bluefingers

sorry guys, I spoke. It broke. *shrug* Kerry

thanks Wendy! I've been having a lovely time spinning all over the sky ..... Seem to have fixed that little problem now - amazing how relaxing in the air actually works!!! Kerry

so which part of SA? Kerry

"We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents." - Eric Hoffer Something to be said for perseverence?

0:2:2 yaaaay what a beautiful day it was yesterday. Got in two jumps (15 sec delay, and 15 sec + alti). Passed both jumps Next weekend - 20seconds ... yee haa ..... that A licence is almost in reach ...... I owe beer though - first jump in my new jumpsuit, and first jump with a wrist mounted alti ...... (first static line jump was done with a chest mounted alti). Kerry

Small world. That is what my dad told me when I first started skydiving .... followed by "I'm so proud of you!" Kerry

Who me? NEVER! Kerry

Hey Michelle Thanks for this. I know exactly where you are coming from with the whole performance anxiety thing. Glad to know I'm not the only one who struggles. The main thing is that you are not giving up, have no intention of doing so, and you are having a ball. That's what it's all about at the end of the day!

Around the hangar, everyone calls me Spratt. The joys of having a weird surname I suppose.... In the pub, "the official victim" .... basically because I always get nailed in the drinking games ... Kerry

Welcome to my world. Hey Brad, I skydive in Maritzburg. Have the same prob on my 15 sec. I'm fine until I come off the hill, then I go into a right hand turn. Which, on my jump on saturday, became a spin. My suggestion, get video. Then you can see for yourself what's going wrong. That's what I'm going to do on my 3rd attempt at 15sec. My prob is when I come off the hill, I kick and "Grab" air. At first my JM said it was because I was subconsciously scared, even though I tell him I feel fine with the freefall feeling. BUt he's cool, and we chatted for ages. When I told him I felt like I was too vertical after 6 seconds, we worked out that I am trying to force my body into the box, instead of just letting it happen when it happens. Next jump, I'm to do nothing except arch. But I still can't visualise what I'm doing wrong, which is why I'm getting video. I had a prob with my drcps, I got video, next jump it was sorted. Good luck! Kerry

0:1:4 attempted my 15sec delay, again. Can you say spin? But owe beer. First jump on a 230, first time I've seen someone in freefall (The JM followed me out the door, and I saw him for a couple seconds as I turned past him), and I borrowed a helmet (couldn't find a club one to fit) and it had a dytter, so first time I've had a dytter beeping in my ear at pull time. For the record, I went for my pull before it started beeping. And fourthly, first time I reached terminal (however briefly)! (Last attempt I pulled early, this time I finished the count). Kerry

don't know any of those, but then again, I am only 26 Besides, I grew up on a farm in Zimbabwe - sitting around watching tv wasn't an option. Finding creative ways to fall off my bicycle seemed like a better idea at the time.... Kerry

Kerry

popcorn anyone? Kerry

Hi student here! I've done SL progression in SOuth Africa ... currently trying to pass my first 15sec (had a prob keeping a heading on my last jump). Re BOC, we only do the BOC conversion once we have completed the Cat 1 prog (ie done all the turns, spin test, full series, delta, track etc etc). THEN we do the BOC conversion. I can't argue for or against, simply because I don't know .... One thing in your post confused me though .. If I had gone unstable in one of my 10sec jumps, or heaven forbid, one of my upcoming jumps, how is the instructor going to get in and fix the prob if he's looking at me from the door of the plane? (C182 dropzone). Surely it's up to me to be heads up enough to arch hard and get stable, not forgetting the three rules of freefall, of course. As for progressing to the next level, I don't know about other dz's, but at ours, if you don't get it right, you don't progress. It's as simple as that. (Ask me, I've done loads of DRCP's, getting my arch right. And it worked, because although I can't keep a heading YET, I'm stable.) Listo, I've been reading your posts regarding progression and body position with interest. Thanks! Kerry

He's in Cape Town.... back at the grindstone ... Kerry

and Meatmissile lives in Capetown and Erno in Hameenla Finland ... go figure .... Kerry

Hey Mike You'll find that jumps are really cheap this part of the world ..... oh and bypass zim, come straight to Durban .... Kerry

you've just made my day! Kerry

that is just the most ridiculous thing I've read all day. < < shakes head > > Kerry

hmmm ok, born in Salisbury, Rhodesia. Five years in Malawi Back to Zimbabwe, lived in 3 diff towns, for six years. Moved to south africa ... lived in eastern cape, northern province, northern natal, and finally ended up in Durban, Natal. Been here for 8 years, the longest I've ever lived in one town but am leaving at the end of the year. Destination? Who knows ... Skydive at Pietermaritzburg Parachute Club Kerry

wanna borrow my orange boiler suit nac? Kerry

bwahaaaahaaaahaa! Kerry

My mom. She's the strongest person I know, with a sense of humour to match Now, all I need to do is convince her to try at least one tandem .... Kerry

Yaaaaaaay! That's great news! Kerry