blondeskydiver

My husband and I have FF together for about 400 jumps (100 more were belly). When we want to shake things up, we do 1 of 3 jumps. Follow the leader. If he does a back flip, I will back flip. If he spins, I spin. We keep plenty of separation, and one jumper watches the other so no collisions. The goal here is reflexes and keeping on the same level. Another one we do is dock-dock-flip. He will dock on my foot, I will then dock on his foot, then we both do a back flip. Foot - foot - front flip. Foot - foot - spin. The goal here is timing and not forgetting what's next. But my FAV jump to do to mix it us is jumping with a newbe FF. Not only does it challenge every move you know (fast, slow, forward, back), you can also give real advice to a newcomer. My hubby has taught me everything I know and has been on 99% of my jumps, and the biggest compliment to him is for me to pass on the knowledge.

Well, we will just have to disagree. ------------------ Agreed to disagree :-) I will, however, keep your words in the back of my mind.

You think a guy with a good attitude that has 100 jumps and a coach rating would be as good of a coach as the SAME guy when he has 10k jumps? ---------------------- 10k jumps or coach jumps? I think someone with 100 jumps WOULD be as good of a coach - they were JUST there and they remember the fears. 10k jumps are sometimes too removed. Also a student is more relaxed with a 100 jump coach vs a 10k jump. Yes I truly believe in this rating for a 100 jumps. Plus - if a 10k jumper is truly a coach, they would WANT a 100 jumper to get this license and do their do-diligents and learn to coach. I always give kudos to my senior jumpers (jumps, not age), but give it back to me too. Teach me to teach. I'm not suggesting I would coach on swooping or coach a 50 way, that would be your job. If I ever want to learn to teach these skills, I have to learn to teach the basics.

Call me silly, but I tend to think more experience often translates to better instruction. ----------------- Disagree!!! My "coach" was only a coach so he could get his TM license, and didn't care about teaching. He was the worst - experienced yes, but NOT a teacher. He made fun of me in public and didn't teach me anything. He actually said I tricked him into giving me my B license too. He was an ass! I didn't know any better, and thought everyone got this type of training. After that horrible experience, I found myself being a cheerleader for newbees - and saying to them a simple "good job" for throwing yourself out of a plane and living to tell about it, put such a confident smile on their faces, it was intoxicating. I'm working on my coach's license now. And at 160 jumps, 5 DZs, and 3 boogies, I still remember the humiliation I received in my early days and I WON'T ever do that to another jumper (or Tandem). I'm not looking for free jumps either. I just want that smile from a student!!! That's my payoff. Anyone can learn to skydive - but you have to "jump" first - that's what a coach is for, to get them mentially ready to jump and give a few pointers. Mad skillz will come later ONLY if they jump.

My hubby and I are going - its our honeymoon. We had a skydive wedding in May 09, and we've been saving for an out-of-state boogie. Can't wait!!!

I'm a POPs member, but haven't jumped with them yet. I LOVE telling people I'm 41 (which I'm still accused of being in my late 20s, ok maybe early 30s) and I'm a skydiver - and then watching their heads explode. Ahhhh, it feels good!!! Oh btw - FU!!

Very funny!!!

------------------------- Sorry Heatmiser, I hate to loose. Righty here.

I've had only one cut-away (so far) - any I was taught two hands on one handel, then repeat. I had a very baggy suit (why, don't know, I'm skinny and didn't know what to buy). When the time came, I lost track of my D-Ring cause it was buried in extra fabric and had to find it by feeling for it, which I really wasn't prepared for. I put hand-over-hand and felt the metal and pulled. Now I have a great suit, but for that, I will ALWAYS have metal. Just my personal 2cents.

Off topic, but you might want to weight yourself with all your gear on - you may be surprised. I'd guess that if you're 135 without gear you're closer to 160 with. My rig alone (with Pilot 117 and Optimum 126 in it) weighs 20 pounds and the rest of my gear adds another 5. ------------------- Will do. Now that I'm looking at my numbers, I'm probably more than 1-1. Either way - it's a GREAT canopy and I love it. The end closures is probably due to me pushing in the nose, and I'll do that less going forward. I come from a Sabre1 which I rolled the nose - so NOT pushing in the Pilot nose is just wierd to me and a habit I have to break. Thx!!!

[Well-back to the 'sold my gear'. I could jump with you, but only once ------------ Oh well, then next time - or you can rent.

----------------------------------- Me? I jump mostly in Miami. Come and play sometime!!! We can jump thru the rain clouds, I mean industrial haze.

Welcome to Florida - yep, if you don't like the weather, wait 5 mins.

Used to happen with my pilot 210. Doesnt happen at all on my Pilot 188. Possibly a higher wing loading inflates it more quickly. Either way it was never a problem. Couple pulls on the rear risers and they popped right out. ---------------------------------------------- You might have something there. Mine is a Pilot 150 and I'm 135+Gear, so 145 at most.

I get it all the time on my new Pilot 150. It scary, but doesn't seem to be a big deal. I use my rear risers or wait it out and it seems to fix itself. I thought maybe I was pushing in the nose too much, but who knows. I have no complaints cause they are usually soft slow openings and I pull at 4k, so slow is good.

Even her ashes from her ash jump landed out.

Welcome back!!!!

Kudos!!!

I totally agree. My hubby and I call 3 DZs our home and family, and plan on adding to the list. Right now we're mostly at Miami, and then Punta Gorda and Sebastian - will be adding ZHills and Deland in the future. Gyspy's unite!!

I just started the process to becoming a coach. I just ordered a new SIMS and my first IRM. I usually freefly - so I did all belly jumps this weekend JUST to make sure I'm ready. I feel I am - even got compliments on my exits. My real concern was that I received real shitty coaching (not gonna say where). I was laughed at in freefall, the butt of jokes in public, and basically bullied. I left that DZ and now I call 3 other DZs my home and family. I worked on my issues (mostly landing patterns) and I feel I'm ready to be a good coach and NOT one of the THOSE types of coaches I had. I'm actually going to use my bad experience as a reminder of what not to do. I haven't started the classes yet, but that soon. Good luck to all that are in the process - giving back to the sport is the best reward!!!

I had both your issues in AFF as most of us do. For the Potato Chip, I practiced in a pool. Us lucky ones in Florida have pools everywhere. Have someone hold you up just below the water (so you're not too heavy) and arch baby arch. It really helped me! Also, smile!! It really DOES relax you - and I don't "relax" easily. In fact, smile when your scared the most - eventually the smile will turn into a giggle cause you'll realize one day you're not scared (then the plane ride just gets boring). See ya in Miami :-)

About jump 130 (so, not so long ago) got in the caravan as normal - nothing to report...well, *the floor/rug was different (just thought a Tandem just threw up on it and they pulled it up) *then the seatbelts were different (guess they changed them out or something) *and then stickers in the back were new (whatever) *and the sign above us was new too....(um) then I looked below the sign and saw my hubby shaking his head and then he leaned over and said...different plane. I laughed my ass off - ohh. Yep, I'm a real blonde too.

I started out on a used Sabre - and now I'm under a new Pilot. Love it!!! Better openings, much better flight and landings. I'm not a swooper, so the Pilot was the best choice for me. Good luck!!

hehe. na.