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I repeated the release dive twice and was getting frustrated. My instructor told me that I was putting pressure on myself to perform. And that I should take the mental energy that I was expending on that and instead use it to relax and focus on the fun I was going to have and to think about what was going to well on the next jump. I passed the next jump. During the debrief he said, "Embrace that skydiving is a process of incremental improvements. Focus on the fun and the positive and you'll have a better time." This advice continues to sever me well in my jumping. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

Skydive Paraclete XP aka Raeford has a Skyvan and a Casa. They are mostly used by Fort Bragg for military training. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

Kapowsin is a USPA group member DZ. Meaning they have pledged to offer first jump courses taught by USPA rated instructors and to follow all USPA Basic Safety Requirements. You'll be in good hands. If you don't fully understand something keep asking questions. Good instructors will not rush things and will take all the time you need to learn and be ready to make a skydive. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

If you aren't causing issues for anyone behind you, one thing you could have done is to hold in brakes. You would not have covered as much distance following them waiting for them to turn downwind to base leg. Once they turn onto base leg you can wait a few seconds and make a braked turn for your base leg. Using the brakes this way creates more horizontal and vertical distance between you and them. By the time they turn base leg to final you'd be about half way through your base leg. Then a braked turn onto final when you're ready, hands all the way up letting it fly to come in for a nice stand up landing. And those guys you gave that extra space too are probably already walking back to the packing room. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

A point is a completed formation with all grips correct. Pieces is a transition between two points (formations) where a part (or parts) of the original formation stay linked while flying to the next point. In a random during the transition between two points all grips are released. In a block during the transition between the two points a piece or pieces are held and flown back together. Or one piece is held while the other people fly to their next slots. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

The length of your arms and how high you want to be able to reach on the risers is more of a determining factor than how tall you are. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

I agree with everything the others have said. I'd also add if you ever decide you want a canopy with more performance you don't have to downsize. There are plenty of manufacturer offerings in a 170 that are tapered/ semi-elliptical or even fully elliptical. And they all have great demo programs. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

When you start getting complacent due to being current. It doesn't matter if you do 100 or 1,000 a year, overlooking things like gear checks and other BSRs is never good. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

If you need a bigger main compartment get the I 34 the same reserves fit. Or contact Velocity to ask about that Angelfire fitting the I 33 diamonds are a dawgs best friend

Brilliant Pebbles has a basic jump counter. And works great for audible alerts. The X2 digital they are developing will have more jump info tracking abilities. Audibles should be considered back ups and waiting for beeps is no substitute for using a visual altimeter, training your eyeballs and being altitude aware. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

What does your canopy coach say? X2 Also why not demo the canopies you're interested in? diamonds are a dawgs best friend

If I was # 2 to land I will always follow the 1st guy. If I decide to land the other direction it will cause a chain reaction of confusion for people landing after me. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

Yes video is a great way to help with learning. However it needs be outside video. This provides the most benefit since it shows everything that you are doing from the outside perspective. All wearing a camera in the formation shows is what the wearer sees and is of little use for effective debriefing. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

I use Sena SMH10R motorcycle blue tooth radios for 2 way CRW. I like it because the control unit is very small and can attach to the back of the helmet greatly reducing snag potential. I think radios are great for two way training. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

See if you can set up some time at the end of a jump day to talk to an AFF instructor at the DZ. Discuss specifically what your fears are: be it gear, freefall or landing a canopy on your own. Whatever it is maybe some more knowledge and understanding will help with your decision. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

For canopy flight patterns- get with your instructor at the DZ, go over to the aerial photo and have them help you plan your pattern. Based on jump run, the spot and the days winds. Also if your DZ uses those diagrams that wingsuiters hand to the pilot to show their flight path, you can use one of those to plot your pattern. One thing you can do at home is to pull up the aerial of the DZ and study the land marks. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

What canopy does your buddy have? And does he have any CRW experience? Do either of you have CRW emergency procedure training? "sitting on canopy nose and hit friends end cell with my body side"- has you on top as the pilot. In other words- you are the one getting docked on. This is a bad idea for two reasons- 1- if your buddy has no CRW experience he does not know how to line up to dock properly or safely abort and try again from a bad approach. 2- if you don't have any CRW piloting experience you don't know what a good approach looks like and how to dodge when your buddy comes screaming in at you from a bad angle. Add micro lines to the mix and it goes from bad to worse when you wrap, even if you're wearing thick pants. As for "standing on canopy top skin"- you are in a good position to get "center punched". Wrapped because the guy below can't see you, hits brakes or rears and rises up into you. I highly suggest finding a coach or CRW camp and getting proper instruction. It's the best and safest way to try CRW. If you get hooked you can worry about a CRW canopy later. If you choose to ignore this and rely on "flying carefully and safe enough" please don't post the carnage video and give CRW a bad name. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

Do not install a main or reserve canopy larger than the sizing chart calls for as there are serious safety issues that may arise from “overstuffing” a main or reserve container. If you choose to go against the manufacturer info above and risk it that's up to you. a J4.5K would be a better choice of container for that canopy diamonds are a dawgs best friend

If I was coming off a long lay off, I'd demo the S Fire and Sabre 2. And leave the Stiletto for the future when I have gained more canopy skills. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

Don't land there. That answer may seem flippant but it's easy to accomplish. Don't just show up at the DZ, be a green light lemming and then just follow the wind sock on landing. Instead- know the spot, jump run and winds for the day. Based on that look at the overhead photo and figure out the area you'll be opening above. Then look at all the bad and good places to land off if needed between that area and the peas. Have a plan and know your outs. Don't fly over anything you don't want to land on. And remember the landing priorities in order: 1- wings level, 2- area clear of obstacles, 3- into the wind. Better a down winder in a clear field than hitting a fence into the wind. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

I exclusively do CRW and do not jump any type of RSL. Reason- To avoid firing the reserve pilot chute into another dawgs good canopy it is safer to fall away before pulling silver after cutting away from a wrap. Additionally- I don't jump a tiny rig with an overstuffed reserve compartment and I deploy 2 seconds out the door giving me a lot of time/ altitude to deal with an opening malfunction. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

Regular tennis shoes, comfy but inexpensive ones with low tongue. That way losing one from kicking it off getting out of a wrap is easy and does not cost much. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

To me once a licensed skydiver, always a licensed skydiver. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

Do you hang out after jumping? Back when I started out I found that after jumping pretty much everyone was willing to talk and answer questions. I learned tons about gear, RW, and canopy flight just by introducing myself and listening to stories. diamonds are a dawgs best friend

I know 2 people that wear soft cervical collars to jump due to past neck injuries due to hard openings. They also pack for slow openings and jump canopies with Dacron lines. diamonds are a dawgs best friend