laughn_gas

If it were a point of contention, I'd have to say " send me back up and lets do it again " See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Nope. I want to go higher! ( After I get a few more jumps under my belt ) See ya in a minute. Peace out!

QuoteYou should have tracked away from your instructors doing barrel roles and scatting Yakety Sax (Benny Hill Theme song:http://members.lycos.nl/catchytune/yakety.wav ) Thats some funny shit!!!!!!! ILMAO See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Congratulations on your AFF 2! I'm also a student currently on my level 6 and would like to give some of my thoughts on this particular discussion. On my AFP 3 (release dive) I lost sight of my instructor for 5 sec., after my PTOs. I remember counting out loud to my self for what felt like 30 sec. I also recall thinking, is this guy playing some sort of joke on me? I was instructed to pull after 5 sec., so I did. My instructor was well pleased with my actions. So pleased, that he had passed me on to level 4, because I did exactly what I was supposed to do, during that situation. I enjoyed my long canopy ride down, as it gave me alot of time to get familiar with the controls, flaring etc. My point here is that I think you should have failed for not going along with your dive plan. Someday I hope to be a great skydiver. But for now I am a student. I'll be a student for a long while after I get my A license. I will do what I'm instructed to do. I will listen, and soak up as much information as I can. I will always be safe. There is plenty of time to have fun skydiving, and doing what I feel like doing during my dive, after I complete my training. My point here is, just because someone made a few jumps out of an airplane does not make them a skydiver. To me a true SKydiver is mentally, physically and spiritually mature in the sport. Just my opinion. There is alot of information, and opinions on this forum that I would not swear by, until I first consulted with my instructors. But there happens to be tons of experienced Skydivers here, from all over the world, whose opinions I really respect. No matter how they are delivered to me. They poke fun of me when I ask very basic questions... Thats OK.... I kind of get a chuckle out of it myself, when the embarrassment wears off. My point here is that you can get all this information for free, by many experienced Skydivers, from your living room, anytime of any day. Last but not least. There is some great reading material out there. Of course there is the SIM, a definite must. The "SKydivers Handbook" is a great investment. And then there is " Mental Training For Skydiving and Life " by John J. Derosalia. All GREAT SHIT!!! I wish you the best. Be SAFE. See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Sorry for the ignorance, but why can't you have an RSL if your flying camera? See ya in a minute. Peace out!

I almost puked all over my TI on my first canopy ride down. Same thing, he went into a couple of 360's and almost lost my lunch. I have never experienced any type of motion sickness before this. I was concerned, going into AFP, about this being a problem, but it has not happened since. I was told that it was normal, and not to worry about blowing chunks. I have more important things to concentrate on. See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Yeah, thats pretty cool your parents support you. Over the holidays, my parents told me that they forbid me to skydive, and I'm 35 years old.(they really used the word forbid) LMAO!!! Said I was not being very responsible with a family and all. I didn't get too upset, what do they know about skydiving? I've wanted to be a skydiver for as long as I can remember.... I talked about it with my wife in depth, before my first tandem, and she supports me 100%. I guess my point is that it makes the sport even more enjoyable for me when I know that the ones I love are behind me 100%. See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Me! See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Thanks for the input. I was kind of on the fence on whether or not it would be a safety issue or not. After reading that thread, I realize that it would be rather unsafe for us. Thanks. Dan See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Is it possible to listen to music during freefall or is it just to noisy? Do you think it would be a safety issue as far as concentration and being aware?(altitude, surroundings under canopy etc.) I would not even think about it on student status, but after?.....What are your opinions? Thanks! Dan See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Winter is here with lots of ice and snow up north in Chicago. I'm on my level 6 and will continue in the Spring. I would like to use this time off to learn as much as I possibly can, so..... What material would be helpful to study for the winter months? I have read the Skydivers Handbook. Any good dvd's out there to get my fix in, on those cold sunny days? Thanks for your suggestions. Dan See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Hello everyone! I'm having some trouble with some issues and need some of your suggestions. I just failed my level 6 jump and am feeling very dissappointed in my self. I'm going to try to be as accurate as possible so bare with my babble and bad spelling. I live up North so the days of skydiving are coming to a close for the season soon. I planned to go last Sunday and was all excited about it. I woke up in the morning only to have fear about the task I was going to have to do for my next level ( diving exit ). I forced my self to get in my truck and start driving to the DZ. On my way the sky was clouding up and thought I was going to be off the hook. Perfect excuse right? Nope. I forced myself to keep driving. As the miles ticked closer to my destination my mind was racing with thoughts of failure. Failure of my next level. The fear of locking up and not being able to save my own life. Feeling embarassed.... Just thoughts like that racing throught my head. I finally got to the DZ only to sit in the parking lot for 15 min. before I forced myself to go in. I go in to find another student, that I have made friends with, to be there. There was some sort of comfort to that. I was going to talk about some of the feelings I was having only to learn he had a cutaway a week earlier. THANKS FOR MAKING ME FEEL BETTER DUDE! Well,that was it! I'm not jumping today. An hour passed as I was just thinking I was going to BS with everyone. The jump master came in and asked if I was ready to go. And before I could come up with a lame ass excuse, he called manifest and put me on the next load. My stomach dropped and the ol' mind started racing. As my mind was racing,so was I to get my gear and do a gear check, Find my jumpsuit, get all my crap out of my bag and put it on. As I was tripping all over myself to get suited up he asked why I had not done all this when I first got here. The only reply I could come up with was,"Uhhhhh? I don't know." We went over my skydive to find out that I was going to be doing the same dive I had been doing. Very basic, right? Nope! I got myself so worked up all day that I boched it. As we were going over my landing pattern I was confused and saw everything backwards. Mind clearity was not there, Which I think is the most important thing. I do not want to hurt myself or anyone else. Anyhow, I finally got my landing pattern down and up we went. This was the first time I was jumping with this particular jumpmaster and somehow that added to my nervousness. I don't know why, but it did. I jump and got disoriented as I was on my back, but held my composure and arched. My PTO's are awful ( i keep spinning 360 ). And when I did pull, It too was pathetic,but the happiest part of my day when I saw that canopy above my head, even though I had to do alot of kicking to get out of all that line twist. When we got done going over my skydive, he said "lets try it again." Nope dude I'm going home and away I went. I felt I went home more out of self dissapointment than fear. Here are my questions: 1) Are these feelings normal? I know that I'm brand new at this, but will it get to be more of a routine thing? 2) Should I only go on those confident days,and stay home on those days that mind clearity is an issue? Or face it head on. 3) Should I have gone up on the next load instead of bailing out and going home? 4) What about the tunnel? Would it help with my PTO's and backslideing? Will it boost confidence in freefall? 5) Since my season is basically over, do you think it will be like starting from scratch in the spring? Just want to say thanks for the replies in advance. It's great to have a forum here to get others opinions. Again sorry for the spelling! See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Icyhot, I am brand new at this sport also, so i cant give you much advice. The only advice that i can share with you is this....... When you decide that it is time for you to do your tandems be very careful. Because al you'll be able to do from there on out, is think SKYDIVE! As for your age? 18 or 81 JUMP! See ya in a minute. Peace out!

Hello everyone. I'm brand spank'n new at the sport. Made my first tandem jump 3 weeks ago and went right in from the jump to pay for my AFP course. I'm hooked bad! Since then the weather has been crappy and can't seem to make my level 1 jump. I was wondering if anyone knows of anything online or anywhere for that matter, on where to get decent prices for equipment. I realize this stuff ain't cheap but would like to save a buck or two. Thanks! Burg See ya in a minute. Peace out!