froggie

zennie, thanks! but you said the secret word.. Voodoo! I closed a voodoo this weekend and lemme just say, It wasnt my happiest moment. So im trying to stay away from that container. geeze, i would never have even considered the wing loadings you recommended. Right now im jumping a Navigator 200. Its the rig that fits the best. THe other student rigs are wayyy to big on me. Ill prolly end up w/ a wing loading a little UNDER (i corrected that :) 1:1, just to be on the conservative side. A 150 square foot canopy sounds comfortable, but ill definitally demo other gear first to see how i can handle it. Im not anxious at all to get myself into some medium peformance canopy. Id rather stick to the rig that is more forgiving. I'd imagine that a 7 cell is a bit more higher performance (?) As any skydiver knows, i cant get everything that i want. So i am willing to compromise certain aspects. Thanks for the feedback. kel Edited by froggie on 4/26/01 09:17 PM.

alright, all this time at the dz has got me thinking of what my options are for my first rig :) I know what i want, i know what i dont want. if you guys have any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated! First off, Im 5'1 and 115 lbs. Im looking for a conservative wing loading~ i can always downsize later when im comfortable. I want something that has soft consistant openings. If if takes a little longer to open thats okay. I like pulling high. Id like the closing loop to be located on the outside bottom flap and not inside the actual container (packing reasons). 9 cell (of course). Zero P or not doesnt matter. Ive packed brand spanking new Zero P's and I know that i can handle em. I'd like a container that is Freeflyer friendly, especially newbie freeflyer friendly. Thanks for any imput! Ive tried searching the designers web sites but its hard to get past the "weve created the best ......yet!" I'm looking for some actual real live experiences. thanks all froggie Email: flyingfrog5@rcn.com

weid14 thanks for the tip. Ill keep an eye out for joe this weekend. sounds like that would be a lot of learning/fun. Will we be seeing you at Xkeys this season? skyslut thats funny that you mention Molly and The Search. Just yesterday I was at the dz and saw video w/ molly from The search. wonder if you mgiht be on the video too....

Pammi, okay, no ex's no children. but heres my thoughts.. if the issue is brought up again, try to deter it.. he says skydiving, you talk about how its taught you how to be safe in all aspects of life. ie: you realize that the children are at a risk when they cross the street, go to school. etc etc. so youve taught them to look out for the little things that can make life dangerous. He says skydiving has taken over your life, you tell the judge how skydiving have brought you in contact with many different people, from all over the world. Give examples. Name countries of people visiting your dropzone. see how more Open to people of different backgrounds you are now since you started skydiving/interminglilng with these people? He says it takes away from your time, you say that its a chance to bond w/ the kids. They love to hear the stories. and more importantly, they are proud of mommy and Merrick (or is it daddy to them?). The kids admire their parents. This is soemthing that lots of children cant do. And since they are proud that their parents "jump outta planes cause their skydivers" (said with wide eyes to the other children on the playground) it makes them feel good.. feeling good results in good self esteem. He says you waste your money that could be spent on the children. You give details explaining how every week you budget. and skydiving comes into the picture only after all else has been paid. He says you can die skydiving, you say : "at least with one parent (merrick) theyde have a better care giver than if they stayed with you!" (sorry, nasty remark. it just slipped out ) in any case pammi, skydiving has taught you a lot. It just might be time to put all that new knowledge to use... You learned it all pammi, and i know that you can use it right! kel

well, after 2 dinners last night, and an odd breakfast this morning, there are now 2 less chickens and 1 less cow. :) froggie

this isnt really a poem but its helped a lot. I was having one of those horrific Im-14-and-life-sucks moments. you know, before I actually had real problems :) in any case, I took out the family bible just to see if this whole "have faith and your questions will be answered thing" would work.. well, i opened the bible and what do I see on the very first page that I open to but a worn out book mark that says: God grant me the serentity to accept the things I can not change Courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference. froggie

"I Remember a Place..." I remember a place when all my thoughts could do was race. They ran around. Causing a deafing sound. They filled my soul and made it so very cold. I wonder how each new day can shed a ray of sunshine into my mind. How each new day leaves me more able to say that I am alright that I no longer must fight the emotions that I felt the hand that I was dealt. Just ten months ago I suffered a blow that warped my emotions One that could engulf the greatest ocean. I think of that chapter and how it wrote no laughter. Each paragraph told only half of the feelings that I felt. and how I delt. Because words can not say why I felt that way. But now I think back and the tears that I lack do not push through. They are no longer new. Now I'm healing and now I'm dealing and now I'm seeing and now I'm being who I once was before. And now I'm closing an iron door. And now all I can say is that Im on my way to being okay I'm on my way to a land that I can say is where I want to be a land that is me.

funny. but i really saw a post (on rec.skydiving?) where somebody was actually selling falsified licenses and ratings and all. I think that he advertised by saying something like "wanna be a certified skydiver for only a couple of dollars..... screw the expensive time consuming courses, buy a fake license. No need to learn the real stuff. you can have your D license in no time...." really shitty post if you ask me. I saw it when i first started the whole "the computer is for skydiving stuff" searches. But in any case, its a really shitty idea. I think the poster of that thread was a complete ass. Sorry, got off the topic but you reminded me of that story and that made me get all angry again about the low class posters that freqent skydiving sites. ps- i know you werent serious. :)

Gus, a question : how do you do that? are the keyboards different over there in the UK? strangely enough, this was something that i always wondered. Like in Japan. what do thier keyboards look like? they use those symbol things. you know, the Japanese art. So do their keyboards look like that? and from what i studied about the Japanese alphabet they have hundreds of 'symbols'. so how big are their keyboards? oh man, this sparked my interest. froggie

mountain man, copied DIRECTLY from the Xkeys web site link about Skydive U..... (this is a direct quote, no plagerism people, im acknowleding my info site :) Do you want more from your jumps ? This is the program for you! Our program teaches you formation skydiving Its a series of twenty 1 on 1 instructional jumps learn to fly you body in only 4 or 5 days You first learn a relaxed body position that gives you to ability to sit still in freefall. You then develop the basic skills needed to move from place to place in order to build formations. The skill areas to be developed in freefall are: exit position neutral box body position forward and backward moves upward and downward moves turns in place sideways moves swooping Prepare First learn the theory of Basic Body Flight though classroom instruction. Then practice the body positions that you will be using in the air. This format eliminates trial and error learning in freefall. Execute Each jump is done with you and an instructor and if you wish, a videographer. The instructor provides a base that allows you to see the results of the movements you make in the air. Learn Each jumps is followed by a thorough debriefing session. Our techniques focus on the positive elements of each jump, while constructively targeting specific areas in which to make improvement. Recognition The Skydive University programs are the learning equivalent of 200 to 300 jumps on your own. No more sitting on the sidelines... You will earn Basic Body Flight and Performance Camp patches that indicate to skydivers that you have the skills to safely make a successful skydive. Think you can't afford to ... You can't afford not to! Im sure that the SU instructors you plan to go to can answer all the questions you have. Thankyou cross keys for the info above :) froggie

shark, now, coming from a girl this is going to sound a bit suspicios. but it was the may edition of playboy i believe. if its like all other magazines then they 'put out' a month a head of time. (couldnt resist :) and i know that the troy hartman/playboy thing was current on easter. Cause my cousin had the issue and little did i know that troy hartman was featured in an article there. So, figure out which article was current at easter and youve got your issue. froggie

this sounds like a job for the not yet created DROPZONE PUB!

pammi, thats hilarious! now, do they have a tape that goes like this: "you can do a PLF landing. You are good at the PLF landings. you wont land on your feet and then flop onto your belly while you slide across the landing area anymore. PLF landings are better. You can do a PLF landing... " ? ROF. cause thats what i need! lol froggie

raiderscott, i cant speak from personal experience, at least not yet, but from what I see, skydive U is a great investment. Over the past few weeks I've watched our skydive U coach Molly working with students. Constantly working with that person. I see them on the creepers, in the mock airplane doorway, sitting in the hanger, walking around in the 'landing pattern' pattern. My point being, i didnt realize how intense the course is until i started witnessing the sessions. I dont know about all SU instructors, but with Molly at least, the training doesnt stop when the beer light comes on. Saturday night she was still working with a student well after dark. It was enough for me, I went to her yesterday and told her im planning on a few skydive U jumps as soon as i finish AFF. Its a good investment, and from the feedback that ive gotten from those who actually have taken some SU instruction, well worth it. Hope this helps. froggie

skreamer, i feel bad for you man. I am a total clean freak. i couldnt go that long w/out a shower! ask stacy, she had a ball making fun of me while at CSS. i cant help it. i like to be clean. :)

okay, the sticker jump story... while down at CSS somebody somehow came up with the idea that we should get some Xkeys stickers and wear them when we jump. A few more conversations down the road and we had discussed making bathing suits out of crosskeys stickers, icarus stickers and skydiving.com stickers.... And jumping in those stickers. We debated whether to make just 'bikini tops' or bottoms too. we settled for regular shorts and a sticker top.. through some intoxicating campfire chit chat we managed to get 'sponcered'... we had 4 jump tickets that some guys were willing to buy for us. (thanks lyle, derrick, guitar guy and ? i cant remember who else!). but then stacy hurt her shoulder, sarah ran out of money, and i wasnt about to climb on a plane, willing to do a sticker tandem w/ big daddy walt, at least not without the girls. I shoulda anyway, we were able to secure a tandem rig for no fee, and the JT's were sponcored.. i really should have! damnit. oh well, sticker season is apon us, will try for this summer! froggie

i believe the 300 way thing may be correct. i know that one was attempted but it didnt make it.. the pics can be found at http:// skeff.com just gotta breeze thru some pages. youll find it.

whooooo heeeeeeeeeeeee!!! glad you had a great day today! and it costs less than you expected.. seems like youve got everything working out for you. pretty cool. BTW... that sticker jump that never took place at CSS has been reschedualed for sometime this summer. If you ask nicely we might hold out until your visit :) hehe froggie

ive gotta agree w/ donna, in part.. The news, whether it be good or bad, should be "front webpage" news. If the whuffos stumble on our sight and fail to read beyond the fatalities stories, then theyre not really reaching out to discover all that the skydiving lifestlye has to offer. After a long, fun filled day at the dropzone my mind is usually totally fried. Im reflecting back on the good times had by all. A Reallity check (read: fatality story) brings my tired brain back into focus. Its a constant reminder of what we risk when we jump... or (lately) even board a plane. I do agree though, that the articles are often a messy arrangement of non factual events. The folks here at dropzone.com come from a variety of places, i think that weve got a hell of a lot of areas covered. So how about this.... An article goes up... a jumper local to the fatality hears the whole story, the factual story. This story is debated in these threads.. any conflicting information is sorted out.. When the facts have been brought to the surface, and a true to the event article is written it is made as a link from the front webpage story... So we click on the inital story, read the whuffos view (often distorted) just to find a link to a story that better explains the fatality or injuried story.. Its going to take some work, and none of us knows where were gonna be the one contribuating, but this is a solution to our constant "those damn whuffos dont know shit! "the parachute failed to open?!!?!?!?" complaints. Give it some thought guys, and bossman, what do you think? froggie

pyke, head is absolutely right. Quincy is not based out of any dropzone. It is near Chicago and occurs only once a year. I believe the dates this year are from August 3 through August 13th... I could be wrong on the exact dates, but I know that it is 10 days long. Quicy is held at a small airport. From what I was told, an entire dropzone is created.. Tents are set up, there are seperate spots for campers/RV's, tents, parking lots for vehicals. An entire tent the size of 2 football fields just for demo gear stands and other buisnesses... A few different landing zones, lots of different aircraft.. From the stories that I was told, I can only imagine that its like an entire skydiving town is created on massive amounts of ground.. Hope this helps. froggie

fallnangel. D is right, the minimum is 50 jumps. I know cause i was told to get my ass on a lot of loads so that im Quincy eligible this year :) As much as I would love to go... I heard stories of last year. Crazy amounts of skydivers (6,500+) and aircraft.... It seems like sooo much. Im not sure if i would be ready for that without many jumps. I dont consider 50 the magical number for quincy. I consider my level of comfortableness in the weeks before to be my judgement. but in any case, if im ready, you can bet your ass that ill be there! whoo hee. Big Daddy Walt is taking the RV out there again.. sounds like it would be amazing :) froggie

josh, you walk onto the dz w/ a case of beer, ready to do some drinking (after the beer light has come on of course!) and you shouldnt have any problems finding somebody to share your stash with. Hell, at least you wont if im around. Jimbo's still my favorite person for that case of Carona he delivered to my tent last week (thanks sweetie!) so, get the beer, and you just might become some young girls favorite person :) (jimbo rocks!lol) froggie

mountainman hey. weve had this conversation before but here it is again, all summed up. The amount of time it takes you to be ready to pack w/out supervision depends on a number of factors. 1st- how often can you get to the dz to practice? 2nd- how easy is it for you to find a variety of different jumpers w/ different rigs to let you practice and teach you? because, like everybody else has said, thers a lot out there to know, and different techniques can really backfire on different canopies. 3rd- naturally, how good are you at it? presently, while im learning to pack there is another person there trying to learn. But hes having an extreamly difficult time getting the concept of it all down. Hes at the point now wheres hes just frustrating a lot of the staff cause they work and work and work and work some more with him to teach him and hes being 'thick headed'. (he doesnt follow instructions well) not saying that this is you, but some things are just naturally easier for others while harder for the rest. 4th- this is by no means sucking up, but are you able to jump right in and really observe an experienced person (say a rigger?) pack? Its the ones that show that they are truely interested in learning that get the best one on one lessons. 5th- can you consistantly get out there & learn/watch/listen/ practice? cause just like all other aspects of skydiving, currency really does have a lot to do with increasing the learning curve. I havent known how to pack for that long at all. But im out there at least 4 days a week practicing. Even if somebodys in a rush to get on the next load (jm/instructor etc etc) i still watch. And ask a lot of questions! this part is important. you can be told all the info in the world, but if you dont put it into your own words, then it wont stick quite as well. Ill be packing this summer, but the amount of actuall practice time/ instruction time i will have by then will be extreamly high. Just get into the habit of doing the same things every time you go out to the dz. Practice your emergency procedures. go through your jump run. review your malfuctions. Observe the wind patterns. DO gear checks. ANd practice your packing. hell, if im gonna be at the dz all day, you better believe im doing all the above plus some while there! ITs just like doing your gear check in the same order EVERY TIME. if you do it every single time, then it becomes routine. in any case, good luck. hope you figure something out. froggie

sangiro, hey! i found this post a few days late... but in any case, if im doing my math right, and it is actually about april 20th today (maybe 21st?) then you should be about ready to be leaving DC and hitting New York. Ya know whats between DC and NY dont cha? Besides a bunch of us yankees theres Xkeys! Located just a couple of hours from NY city. :)The 'official' Season opener is next weekend (28-29), but that wont keep us from getting full loads up this weekend too! But seriously, if youre in the general area, stop on by! froggie

skyslut, i bled in freefall before. A tiny surface cut, caused by my instructors fingernail. Its not like it gushed blood or anything, afterall it was only a little nick. But as soon as it started to bleed i felt it. It was one of those annoying cuts on the knuckle. the ones that actually hurt. Under canopy it started to trickle down my hand. That was pretty funny. Pull, 5 second count. canopies square, sliders down, steerable. Head for the dz. lick my hand (wasnt wiping my blood on a community jumpsuit!), turn, lick hand, let the canopy fly, lick hand.. you get my point. froggie