skyyhi

As a current aff student, I can only say that I haven't had any problems with the pull-out p/c. Maintaining a good arch and being aware of body posture ensures no or little spin at pull time. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

My roommate lost his Gunner and a protrak at a boogie during a jump. . .then someone said put a stitch in the strap to hold it in place. . . Just an FYI ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

That's what I love about Elsinore. . .Just nice BIG open areas to land in. . .noice. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Oh yeah. . .much less nervous. . .everything about the second dive is better because I am more relaxed and less anxious. . .Sometimes I wish I could go up for a third, but I am trying to space it out because I don't have the money to jump every weekend right now and I don't want to end up going 30+ days between jumps. . .this seems to be the best approach. ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I am a newbie and doing 2 jumps each time right now. . .sometimes I feel I can do more, but 2 seems to be good. I definitely would not want to do less. . .I like debriefing and going back in the air to correct the things we discuss during debrief. . . Also, I am a little apprehensive on the first dive of the day, the second dive is always MUCH better mentally. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Chris, I have found having a friend video my landings to be an EXTREMELY helpful training tool. Seeing what I was doing as I approached the ground helped me to realign my body position and ultimately result in a better flare and softer (if not quite stand-up) landing. ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Ah Lisa. . .a little homesick? I got the bah humbug blues too, but for an entirely different reason. . . Eat chocolate. . .I am told it is supposed to make you feel better (it does make me feel better but doesn't make the blues go away) ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

If money is an issue for not getting the video, I would wait until your 2nd AFF to get the video. My reasoning behind that is the 1st AFF is just about getting the feel for freefall and getting to land your own canopy. The 2nd AFF is a similar jump but the JM's are much more critical of body position and you do turns on #2. The video also costs less because it is not a first jump video - it is simply a training video. . . And I think you have to do your AFF 2 within 30 days. . .but you should check with your DZ for verification. ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Chelle, you know you just want to come jump with me over at Elsinore. . .I need two more jumps to finish AFF, then we will make Shark take us up on a coach jump and torture him mercilously. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

And I LOVE being a kid. . . (don't tell IslandCool, but it was kinda nice to be out there without my shadow this past Saturday. . .) ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Dirty Vodka Martinis. . . Wine or beer is fine too. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I am freaking out because I have to wait till the weekend to go see it. . .and I may have to go alone. . .course the alone part doesn't bother me. I have been a LOTR fan since I was a young teenager. . .I just cannot wait. So, anybody live in San Diego County or vicinity that might want to go see the movie with an old skydiver newbie? lol ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I'm 42 and a newbie jumper. . .but of course, I can only speak for myself. . .our DZ is a mixed bag of older experienced and inexperienced, and the younger crowd. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

First off let me say I am a newbie and nowhere near the "burned out" stage. I have watched many tandems (40 one day) go up and come down and I always wonder if any of them will ever come back. I know it is a lot of work to do the tandems, and I realize each and every time the risks you take trying to control a passenger that is unruly and won't do what they are supposed to. But I also have watched some of you take up the paraplegic who just knows that if his body parts worked correctly - he would be there in the sky without you attached - and the senior citizen who wants to feel young again, and the guy or girl dying of cancer that has one last wish to skydive. You make these things happen for them. Without you this would be an impossibility. I never did a tandem. Just started with AFF 1 - mainly because I was sure this is something I would want to do again and again. My FJC instructor and every single one of my JM's have been ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. I have jumped with nearly every instructor at my DZ and not one of them made me feel insignificant. All of them made me feel important and gave me the courage to go and do it again. I cannot wait to graduate AFF so I can show them all my appreciation. My log book is filled with such wonderful memories of each of my jumps. Please - I know that it is tough and sometimes the regulations and rules take the fun out of what you are doing. . .but please don't quit. . .there are too many me's who need you all. Please know that you are all appreciated. ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I will have to do a hop N Pop for my A license when I get there, but now that I have opened at 4,000 and STILL have a long time under canopy, I am not really that concerned about it. . .just disappointed that I won't get much free fall time. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Yep, and he got my plf's on video for proof that I was actually listening. . .LOL. . . Saturday was better, no PLF needed. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Oh yes. . .just have level 7 and 8 to complete. . .then I am officially a solo student. . .lol ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

As an "EXPERT" in PLF, I will tell you that with my AFF level 2 and 3, should I not have used PLF, I would have been seriously injured. . .instead I walked away with only sore muscles and a bruised ego. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Nope, he was having nothing to do with me. . .lol (just kidding Shark). . . I got to jump with Tom. . .talk about a truly patient man. Very relaxing day. Chelle, I would love to have the opportunity to jump together. Once we get through the student stuff, lets make it a priority. . . As for the weather, it was cold in the morning, but the rest of the day was sunny and beautiful. . .I stuck around after my jumps and got to know people a little better. Stayed for the bonfire in the new firepit and a couple of beers. . .It was a great ending to a great day. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

Woo hoo. . .just finished AFF 5 and 6. Had the two best dives ever. . .Finally got that HUGE canopy to full brakes. . .and had a nice soft landing. . .yeah. My instructor, Tom, was so great. He really took his time coaching me through the entire sequence of both dives. What a truly great experience this was. I am having way too much fun. . .who'd a thought you could have so much fun hurling your body towards earth. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

When my friends say they miss me. . . When my son says "My mom is the coolest, she jumps out of airplanes." When I get to the dz and I get a choice of JM's for the day. . . Oh I could go on but this is enough for now. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

We will probably outlaw marriage in all but the RAREST cases anyway - with a waiver required. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

I am in AFF, not exceptionally small but still wingloading at .68/1 wingloading on the current student canopy I am flying. I have jumped with the littlest JM at Elsinore and the biggest JM at Elsinore, none of them had trouble staying with me upon release. They know what they are doing and you only need to worry about you. Good luck to you on your AFF. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

At least it's not a grocery store gift certificate for a turkey. . .lol. That would cover my gas to the DZ and a pack job. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy

A skydiver guy I was dating actually brought me to the DZ. We did eventually break up, but today we are BEST FRIENDS and I now skydive too. In fact, this weekend he is jumping my first pack job. . . Okay, so I am freaked out now about it but hey, he WAS watching me pretty damn closely. . . Oops, I strayed. . .I have met some pretty grounded guys and some pretty flaky guys at the DZ. I think it is very individual and I wouldn't rule out a whuffo or a skydiver based on what they do. . .its all about chemistry baby. . . ________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy