AllisonH

By the time you have 30-50 jumps (or in some cases by the time you have 15 or 20 jumps) no one will know if you did static line or AFF. I changed DZ's halfway through my student program, and half of the coaches I did coach jumps with assumed I did AFF when I actually did static line.

I hear this a lot, but I really haven't seen it to be true very often. You cannot get your A-license until you have at least 25 jumps. Add up the cost of 25 jumps through AFF and 25 jumps through Static Line. I'll bet there's a big difference. Will it take more than 25 jumps? Maybe - but that depends a lot more on you and your instructors than on which progression you choose. I'm not going to get into the whole static line vs AFF thing - search and you'll find tons of threads on it. Both are good programs, both will get you to the same endpoint, which is better for YOU depends on your learning style and your local options.

Definitely. There's no way I could have afforded AFF while I was in college. I was fortunate to start jumping at a club that offered static line, so I could pay both the rent and for jumps with my part time job.

I won't buy anything with white in it, but it'll be easier to sell than something that's pink

Without commenting on the specifics of how they told you to flare - different canopies require different input to get the best landings. It's possible that one DZ is using canopies that flare best with one fluid motion, and the other is using canopies that flare best with a 2 stage flare. Both arms and legs CAN be used to turn. The issue is simply which technique that instructor/DZ prefers their students to use. Many places teach students to turn only with arms (legs are a larger surface, so it's easier to start a fast spin with legs, and you can't see them so it's likely they won't always be where you think they are early on). This is the way we teach our students. They may/may not then go on to teach leg turns later in the student program, or in an informal way to licensed jumpers later on. Other places think teaching students to use both arms and legs to turn so that turns are more centered, and perhaps also to make students think more about the legs. Some things have a right/wrong way, other things have several different acceptable ways. Ask your instructors why they suggest the method they use if you've been taught something different elsewhere. It could be a new/different technique, a gear issue, or simply a personal preference.

The best full face for you is the one that fits YOU best. Some are better for different head shapes/sizes. Sizing also varies a lot between and even within manufacturers for different types of helmets. Try them on, and get the one that fits your head well and still allows you good peripheral vision. If you don't have access to a gear store with a lot of sizes/styles to try on, ask other jumpers if you can try theirs on. If you want to be able to open/close the face shield, make sure you can do that easily on the helmet you like - both with and without gloves on if you ever wear them to jump.

I realize this discussion has been focused on a specific DZ, but they certainly aren't the only one that requires a tandem before AFF. Skydive Arizona requires a tandem before (and tunnel time during) AFF, and Skydive Chicago requires two tandems before their AFP program.

When the season at CSC ends, come to North Carolina for a weekend and play in the wind tunnel with CSC Rhythm and all the other people who tag along with them. I'm definitely going to go on at least one of their trips!

I feel the exact same way. I think I told the person who organized my 400th that it had been my 400th after we landed (in an oh by the way will you sign my logbook kind of way), and I told one of the people who was on my 100th a couple of weeks later. I think I've only done one "00"th that I realized was an "00"th before the jump. It's not a big deal to me, and I definitely prefer if others respect my decision to not make it into a big deal (I'm with you on the birthday thing too). It makes it much more special if I can enjoy it in my own way.

You need 250 jumps to go to the bigway camps at Perris. They start you off learning/practicing bigway techniques with 20-30 person formations, then build them up a little bigger as the camp goes on.

I assume you mean in teaching. Will most dropzones let people who don't have a coach rating yet assist? Yes, if they know you and you're assisting for the purpose of getting your coach rating. It's something you'll need to arrange with the DZ/instructor ahead of time.

Aww, sounds adoreable Hope you and Erin have a great time at couchfreaks!

Hi Jordan! How's Charlie doing? Keeping you busy I bet

Stowing the slider will make even larger canopies fly a little better, but the real reason I started stowing mine (which I didn't do until ~250 jumps, but now wish I'd done sooner) was because I noticed how much damage it was doing to the bottoms of my lines. With each jump it would just beat them up more and more.

you can do that. get an Infinity and order for a bigger reserve. the first number on an Infinity is the reserve tray and the second number is the main tray. so if you buy an I-33 it's for a PDR143 and a 150 main. if you buy an I-43 it's for a 160 reserve and a 150 main and so on. you could get an I-65 or I-54. I had my Wings made for a 160 reserve and a 150 main. Have had 3 different size mains in it, and have been very happy with it. Some manufacturers are more flexible than others on pairing up main and reserve sizes, but it never hurts to ask.

If you "really need a main around 190" then why would you consider a 160 reserve?

Depends on how much you wear and what kind of canopy you have. I generally wear 6 pounds and don't notice any difference on my Pilot 132 (loaded at 1:1 without the weights). However, I'm sure that if I jumped with 15 pounds of weight or jumped a 96 sq ft canopy there would be a quite noticable difference. I'd certainly recommend starting out with a small amount of weight and adding a pound or two at a time until you figure out how much you need and how much it affects your specific canopy.

Definitely get ahold of Ben at the link above (College Skydiving - also read through the info on the website). He's a great guy who'd helped a lot of people get started with college clubs. Really does a lot to promote them.

For training 4 way I don't like them, but that's pretty much non-existant at Tecumseh - I go to Chicagoland for that. For random fun jumps they're cool. I'm also looking forward to trying AFF out of one.

I'm sure your instructors wouldn't have passed you if they didn't feel you were ready to try the next level. However, it is ALWAYS ok to ask to repeat a level/jump/learning objective if you didn't quite feel comfortable with it the first time around, or would like some more practice. I would suggest bringing this up with your instructors from the previous jump next time you're at the DZ. Ask what the requirements were for passing level 3, how the instructors feel you did at those requirements, and what you will be doing on the next jump. This information will help you make a more informed decision about what you want to do next. For example, in our program there are some points in the progression where 2 levels are very similar - in this case you may want to move on, whereas you wouldn't if the next jump were quite different.

Can't wait to jump it!

I couldn't make it this time Shaun, but you should still cheer a lot - there are a lot of great ladies on the list

Hey Jeremy- I'm not exactly a local, but I'll be in the area then and could probably pick you up and/or drop you off. I'm jumping at CSC the 25-27, and was planning on heading to Summerfest either the 27 or 28. You use Midway or O'Hare? Send me a PM if you decide to go. -Allison

The little circle in the middle of the lining is removable (at least it is on mine - I jumped with the guy who assembled my helmet once, and he pulled it out to show me the stuff that was written underneath) - I know it's not much, but better than nothing.

When I first got my rig put together it was Wings/170 main/PD160/Cypres, and I want to say it was around 23-24 pounds, so I'd guess in the neighborhood of 25 for yours. My rig just fits in a carryon size rolling suitcase, which is about 21" long, 14" wide, 8 or 9" deep. Of course this is kind of crammed in, you'll want to add room for padding around it.