SkyPainter

Welcome! If you can stay focused enough to lose that weight, you should have no problems staying focused going through AFF! Congrats! Use getting your A license as an incentive to support your weight loss efforts! It becomes betterer and betterer and betterer .......:) Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Well, I am lucky enough to have a great Wind Tunnel near me .... I am actually attending a RW Camp in the tunnel in a week, with two of the best fliers (Nat'l 4-way competitors, load orgs, Super Fliers) NEXT WEEK! That should serve me well during the end of AFF! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hi - I have switched to Jumptown at Orange for the remainder of my AFF training. Have been out there the past two weekends, and will be again next weekend. Maybe we will meet! CHAAAZ - AKA, "SkyPainter"

CONGRATS! I also passed my Cat B this weekend, and jumped my Cat C-1. It only gets better ... you CAN get stuck on a category for a bit (I jumped Cat B 3 times before I nailed it!) but then you move on again. It is a continuing process ...just keep jumping! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Practice touches are important, I think, anyway. I had no problem with them at all ....for a bit .... good PRACTICE touch on my level C-1 jump, BUT fumbled like a blind man when real pull time came! Instructor flew over and pulled for me! I will do PRCTs forever after that one! Regardless of level or rating! That is where the lifesaving part comes in! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hi! I am now jumping out of Jumptown in Orange, MA. I asked yesterday about how long they jump there, and it is actually pretty deep into the winter, so I will continue onward as much as I can with AFF there. Jumped CAT B and C-1 yesterday. B went fine, and C-1 almost did ...until open time! Flew the jump fine, but fumbled looking for the handle at pull time - instructors had to pull/assist. I will fix that asap! I want to get to solo status, at least, before winter really kicks-in. I will travel in the winter a time or three to stay current if I need to. I have friends near Skydive Arizona, and in Florida, so those may be options! This is the coolest thing one can do with clothes on ....or off, even! ;) SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

I recently switched to Jumptown to continue with AFF training. The level of instruction, friendliness of the staff, and others - ALL others there - packers, upjumpers, students, office staff, instructors, everyone - is amazing! I felt right at home, and part of the place the first day! The planes are new and clean, the gear is new and clean - and they have a lot of it for students. The instructors are just phenomenal..world class jumpers, who become instant friends! Everyone comes up and says hello to a new face ... ask any question you want to, and you get reliable help. This is the way a DZ should be run! BTW - I am 61 going through AFF, and I am not alone there! Lots of POPS and SOS jumpers! MY new home DZ!!!

****>> Thanks! You just cemented my decision on helmets. If I am gonna be jumping here, I may as well have a four-season helmet! Besides, then I can wear my eyeglasses easier, too! :) Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

This is New England, and it can get COOOOLD here in the winter! Just wondering what you guys do in cold areas duting the winter months, OTHER than travel South to warmer climes? Wear Polartech underwear? (I did last Sunday - worked great for now!) Full face helmets to prevent wind/frostbite? Flannel jumpsuits? How do we stay current all winter up here without travelling, or is that almost mandatory? Do the DZs stay open then? All typical Newbie questions! I will be jumping a lot this weekend, and will ask about there, too! Blue Skies and Safe Landings Always - SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

I think PLF practice is something I will NOT ignore! In fact, I am designing a modified "Zip Line" for PLF practice. Up a small ladder to an angled Zip wire with a "T-Bar" handle to hang on to, then off ya go, sliding rapidly down the line and toward the ground. Let go, and PLF at various speeds and heights. I did a "Butt Plant" on my Cat A, as the radio dude was distracted talking to someone, and I had learned to wait for the flare call, which came WAY too late! My Coccyx was screwed. Still is, a bit. Now I am aware that it is MY dive, and I am responsible for all of it, including the flare and landing! My last dive, I had no radio contact (what's with these radios, anyway?), but realized it, flew the pattern, and came in myself ..... needed to wait a bit longer after the "Stage" (half brakes) portion to full flare, but managed to land on my feet and almost running it out. SHOULD have PLF'd that one! Did a knees-to-faceplant slide, luckily in soft sand! Had that been on a runway, or harder ground, I would have erased half my face sliding in! D'Oh! PLFs, Baby! They're what's for breakfast! Practice, practice, practice! Now, if I could just find a way to get these old legs under control in freefall ........(toe taps?) Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Yep! Pays to listen to that little voice in your head! We humans have "The Gift Of Fear" (from the book of the same name)that is our Early Warning system. I had several canopy mals on my first Cat B jump. I cleared them, but the expected question in the plane, "Are you READY to Skydive?" now takes on a whole new meaning! Am I READY to deal with whatever happens when I step out that door, apart from the expected drills in freefall? Butterflies remind us of what we are about to undertake .... and are a gift, in my view! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

CONGRATS!!! I am so jealous! Time, but mostly the *%$^#$(&^%(* WEATHER here has hampered progress for me. Jumped AFF 1 on Sunday....haven't seen a Blue Sky since! :( Nice work! Keep going, and WELCOME! Blues Skies and Safe Landings Always, SkyPainter, AKA, Chaaaz Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hi! Good luck on your next jumps!! This is THE COOLEST thing one can do! I hope to blast through a few more AFF jumps, and maybe get to coaching status by the Boogie here the end of the month! If not, I will try to get the remaining AFF jumps in! Yes, VERY exciting! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always, SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Well, here is the tale: Thursday, did the FCJ, (finally!). Also, the S&TA invited me to attend the "B" license Water Trainng after the FJC! Several more advanced jumpers told me I should take the water training class ...that it is not scheduled that often, and I should do it now, if possible. So , I did BOTH the FJC (including hanging harness training, and spinning EPs), AND the water training the same day! Saturday I came out and was the first name on the board for the Cat A AFF jump ..... but this is New England, and the *&^%&%#^%(* WEATHER killed that! I actually got on the first load with two AFF instructors and a video guy, actually GOT to 13 K, and the jump was scrubbed due to heavy clouds which rolled in. I rode the plane down with the video guy. But the DZ is laser-focused on safety - so I didn't mind! Pepperell is *very* safety conscious, and I was very glad that they scrubbed the student jumps after landing! Real scud up there! Showed-up first thing today (Sunday) and got manifested on the first load. Got to 13 K + and ACTUALLY GOT TO JUMP!!! I was extremely calm the whole time (did a bunch-o-tunnel time prior, and the FCJ was excellent!). Had calm air, blue skies, and LOVED both the jump in FF, AND the canopy ride down!!! This is the best thing you can do with your clothes on! The BEST thing I found was a thought - when doing the "Hotel Check", I decided that "Up, Down, ARCH" was too rooted in the 'arch', which induced stiffness (at least to ME!) So, I did: "UP, Down, WATERBED!" ..... it allowed me to totally RELAX almost instantly! ARCH felt like 'fighting', or /pushing' against the relative wind in FreeFall, while WATERBED allowed me to expect an environment that would rock, sway, wave, and move under my body. And on a waterbed, your belly sinks a bit lower, as well! WORKED LIKE A CHARM! I will be using that from now on! Smooth opening, and I wanted to stay up there under canopy forever! Even though the 260 student rig was pretty doclile, I *LOVED flying around up there!!!! Both parts of the jump were a gas! Flying my body in FF, AND zipping around the sky under canopy! I did back riser turns, 360-s, 180s, and generally had a ball up there! Had a bit of a bumpy landing (radio called the flare a tad late, but *I* am responsible for MY jump), but wanted to sit-slide in anyway, as my knee was a bit balky. Was fine, though! I got manifested immediately for the Cat B dive, but we got weathered-out again ! :( A huge THANK YOU to Stacy (HI, STAC!!!) for allowing me to at least get on the board 2X during a busy Tandem day! Thank you also, to my AFF instructors, Bill Purdin, Dalton, and Ramon (and Luciano!) for an excellent ramp-up to the jumps! I felt totally relaxed during the whole process! Thanks also to Darren and Lauren, for being great, calming coaches while waiting! One cool part was meeting the more experienced jumpers during the water training .... now when I hit the DZ I actually KNOW some people! Even met a couple of others who are willing to coach when I hit that level! We have a Boogie coming up the end of the month, and maybe I can get to coaching status by then to jump the CASA! So, NOW I can get myself what I promised - a closing pin necklace for making that first real jump. Now ....on to the rest of skydiving .... what a cool road to be on! AND with some pretty good new friends! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always! SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Congratulations!!!! I am started AFF this Thursday ....can't wait! the weather here has delayed a lot of stuff, but now we will be getting a short break so I can get the ground school done, at least, and maybe a couple of jumps in this weekend! Congrats again! I think that once I get my "A" license, I can REALLY begin to learn how to skydive! Blue Skies, and Safe Landings Always - Chaaaz, AKA, SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hi! Welcome to the sky! Same thing happened to me when I jumped! Everyone else chickened out, so I went alone. AMAZING time! I am waiting for the weather here to break so I can start AFF in Pepperell, MA. Need to coordinate my schedule with the S&TAs, and have the whacked-out New England weather cooperate! Looks like the FJC and maybe first jumps will be AUG 7, 10 and 11. CAN'T WAIT! It has only been a few weeks post-tandem, and I am getting REALLY itchy to get back up there and jump! Buy the SIM, and read it like the Bible! Welcome again, and Safe Landings! SkyPainter

Dumb newbie question ..... does tunnel time count for logbook entries? I am on hold for the moment ( week or two) from beginning AFF training. In the meantime, I will be doing a bunch of wind tunnel sessions ... trying to maintain a heading, controlling altitude, doing 90s and 360s, etc. So ....I will put it in my logbook anyway, but should I count it at all in total freefall time? Or is it considered just practice? Either way, I will continue it during AFF training. Blue Sky, Safe Landings always - Skypainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Welcome! I am also Boston-based, and will be jumping at Pepperell. Hope we can run into each other someday and jump together. Also a vet - 'Nam '66-'67. Blue Skies and Safe Landings Always - SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hi! Welcome to the sky! I am also a newbie, did my tandem a week or so ago, and waiting for the weather here to clear-up so I can begin the AFF course. I think "post jump depression' is not depression at all, but rather a mental and physiological response to the overwhelming adrenalin rush of that first jump! Our brains and bodies are programmed to seek pleasure, not pain, and in that process we long to experience it at that level again. Certainly, very few things can measure-up to the sensations of flying and freedom, but we need to separate those from other pleasures - seeing my kids born, tasting various single-malt scotches, hearing great jazz, for example. Each is precious in it's own way, and each provides me with a different pleasurable experience. Jumping is SUCH an overwhelming experience, that we yearn to go right back up and do it again! I know I did right after my tandem! I went to the Pro Shop at the DZ, and bought the SIM (Skydiving Information Manual), and have been studying it like it was the SATs .... at least it has afforded me a deeper insight into the sport, and how the progressions are structures, and a LOT of other great information, as well! It has helped to fill-in the time until the next classes/jumps. Depression? Nah..... Craving more? You bet! It is certainly a high point in life to date, and ranks right up there with the others.

Hey Mama! Do they have a "POS" group? Parachutists over 60?? (Of course, not that I look, or feel, or act or think over 60, ya know! SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

QuoteI do not believe that there is a gap in the ISP, rather that there is a gap in the common application of it. [snipped for bandwidth and readability] Come on people, this isn’t bowling we are teaching. Doing it right protects not just the student, but everyone they jump with. The life you save might be your own (or more importantly, it might be mine). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ****> I agree with the assessment. AND - as a certified USBC Bowling Coach, I also agree! Although, I have seen some very screwed-up elbows, wrists, fingers, and knees from untutored bowlers! As a teacher/coach/mentor in a variety of other sports, I KNOW the value of reliable information! The very first thing I did after my first tandem (after trying to calm down, and giving the instructor a case of beer :)) was to hit the Pro Shop for information. I purchased the 2008 SIM, and have not been able to put it down, marking what I believe to be critical pieces of information at each level. As a clueless newb, the SIM has been priceless in my decision process to continue on with the sport, and manage my expectations. I would make it a mandatory purchase with the FJC/AFF training as working/classroom material. Blue Skies and Safe Landings Always, Chaaaz, AKA, SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

QuoteJust thought I would come out of the "lurk mode" and introduce myself. [snip] I'm no spring chicken(45). WELCOME TO THE SKY! As for being a "spring chicken", I just started jumping at ag 61. In the sky, age, income, and all other measures of a person on the ground become irrelevant. It is truly an unbiased playground! Blue Skys and Safe Landings always, SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hi man! And thank you for the considered response! Since that first post, I went and did a Tandem - on my own, as virtually ALL of those people who were to join me relented when the date was set! My reason(s) for getting into this sport are sane enough. My motivation to do so is committed, as evidence by the solo Tandem (which I LOVED BTW!), and heading off to the AFF training asap. Yep, probably a type A alright, but a safe type A. Every sport I have gotten into, I have gotten the appropriate training, gotten certified where possible, and endeavored to learn - and continue learning - since then. Skydiving, having different inherent dangers, as well as different satisfactions, requires a focused dedication to ongoing learning. As a coach and teacher in other things, the value of structured knowledge is not lost on me! My goal is to jump, fly, and land safely myself, while ensuring those around me in the sky or on the ground do so as well, as far as my actions are concerned. That includes instructors during AFF. I even took multiple trips to a wind tunnel before the Tandem jump; I wanted make sure I had some familiarity in the windstream, with arching position, and to make sure I did not interfere with the TI during the jump. I believe that it helped a lot, and will continue in the tunnel during AFF training. Everyone has personal reasons for jumping - me included - but safety for me is the number one goal for achieving the result. As far as the surfboard goes ... I now understand how much training that takes, and I have also learned since that first post about several other disciplines that may interest me even more! But first steps first .... FJC, AFF, "A", then a slew of solo jumps to cement initial skills before even considering any other types of relative or other work. One of the things that impresses me most about this sport, and this community, is the caring for newcomers expressed by more experienced jumpers, without reservation. It is indeed a unique group, which I will be proud to be part of! Thanks again, Blue Skies, Safe Landings always SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Thanks, there T! This is an amazing avocation! Hopefully, you will have great outcomes in your other battles, and use the sky for relaxation! Blue Skies, Safe Landings always .... Chaaaz, AKA, SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

Hi Trophy - tight lines! I work for LL Bean, and am also a Master Instructor for the state Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife in my state. I fished in Bass tourneys back in the early 70s, and teach and fish out in the sun a lot these days. LL Bean has a line of clothing that repels water (H2Off) is impregnated with insect repellent (Buzz-off), is light, and also has SPF rating to shed the UV rays. About $34 per shirt. Cabelas, and Orvis also make good, lightweight, SPF and bug resistant clothing. Most of these clothes are designed for Fly Fishermen in the Tropics (LLB has "Tropicwear"). Cabelas also carries "Sun Gloves" to protect your hands, and "Buffs" to protect your lower face - where you get fired from the Sun's reflection off the water. Old Scandanavian fishing saying: "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." Hope this helps - Good Hooksets, Tight Lines Blue Skys, Safe Landings SkyPainter Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118