Stevetaylor

Great Goings on at the DZ!!! I also just finished my AFF, did my high and low solo on Saturday, going back on Wed after work to do a few really solo dives (now that they're MUCH cheaper...)

Any particular advantage or disadvantage with the B12 snaps, other than more convenient for those of us on the side of 40 where we don't bend so well? Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Hi All, Stupid newbie question here. I've seen some divers wearing gloves (even in warm-to-hot conditions) and others not. Those who do, say they like them; those that don't, say that they perfer not to. Other than personal preference, are there any advantages/disadvantages to wearing gloves other than in winter? Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

HEY! I had a '74 Pinto (ugly-as-sin brown), and I thought it was just fine.... But then again, I also liked my '75 Vega hatchback... Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Thanks for the confidence. I think that I'm coming to realize that my dives don't have to be picture perfect for me to have fun. I've been concentrating so much on my AFF tasks, that on two of three dives I forgot why i'm doing this. I actually smiled on the way to the door on both the high and low solo today. I'm thinking about calling out of work tomorrow so I can go jump on my own (finally!) Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Good point, I tried remembering that as I was yelling all the wasy out the door... Update- Just got home a wee bit ago...and I survived the low solo! I'm now (finally) cleared to jump all on my own. As one of the very expereinced freefliers said to me, now is when the fun starts.... But the hop n pop was, perhaps, the single ugliest dive I've seen! I was doing fine, then started to go head down. (Still having problems with that damn arch...guess the spine doesn't bend that well anymore after 40). I just wanted to get some nylon out over my head, so I deployed after 5 seconds. My attitude was a bit head down, perhaps 30 degrees from horizontal, but then I started to roll to the left as I tossed out the chute. I think I did a 1/2 barrel roll (didn't bring the left hand in to compensate as I tossed with the right), and flipped onto my back. It was very disconcerting to see the line stows deploying in front of me, as I was looking at sky! I remember thinking, on my back and head down 30 degrees- watching the chute deploy, that "Oh shit...this is gonna hurt...". The initial snatch wasn't all that bad, other than simultaneously flipping me over and standing me upright. The good thing is that I've been very worried about an unstable deployment, and now I've had one. And it wasn't that bad. (Not that I'm going to intentionally try to have one.) All in all...what was I so worried about all week????? I think I see all these free fliers and experienced jumpers, and expect me at 9 jumps to be silky smooth. I jumped, I pulled, I landed, I walked away...all is good! Now I just have to work on my stability and landings...although I'm getting very good at PLFs... (grin) Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Good Point Perhaps that why the instruction (other than "ARCH") that Randy has for me so often is "Relax". Gotta go now, the DZ opens in 46 minutes. Happy Clouds! Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

According to the info packet I have, I need to make two low exits. One at 6k (to reassure the DZ that I can get out of the plane in an emergency. That one need to be done today. The exit at 3.5k has to be done sometime before my A license. Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Thanks for the erassurance. I'm less anxious this morning..at least till I get to teh DZ. Oh well, if I screw up, what's the worst that can happen? Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

GULP!! Just finished my AFF supervised...now I get to make my first high and low solo....tomorrow morning!!! The high solo, I'm not so worried about. The last two jumps with the instructor, I was essentially alone. He was watching me from above, but on the two jumps I got a quick glimps of him only once. THANKS RANDY FOR BEING A GREAT COACH!!! Its the low solo, the hop and pop, that has me buggered for the past two days. I've always felt that I was very unsteady for the first 5-10 seconds out of the plane, except to the last one (a "Superman" exit that I nailed); although Randy seems to think that I'm doing well. (Gotta trust him) I'm just really nervous at the though of exiting at 6k and needing to get stable and throw by 5k, in all of 10 seconds. What if I'm not stable at 5K? (I know...deploy, deploy at the right altitude, deploy stable, ...). If I'm "almost" stable at 5K, will I hold off deploying to 4K to tr to get into a better body position? My brain says "Pull, ask questions later", but not sure what I'll really do. Most likely I'm overthinking this, right? I mean, the training and jumps and endless mental practicing the procedures works, right? Oh well, I want to get a good night's sleep before going diving tomorrow. Good night all.... The Dropzone opens in 11 hours and 10 minutes... If anyone is down at CrossKeys tomorrow, I'll be the one with the black jumpsuit and the heart pounding before the jump... Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Not a snowball's chance in Iraq....She even gets nervous if the horsey on the Merrry-Go-Round goes up and down... Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein

Good Evening All, Been doing a bit of lurking here lately, so I thought I'd step out of the shadows and say "Hiya". Just finished my AFF last weekend, and will make my first solo jump next weekend...wife permitting (grin). I hang out at CrossKeys in NJ, home to many great people. (Thanks Randy, PJ, and Sebastian for being such great instructors). Just beginning to realize just how much about this sport that I don't know yet, and am looking forward to learning it. I guess next weekend I have to buy the beer (first solo jump). Happy Trails, Steve The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way, but then to expect different results. -Einstein