Sletzer

ONLY 18 DAYS LEFT TILL........ oh okay, I won't say anything. I think we're gonna owe you guys a standing ovation for wrestling this boogie together. This thing is shaping up to be HUGE. Ladies, be sure to thank upndownshop and the others organizers properly I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

It's all good to buy a rig, just don't buy one immediately. You'll outgrow it really soon. Plus, you probabaly haven't jumped enough to know what type of main you like. If you do buy, buy used. I've been using rig rentals for 75 jumps now, and just bought a rig. Sure, the rentals cost more, but I knew EXACTLY what I wanted in a rig and I've got an appropriately sized main canopy that I'll be jumping for several hundred jumps at least. After you get used to a jumpsuit made for you, you're abilities in the air improve dramatically. I'm still new to all this but I can turn circles (literally) around people with similar jump numbers who jump in street clothes. Nothing wrong with either route you're thinking about. Just don't buy a rig that only holds a huge main you'll outgrow in 40 jumps. I've seen other new jumpers do just that and it ends up costing them waaaay more in the long run. I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

How's it going? I live in Auburn, AL and I've been making the drive to Thomaston every other weekend. I've also been going to The Farm a lot more because I love the people and attitude there. Never been to the one in North Alabama, but I hear good things. I'll be back at SDATL after skyfest in June. Hit me up sometime and I'll have a beer with you at the DZ. Have fun! And don't get spoiled by the King Air and 8 minute rides to altitude, most aircraft take much longer. I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

What's up Harris? I'm at SDATL at least once a month. Was there every other weekend but I'm getting some canopy training at the farm. If we ever run into each other at SDATL we'll have to down a few beers and hear some of Woody's stories from back in the day Good luck with your training! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I'm happy to announce that my first kiss pass was with a twenty-something lady, and it was last Friday! (You know who you are). At first when I started to pull her in she just looked at me, then she realised what was going on and a big grin spread across her face, followed by her puckering up. She even leaned in halfway to meet. Anyway, I didn't even think about it, it just kinda happened. No old man kisses here. Btw, if that happens in freefall they'll have to try and land with a broken nose I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Wow, now THAT'S some funny shit! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Is your avitar a shot of a tandem student barfing on the ground? The picture is so small it's hard to tell. I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Hmmm, fall to death or gored to death? That's a toughy. My brother is stationed in the Azores where they have a toned down running of the bulls. Guys hold the bulls on long ropes or something like that. That way the rope can trip you and then you get trampled/gored. Planning on doing it next year More bragging rights if you run with the bulls, but as far as personal satisfaction, I'd have to say the trail. Ah, f*ck it. If I go to Spain during the right season I'd do both. Any if I'm still alive and my ass doesn't have any extra holes from a bull horn, I'd even go skydiving. I hear they have a huge DZ called empo or something. So who's with me? I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I agree, it definately didn't look like he was clipped in. I would do this hike in a heartbeat, but I must admit, I'd probably clip in on the "balance beam" parts. And any really sketchy areas. As far as the rest of the trail, I wouldn't clip in either. Hey, anyone want to go to spain?

Congrats Andy! I was wondering why you were following those newbies all over the DZ last weekend. I thought they were hiding cookies or something.... I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I KNEW I should have been jumping a fully elliptical canopy 40 jumps ago, what was I thinking?!?! I've got a velo on the way now. I hear 21 cell canopies pack big so it shouldn't be a problem to put a velo 79 in my container I've had a sabre 150 in. This is going to be great. I'll finally be able to showcase my Skillz for all the ladies at the dropzone. Only 28 more jumps to go and I will be an official Skydiving BADA$$! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support. *bows* I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I'm pretty sure he meant it included more coached jumps and video on those jumps. Did you read the other thread? I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

NICE dude, nice! That bit about the weatherman made me laugh out loud in my office. I've learned that I can now sleep (pass out) almost anywhere: be it a concrete hanger floor, a field, the back of my SUV, a chair, or if I'm lucky on top of some random girl.

I really like what you guys are saying about simply asking the customer if they want to participate and learn, or not. That should help to seperate the carnival riders from the potential students. One funny thing I've noticed in my short carreer is that our dedicated AFF I's that also do tandems when we get busy almost always give the customer the chance to pull. I guess they're more comfortable with letting the new person have some responsibility, and in their own ability to react to a potential problem. A buddy went tandem with two different instructors about a month apart, and he felt much more safe around the guy that let him pull and walked him through it a bit more (the AFFI). As far as letting them flare, I'm glad you guys are the TI's and not me, that shit would scare me to death! Btw, my first skydive was a tandem. The TI didn't teach me shit except to arch, and to play with the toggles up high. Still, I always wanted to jump again- it just took my father wanting to do an AFF jump to get me motivated to go back. After that, I was hooked. Now I've spent the majority of my $$ & time in the last 7 months skydiving. Did the lack of participation in the tandem dissuade me from jumping again? No, I jump all the time now. Did the tandem jump "fun ride" put the burning desire to jump in my soul? Not really. But still, it was a good into to the sport. I wish the TI would have given me the chance to do more on the jump (aka deploy), and hell, I don't even know if I would have asked to do it. But it would have been nice to have the option. As a newbie, I still think tandems are a valuable service, and can lead people into the sport. Give them a chance to set their learning level, why not? I would respect any TI's opinion about how to conduct a jump. Just please don't stifle someone's desire to learn. Anyway, cheers for doing what you do guys! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

This is why http://www.guzer.com/videos/familyguy_wonderwoman.php I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Bullshit! This is a better way to quit smoking! http://www.zippyvideos.com/9753520164431736/snl-the_rock/ I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

CHEERS!

I'm still using student gear while experimenting with different canopies and I've definately had a few pinch the tendon you're talking about. I'm assuming no hard openings, just real disomfort while hanging in the harness. If you're hanging forward a bit and you try to move your legs up or down, the tendon tightens and the legstrap digs in. I know it sounds weird, but just don't wiggle your legs around much and that tendon won't tighten, and the strap won't dig in. Not really a general solution, but it helps. Oh yeah, and try a different rig if it has the size canopy you need. Some rigs just aren't going to fit you well. I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

That looked like a good opportunity to kite your canopy! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

My first experience with The Farm was trying to book a tandem for two buddies for a bachelor party. Hans really went the extra mile in getting us up before noon on a Friday in the Super Otter. We stayed in contact in the days leading up to it because of questionable weather (and pitiful forecasting). Turns out Hans is a better weatherman than the weathermen :) He made a promise he would get us up before the bad weather, and he did, even with a load of only 8 in a plane that holds 23. I was impressed that he would do that for us, especially with my home DZ being elsewhere. My buddies had a great time on their tandems, good video and pics. I did a two way with a random girl jumper, and we had a blast. Needed water training, the guys jumped in the freezing cold pond with me and knocked it out. They didn't expect or ask for any sort of payment, so they got two cases of beer ; ) I was floored by the willingness of the staff to bend over backwards to help out visiting jumpers. Also, as an outside jumper, I felt included and accepted as soon as I came back to fun jump. I never did a solo jump without someone offering to get me in their group. People were very willing to go out of their way to include others. Believe me, that's not the case at every DZ. Everyone had a great time on the dives, and while hanging at the DZ. The rigging loft was impressive, and the layout of the DZ was nice. One warning though, new jumpers take care when landing here. There are trees around the LZ, and if you try to land by the hanger, you'll be in trouble. Better to park it out in the open and walk than get caught in a tree! The good news, they've always got a truck puttering around to pick up jumpers. Despite that one concern, it's a great place to jump, great facilities, planes, and incredible people. I liked it so much, I'm seriously considering making Skydive The Farm my new home DZ.

no kidding, that song was in my head forever, and they only say it once in the commercial! I like the dicovery bit, now someone just needs to figure out who was doing the BASE and where? I'll wait here while someone figures it out I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I was thinking the same thing when he started tumbling back toward the earth. I just heard on G4tv that they've greenlit at least one more sequel. They said something about Downey Jr's trainer wanting 5 months to get him back in shape Anyway, I liked the movie, and would recomend it to anyone. I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

That's cool, maybe I'll catch you guys on the heli jumps (load 6) or the high altitude jump

Hmmm, I think the money for the special jumps is due on May 4th, guess I should go ahead and send a check. Is anyone else ballooning? I'm on Hop 1 @ 6am on Friday, so who's coming with me??!??!! I can't wait for that shiznit! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251