SAMPLEKSample

Sarah Jessica Parker said it all..."I'm one date away from being bitter" Go do a sunset jump...solo...and you remember how good alone can be... I hear ya though! Every disappointment makes me one step closer to becoming a nun...but most skydivers believe that everything happens for a reason...so dont lose hope that when time gives the okay, you will be swooped off your toes!

That reminds me, of this one time... I threw myself into line twists at 1,200 ft...and spinning hard. I was so scared b/c at 800 ft I thought I would be too low to cutaway, even with an RSL. Fortunately, I got out by about 3/400 ft... Students are taught the decision altitude is 2,500 ft...but realistically, how low is too low???

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exiest through any other medium and will be lost. -Martha Graham

Its a sad thing... and so is trying to understand the media...this sport will remain unique for obvious reasons, and it could just be our entire lives and we may never see anything but outsiders looking down at us...in fear. But remember that no part of this sport is for anyone but us... We will keep going strong, both united and so solo...

LOL...mine was wose-8 grand too. Didnt trust the altimeter

Elsinore is like 4 hours drive from Vegas... Perris is 20 min from elsinore... and eloy I THINK is like 6 hours? Not for sure though. That area is definitely the place to go, though...2 of the greatest dz's in the world, and wind tunnels on the way!!!!

That guy is so not full of shit! Sorry...its in Elsinore...for sure...- cant wait!!!!

I pmed you, but are you gonna be at the ranch??? We need to talk!

Chill girl!!! You will so get it, by your words, you are in love with the air, so trust working with it when you land. Yes, look up, that was my biggest problem, but look forward and up, the whole way in on final...breathe...and talk to your canopy from the moment it opens to your landing...you control it! -Betsy at elsinore taught me that... I am still such a rookie, but fortunate to watch the finest canopy pilots...some of which are at perris...I realized these are your wings...all yours....yes you can!

I think a tandem...but if they never go back??? Just simply, when they get IT

I think there are few people who can share life without directly sharing the passion behind skydiving... some make it b/c there is a level of respect... then so many pretend or try... not everyone was meant to fly...but ones who do...its difficult to push away something so strong when you were always meant to skydive! Independence is such a quality among us...its tough, but so beautiful!

Is Thrillseek the username??? Thank you so much for your help

Whos the whuffo?

One night I had a dream about my dz...but it was an insaine asylum...noone understood us! People say were nuts? Imagine if we couldnt fly free in the air???

For those of you who truly believe that hell is here on Earth...wrong...here is the proof...we dont have to chose between the two most wonderful feelings in life!!!

My first kiss pass was so awesome! Halloween, cloudy sunset...with the moon on one side and the glowing sun on the other, and the colors reflected off all the ocean to the puffy clouds through the mountains...a sit jump, just when I went to my belly, so did he...ready to track, but he grabbed both hands, and i was kissed going through a dark thick cloud...ahhhh...talk about a jump you never want to let go of!

Hi everyone! I am writing a book about life, etc...but learning to skydive and it saving my life consumes this book. In the end, I have personal quotes from skydivers about the passion/feeling behind the sport...it was just my friends in the sport, but I would really love for the outsiders to see as much as possible into the hearts of the ones who commit their lives and why...so any personal quotes, stories, thoughts, with full names and/or sunset pictures would be more appreciated than you can imagine! Thank you all so much...email if better SAMPLEKSample@aol.com... Kelly

I just saw it last night...absolutely hilarious...a must see!!! And the opening scene you all will appreciate!

Having only been to a few dz's, I will always stand by my original home dz, Skydive Elsinore in so cal...from awesome faciilities, to the greatest vibe! The prices are average...but the instructors are top notch safety and fun freaks...everyone taking you in to teach you as much as they can...the greatest pilots in my opinion, teams, great coaches on every category, and the view is spectacular...especially from one of the two twin otters...one would be a fool to walk from a sunset! I have and plan on spending all my $$$ there! Also, it is only 10 min. to Perris...go to that area, and fly at 2 of the best dz's in the country. Best wishes wherever you chose your flight...were all under the same sky!

Quote Vertical separation is definitely no substitution for horizontal...but dont you think they should both be considered???[/reply

I think you brought up some major safety points....myself being a low time jumper with just over 100 jumps, I am nervous about these things...organization and rules should be established. But, upper winds change throughout one day...ask the pilot yourself what the winds are doing and in what direction...pass it around, this will help give an estimated time in seconds, but seconds should not determine the group seperation. If there is miscommunication of upper winds, even if not, you should be looking all the wayout of the plane to check your spot and watching the group ahead of you until they are at a 90 degree angle. If they are pulling higher you give them some extra time, and if you are pulling high, let the group know behind you... and unless you are last out of the plane, you have no right to say you are pulling at 3,000 and pull at 4,000 b/c you made a poor spot or a poor call to jump...you make your decision and stick with it...the group behind you is trusting you.

Mentors tell us to keep our cool and slow down for a reason! We finally feel confident under a canopy, and without downsizing too soon, this gives us a tremendous comfort and confidence to have too much fun, too soon... on my 99th jump, I still fly a 170 even though the wingloading is not even close...I feel it is safe to have a lot of fun under this canopy with sharp 360's and low turns that wont eat up a lot of altitude, giving me speed thus lift, but in a way, pretending it is a high performance canopy for a rookie like myself. On my 99th jump today, I was set up early giving myself time for a few 360's before heading in on my final. So, in full flight, at 1,200 feet, I yanked my right toggle all the way quickly past my hip in hopes to pull out my first sharp 360, but in doing so, all too fast, my canopy flew faster than my body, and threw me into line twists, spinning...while looking up at my new self-inflicted mess, my head was thrown forward and was caught in between my twisted risers and my chest strap which was choking me, and looking at my feet at eye level... Estimating altitude - 7-800 feet maybe, way too low to cut away, so I forced my head out while simultaneously yanking my risers apart, and I was out of the twist, body was stable, and enough time to shake my head, take a deep breath, do a couple s-turns, flare and land. With such a big canopy, and growing confidence, I mistreated the canopy, and it was no longer an extension of my body in flight, but a toy I took advantage of, playing with way too hard. So, from a technical point of view, with a large canopy, turns should be initiated slowly to fly as it should... And the big picture...although this sport is moving so quickly....getting more out of 100 jumps than people did years ago, there are still steps to be taken slowly....you are not competing with your canopy, it is a part of you, and that needs to be respected in order to stay safe in this sport.