My brief journey into skydiving

[Feeblemind 1]

I enjoyed this journey so much that I thought I would share my brief skydiving life with you all.

I went to the DZ with my Bud Jason, thought I would take a few photos and such. As he arrived at the house he said "Better grab a sweatshirt, it's cold at altitude" Well I said I won't be at altitude so I am safe .

We arrive at the DZ and he introduced me to his friends. They were all packing up to make a load so there wasn't alot of conversation. The all piled into the PAC and here the whuffo sat waiting to see what all this hype was about. I sat on these large spools waiting for the jump run then spotted the plane just as they started to exit. Of course I could not see what was going on in free fall, but then all the canopies started opening and swooping began.

I was pretty impresed with the canopy stuff (due to the fact it is all I saw) and talked with Jason about it briefly. Well than the fur and insults started to come my way for not wanting to do a tandem. I was doing okay with all the fellars insulting me, figured they were just busting my chops. Well the Skykimmer chimed in and called me a "Pussy". Well now my ego is in the way and up we went.

I was like most others on their 1st tandem (WTF am I doing?) well that was the last thought I had as we exited..... oh shit oh shit oh shit I really hope this damn thing works!!!!! Wow this is prety kewl and I really wish I would have worn a sweatshirt, I am freezing my ass off. The time flew and poof (FUCK THAT HURT!!) were under canopy. JP gave me the nickle tour and let me touch some clouds. After the landing I thanked JP and he gave me a copy of the jump.

Well I hung out at the DZ a few times sniffing around to see if this was something I actually wanted to do. I came out into these forums and asked lots of questions as well. I fnally made the decision to do AFF and had to find a program. For numerous reasons I ended up selecting Ed Pawlowski (A.K.A. Bodypilot1) as my instructor.

I saved up the cash and off Jason and I went to Lodi for the 1st jump in my TAFF progression. Ed was awesome (there is something to be said about one on one instruction!!!) We covered the entire tandem dive flow, practiced it on the mockup and then out we went to the king air. Yes I was still nervous, but at least this time I wore a sweat shirt!!! Out we went and completed are dive flow, looking at the altimeter new what was coming, pull (OUCH THAT FUCKING HURTS!!) Poof were under canopy and after the controlablity check I get the toggles. I did a few 90 degree and 180 degree turns as well as some soft flares. Ed coachd me the whole time. Well it was time to enter the student pattern. I entered the check points as directed and actually got us on a decent final approach when Ed took over to Land us. We side n on te grass without so much as a thump.

We reviewed the and discussed the dive and then proceeded to discuss the next dive flow. Eventhough the 1st tandem was a "Working" Tandem, this tandem had much more involved. Ed set forth the dive flow and we reviewed it several times. He affixed a "Dummy Ripcord" to me so he could see that I pulled on time.

Well back in the king air we went and out we went at 13,000 again WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!! I get the thumbs up and perform the dive flow. Well Ed gives me the circle of awarenes sign, yep were at 5500 and I am having fun, Next I get the sigh again with an index finger pointing at it (hey, I just checked that were at 5000 and I am having a great time, thanks for checking....POOF (OUCH THAT FUCKING HURTS) oh oh I forgot something in the dive flow (DOH!!) Well keep going, after the controlability check I get the toggles again to perform basic canopy work and enter us into the landing pattern. Agan, once I had us lined up on final Ed softly landed us n the grass.

He said the dive was going great up to the point that I forgot to pull and either died or had a cypres fire. He then advised that I needed to repeat the dive. Well knowing that Mr. Murphy was coming skydiving, I had brought extra cash. I learned a very valuable lesson though about staying altitude aware, now everytime I look at my altimiter I say the number to myself.

We debriefed and prepped for the next tandem. Back up we go and another exit at 13,000. Thumbs up, so I begine the dive flow. Carefully watching my altitude as I performed my requirements we hit 7,000, no more manuevers. At 6,000 I wave and at 5500 I pull the dummy cord and yes (OUCH THAT FUCKING HURTS!!!), three tandms in one day is really hard on the ol' inner portion of the legs. Once again canopy work and set up for landing. Ed puts us on the ground softly again. Much better this time he said, time to move on!!

The following week Ed put me through FJC (again one on one instruction is the way to go!!) After we were done we agreed to meet at the DZ if the weather allowed.

Well I got lucky and mother nature was kind. After arriving at the DZ Ed briefed me on the exit, dive flow and landing pattern. Well suited up, did our gear checks (me like 6 times) and out to the king air we went.

Man was I nervous on this dive! All the other times I went out the door I was attached to someone I KNEW was going to get down alive, now I was on my own. On the way up I touched my handles then reviewed EP's in my head. I repated that all the way up to altitude. Well the time was here, I got in the doorway, check in, ready, prop (out, in and then out we went) I got a hand signal, but I was in my own little world so I stared the dive flow. This resulted in a firm hand signal (DO WHAT I AM TELLING YOU!!!!) oh, okay legs out. Thumbs up, three practice touches (damn I am glad he is here). Altitude check, thumbs up, (Holy shit he let me go) I am a potatoe chip yes I am, nope I am a spinning potatoe chip, round and round I went (fuck I moved my arms the other way but I am still spinning, shit shit shit!!! 7000 feet you better get your shit together or you will get your 1st experience with line twists. Thump a hand on the leg and the world stopped spinning (whew!) 6000 feet I waved and Pull. Poof (ahhhh that was much nicer than the tandems!!) Look up, good square canopy. Release the brakes, flare, look left turn left 180, look right, turn right 180; good canopy head to your play area. proceed to my predesignated area and start on my canopy work 90, 180 and lots of practice flares. Well 1300 feet head to the check point one. I entered the pattern and landed a little long. Ed Debriefed the skydive. He pointed out it was my right leg that was causing the spin. All in all it was an okay 1st dive, but due to the fact I could not get stable I would have to repeat. Well I knew this would happen also, so back to the slush fund.

We repeated the same dive flow, checked our gear, suited up and headed out. Same ride up for me, handle checks and EP's. Same exit as well. I get my thumbs up do my practice touches and check my altitude. I get another thumbs up and I am released. I start to chip alittle as well as spin but this time I correct it. I peform the dive flow but start to spin again (DAMMIT) right then Ed gives me the signal to look at him (holy shit is something wrong?) I stop chipping and spinning to see what the hell I need to to so I don't screw up the dive!! He smile gives me a thumbs up and altitude check. I check my altitude 7000 (I am scratching my head, WTF was that about? 6000 wave, 5500 pull. I check the canopy, good and square, perform controlability and head to my play area. Same manuvers as before. I enter the pattern and land (actually landed where I wanted to). I hook up with Ed and he is smiling as he says great job. I am totally confused, pick up my chute and head to the barn. Ed debriefs the video with me and said I was doing well. When I started into another chip spin he gave me the sign to look at him, he gave that to me knowing I would do what it took to look and then he said "look your stable!) well you tricky little shit
Arrive at the DZ on another perfect day. I gather up my gear and check it all several times. My buddy lets me barrow his free fly suit out of the goodness of his heart. Ed and I cover the dive flow for the next dive (damn there is alot to do here!!) We go over the dive flow several times as well as review the last two dives again (did I tell you how awesome it is to have a dedicated instructor?) Well off to the plane and I repeat my standard handles in order then review EPS. Out the plane we go (wheeeee!!) I get my thmbs up, do my practice touches, check my altitude, recieve another thumbs up and perform my dive flow. This sky dive went much better in the freefall. I wave and pull at the predetermined altitude. I perform my canopy checks and proceed to my play area. I performed more canopy work and then head to the apttern for landing. The wind is blowing in the other dierction so screw up the approach (hell better a long walk than a short ambulance ride right?) Well I flared just a smedge soon letting my legs get in front of me as I hit the ground with my ass (DAMN THAT SMARTS). I pick up my chute and hike in. Ed video debriefs the dive again pointing out positives and negatives. I am told to meet him outside, we're moving on to the next dive.

I meet Ed outside and we cover the dive flow. He instructs me on the manuevers required and how to perform them, he also tells me this is a solo exit!! We cover the dive flow several times and then head out to the plane. Wow all the jitters came back knowing I was semi on my own. We get to altitude and Ed Climbs out onto the step. I check in and ten bail out. Man was this ever a fun sky dive. I performed all my manuevers, pulled, pulled stable, and pulled on time. I perform my canopy check and controlability and then proceeded to my play area. practice practice practice. The wind is still screwing me up and I have left myself really long (dammit, you dumbass) I get into the pattern but I know this is gonna be a really long walk. As I turn on final I see a burm that seperates two fields. Man I got a bad knee I don't wanna land there. I keep looking at it, WTF I am gonna hit it if I cant's carry my speed over it (dumbass me should have went to half brake and landed short of it). I look up HOLY SHIT METAL POLE WITH A WIND SOCK!!! Slight right turn, A hell I am not gonna make this burm KERTHUMP!!!!! I hit hard and feel shit in my injured knee move around alot (LIKE A TOTAL DUMBASS NO FLARE AT ALL!!!) Well I can't get up cause my knee hurts like a mother fucker. Soon Ed and my buddy are there to help me. We get back to the barn and debrief the dive with my knee packed in ice. Ed says the dive was great up to the point of landing. Ed says its my call, but graduation dive is tomorrow if I can make it.

I take my sore ass home and pack the knee in ice and eat motrin like I own stock in the company. Wife comes home and yells at me for getting hurt, but I soften the blow saying its just a boo boo.

Well I get up saturday morning and my knee is friggin huge with swelling despite having it wrapped and elevated. Dammit today is graduation but I can't jump like this! Well off to the ER I go. Being a paramedic for 20 years I have made a few doctor friends. I get a doc to pull of 16 oz of bloody fluid out of my knee and off to the DZ I went.

I get to the DZ and hook up with Ed and cover the dive flow. He tells me this is my sky dive, he and a coach will just be observing.

I get my gear, wrap my knees, check my gear and board the plane. We get to 13000 and Ed climbs out onto the step. I get a tumbs up an dive out!!! This was an awesome feeling!! I see my couch come by in a sit as I start my dive flow. I perform my manuevers checking my altitude between each one and actually had time for a few extras!! I wave off an pull. Canopy deployed, I look up hey that ain't right (2 left end cells closed about a foot) Hey I can fix that though!! I pump the brakes and poof were good to go!! I finish the controlability check and proceed to the play area. I then entered the landing pattern and landed spot on where I wanted to. I look up and get the BEER SIGN!! I did it, I am a student now!!!

I have 12 more jumps to my class "A". I am convinced mother nature is mad at me now as she screws me everytime I head to the DZ. I am leaving to go there now wish me luck. I hope you found my aff story entertaining eventhough it was rather long.


Blue Skys,

Phil

PS if you ive in Northern California and are considering AFF contact Ed, you wont regret it.

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

[drdive 0]

Great story. Congrats, and continue having fun.
I can't wait to get back in the air now.

Ed

"We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub"

"

[Smeger 0]

That was an awesome story buddy, very inspiring. Going for the AFF this summer, hopefully I'll have a little story of my own . Have fun and stay safe. (DZ.com RULES!! )

[kelpdiver 2]

> I have 12 more jumps to my class "A". I am convinced mother nature is mad at me now as she screws me everytime I head to the DZ. I am leaving to go there now wish me luck.

I hear you there. I've had my rig two weeks now and have gotten one jump in. But this wet winter can't last forever and I managed to go June - August as a post AFF without getting wind held over at Skydance.

[Squeak 17]

Nice story dude, it put a smile on my face and that's not easy to do

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[tdog 0]

2530 words (no I did not count them, MS word did...)

That just might be the longest post I have seen yet.

It shows your passion. That is a good thing. Congrats.

In case they did not tell you - it gets more fun from now on.

[rushmc 18]

That was fun to read

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[ECVZZ 0]

Nice story Phil, and congrats on your solo!
I have one little correction for you though, re:

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did I tell you how awesome it is to have a dedicated instructor?

You didn't have a dedicated instructor, you had the dedicated instructor! Ed is very professional, safety conscious, and easy to talk to...no skygod attitude to deal with. No better person to introduce you to this sport!

G. Jones

"I've never been quarantined. But the more I look around, the more I think it might not be a bad idea."

[Groundbound 0]

I really needed to read that, thanks for taking the time.
Perfect for us newbs.
Is there a place where newbie newts can gather and discuss these trials and tribulations without seeming to harass the old hats?

[skylord 1]

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(Holy shit he let me go)

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EXACTLY my feeling. Bastards!

I am a potatoe chip yes I am, nope I am a spinning potatoe chip,

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Phil Pringle is your name. Right?

I could not get stable I would have to repeat. Well I knew this would happen also, so back to the slush fund.

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Great comment. Not a failure, a repeat, another chance to jump.

I peform the dive flow but start to spin again (DAMMIT) right then Ed gives me the signal to look at him (holy shit is something wrong?) I stop chipping and spinning

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I've noticed I'm much less likely to get into a turn or spin if someone is right there with me. I think it keeps the head up and helps the arch.

he also tells me this is a solo exit!! We cover the dive flow several times and then head out to the plane. Wow all the jitters came back knowing I was semi on my own.

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So true. It is unnerving.

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I look up HOLY SHIT METAL POLE WITH A WIND SOCK!!!

Same here. On my grad dive I was lined up with the wind sock pole right next to the student "X" on final. Cool. I'm going to graduate in the strictest sense of the word and get laid in the loosest sense. Poof, (OW, THAT FUCKING HURTS!!)

Great story, sir! I love reading this kind of well written stuff! Congratulations, and I'm hoping to do my second solo this weekend........

Bob

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

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[Feeblemind 1]

Well out to the DZ I wnet today. Mother nature tickled my ass a bit, but wan't in the mood to screw me (typical woman ) Went to lunch with a few folk from the DZ and stood around watching mother nature torture me.

Finally we got the 15 minute call, Woot! My two friends and I pile in the 182 and are off on our jump run (I now know what all those pockets for are in my free fly suit, places to put cards so we have something to do why we climb ) Instead I reviewed handles an my Ep's agan and again, this was my 1st 182 exit (I am kinda spoiled, got lucky over the past few weeks with turbine loads) so you all know I was a litle uneasy. Well my friends are practicing AFF precourse so they bailed 1st.

I climb out and I am practicing for my 5500 hop/pop. I look at the spot looks good so I release (that was stupid, I looked at the ground and de-arched!!) I recovered and stayed in freefall. (HELLO Mr. Murphy so glad you wanted to skydive today you asshole!!) I am now heading right towards a cloud!! Okies track your ass away! Arms go back and I am off to the races!! ZOOOOOOOM! I check altitude and Mr. Murphy was in the mood for a Rodeo!!! As I looked I was at my pull altitude and I am right above this damn cloud (Ed's voice went off in my head....Pull, Pull on time, Pull stable) I arched and pulled as my diter (set 500 feet low, don't want to depend on it as a student) sang out it's 1st tone. Pull one thousand, Pull two thousand, look up. Mr. Murphy leave my white, hairy pimply ass alone would ya!!!! I am twisted up like a son of a bitch and getting ready to enter a cloud!! Shit Shit Shit!! I check altitude, pry my risers apart and kick like I am the star of a Bruce Lee movie. oh thats not enough Mr. Murphy adds a little spin to the mix (Ed's voice again enters my head... are you making progress or just wasting time? chop this pig or can you recover?) Well I was making progress so I kicked and kicked. I cleared the twists right as I entered the cloud (I had no choice due to the twists). The cloud was small so that stress was brief.

I entered the pattern and set up to land. Well the wind was at about 10 mph and Mr. Murphy was having way to much fun with me. I flared just a smedge early and started to climb. My natural reaction was to release pressure on the toggles, at about half way my friends jason's voice activated in my head (DON'T FULLY RELEASE TOGGLE PRESSURE ON AN EARLY FLARE, YOU MIGHT FEMUR YOURSELF) Well I held half brakes an went semi ass over tea kettle in te mud!! Mr. Murphy you cock breath, I just got my new freefly suit all muddy.

Well at least I wasn't alone with Mr. Murphy, seems he rode with my friends as well on their sky dives, but that is their story to tell.

We packed up and headed up for my 5500 hop/pop. That went rather well except for the need to pump the brakes a bit to get the canopy to fully inflate sub-terminal.

I need 10 more jumps and some sign offs to get my "A". I plan on jumping on Sunday (wife gave me permission and I here Murphy is at Deland so I should be golden.

Stay safe and blue skys,

Phil

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

[Feeblemind 1]

So the journey continues.....

Sunday headed out to the DZ on a perfect day for skydiving!! I arrive and head to the loft to rent my gear (mine still being manufactured). Well, Mr. Murphy hadn't caught his plane to Deland yet and decided to slap me in the head one last time. Another jumper was there right at 9am. Well I am the patient type (yea right!!) So I just went to the packing area.

I spent the morning Packing and repacking a friends chute (Idle time is a bad thing as a student in my opinion) Only problem I have is with my bad knees. When it come to stuffing the bag my knees flat scream (I am looking and accepting alternatives, but so far folks have said your gonna hurt alot till you get proficient at packing). Well she stuffed it in the bag to help out my aching knees and then I finished it up under her supervision (BTW she is a rigger). When I was done I said thanks let me get it out so you can pack it since your load was coming up. She said nope, I am gonna jump it as is.

Well her load got called and I was still waiting for gear so I cruised on out to the landing area. As the plae went over head I said a little pray "please Lord let it open, I really don't want my friend hurt" Well needless to say that was the longest jump run I ever watched!!! I finally found her thimble ass falling through the the sky as she deployed. All I could say was OPEN, OPEN, OPEN!!! Well it did and man was I ever relieved. She said it opened a little funky (I didn't dare ask for a description) but said it was fine, and here go repack it .

Off to the hangar where I started packing. I was about half way done when my rig became available, WooHoo I get to go skydiving, Mr. Murphy better have his ass on his way to Deland!

She finished up as I got my gear on and we manifested. I am prett forunate that my friends are all AFFI or coaches. We did a brief dirt dive and off to the plane we went.

On exit I had an AFFI on one side and a coach on the other (DAMN THIS IS FUN!!) Being te new guy I place my hips in start the count...out, in, out and ARCH!!!! Horaay I am gonna be belly to earth in about 1 seco.... (Mr. Murphy slapped me in the head on his way out of town) I feel a tug on my right shoulder and poof I am on my back, DAMMIT!! Well we knew this was a possibility so we broke immediately and they all back slide away from me as I half barrel rolled back to me belly. Once back on my belly they docked me, broke, 90, redock, broke, redock in a round, broke, turn 90 and redock. I look at my altimiter and I am at 6000. We broke at 5000 they tracked away, wave and deployed. I enter the pattern and all is well to the point I am almost on the ground. I haven't mastered the 9 cell glide slope yet so I PLF (Knees are still bad and I have 5 hours left of daylight!!). I hoof it back to the barn for re-pack so I can get back up in the air.

Next jump is me and an AFFI (gotta get items Signed off you know) we cover the dive flow and head to the plane. I bomb out the door doing front loops then get stable and check my altitude. Instructor comes in front of me and then drops about 10' low, I swoop down and dock (woo hoo I did it!) I release, check my altitude as he back slides away and drops down a little further, I swoop down again and dock again (YEEHAW!!) and then check altitude. I break and he back slides the flips onto his back. I get the follow me hand signal and were off to the races tracking, zoooooooom tracking through the sky. I count in my head and figure time to check altitude. My timing was a little early (altitude is my friend) but I just arched to get good and stable. I wave and pull and had an uneventful deployment and canopy ride. Landings are getting closer just not there yet.

The next jump I made I will leave out of this post, but it was another coach jump .

Sunset load was a tracking jump with an instructor. On this jump I was to de arch during the track a little to prevent me from going head down so much. Man this was a kick in the pants. I know he was dogging it so I could keep up, but it was alot of fun for me. Again I had a good deployment, I am still fighting the 9-cell glide slope but getting closer. I am however landing very close to my targets.

Well I pack up and hoof it back to the hangar (My landng area is further south from the main so it adds about 300 yards to the barn). Well since I pull high and play around the light is on and I am late!! By the time I hit the fridge only 3 's are left from the case I brought for my one of my 1st's. Whew just in time!!!

Log books, sign offs and de-briefing. Then off to the planefield for a snack and another cold .

I feel very fortunate to be jumping with the caliber of folks I have gone out the door with. They have all been very friendly ad helpful. Sometmes they chew a little of my ass but I know the are correcting mistakes that I don't wanna make twice.

I only have 6 more to go then I will close this novel, hope you all enjoyed my post and have a bitchin' day.

Blue Skys,

Phil

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

[kelpdiver 2]

what, no tales of MUD? Skydance is looking exactly like Florida right now - 2-3' grass with a lot of water hidden below.

I left a pretty sweet divot at the edge of the main LZ on Saturday. I think I sank to above the knees, with quite a splash on impact.

[bodypilot1 0]

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The next jump I made I will leave out of this post, but it was another coach jump

That wouldn't be the "Tube Exit" I saw you had wrote in your log book now would it?

Keepin' it safe!
Ed

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[Feeblemind 1]

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The next jump I made I will leave out of this post, but it was another coach jump

That wouldn't be the "Tube Exit" I saw you had wrote in your log book now would it?

Keepin' it safe!
Ed

Yep that would be the one!! I was expanding my horizons


Phil

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

[Feeblemind 1]

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what, no tales of MUD? Skydance is looking exactly like Florida right now - 2-3' grass with a lot of water hidden below.

I left a pretty sweet divot at the edge of the main LZ on Saturday. I think I sank to above the knees, with quite a splash on impact.

Yes I met the mud!!

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Well I held half brakes an went semi ass over tea kettle in te mud!! Mr. Murphy you cock breath, I just got my new freefly suit all muddy.

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

[Feeblemind 1]

Well my journey is finally complete to my "A" license and a new one has begun ("B" license).

I finished up my "A" weekend before last, but I have just been to busy to write about it. I was fortunate to do my last 6 jumps over a week period. Most of the jumps were un-eventful. I was fortunate to do several 2-ways with coaches and a 3-way each with several points. I am now standing up the Fusion 9-cell on a consistant basis (this is nice, less time with the brush of quite dignity). My 25th jump was a really cool 12-way tracking jump. I went out next to last with my coach and stayed well above and behind to be safe.

I landed uneventfully and got the sign from the ST&A. This journey was incredible and I look forward to future adventures and learning.


Phil

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked