Abedy 0 #1 May 15, 2011 Did a jump with a young fellow yesterday. He was very aware of what was going on, perfect arch, head back at exit etc. But he really surprised me right after the landing by telling me "The left end cells of the canopy weren't fully inflated right after deployment - is that normal?" He hasn't jumped before. So I commented him. Another one: I usually tell passengers "just try to kick my bum with your heels" to give them an idea of a nice arch when we practise it on the ground. I stopped adding "you won't manage to, however" two weeks ago when a young girl managed to Same happened today when I had the pleasure to have a (female) ballet dancer as my passenger. She did such a perfect arch, she kicked ass... literally! She also (instinctively) moved her shoulders to support me doing a 360 during drogue fall and though she was such a petite girl she pulled down the toggles like a hard working craftsmen. That was a moment after which one longs to say "Stop, grab a beer and enjoy the day ... there's nothing at the horizon to top that perfect ride." Don't get me wrong: I enjoy each and every tandem jump. All of my passengers forked out a lotta money or their friends and family did, so they deserve being treated with respect and given the best you can do. And everyone has the right to be less flexible, gravitationally challenged (i. e. "plump" or "well-fed" confused, to go foetal whatever, you never know. It's their first freefall experience, so they are entitled to be "through the wind" as we put it in German. It's that way and good preparation etc helps a lot and both enjoy the ride. There hasn't been a single passenger I didn't like and wanted to get rid of ASAP. Hope that doesn't sound too pompous It's just that I enjoy these "perfect moments" mentioned above even more. I'm curious what other TIs might have to throw in. (edited for typos)The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #2 May 15, 2011 (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #3 May 15, 2011 I once filmed a girl who, while the plane was diving right after exit, actually waved back at the pilot who was waving at all of us! She then proveded to be totally aware during the entire dive, and managed to find me again after looking up at the opening canopy to give me a thumbs up. Some people should just go skydive themselves, fast ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #4 May 15, 2011 Re: Totally aware.... my Daughter,, on her Only Skydive Ever.... see my profile picture here........ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpdude17 0 #5 May 16, 2011 wow thats crazy, you had a tandem student arch!! btw whats your wing loading???? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peek 20 #6 May 16, 2011 From my experience, the more that you train them, the more they will "surprise" you. It's neat isn't it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #7 May 16, 2011 Yes, I noticed if you keep ground instruction and training to the key points and repeat them several times your students are quite focused and know what to do resulting in an indeed "surprisingly good performance" The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerry81 10 #8 May 17, 2011 I often tell my passengers to smile for the camera-now, two weeks ago, I told a girl who was getting a bit nervous on the ride up that she should grab the cameraman's nose if he comes close enough, just to loosen her up a bit. The look on his face when she actually did it in freefall was absolutely priceless!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Para5-0 0 #9 May 17, 2011 Just a thought: sometimes when you tell a tandem student to put their feet on your butt, it makes it hard to transition them to solo because of a bad habit being formed. If they do several training tandems it develops the wrong muscle memory. Not critisizing at all just trying to help out the affi who gets the student and has to take them on a solo freefall. Good luck BS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #10 May 17, 2011 You're right. We usually ask if someone has done this before or if they intend to do an AFF course after. If so, they are prepared/advised in a different way that is closer to what the AFFis need.The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firemedic 7 #11 May 17, 2011 I have a little bit of a unique story that might be interesting to some so here goes. My first tandem after the certification course. My student is in his early 30s and of average weight/height. I gear him up and take him to the mock up and train. I ask him if he has any questions. You bet ya. What if the chute doesn't open. Ok, I tell him about the reserve and what I want him to do if we need to cutaway. He acted like, ok no big deal. Well, as fate would have it we had great jump but had a tension knot that made the canopy not controllable, landable, etc. I start telling the guy we're going to have to cutaway so...... right there in mid sentence the guy puts his legs back and crosses his arms and grabs his harness just like he's ready for exit and says "ok." I take care of business and we land. This guy was so stoked he wanted to do it again. Another cutaway that is. 2 weeks later he started AFF. I must say it was nice to have had someone who was this heads up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #12 May 17, 2011 Quote I have a little bit of a unique story that might be interesting to some so here goes. My first tandem after the certification course. My student is in his early 30s and of average weight/height. I gear him up and take him to the mock up and train. I ask him if he has any questions. You bet ya. What if the chute doesn't open. Ok, I tell him about the reserve and what I want him to do if we need to cutaway. He acted like, ok no big deal. Well, as fate would have it we had great jump but had a tension knot that made the canopy not controllable, landable, etc. I start telling the guy we're going to have to cutaway so...... right there in mid sentence the guy puts his legs back and crosses his arms and grabs his harness just like he's ready for exit and says "ok." I take care of business and we land. This guy was so stoked he wanted to do it again. Another cutaway that is. 2 weeks later he started AFF. I must say it was nice to have had someone who was this heads up. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #13 May 18, 2011 Please bear with me, I sometimes have problems understanding certain terms/sentences. You are writing that the passenger experienced another cutaway in his 2nd tandem jump? If so, he's really a tough guy to list up for AFF A colleague of mine had a few tandem cutaways amongst his 1000+ tandem jumps so far. He told me that when he discovers the sh*t hit the fan he usually asks "Liked the freefall? - Yeah? Well, then let's do it again, ARCH..." The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,340 #14 May 18, 2011 Quote Please bear with me, I sometimes have problems understanding certain terms/sentences. You are writing that the passenger experienced another cutaway in his 2nd tandem jump? If so, he's really a tough guy to list up for AFF A colleague of mine had a few tandem cutaways amongst his 1000+ tandem jumps so far. He told me that when he discovers the sh*t hit the fan he usually asks "Liked the freefall? - Yeah? Well, then let's do it again, ARCH..." No, I think he meant that the student wanted to do another cutaway."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #15 May 19, 2011 Huhu... in this case he was really special The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #16 May 23, 2011 Had a guy yesterday who was very interested and nice to talk to. After the canopy had opened and I had loosened the laterals(*) he said "I'm gonna slide the leg straps towards my knees". I usually have to tell them. (*) Laterals to be re-attached after you loosen them, at least in Germany. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vanair 0 #17 June 1, 2011 A few years ago made a tandem at the Ranch NY. Oct warm fall day at sunset, long spot towards the mountain. Peak leaves, PERFECT! I had a lady that said this is beautiful etc etc, and quiet. I said you think this is quiet, here. I went into deep brakes. She said this is so beautiful that I have to sing, I thought Oh Gawd here we go, thinking of someone in the shower, But I said hey it's your jump, sing. She sang the opening to the sound of music "when the hills are alive" When I was a kid that was one of my favorite movies. She was a professional opera singer. I couldn't believe it, I got teared up. One of my most memorable jumps. I should have been paying her. Surprises aren't always bad. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #18 June 1, 2011 Thanks for sharing this story, very interesting. I also like jumps late in the afternoon and do not really mind a long spot (as long as there isn't another pax already waiting aground for the next lift up, AKA "double strike") which allows for long and "deep" intake of scenery etc. Now and then even a hawk (one time even a buzzard) flies nearby (and probably mutters about them flying monsters scaring away all the prey) Moments that tell you it should be a hobby first and to remind you to keep up the fun...The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pirana 0 #19 June 22, 2011 QuoteFrom my experience, the more that you train them, the more they will "surprise" you. It's neat isn't it? Whenever possible, I walk thru the exit at the mock-up. I've found I get much better exits from those that physically simulate the movements to and in the door - even just once." . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 135 #20 June 22, 2011 The tandem passenger in THIS VIDEO... It was her 1st tandem. I gave her my 2nd alti so I could check if it was still working properly after a couple of water jumps... I didn't explain her what to do, but each time I checked MY alti, she automatically put "hers" just under to compare. Also when I pointed to her the golf almost under us (she is a golf player), she pointed in another direction, so I turned, and she pointed the golf course where she plays (15km away) Plus she is super cute, and now she is a pilot scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #21 June 22, 2011 Nice to read! Unfortunately, the video is blocked here due to slimy suits on behalf of "GEMA" (I know... but leaving the country just for this reason is a little too much ) The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 3 #22 June 22, 2011 Quote Nice to read! Unfortunately, the video is blocked here due to slimy suits on behalf of "GEMA" (I know... but leaving the country just for this reason is a little too much ) Hence why I set up a VPN connection back to my apt, so when traveling in foriegn countries, I still have the relative security and freedom that my internet home has."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airathanas 0 #23 June 22, 2011 It's funny how a lot of these responses are of students who actually did what they were told to do- that IS surprising!!! I was surprised when one of my tandem student came back the following weekend and gave me a tip- and then asked me out! He was way too old for me and I wasn't single at the time so I had to turn him down. This thread is making me miss doing tandems! I had to give it up because of an injury and they were hard work but the enjoyment of the students was always worth it. http://3ringnecklace.com/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 135 #24 June 23, 2011 Also had an AFF student come up to me at the DZ, say "Hi, thanks for what you did"... I actually couldn't remember immediately who he was... He then reminded me that I was his TI for his 1st jump the previous year in a remote DZ. 4 years later he is still jumping and it is always nice to see him around. I do believe that considering the passengers as potential future students (giving them "adult" explanations, explaining a bit "how it works" under canopy and such) does often give them a better experience than "just the ride of a lifetime"scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #25 June 23, 2011 QuoteYou're right. We usually ask if someone has done this before or if they intend to do an AFF course after. If so, they are prepared/advised in a different way that is closer to what the AFFis need. ...and we thank you wholeheartedly for that!My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
