Shaman

If you like custom helmet design, check out www.mistyckcreations.com. They do custom artwork to order.

Had to comment on your choice man, love em too. Phenomenon, I can relate. I'm a Reiki healer, a gift, yet so many people never recognise their gifts or go after their dreams. Black Hawk Down shows a brotherhood rarely seen in life. The DZ is the only other place I witness it. Looking out for each other. Not like real life! Like the Matrix, 'so many people are not ready to be unplugged'. Skydiving should be mandatory for everyone at least once, so they could have a chance to learn what we all know.

Yeah man!! 'Mr Hicks'

Volunteer yourself for some 'aerial reconnoissance jumps'!!!

You should contact Bonehead dude, good advert for their helmets!!! I'm sure they'd like to hear about it!?!?

Not entirely sure how the USPA works it, but under BPA rules you do 5 pre-nominated accuracy landings, must learn jumpmaster duties, and perform a 4-point 4-way jump. All of the points you need are easy if you've paid attention to your instructors etc during your AFF. The one I've found that gets easily lost is your flight pattern once under canopy. Keep it clear in your head from the start, as bad habits are easy to fall into. For starters, as someone who has not long since done A and B licenses myself, I'd say just concentrate on your A license requirements. Get the basics learned, and get comfortable and relaxed with all stages, gear knowledge, dirt dive, exit order, freefall and canopy skills, packing, debriefing and writing up your log book, before you start even thinking about your B license. You could find other wise you're trying to do too much too soon, and will miss something that'll end up hurting you or someone else, or worse. At very least you may get disheartened by taking stuff too seriously and think you'll never make it. Enjoy your jumping man, you've got plenty of time, and it's not a race! I learned most through getting lots of instructor jumps after my AFF, and learning docking skills, aerial awareness etc and getting as many jumps as possible videoed. Then you can watch them at your leisure and see what you're doing right and wrong. Someone told me 'there's no such thing as a bad jump', cos even if you screw up from beginning to end, you'll have learned what you're getting wrong and can work on it on the next jump.

Hiya, like Kai, I'm not an instructor, but someone not that far removed from AFF to remember. I could say relax, which is easy when you've got your numbers up, but do try. For me, after 18 jumps I wasn't afraid of the door any more, and after 40 was totally relaxed in freefall. Everyone has to start somewhere, so don't feel pressured by those better than you. Most people in this sport are more than happy to help you, so don't be afraid to ask questions, and ask em again if you didn't understand (or if your head was still up in the clouds!) Get several opinions on things and make your own mind up with what feels best 'for you'. Fun is mandatory, after all, why else would you be up there?!?! Don't kick yourself too much for mistakes, I failed a level for spinning, but worked it out in time. Work on the basics, the rest will come in time. I think most people's fear is of being unstable in freefall on their early jumps. I found doing back and front flip exits etc loosened me up, but that's just me. Try to get at least 4 jumps a day done, not many by standards, but by the 4th jump of the day, the only thing you'll be concerned with is how many style points you can get going out the door! Blue skies, happy landings!

I kept spinning for 3 jumps during AFF, and like the others have said, it's body position, mostly legs (as you can't see em). I found practising my arch laying on the floor with my feet against the wall. This got me used to feeling where my feet were. Can't see how video would be a bad thing, often you have one idea of how a jump went, when you check the vid, it's completely different! Toe taps, relax, and keep jumping, you'll get it.

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated

Hi there, Just a trivial question. Is it a big deal if an American dz is not a uspa member? I'd guess they all adhere to uspa rules being in America, just wondered if this was a typo, or if there was any more to it? Thanks very much, and fantastic site I must say. Been visiting for ages and still finding new stuff on here all the time! Blue skies!