tell you to listen to your doctor, but i'd be a hypocrite. I continually put stress on things that need healing time. It is definitely not a smart idea, tho. Hope you feel better soon, Dee. Angela.

LOL! That's a great story. It is nice to hear from the tms & instructors that love their jobs. My jm, Mick, who I may not be on the best terms with right now, was so much fun! I had the best time through AFF, and it was all thanks to his jokes and encouragement. Some students to stay:) You guys are heros, too, you keep the sport alive! :) The American Soldier is definitely a hero. They put their asses on the line fighting for what they believe will keep our freedom. Very commendable, indeed!! Angela.

I think that those who are ok with having their pms posted, should just post the info themselves. Why hide behind Ron or anyone else, if you have something to say on the forum, say it! don't have mommy post it for you. Just my thoughts. Angela.

Excellent point, and 100% true! I have never cutaway, in fact, in one instance that I should've cutaway, I did not. I can only hope I learned a good lesson from that and will realize that next time I need to cutaway. But, I won't know until I get there, I can say I learned, I can believe I learned, but I won't KNOW I learned until I save myself when the time comes. Angela.

Good post, Ron. I will add to this list : Practice what you preach. Sometimes it is easy to give advice and not even hear yourself. I am not referring to one person or one instance, just in general, people should practice what they preach. Angela.

Here's part of a thread that I argued with someone with much more experience than me in: ---------------------------------------------------------- Me " Hi, Chris. I understand your logic here. Just thought i'd point out that you could be losing valuable ground coverage while doing this. So, maybe you're unsure, and you decide to float in brakes. You still don't really know what you're doing for a while, and then you have no chance to make it back to the dz because you were downwind flying in brakes and now you are forced to find an alternate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chirs: I disagree, Angela. I believe that if flying in brakes up high while making your plans would prevent you from making it back to the DZ, then you needed to find an alternate landing area anyway ----------------------------------------------------------- Well, lookee there. I thought I knew what I was talking about but after reading his logic a few times, I agree with the point he was making. I mean, who wants to count on just barely making it back, anyhow? That makes sense, if you're flying in brakes for a moment is going to affect your not making it back, then maybe you should be seeking an alternate landing area. Good point, I learned something. So, maybe my arguements seem disrespectful to someone with more experience. But, you know what, this person did not get nasty about how I have no jumps and he is right because he does. He argued a point with respect and clarified what he was trying to say without putting me down for arguing with someone with more experience. Maybe I had no place to argue, but so what, I learned something, and maybe someone else had the same thoughts as me and learned something as well. Personally, I am not going to give advice on hook turns, and shit like that. And, i'm not going to tell someone they will be 100% ok flying the same canopy as i'm flying, because I can't guarantee that. But, I have been playing with the accuracy trick and I felt I knew enough to respond there. I wasn't answering anyones question, I was arguing. I learn a great deal from debating points with people. I cannot simply read something and not understand it and accept it as correct when I don't think it is or have reason to believe that it is not based on what I already know. Debating greatly improves my own understanding of things time and time again, and I am not about to stop doing it because a few people think i'm unqualified to speak on this forum. So, my opinion is that if it isn't going to kill someone, and I don't think that my argument was going to, then I think that arguing with those more experienced is ok. They are equiped with enough knowledge to retort. Angela.

:( Well, it sux you'll miss my 100th, but i'm happy for you that you got your job back:) I hope you have a great holiday, Brent, we all miss you down here! Awe, skymama, that sux! I am sure plenty of your kids friends have children by now that you can play with, tho? j/k Yeah, it sux not really being involved in any kids lives., it is so wonderful to see their little eyes light up at holiday decor and when they see santa. :) Thanks for the vibes, Casie.

Wow, Michelle. That sux:( I can't afford too much this year, either. Usually I go all out. I love giving presents! But, since I took up skydiving, i've put most of my money into it and have really fallen short on funds this year. I am just waiting for that financial aid check, let me tell you. That's nice about going to the chapel. I'm not very religious. I'm kinda in limbo about what my beliefs are. I just love the closeness of family and friends that this holiday brings. A lot of people who aren't religious celebrate the season. It is just supposed to be a happy time of year. I hope that my xmas spirit will come back when I watch the kids open presents, and have a little bit of egg nog & rum Take care and happy holidays to you! Angela.

Saweet! Well, i'll be getting overtime. I will finally be able to pay my court fees from July's tickets. Yay, I get to work my ass off over the holidays to pay some shit ass court fees after I already payed an attorney. All this in the sake of getting somewhere a little faster. Why me? Good for you, tho.

I will be working. I hope to get out by 7pm. I hear ya, man. Luckily, I think they let more of the programmers and users out early on xmas eve, too... so, hopefully I won't get to many "my program needs more time" "please run screwed up job 50 times in a row" "since you'll be here, can you (fill in the blank)" Angela.

Like this? Angela

This is because the glider was not handled enough when it was young. His is a baby, if he handles it often and gives it love, it will not be a mean pet at all. They actually make very cool little pets, they just require a lot of food variety and exercise to stay healthy. :) Angela.