Kami-kaze

Yeah, OP dude definitely hang in there! Teachers are students that get paid! Isn't that a privilege! In your case, the student is paying you so you are in the customer service business, too. At least you are not going to end up like some fuk who thinks, I'm The Instructor Skygod ! Too much ego in this sport. You can also consider this, one is not getting That quality education that makes one qualified to really teach...so at least make it a good memorable experience for your paying students.. cheers

I saw a TV program that described Heathrow UK as the worst... Like, the baggage handlers had keys for all the Samsonites. I wouldn't put anything valuable in checked baggage.

One can predict how oneself will react to an incident and therefore set a direction, only if one understands the own self. Most of the time people are so concerned about everyone else to a point they thinks people are predictable. Meaning in theory if you an see the patterns, you can see the potential outcome. But there is no measurement to human greed and insecurity ... that's why thing are the way it is now.... boo To answer your Question, yes. Check out on the greed and insecurity factor and we can see our future...

When I was doing AFF in Coffs Harbor Australia, I was given one of 'em speeches. I was told by other instructors to put up with the boss, that he had scared off so many students with his talk, and when it happened to me I thought, "Fuck this I am going to take my business somewhere else" I went to Nelson in NZ and never regretted that decision. Some people shouldn't be teachig before they learn some social commonsense beforehand. It's not high school, you don't have to go thru shit like that.

Hey, if you like it enough sooner or later you will be back at it. If you find something better to do, good on you. I think it's just hard for anyone to be "immobilized" and that's a challenge. Apart from that, just get used to breaking your bones and feel lucky it's not too serious, THAT would be a major challenge. I picked up snowboarding last year and fractured my wrist after 12 days and this year fractured my elbow after 8 days and can't wait to be going. That makes it 5 in 6 years with one of them I didn't know it was broken. And one is from a canopy landing. So, if you can't cope with the idea of being laid up, do something that suits your lifestyle better.. cheers

If you are lucky to get a second hand one that suits, I'll go for that. I have a second hand Voodoo 1 which hasn't been mod because it's not giving me problems. It's really comfortable. I have a Wings I want to sell when I get around to it (it's at a distant location) because it is not comfortable. It's hard and flat like I got a wooden plank on my back. Sandy's rig are so much better for me. I reckon you should just try them on, ask people your size if they let you just put it on before you decide. Some leg pads are not as comfty as others.

Man...it's a beautiful place! The mountains, yummy food, great snowboarding ! Yeah, Foern (wind) and local meteo can get tricky. So having a high w/l is essential to get some penetration and mountain swooping experience would be a must. Me? I'd love to do it but not ready, yet. Fractured my elbow snowboarding, too. Haven't got that experience on w/l 2.0 That will be 65 for me. I am envious...

I am living in Germany now, but when I was in Australia few years back, I flew to USA just because it is te Mecca of skydiving. I still believe that one gets the most professionaly orientated instruction there. Man, it's easier for you guys to travel to the DZ's living there so you can attend courses...and you do have more skydiving population base to educate potencial instructors. cheers

I put mine into B licence category because we just don't get enough canopy training during our A's. We are just fully occupied to fly and land at this stage. At about 50 jmps, there are things we can aim to do. I think this is when it's great to do a canopy course. In Australia one has to do this B-REL jumps (relative work with instructor) to get your B's and you need B to do cRew course...So it is compulsory to do this. I'd rather do a compulsory canopy course to get my B's and from a safety point of view it makes more sense. I can understand anything mandatory is a downer but in this case... I think it is necessary to train the trainer as Pop's says, cause not all instructors are good canopy pilots. Especially in Australia. Another thing is we get cocky after about 2 years, 200jmps whatever.. Like when you get your driver's licence, we are quite careful in the beginning but in our 2nd year we might have an accident, you know what I mean... So, I reckon it's good to do an advanced canopy course about that time. People who has done 2 in this post is spot on! Well done guys! BE A SAFE COCKY

Try Safire 2 I weighed about 145 with gear and was renting a Safie 2 180 when I was a student. kept on renting the same gear when it was available, but also tried Sabre1 170 (which I didn't like) Sabre2 150 a few times...I llke the Safire2 better so I got a Safire 2 139 (wingloading approx 1.0) at about 40 jmps. Some people made a big drama out of it, but the familiarity of the Safire2 I was flying as a student won my day. More importantly, get professional canopy instruction.

Additional Info on how different things can be in OZ compared to USA... a) no one does downwinders...to a point when I did one they said "so, it can be done.. " b) Jumping on cloudy day is allowed. You do a cloud jump course which involves reading a piece of paper and signing it at the manufest, and you are on the load.. c) There are E, F licenses that the only purpose is the Australian skydiving federation makes money out of issuing (and by tickling peoples egos for having it) on top of a already high cost of membership. good one..

JoshDog once told me about this beercan kicking at Orange... wow... he told me the story as a tradition/motivation thang

This is great! I have kicked cones and noodles, but this top it.. Every dz should have one

I think I paid 70~80 at Eloy. I was the last man out so I went 2000~2500 and just landed in the desert. Loved it.

I don't like to think that the guy above have seen me, and hope he's going to track away in time. It is a nigtmare if it happens so low like you said. I suppose I'll track out of the situation and go reserve if necessary. I avoid that situation and start getting ready at 5000. Back track is great but one needs to pracise a lot before you can actually use it for deployment. Barrel roll is a good start I reckon.

check airspace (down, left, front, right, barrel roll to check up and tail) and waveoff. yep, I give myself plenty of time...

I reckon that one should recognize that not all jumpers have the same skill levels and they we all should make way for the less-experienced. The FMD rule as depicted here for Eloy doesn't do that. In fact, it does the opposite. If they were at all concerned about the youngsters, they would have the hot rods landing out away from the designated pattern when they wanted to be "cool". How any of this relates to skill vs downsizing I don't know where you're coming from on this wrto FMD. I asked what you reckon about the confusion when FMD goes apeshit. what action to take. Like Bill said we can't have people going in all directions. As I said, people have pre-determined set of values and that creates a problem to understand others. I'll restate that I don't have a problem with FMD. I don't see why being a less experienced skydiver would have it. For me, as a less experienced skydiver myself, "The confusion when someone breaks this rule" overloads by brain. The security here is everyone is going the same way. The skill level is relevant here because if you have it then downwinders are not a big deal. So I asked what is the common sense upper limit for the first man to do downwinders. Then there are not so much dislikes about FMD. I see this is a composite problem. The newbies and experienced who doesn't like downwinders are combining the problem with FMD. And then people started talking about the problems they have that is associated with piloting, but it is not the problem really with these two landing systems. One cannot fly with targt fixation, and one has to look up, down and around all over...and one has to do that from the beginning. Good habits come early. It doesn't come from being in the sport for a long time and surviving. That might just be luck because you can get yourslf killed for doing everything right. Eloy has a student landing area. You don't have to be a student to land there. Some people actually seem to be embarrased or explain themselves to land there which is strange. One doesn't have to impress the others by landing in the main area or near the packing shed. You can land on the desert side. There is clearly a left and right hand approach established there. cheers I hope you understand my Jynglish.

The conflict is created in ones brain, and by the value it adhere to. Both systems work only if you make them work. I can see in a predetermined case if someone lands different, it's only going to be one off, the the rest can go predetermind. You don't need much brain for that...but then people coming from a dz that does no downwinders, or people who has dislike about it go to a different dz like Eloy, they are a risk, and then there wil be talk about how dangerous that dz is, but actually they just haven't got the skill that is really important and downsize their canopy. A dz like that should make efforts so that people can practise crosswind and downwind when suitable oppotunity arise. I think people can start practising this from low jump numbers. In a FMD the confusion created by the one who doesn't follow this rule can become kaos , so we need a rule what to do in this situation. 1) Still follow the FMD....maybe someone has only seen the change of direction and thinks that's the correct direction? 2) Follow the change of direction and make that the post-set derection and everyone follows? I think that may be the issue that needs to be discussed. what do you reckon?

Great advise eveyone! I have problem with my hd, too. Someone said to me about my chin jutting out so pull them in, like she was telling me I can move forward and back with chin movements ....is that true? I do remember once a coach pushed my forehead ... I like the idea of getting coaching every 5 jmps. and I never heard of doing it in the pool cheers

So, if you are the first man down and want to do a downwinder, intentionally or not, how strong wind would it be acceptable? I mean if I am going to do one intentionally I'll check there is no one too downwind and low so he won't be able to make it. I agree 15 kts it a bit too much, but it's good to have occasional downwinders and surprises thrown in. It keeps one aware and be prepared to changes and I think that saves lives.

SKYDIVE ABLE TASMAN @ NELSON because it's sunny, home feeling, nice view (it's located at the top of south island near the ocean) and friendly, openminded people but expects you to be good at it. Great rw and freeflyers and cRw background staff. I started AFF at coffs in australia and ended up doing it at Nelson.

I don't know about the rig thing while backflying..I back flied before going in a tunnel and the tunnel really helped... I kind of think that the rig makes a hell of a lot of difference in sitflying. O.K. I admit I can't sit in a tunnel, but it is obvious the rig does make you body profile change a lot more in a sit, compared to back flying ...no? wait..I'm not sure about this...maybe belly and back is more easier to maintain position with or without rig.

I am light weight, too. I am better in a stand because that's how I used to fly with the heavies sitting. I think having a range in velocity is higher standard, something to aim for. Like flying with your legs only while sitting. I have spent 300 jmps just sitting. I had a coach and she helped me improve my posture, especially leg position and that helps go a bit faster in normal sit. More faster, pushing down legs a bit more... going slower is difficult, too. I saw a vid of David Gershfield sitflying with 3 bellyfliers doing 4 way RW. wow.. I haven't jumped for a while and I want to get back into it, and I think it is going to take another 300 sitfly and still not be able to do what I want. As for head down stuff, I still need someone to grab me. I reckon it will take thousands of jumps yeah, get happy, get frustrated...do what you gotta do

Ahhhh...very nice

The one that goes that we are made in the image of god. It reminds of our limited intellegence because in reality... WE MADE GOD IS THE IMAGE OF US !