McDuck

I sold all of my expensive toys, including my 1100cc bike, so that I could stop being a slave to the system. Now I'm a slave to skydiving. Or maybe a serf. Indentured servant? Welcome and enjoy! Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Welcome to the sport that is your new life. I know what you mean about work after skydiving. The only motivational factor in my waking, non-skydiving world, is that I need to do SOMETHING to pay for all the jumping I want to do. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Welcome! At least you got started. I was going to say something lame like "That's the first step." I can't tell you how many years I let silly little things get in the way of pursuing skydiving. that's my only regret since starting this year, not starting sooner. But, as long as you keep up with it and LEARN LEARN LEARN, you never have to regret anything, really. Flying is for the birds. Now free-falling? That's for US. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

You know, I grew up my entire childhood just over the Box Springs National Park from that DZ, and I never stopped in to check it out. I hope to make it back home in the next year or so, and I plan on making a stop there for a jump or two...you know, just to say I did. Welcome! Enjoy your new-found passion. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

(Canned opening here) "This may be a stupid question, but..." My girlfriend and I just got our A license cards from USPA this week, and I think I'm being just a bit too anal. They spelled my last name wrong. Now, under normal circumstances, I can generally spell my own last name with a fair amount of accuracy, since I tend to jot it down a few times a day for practice. I'm sure I filled out the application info correctly, clogged sinuses notwithstanding. Now, I'm thinking I'll let it stand until I apply for my B license. Is this something I should even be letting one synapse fire over? Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

That first time you jump your own pack job is a real heart pounder. Don't worry though, you'll do just fine. Nobody is going to let you pack your rig poorly, especially if you are taking a class on packing at your DZ. You might get asked to start over a few times, just to make sure there are no problems, but you'll do fine. On the way up, try and forget you packed it yourself, and just imagine a professional packed it...because that will be true before too long. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

I know that I felt a bit hesitant at first, asking someone to show me how to pack as a newbie student. I didn't want to step over my boundaries or tick anyone off. Perhaps it's a mild fear of the unknown, potential reprisal that keeps AFF students from asking about packing right away. Had I known how many people were more than willing to help me learn, I would have asked around my third jump. It's not anything concrete, just an intangible feeling that if you ask someone to teach you how to pack, that you'll spend the rest of your life doing it...uh, I mean you'll upset their routine. Yeah, we'll go with that second sentence-ending. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

After my 5th jump on AFF, I started asking people who pack at my DZ all day long to show me how. Then, after about my 7th AFF jump, I asked one of them to watch me pack and give me pointers. After that, it was just a matter of finding my own groove and learning the little tricks that make it easier for me. I just hated waiting for someone to have time to pack the student rigs I was jumping, making me miss lifts I wanted to be on. Usually there will be people at your DZ who are getting paid to pack. If you don't want to take a class, or your DZ doesn't really offer a class (or you want to save your pennies for lift tickets), just ask people to show you how and have them watch you pack a few times. Just try not to wet yourself when you jump your first pack job. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Ah, I see, another Dropzone.com member. Sorry to disappoint you Gator, but it's just Cora of "Kevin and Cora" fame at our DZ. Ah, what I mean is not "just" Cora...sheesh, I'm glad she doesn't read this, or I'd have some 'splainin' to do. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

DUDE! You already HAVE met her. She's there with me every time I go. We started skydiving together, and we never go without each other. You need to quit drinking your lunch. Buuuuut, if you insist you've never met her, I'll introduce you two. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

I'll be there with Cora on Wednesday. Partorg is thinking about getting a raft jump going. Fun times! Blue skies all, Kevin Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

I can't do the whole naked jump thing. Too many Sasquatch sightings any time I take my shirt off. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

One of the jumpers/riggers at my home DZ just got a digital watch/alitimeter for his anniversary gift. Now, jealousy reigns supreme...at least in MY mind. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Just the fact that you quoted Rumi in your signature makes you more than okay in my book. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Congratulations on your jumps, amigo! Oh and don't worry about that glazed look. My father said he questioned my sanity...but I think he was referring to when I used to work with leopards, pumas and tigers. He's behind me 99.2% on skydiving...ready to take photos from the ground. I'll get him sighned up for a tandem yet, and I've already sold my sister on at LEAST a tandem. Congrats again, and blue skies! Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Ain't that the honest truth...of course, I'm only at 15 jumps right now, but I find that I know absolutely nothing...uh, except what I learned as a student, of course. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Oh, I totally dreamed/woke myself up at night with skydiving as the main theme while in student status. And anytime I talk about it (even now) my hands and feet go cold. Not entirely from fear, at least not anymore, but from anticipation. I still get nervous, but the way I combat that is to ask questions, joke with people on the way up and learnlearnlearn as much as I can so I can be a safe skydiver. As I mentioned in another post, my instructors and coaches all said/say the same thing: the moment you have no fear or nervous feeling in your gut is the time you should take up bowling because you are a danger to yourself and other skydivers. Heck, I can still keep myself up at night going over a dive flow... Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

I'm in no position to be giving advice, with only 15 jumps, I'm well aware. As Robert Heinlein once wrote, "I am only an egg," meaning that I can barely call myself "born" into this sport. Having said that, let me ask if you are looking at your feet as you approach flaring height? Sometimes when I look right at my feet, instead of the ground just in front of them, I make mistakes in my landings. Nothing quite like what you described, but I see that potential in me. Your post has given me something to think about. Hope you get better soon so you can get back up there and try again. Blue skies and fast-healing muscles & joints! Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Welcome dude! It warms my heart to see a fellow newbie make the grade. Enjoy your new passion and BLUE SKIES! Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Hey, congrats man! Glad to hear you made it! Hopefully my gilfriend and I will be able to test out this coming weekend and get ours. Wish us luck. Congratulations again, dude. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Welcome. I know this is a bit late, but better late than never is what my potty training teacher always told me. My girlfriend and I asked our coaches the question about butterflies (in your case, I imagine they are pteradactyls) in the stomach. We wanted to know if it ever goes away, because we still get that uneasy feeling on the ride up. Granted, we only have 15 jumps each, but we just wanted to know if that feeling ever goes away. Our coaches stated in no uncertain terms that the moment you STOP getting an uneasy feeling on the way up is the day you need to take up bowling, because you are a hazard to yourself and other divers. Apparently, it's quite normal to feel that way...now if they would only agree that it's normal to want to wear Depends... Fear, in manageable doses is a good thing. As long as it doesn't prevent you from what you REALLY want to do... Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

I never did a tandem, but my girlfriend did, and that was what catapulted us into the sport full time: her tandem jump and my envy. We went AFF together and have been passionate about the sport ever since. Congratulations on your tandem, and perhaps we'll see you in here posting about your AFF course soon. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Welcome! Isn't it great when you can share something so incredibly thrilling with the person you care the most about in life? My girlfriend and I started together, and we take every step of the on-going learning process together. In fact, we'll be getting our A licences next weekend. Blue skies for you and your wife. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

You're getting close to the end, let me be the first to remind you to buy your beer! Good luck! Ah yes, it was until just recently that I actually enjoyed the phrase "That was the first time I EVER..." It's a learning process, but I have stricken that phrase from ym lexicon. Welcome to the forums, from another newbie. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

Hey, thanks for the advice. My main thrust was not to start flying outside my skill level (and believe me, I KNOW I'm only beginning to be a beginner). I just mainly wanted to start getting ideas about how to proceed and what to be concentrating on. I knew I could count on folks here to help add to what my coaches and more advanced skydivers are telling me at my home DZ. Thanks for setting my mind on the proper course so my body can follow when the time is right. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.