TriGirl

It's a social activity, be social! And take the other earlier advice: see if there is some way you can help out the DZ. Just being around the event, helping out, meeting new people and listening to the chatter will help you in your AFF, as well as set you up with more friends in the community. Trust me, it's worth it!

Woo hoo!!! Congratulations. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I love me a man in a kilt! (marginally NSFW)

I read through all the replies so far and didn't see this example: A higher-than-A-licensed skydiver has been out of the sky for a while (long enough not to be current). Said skydiver needs a coach jump to get current. The jump is supposed to be from full altitude (no H&P), and the coach is there to 1) confirm you can achieve and maintain (and regain if necessary) stability, 2) confirm you maintain good altitude awareness (and other safe-jumper qualities), and 3) assist if any part of 1 or 2 is lacking. Now let's say the un-current jumper has thousands of jumps but was out of the sport for a few years due to injury, self-selected hiatus, or whatever. The coach jump is still required, and the coach is still performing as the coach rating has intended. Do I think that there will be 15 of these a year for the coach to do to maintain the rating? Probably not. But this example falls right into the question you have about whether it's okay to count jumps with experienced skydivers as his/her 15 "coach jumps" in order to maintain the rating. I don't think the question is a bad one, but this is something else to consider when the final edit is accepted. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Captain Jack Sparrow. He's 9 years old, living in his 3rd country. Lucky for me he travels well (planes or cars).

I have neither girlfriend nor wife (sorry, guys). However, I do find wuffo men are much less likely to date a skydive chick. It doesn't matter how much I say their lack of desire to skydive doesn't matter. Seems a fragile ego will step in and take charge if it's already in residence! ETA -- however, not to hijack the thread so early: I have seen a lot of people whose S/Os are not involved in the sport, but drop by the DZ on occasion. Most of those relationships are still quite healthy. Sometimes it's about each person respecting the others' hobbies, and perhaps the lack of desire to participate in said hobby as well. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Also from SC: Who needs an AR-15??? Egypt See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

... in the ice skating event? Have you never followed ice skating? Main competitors (esp in pairs) come from Russia, US and Canada. Scores are always really close. Eliminate a team or two, and you have the medal podium locked up! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

That's such a great pic, John! What an excellent way to show how much the event positively affects people. Thanks for sharing.

Mine also. Lucky i like the organisers or Id take it personally I'm in the same club. I'd like to believe that it's getting harder each year to win because more tickets are being purchased. John & V: how'd you do on the fundraiser?

Was almost afraid to open that attachment! But then I thought, "hey, this is Skymama posting this pic. I shouldn't need the eye bleach after this!" (ps -- nice shot, Normiss! And Congrats!) I just wish I could be there to enjoy your beer. Oh wait -- I've already enjoyed your cooking and hospitality this summer. I'm good. Thanks to you both!!

I hope so too. What would be your favorite prize? (I've helped a couple of swaps from time to time.) Well, now that my nephew has started jumping, and my niece is also interested, any of the gear and jumpsuit prizes would be most welcome! For me, well, let's just say that my current job has me in the market for new jumpsuits for myself. And, I've always wanted a digital alti! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

The check is in the mail!!

Worked for me +1! See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

As a non-TI, I'd like to comment on behavior of someone I consider a good TI. A good friend of mine at my home DZ -- every time I hear him greet a student, even on his busiest days, he makes them feel like they are the focus of his whole day. He is very deliberate with his instruction (student doesn't feel like it's a standard spiel), ensures the student is confident and excited about the jump. This includes answering all the silly whuffo questions that inevitably he hears dozens of times every month -- though the student would never know the question was silly or that it was the 20th time this weekend it had been asked. Afterward, he sits with the student. The DZ gives out a folder with several items in it, and he explains each of them: certificate, info on AFF, and temporary log book. He asks for any other questions, shakes the student's hand, and says, "welcome to skydiving!" The best part of it is that he makes the STUDENTS feel like they've taken their first steps into our sport... as if he expects them to want to continue. A-Ron is not the only instructor I've seen handle a student this way (hi, Chuck!), but I have had the benefit of watching him/working around him for years, so of course his example sticks out.

It's obviously still bothering you. You may consider having a conversation that might start with, "I should have said something earlier, but something I saw you do was really out of line." Clear the air. Don't expect an explanation or reply, but at least get this crap off your chest! If he's really a friend, you can have that conversation. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Oh, Quade, how I do adore you. And you did have a typo. According to the article, you posted on the correct date -- you just typed the wrong one in your post. A little preoccupied, perhaps? See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Is it that time again already??? Good luck on the boogie. Yeah, I'm STILL stuck in Europe this summer (although just went to Rome and Dublin on two separate mini-vacations).

True. It's worth noting that you need to reclaim your baggage to clear the customs/immigration in New York even if you have connecting flight from there. You'll then check your bags again for the connecting flight. To be a bit more specific -- your luggage will be checked through to the final destination. Yes, you will pull it from baggage claim upon arrival in New York. You will then proceed through Customs, where you (presumably) will have nothing to declare. If Customs officials randomly select you for an import seach, you're right there with your bags the whole time. Once you past Customs, you'll take your luggage through passport control, hand them the customs delcaration and your passport, and answer their questions about your stay. As soon as you pass that checkpoint, your luggage gets dropped off to the baggage handlers about 20m away, where it will likely go directly to your next flight. They may randomly open your luggage for cursory search after it leaves your possession. If this happens, you'll see a little TSA flyer in your bag stating as such. If they choose your bag, they will see the documents with your rig that you intend to pack. That should be sufficient to keep them from opening the rig without you present. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Gotta agree. I always thought she was one of the sexiest actresses of the 90's and 00's. Looked great in The Haunting in those boots. "My feet are killing me. But, small price to pay for such savage kicks!" Yeah, I liked her in that, too.

Hey, Lou. I'm trying to get a gig at Quantico starting next summer. If I get that (or anything else in the DC area), you can count me in! Sounds like fun. I'll let you know what the monitor says in January.

Umm... yeah..... He wins. See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

Shoot. You can barely remember what it's like to wear PANTS! (end paraphrase) See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

I was kept laughing at "Still Ahead This Hour -- Toby Keith Releases New Song Designed Specifically for Torturing Detainees" (and yeah, I agree with the EPA: VH1 should consider using a less slutty slut) See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!

That's what I said! CFH -- congratulations on the addition to the family. Adorable little guy! Incidentally, when I saw the thread title, I thought Vader (the other one) had come to crash at your place. Or proposed to your daughter. Or was otherwise obligated to marry your daughter. (I don't even know if you have a daughter!) See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus Shut Up & Jump!