Shark

1:7:2 One great weekend! 7= 2 Hop-n-packs, 2 Level 1s, 2 Level 2s, and 1 Level 3. All were with pretty good students. 1 case of Corona, and 1 case of Heineken, both for good karma and good friends.

*cough* *cough* I don't rate high enough for an (dis)honorable mention? that hurts. I'll forgive you this time, but only because you were kind enough to introduce me to cora

Congrats! It's just the start of a lot of fun.

Hey Erica, Yep, they had a lot of fun there. I say "they" because I wasn't allowed to play since it was a work day for me. But I did have a fun jump, I mean parachute ride with all of them at sunset. Come back to 'Snore and have some fun with us! Shark BTW, can I get a copy of that pic??

And we use a JDAM to take care of them.

Hello and welcome aboard! I would suggest a tandem skydive first. I suggest this because it is all about enjoyment. The initial tandem training is brief, but covers the essentials for a safe skydive. If you choose to go directly to AFF, most likely you will spend the greater part of the day in class learning about skydiving and your particular jump. At the end of your session and weather permitting, you will do your skydive with 2 instructors. Typically you will finish your FJC in the afternoon and depending on your dropzone the winds may have picked up and be too strong for student jumpers. Additionally, many first time jumpers will succumb to sensory overload and my not have a good experience. I personally went directly to AFF without doing a tandem. A lot of stuff was going on during the skydive and freefall. Don't get me wrong because I had a blast. It was just a new experience going 120 and it took a several seconds before my mind got rolling. There is less to think about when you are doing a tandem and you will probably have a better time during the freefall. Hope this helps. Shark AFF-I

Spend more time at the dropzone jumping, and less time on Talk Back arguing and/or trolling. Life it too short. Go jump and have some fun in your life! Our Elsinore mini-gathering was great!

I thought the same thing, but he did talk about Uhm Qasr, Basra. I'm guessing the tape is a couple days old, prior to our men and woman falling into Iraqi hands. Umm Qasr and Basra are border cities with Kuwait. It makes sense to reference those 2 cities since they would logically be under siege first. In fact, half of Umm Qasr is part of Kuwait. He looks better without the beret and glasses, doesn't he?

Hi Cora, Nice to meet ya! Thanks for the early morning hugs as well. It's a nice way to start off the day! Shark

I think Cora planned that downwinder knowing that Chaz will come out and get her, way over by the lake.

I doubt it. It's still crap and a canned speech. If it was recent, why didn't he talk about the 5 Marines that they captured? This would be a nice trophy to rub in the face of GWB, wouldn't you think?

Hey Michele, Wow. After reading that, I feel like I was there. Doh! I was! Yeah, that was a pretty good day, but I'm sorry I didn't have much time to chat. I was also a little bummed that I could not participate in all the FUN(nels.) The HAHO was fun, but a little cold. I actually contemplated cutting away for a little freefall time. But yeah, what's up with the downwind thing??! Yep, that was a good start for Spring! I think Cora might end up moving out here.

Wow! Early morning hugs, too!

Cool! Since yer raising cash by flashing the rack, you also might consider the jello shot thing.

yep, home of the $100 lap dance.

Okay, so who's bringing the beer??

The USPA rating hierarchy: Coach, Instructor, Instructor examiner. On the 4 page A license proficiency card a USPA Coach may sign off on certain requirements, typically on Cat. F-H. Verifying license/skill level for B/C license requirements are for Instructor, I/E, or S&TA.

Dude, 0700 is pretty early. You'll have better luck finding me around 0800+ Shark

The Shark will be there if I can only skip the FJC. Plenty of hugs to go around.

It's Spring time! The vernal equinox. 12 hours of day light. Isn't that enough of an excuse to jump and celebrate? Look, the liberation of Iraq has already started. So, whatever your beliefs, let it go and stop bitching about it. And don't post here because nobody will read whining opinions. You guys waste too much energy arguing, even if you believe you are right. Quit bitching and go jump! I am. Later, Shark

I just love that purple furry vest.... it fits me pretty good, too.

Hey Lolie, Turning towards the head is more of a safety thing and you may receive an unsat score on the eval. When tracking away from the student it is best to turn towards the front, lessening the possibility of getting kicked in the head/face. There was a recent incident in which an instructor was fataly injured by what was believed to be a kick to the head. During the course you are evaluated on 2 Cat. C jumps and 1 Cat. D-2 jump. On Cat. C you must successfully complete the eval from the main-side and from the reserve-side. Of course, you may end up on the other side from which you exited, but get credit for the side you exited from. The Cat. D-2 is the second dive flow on Cat. D; single instructor release dive with 360 turns. In this case, inverted spins. The bottom-end is the sequence that must be mastered on each catagory/level for the pull sequence. On a Cat. C main-side, if the "student" does not wave off, a COA or altimeter tap at 5,400 is given. No initiation of pull, a pull signal is given at 4.9. Slow, no, or incorrect response by the student, redock and assist. If the student fights assist, pull ripcord, turn ~180 towards the head and track. On the reserve-side Cat. C, pretty much the same, although you redock after the main has redocked, then continue to give pull signal and simulate a ripcord pull by taping the main lift web (or what's designated by the evaluator) and ride through the deployment before tracking away. Again, 180 turn towards the head. The tap out must be after the main-side has pulled for the student, or below 4, but above 3.5 which is the hard deck. For Cat. D, at 6 thou, signal no more turns. At 4.9 a wave off prompt. Slow, no, or incorrect response, freeflown pull signal, then redock and assist. Fights assist, pull ripcord and ride through deployment. Again, 3.5 is the hard deck, below that game-over. As a rule of thumb, the ripcord belongs to the student from 5 to 4. Below 4 it's yours. If not pulled by 3.5, an automatic unsat. Hope this helps, Shark

That's what it's all about! It's all good!

Dude, I see a dz.com record attempt. Looks like we might have an East coast, West coast thing going on. If you guys break the current 10 way, it would make our Perrisian attempt this Memorial Day that much bigger and better! Good luck to you guys and and have safe sex; I mean have fun and be safe. I can't wait to read the After Action report.... Yours in the West, Shark

Bill, Congratulations on #1000! I'm a little more than halfway there, and it is a great journey on the way. I have swooped in on a few tandems and love it. I think it puts the tandem passenger at ease when they see familiar faces in freefall with them. Blue skies, Mark