wildfan75

The owner of the planes (not a DZO, he only owns the planes, everything else is owned by the Indianhead Sport Parachute Club) has a regular full time job just like the rest of us (and its not in the skydiving industry). He actually lost money this summer because fuel prices were up and he didn't raise ticket prices. Not everyone has the opportunity to do this, but then again, not all "DZO"'s have other full time jobs. Plan a trip to Wissota next summer (I see that you're in Texas so I just assume that you wouldn't be interested in Wisconsin winter jumping). We are truly a club. We are not open with the intent to make a profit. We are open for the love of the sport solely. I know its hard to believe, but they can exist. Absolutely clubs and meccas both have pro's and con's. I felt like a kid in a candy store when I went to Couch and SDChicago this year, but sometimes it's nice to get in that little nap in the back of the 182 on the way to altitude. But seriously, come visit us at Wissota!

At my DZ, first jump students (regardless if they're static line or tandem) have 1st priority. When they're ready to go, they get the planes first, no matter who is manifested. Like stated above, we want to make sure that all first time jump students have a great experience so they either come back, or tell their friends and family what a great experience they had in hopes that they jump too. And we are not a commercial dz, we're a club, so it's not because tandem bring in more money for the DZO. If we don't have enough experienced jumpers, we can't keep the planes flying, and we're not going to continue to have enough experienced jumpers if the first time they jump they have to wait around all day to get a slot on the plane. They don't understand manifesting, and more than likely they made an appointment to jump at a certain time, and expect to jump then, within reason (obviously wind and weather holds are a different subject all together). Does it suck? Absolutely. When you were a student or tandem, did another jumper get bumped so you could go? Who knows, but it could have happened.

It has changed a little, but given inflation, not that much. $230 for 5 static lines $500 for 20 free falls (including gear rental, "coaching" (if you can count having two World Team members and countless other with 1000's of jumps jumping with you and giving you instructing as "coaching"), and jump ticket) So I got my class A license for $730 (and that was April to June of this year (2006) (I had no repeat jumps was as able to get my card signed off on in 25 jumps...no, that is a lie. I did it in 26 jumps. I should have done it in 25 but got talked into doing a four way instead of my check dive on jump 25. When three jumpers with a total of 17,000 jumps between them ask you to be on a 4 way, you really shouldn't say no.) My rig was $1700 (all used, Vector rig, Silhouette 170, PD 160 and a Cypress with 2 or 3 years left on it).

I once checked to see if a pocket knife was sharp by running my thumb up the blade. And yes, it was sharp. Even at age 6 I had my blonde moments. Editted to add: I should probably note that I wasn't checking to see if it was sharp as much as I was checking to see how sharp it was since my dad had just finished sharpening it for my brother.

I'll be at Wissota too! I'll be sure to make a batch or 12 of my jello shots and I'll be sure to stay away from Jamie (I can only handle so many head injuries a month). If anyone wants to join me, I will also be doing the actual Polar Plunge (taking a little dip into the frozen over Lake Wissota). Too bad they won't let me do it naked. Anyone want to start taking bets on if Todd makes it to midnight before he falls asleep?

3:2:0 I was going to stay home but we had another great weekend weather wise at Wissota and had to take advantage of the 35-40 degree weather with blue skies! And after doing my two jumps, it was sooo worth heading out at the last minute (one awesome 2 way and 1 awesome 4 way). And I got to spend a little more time with my SO, which is always...the best!

To the OP: Dude--That sucks. I'm sorry. I should have said that in my original post. I write a novel for each jump so I would be totally crushed if I lost my log book. To LMWB and Spence: Thank you. I take a bow. It was literally the first thing that popped into my head when I was reading it and couldn't help but hit the reply button. Spence: The Shockers pretty much disbanned after this year. Soden moved to Dallas, haven't seen much of Mo, Tallant has been around a little bit, and well, Todd, he lives in the hanger now, so he's always there. Todd will probably go back to Gang Green and then I'm sure (I hope) that some of us newbies create a team next spring/summer, just to get our foot in the door of the competition world and have some fun.

Good night and good weekend everyone. I'm headed home. Im pertty okay to drive. I can definitely make it hte 15 miles home. All highway so it's all good. Thanks for the offers of rides. Maybe I'll take it up later. Have a great weekend everyone! Black skies...(only 'cause I don't get to go to the dz this weekend...only the third time since April and that makes me sad.

NO! I'm a Wild Fan.. I don't give a sheet about football. Hockey is where it's at!! So as long as you're not a Kings, Sharks or Ducks fan...

Maybe chec k with Calvin. Maybe he could forge you a new one. Sorry if this was inappororiate. I'veb een drinking, so mods, feel free to delete. I was jus t sjoking.

I already sai t that.

I always wear my seat belt. Even when i move the car from the driveway to into the garage...habit.

Hey...wait....you'r e from the twin cities...you could give me a ride!!!

QuoteBeing tipsy is nice, it's when you keep on drinking that you have this primitive desire to get naked... reply] And I know aaaallllllll too weell about that desire.

This is not good. We started a Biggest Loser competition at work so I've been eating less and eating healthier things that apparently don't coat the stomach like a good ol' cheeseburger or pizza. And we started the Friday Beverage Cart up again after a few weeks hiatis. My boss brought in some wine and I'm on my second glass (they're like 16oz glasses I think, maybe 20. It might say on the bottom of the glass but I can't tip it over 'cause I'll spill my wine) Where was I? Oh, so I'm on my second glass and I'm getting tipsy, maybe a little drunk. I think I oculd probably handle whiskey better than I'm handlesing this wine right now. Oooh, whiskey is goooood. Wait...I think I had a point. Where was I? Oh, normally it would be all good, but I gotta drive home in like an hour anda half. So I guess maybe I'll just have one more glass. CAn anyone sober cab my ass from work to home in the next hour and ahlaf. If so, I'm so going to crack open the bottle of Grey Goodse that's in the conference room for my co-workers benefit on Sunday. I'll replace it!

I was wondering if anyone was going to notice the clouds. It was a hnp (sort of, had a little delay). Clouds was at about 3200' so minimal ff time. Didn't want to make Todd have to do a low pull

Here's some of my deployment pictures from my 100th freefall. Silhouette 170 Editted to add: Thanks again Todd (L.O.) for the great video (those are his feet).

Cost and the process is very very very extensive and could take years and years and years.

My godmother and her husband adopted from Russia. After three "failed" attempts at having a girl (they have three wonderful sons) the decided not to try for a forth but to adopt. Not sure of the program that they used (they live in Michigan), but they went through some rough times with Jenna and six or seven years later she is thriving (she was 6 when they adopted her). Jenna has definitely brought a lot of joy into our whole family's lives.

If an AFF student goes unstable at pull time, do they not suffer the same consequence as a s/l going unstable while exiting? The last thing going through my mind as the door open on my first static line jump sure wasn't, "Boy, that's low." And your comment about gear is.... I'm done. I give up! B_Dog...Forget anything anyone's said about the benefits of s/l. You should do AFF. You're putting yourself at a fatal risk by doing static line, and you'll be a FAR better skydiver doing AFF. Be sure to have fun and I can't wait to hear about how your first jump went. Later...

I'm not arguing, I'm simply trying to let the OP know that s/l has its benefits too. It seems okay for people to bash s/l, call it old fashion, worthless and talk about all the disadvantages, but when someone talks about the disadvantages of AFF, it's like someone called the Pope unholy. Both methods have their benefits and both have their disadvantages. In another post, I posed this question (sorry, it's long) Judging by the lack of responses to that question in that thread, I guess it doesn't really matter. So why can't we talk about the benefits of both programs, let the person decide what's best for them, and welcome them to the world of skydiving and support what they want to do? I tried my best to stay away from this thread, 'cause frankly the whole s/l vs AFF debate has been hashed out enough, but when misconceptions about s/l start getting posted, I what to be sure that people making their decision on their FJC have accurate info to make that decision. Definitely wasn't trying to argue (I'm a way more passive, non-confrontational person than any of you will know).

Bullocks!!! Sure because us AFF guys are both rich and lazy. You can learn to pack before you first AFF jump if your so inclined. The method has nothing to do with it, if you want to learn it really doesn't matter. True...the method has nothing to do with it but the fact that a dz makes more money sending you on another AFF jump than spending the time to teach you to pack and then sending you up for another jump. There's no money in teaching to pack. Yes, you do need to learn to pack and apparently do it only once to get your class A license. We had a class A licensed skydiver from another dz show up at our dz this weekend. He asked if there were packers available because he didn't know how to pack. And same goes with the hnp. You have to do it once for your class A license. If you do it once just to get it signed off...are you really learning anything?

Yep, 'cause learning to leave the airplane stable by yourself really isn't all that important, especially if there's an aircraft emergency where you have tons of time to get yourself stable You're more likely to learn how to pack and spot with s/l than AFF, which are both as much a part of skydiving (or should be anyway) as being able to do turns, four ways or flips.

3:6:0 Weather was ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN' AWESOME this weekend at Wissota!!! Who can complain about 35-40 degree weather and clear blue skies in Wisconsin the 2nd weekend in December!!!! We got up 43 Cessna loads between Saturday and Sunday. Unbelievable! Plus the road show Saturday was excellent as usual. I think there's going to be at least one quote that has to go into the Wissota poetry book ("Hey Geno...how's the spot?"--OMG, that was funny!)

You could find a used main and reserve. Then your can order a new rig to fit them. Saves you some money.