StearmanR985

Since I successfully completed my first two tandems over a week ago it was now time to start the AF solos. Wednesday morning, I wake up to a light drizzle of rain, GREAT!! Ed shows up at my house around 9:30am. Time for ground school. A few hours later, my brain is fried and my eyeballs are turning in opposite directions. Weather breaks right on time so we head out to the DZ. We'll be jumping out of a 182, something I am looking forward to but also a little nervous about. There are five of us in the little plane, me, Ed (my JM), Maui (video), Will (pilot) and a Hop 'n Pop dude (forgot his name). H & P jumps out at about 4k or so, pilot pitches plane over so we can watch through the door, very cool. We continue our climb to 11k where it is now our turn. Ed climbs out, Maui climbs out, I climb out (god help me). Then it is check, prop, up, down, jump and arch...don't look down... Hmm, not quite stable, what is going on here (later learned I was potato chipping just a bit). Get the "legs out" signal from Ed, done and stable now, sweet! OK, now what, ah yes, circle of awareness. Then I get the nod from Ed to perform my PRCD's, hey where is that damn thing, come on where are you (fiddling around), get a little help from Ed. Seems the ring got caught in between the bottom of my container and my right "cheek", if you will, so Ed pulled it out for me. Do two more PRCD's no problem. Do COA, and enjoy the rest of the fall. Check over at Ed, hmm, looks a little far away to be holding on to me...Brain kicks in gear, he let go!! And I am still stable, sweet. Oops, here comes an unwanted slow turn to the right (where did that come from) so I push down on the left and put it to a stop. COA again and say hi to Maui. 6k, 5.5k, time to pull!! Wait, don't forget to wave off dummy, then pull!! YAHOO!! Damn it, forgot to do check, check . But, I am under canopy now, so too late for for that. I do the visual on my canopy, looks like it is backwards, no line twist so I figure I must be looney and indeed the canopy is quite fine. Unstow breaks, turn left, turn right, full flare, and all checks out. Find the DZ and check point one and two with no problems. Now it is time to have some fun and enjoy the ride. At about 1.8K I get a little turbulence (bounce, bounce, bounce some more), somewhat nerve racking but kind of fun at the same time

Hello Valerina, Soooo, how come you stopped eating hot dogs, burgers and such? Not that it is any of my business of course but thought I would barge right in and ask anyway.

Ouch. Glad the procedure went well for you. Hopefully the biopsy will come back negative.

Hmm, perhaps I will just have to jump more often then!! Dammit.

I am brand new to the sport but I am already hoping that by late next spring I can dock with my wife while she is on a tandem. I won't try it without having at least 30 jumps, I intend to ask my JM to do the tandem, and get his permission to lurk/dock. Common sense tells me that I shouldn't be near a tandem regardless of my experience without permission. Yeah, I know, jumping ahead of myself again being I am still in T-AF. I can't help it though...

I quit saying "I love you" along time ago. I feel that the phrase/word is thrown around too much with no real feeling behind it. To me your actions speak mounds more than your mouth. When I am near my wife (and not fighting ) I can literally feel our connection and love neither one of us has to say a word. It is like a kind of chemistry or force, hard to explain, something I couldn't change even if you wanted to though.

Too Cool! Hmm, glad my wife has a pair of those.....

Love the canopy colors, way cool! Green and black are excellent together. When I purchase my equipment I intend to use the same colors. Don't worry, I will pick a different design...

SWEET! Glad to hear your friend is back safe and sound.

Saw a guy flying a pink and purple canopy Sunday. He had a pink and purple jump suit too. I have to admit, the canopy looked pretty cool but I expected to see a girl under it. I know, I just stereotyped, let the beatings commence.

As a new student of skydiving I love reading stories about others learning experiences. Great pics and captions!!! SWEET! Congrats to you both, Another addicted newbie.

Perhaps the pilot did it on purpose just to make sure everyone was awake. That is what our pilot did on Sunday, a nice little pitch down, we all float off the bench then back to climbing. Cool ride. Hey, pilots have to have fun too, right?

At work but hiding from the work itself. My mind is on my T-AF progression...I want to continue RIGHT NOW!! Hmm, maybe I can talk my wife into getting a second job so I can quit mine... The New Addict

Hello NN, I live in Lodi and just started T-AF there, perhaps we shall meet one day in the near future. Keep flying, Jeff

and he's going to be a natural I think also. Wow, thanks for the compliment, hope I can live up to it. I won't take full credit though, it's in the training. You inspired confidence I didn't know I had and you kept me relaxed too. When ya cant find whip cream, use the next best thing....Mayonase! Hmm, not sure if I should go there..... Looks like the quote thing didn't work for me....

When my family and friends ask that question I say, "The only way for you to understand is to do it yourself, only then will your eyes be opened".

I had one JM, Bodypilot1. He is quite good, excellent communicator with lots of experience. Looking forward to continuing through AF with him.

That's it, I am hooked!! All other hobbies are on HOLD until further notice. I thoroughly enjoy reading about others skydivers experiences so here is mine: It was a beautiful October Sunday here in Lodi, sunshine and warm temperatures, it felt like late spring. I fork over the $$ (ouch) to my JM and the learning starts. We go over the routine on the ground on crawlers until I have it memorized, time to jump......damn nerves. Ride up is going well, only half full of jumpers. One guy is laying down in the back of the plane, the pilot decides to have a bit of fun and pitches the plane nose down for bit. We are all off our seats, dude sleeping is off the floor...we are all awake now! What a ride, it was great! 13.5K, time to jump, head back full arch, we fall! JM gives me shoulder tap out come the arms and legs, we are stable. Check alt., two check pulls, check alt. JM shows me how to turn, a bonus on first jump, check alt. at 7K keep watching...6K wave off and pull dummy cord. Under canopy my ears are killing me, try to clear with minimal success, feel like crap decide I never want to do this again. Then, it suddenly comes to me, perhaps if allowed myself to breath I might feel better. Yep, breathing is good thing. Nerves settle and I am feeling much better. Time for some canopy control exercises for a few minutes. JM allows me to flare, with his hands guiding just in case, and we are safely on the ground. Still a little unsure of myself my JM kindly tells me that I did a great job! Whew, thanks ED, I really needed hear that. The second jump was the dangerous one. Full load this time and we are last out at about 13K. JM wants us to leave facing airpane this time. We fall, I arch way back look up at the plane just as the pilot pitches her down, I just watch in awe for a few seconds as we fall away from the plane. It is the third best/coolest sight I have ever seen. Shoulder tap, arms and legs out and we are stable. Check alt., two check pulls, start my free fall turns, I do a few somewhere between 150-210 degrees checking alt in between each one. 7K now, watch alt. 6K wave off and pull dummy cord. Under canopy, ears are fine (surprising), OH YEAH! This is perfect, a taste of the heavens. Do some canopy control, S-turns, 360, and flares. Before we know it, we are on the ground safe and sound. JM says great job, you are ready for ground school followed by AF! (hopefully next week). You may be asking, what is so dangerous about this jump. Well, it is because I am now an addict!!! I am hooked!!! My life has now changed forever (along with my financial plans)!! You all already know this, but THIS SPORT IS AWESOME!! I LOVE the people and the comraderie! I already feel like part of the family and can't wait to get back out to the DZ. Thanks to all in Lodi (and here at DZ.com)that made me feel at home. Jeff

Uh, I don't know how to yet...

Going to do it in Lodi but going to train with Bodypilot1 (Ed) specifically. I met him on Friday at the DZ for the first time. Seems like a great person and a few others in the forum say he is good to learn with. Hmm, he is supposed to call me today and confirm...... Anxious to start,

Coming from a newbie (to both DZ.com and Skydiving), this is most helpful AD. Thanks

Your story is most excellent!! Highly motivational for me as I am starting T-AF tomorrow. Oh yes, Congrats!!!

That is hilarious! I have seen a few of those at my gym.

So, what IS a butter face?

Thanks for advice, I am meeting bodypilot in Lodi later today to discuss options!! Looking forward to meeting someone from DZ.com in person. Jeff