SkyPainter

Hi! Although I only have a mere 8 jumps, I HAVE had one messed-up opening, and had to clear several things at once; line twists, brake fire, etc. I think that when they ask you in the plane, "Are you READY to skydive?", what that means is really; "Are you ready to deal with whatever happens once you go out that door?" Good training, controlled excitement, and a prepared mindset can mitigate a lot of those fears. Since I was still in AFF training, i knew what line twists were and how to try and untangle them (did), managed to corral the errant toggle flying about, relocated the DZ, and flew it all back. It was probably the best thing - now, I WANT my minute of so in the airstream, but am ALWAYS alert to to my EPs on the side. Stuff happens, but equipment, training, retraining, and common sense can offest most of your fears. Is it dangerous? Yep. But what isn't? Is it rewarding? YES! And way moreso than driving down the highway close to hundreds of others! Lastly, is it FUN? If the answer is no, then maybe another land-based sport is better. If it is yes, then you need to regroup your training and your head and continue on! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always, SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

CONGRATS! I am SOOOO jealous! But with -20 degree weather these days here, I have to wait to finish AFF in the spring. You should be very proud of an accomplishment that only a fraction of the entire population will ever achieve! Now the learning can REALLY begin! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always - SkyPainter - D1 here I come! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

QuoteHi, ....completed cat b in AFF. In your opinion, do you think it would be better for me to do one jump a month over the winter to not lose currency, OR, wait until March/April when I can start jumping every week. [snip] What do you think? Has anyone been in this situation? *****> Well, I am in the exact same situation here in New England - waiting to jump a D-1 and onward. I am also torn, although I am greatly leaning toward taking a week or so and heading South - maybe Eloy, AZ, or Florida, and jumping the entire week to try to get AFF done. The money is an issue, and the time away is also, but it seems like a reasoable thing to plan, maybe. Otherwise, I will just wait-out the winter, and hit the Wind Tunnel a lot to improve my flying skills. In reality, your skydive is a lot like a minute in the Wind Tunnel. As I climb to altitude, I repeat to myself that "I WANT my minute!" Canopy handling is okay for now, and will come with more jumps. The big student "Sky Barge" I am jumping is okay for now, and very forgiving. I am more concerned with gaining more body stability and control to begin with. My goal is to be the safest Skydiver I can be - both in the air, and under canopy - and learn to have fun with it at the same time! Either way you choose - NEVER QUIT! Blue Skies and Safe Landings Always SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Welcome to the skies, Laweagle! You have just taken the first two steps on a (hopefully) very long, and VERY rewarding road!! As to being a mere 50 y/o, I started my AFF training at age 61! Weather has interrupted things a bit, but I will find a way to press onward to my license. It is one thing to be afraid to die; another altogether to be afraid to live! Join us - play with us in the sky, and truly live! Blue Skies and Safe Landings always - SkyPainter BTW - you now qualify as a P.O.P.S. (Parachutists Over Phorty Society) member! Join us, too! :) Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

****> I can see a DZ.com jump trip evolving in this thread ....maybe we can descend on Arizona en masse! SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hey Russ! Welcome! As far as I know, Both Jumptown in Orange, and Pepperell will jump late into December. CPI in Connecticutt apparently jumps all winter long (within reason). I will be jumping until it is just TOO cold, and then making a trek to, I think, Skydive AZ. Welcome to the New England Skies! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always - SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

QuoteYAY FOR YOU!! I'm in the "it's going to be a long winter" club, too. It's going to drive me NUTS until I can go again. *****>> Well, maybe some of us "Warm Weather" jumpers should plan a trip to like, Skydive AZ, sometime in Jan/Feb. We could continue to jump, go through and maybe finish AFF, and have a nice break from the snow and cold! SkyPainter - seriously thinking about a jump trip in the winter. Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Thanks! But perspectives get shaped by experiences, which in turn can redefine 'courage'. The more experiences one has, the more 'perspective' on life is gained; 'courage' sometimes is simply the recognition that we all - every one of us - will be gone in time. More reality check than courage. Skydiving adds to the experiences of life, expands the realities of living, and helps one redefine thier own version of 'courage'. We are all just passengers on this ship! Blue Skies and Safe Landings Always - SkyPainter, AKA, Chaaaz Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

QuoteNew diver here in Scranton PA and I am stuck at Cat D!! [snip] *****>> RELAX! many have gotten stuck at a level, but pressed on, learned a bit, relazed a bit more, and passed through it! Take it from me! I jumped my B three times, and my Cat C1 twice! A bit if tunnel time, and C2 was like butter......I just kept pressing forward. EVERY jump is a learning experience, and every Category another stone in the foundation of your new skydiving house! You do want the foundation solid, right? Plus, it is flat FUN to jump anyway! Keep going...you will get there. "The true force of the waves is in their persistence." BLue Skies, and Safe Landings Always - SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Well, if'n ya keep on pickin' that there Banjer ya should lose some weight! Hard to eat and play Cripple Creek in Scruggs Style at the same time! (Is that a Gold Tone CC100R in the pic?) SkyPainter - who's been know to pick a tune or three himself! :) Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

CONGRATS! We TOLD ya so! :) and BTW - there ARE no words to describe that first tandem jump! That is part of what makes this sport so awesome....you have experienced something that is, truly, indescribable. AFF will be gnawing at your mind soon. "Maybe get in a CAT A and a CAT B before winter steps in for real." It happens. There are a coupla guys in their 80s who jump at my DZ .... they have a ball! I still feel like the youngster at 61! LOL! I think we are all jealous that we can only get that first jump in once. SO, we keep finding 'other' firsts ...(and buying beer for them!). Relax, breathe again, and WELCOME TO THE SKIES! :) :) :) Blue Skies and Safe Landings Always, SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Enjoy! 1) Breathe 2) ARCH - then ARCH some more! 3) LOOK AROUND in freefall - i always say it is like leaping into a painting! 4) Get the video 5) Hug your TM after you land 6) Realize that you have just done something that the majority of people you will ever know won't - and will not understand why you did! BTW - I am starting on this incredible Journey at age 61 !!! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always - SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. Skydiving has added so many new colors to my life's pallette, and many new brushstrokes to my personal life's painting. I value the opportunity, and the sport in a very meaningful (to me, at least) way. Each person I have come in contact with adds another stroke to my personal painting, and it is getting very colorful once again, after a long period of gray. Thanks to all! Chaaaz - AKA - SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hi Al! Welcome to the Skies! I also may make it out to Arizona this winter for a week or so to keep jumping, stay current, have some fun, and learn some more. Maybe we can jump together someday! I look forward to hitting a POPS or SOS Boogie, too! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always! BTW: There is no bad weather, only bad clothing! Jump! Chaaaz - AKA - SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Well, just got my POPS membership stuff today in the mail! Can't be pissed about anything! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Well, serious time. I have cancer. Not just one, but two types (lucky me!) One has recurred and is hiding someplace - the scan can't see it yet, but it is there. Skydiving has given me the opportunity to spit in the eye of serious disease. Each time I jump, I kick cancer in the nuts. And I really live .... Could be one year, could be ten ...I don't care. Jumping makes me feel whole again, makes me feel part of a community again, and that is priceless to me. SkyPainter - cause jumping is akin to leaping into a painting! S.O.S. #1304 P.O.P.S. #10695 Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Thanks, everyone! This has introduced me to the coolest, most interesting group of people I have ever had the good fortune to meet! Plus, it greatly enhances the living experience! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always to you all! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hey, Van .... does that mean YOU as the Pilot would have to fax a manifest before you could take off? That would certainly slow-down turnaround times! This would never work. The rule is D.O.A. Blue Skies .... and Safe Landings Always .... Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Thanks, Ed! Some people think taking this sport up at age 61 is the decision of a crazy person. They are right! Crazy about living; crazy about the experience, and crazy about the people I have met so far in this endeavor! Was very cold today at the DZ .... very cold at altitude, but got a slot and jumped my AFF C-2 - with some 90 degree turns tossed-in for good measure! Awesome jump, great ride, and smooth landing. Crazy ....yep! That's ME! Blue Skies and Safe Landings Always ... Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Just got my Skydivers Over Sixty membership kit in the mail! I think this is pretty cool! Will be putting the sticker on the SUV in the morning, as I head out to the local dropzone for at least one AFF jump, and hopefully more! Waiting for the POPS kit to come in, too :) I am also glad that the membership and other monies support the US Parachute Teams. So, here is my first post with some actual initials with a skydiving meaning after it! :) :) Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Yeah, but the Air Force is not REALLY the military anyway... so who cares? SkyPainter - Vietnam COMBAT Vet, '66-'67, Mud 'n' Blood, RECON, LRRP. Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

CONGRATULATIONS! And WELCOME to the SKY! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Yep, true enough. BUT - a recent tunnel session finally cemented decent leg control for me, got me WAY more stable in the airstream, and I kicked-ass on my second attempt at AFF C-1. The JMs told me they were bored watching me fall, but I made their job a lot easier! I will use the tunnel as a tool in my training - nothing replaces being in the sky, but one can work on body flight in a tunnel, then take it to the sky! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

GOOD LUCK! and H A V E F U N !!!!! Pay close attention in the FCJ, then just go out and do your jump as planned/trained. The very FIRST time you fly your own canopy back to earth is a VERY special moment, and sears the sport into your soul! Welcome to the Skies! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118