hub1100

Agrees; Look up (watch the plane), breathe and pull. You might 'time' how quickly you can count to 10, since you will instinctively count fast tomorrow. Skydiving is muscle memory; including the count, reach and throw. Believe in yourself and your training. You've got this. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Agrees with Snowcrash75 and Gearless Chris: " B F A T Word " Belly Fly Free Fly AFF Tandem Wing Suits Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Thin and windproof gloves, excellent for Chicago cold: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018BJRW2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and face protection: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018BL2HA/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

agrees completely, with echen; the gear is included in your training and you will downsize at least once during that training. yes, look over existing ads but don't feel pressed to buy too soon. unless you are extraordinarily large there is plenty of gear, and if large over 230 pounds, gear still exists. then, prepare to get your first gear dirty, sliding in and getting caught in unusual winds. first gear is never 'be all end all gear'. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Congrats Felix and Red Bull Stratos Team! Thx NASA and FAA for support. Mach 1.24, wow. Wing suits from 52k/ 16km next?

Yes, welcome to the forums and the best sport above earth! The one invaluable source is our Skydivers Information Manual: http://www.uspa.org/SIM.aspx Everything you are learning is taught from this source, and experience. Amazing, that, the more I read it the more I find in it. My only piece of advice about all your gear; as you get, more, into the sport you will collect, more, gear. Do not buy, with any idea that this is the only one (what ever that piece is). We fall often, early, its going to get lots of wear and tear. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

I'm 52, stopped 20 years to have a family and restarted this year. Now 179 jumps, 57 this year and 5 this weekend ( wind issues). NO age is too old I'm not even close to my elder skydivers! Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

my mom wasn't too happy about it either, so I've told her; please understand if I'm going camping, I'm jumping out of planes. then you, mom, don't have to hear that one word that scares you and thrills me, 'skydiving'! after a few camping trips she is good with skydiving now. it's the truth made palatable for moms! loves mom and wants her to live long and happy too! Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

I appreciate all the info too, Thx SS. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

smiles and waves from across the pond, welcome to both skydiving and the forums.. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

similar question, since you brought it up; Since USPA licenses are NAA/ FAI recognized, Does a foreign NAA or FAI licensee have to get a USPA license? I believe that should be the only license required, but have been wrong and thus asked here. Thanks. About gear, bring your license and log book, the rest is rentable/ loan-able. About Moab, I thought they were seasonal and everyone is wintering in AZ, CA, FLA. Doesn't Salt Lake area turn to snow skiing soon? But first, the FAI question.. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Welcome to the club. Our next meeting is at 14,000 feet !! Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Everyone, basically, recommends you talk with your trainer about this one because they will see your control of their rental equipment, and have an idea what you could really handle. Then, newer jumpers, self included, are supposed to keep a 1:1 wingload, or less. (SIM) Your exit weight completely geared up to jump : the square foot size of the main canopy. 245:245 +/- This becomes difficult as there isnt as much big gear, out there, in the used market, but it does exist. Remember your first gear can be a little bigger and thus forgiving. After all it is used and after 50-100 jumps you will know what you really want in new gear. Hope it helps. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

hi bird, welcome to the forums and skydiving, i haven't jumped cross keys but have only heard good reviews of them, nice choice. at the same time im also inside their facebook group. cj, know that skydiving isnt as expensive as rebuilding stangs and now you can do 120mph- 200mph, legally! we're not old, were experienced. peace friend. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Its quite obvious that a real, indoor, year round, skydiver quality tunnel is needed in the midwest. Suburban Chicago with its massive population and two DZ's with pac's, otters, caravans and regular fests have the experienced skydiver base with a need. St Louis is too small as is Indianapolis, and too far from a large enough population with disposable cash to keep a large and profitable tunnel busy. The project needs to be broken into parts to be viable; the land, the tunnel/ franchise and the labor force. With one corporation managing those parts it would have an extremely good chance of quick success. Fortunately, land is still in a depressed price state, the franchise is not negotiated and the personnel have an excellent training program, already. So, now is the time. A full dual tunnel plan, building a 4meter/ 12' immediately and plans to build its big brother 5.5meter/ 16' pro big way/ event tunnel would be the franchise needed. This plan would leave the 3meter/ 10' tunnel franchise for the downtown Chicago area, similar to Hollywood for tourists and intro to the sport. This is what the Midwest needs ! I hope these concepts are taken positively as it points toward a practical business plan, not to disrespect any city. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

HOPEFUL but extremely doubtful because: http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-search/iflychicago.us http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-search/iflychicago.com http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-search/skyventurechicago.com these all appear to be taken by prospectors (people who want to sell the domain to the organization). Above all, please believe, I would like one in suburban Chicago to support SDC, CSC, SkyKnights, Archway, Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Indianapolis and St Louis, where weather is frequently questionable and hotels are reasonable and abundant. It is too bad Illinois is corrupt and bankrupt. I live here. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Skymonkey, Thank you for your admin assistance in keeping the forums respectful; Friends, or not ( that's ok), I know this is an old thread BUT there are no other legit GLBT threads under Events; This Labor Day weekend will be another GLBT gathering and record jump and event at Skydive Chicago (Ottawa IL). The event was hosted by Skydive Cross Keys (THANK YOU), and is moved (only) at the request of the participants, not for anything that has happened at the DZ. rainbowskydive.com is the site, with updated info, so those who are interested in finding similar minded friends will connect. It is not a dating site in any form but our skydivers 'family' site to allow our close friends an ability to find each other. We do have strait ally's and many open minded friends who can defend everyone's position, in the group. Finally, I hope this can be taken as it is intended which is information. It is not to sway anyone's opinion but to let a community that I proudly participate in know about another community that exists. I am a skydiver, I am not an admin in either DZ or RbSd and post this as a friend. Your understanding is gratefully appreciated. -Robert- Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Lukasz welcome to the forums, and skydiving. I wish to offer one piece of advice, on exits, for you. IF you do not see the airplane (flying away from you) as you exit then you are looking in the wrong direction. It is very common and easy to look at the ground, immediately on exit. It sounds easy, it takes practice, watch the plane and your instructor will be there too. That one move will cause you to arch and stabilize. Others will say 'relax and arch', which is true. But you can relax and still be unstable. Ask your instructor if seeing the airplane, leave you, is important. You can do it and again, valkommen, from across the pond. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

welcome to the forums and to skydiving. I believe there is a small waiting period (sim) between scuba and skydiving, for your safety. can the mod quote / link that ? Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Congratulations, and welcome to the forums. I remember my first Static Line jump, as that was all that was offered (also). It will be an experience you will remember forever. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

zinot, welcome to the sky and the community. ok, yes, tunnels are different. how's that? unexpected? tunnels require discipline in a smaller column of air. many have analogized 'skydiving space' to a 'football field' and a 'tunnel space' to a 'bed room'. my daughters learned to skydive in a tunnel, because of age, and want to jump when they become 'of age'. they both understand body aerodynamics, from the tunnel. they can both turn on the head of a pin, and stop on heading. different, yes! for the better? absolutely. many many live skydivers take their skills to the tunnel to improve. my question to 'our' readers is: Has anyone's skills deteriorated in the tunnel? imho. -hubs- Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

First of all, WELCOME to the skydiving community and those who know the experience. Then, not that you are my son but, I have told my daughters; Facebook is going to be their downfall, TALK with real people and gossip on Facebook. In 'our' case the real people are on the DZ, and in your case they also exist in school. Both places where YOU are accepted for yourself. My place is at work, too. Finally, do vent here, carefully. THIS is your thread and all about you, just as I expect my intro thread to be about me. Do not rush through your AFF levels or your money. I had to take 20 years off to raise a family and then the community took me back in. YES skydiving is addictive, adrenaline filled, and expensive. As long as the DZ is safe, it will be there ! Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Congrats on your continued advancements !! Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Students need to understand the purpose of the SIM, which is online, an app and a softcover book. The SIM, Section 3-1E is what you are looking for: E. License privileges and requirements A License 1. Persons holding a USPA A license may jump without supervision, pack their own main parachute, engage in basic group jumps, perform water jumps, and must have- a. completed 25 jumps b. completed all requirements listed on the USPA A License Proficiency Card c. completed five group freefall skydives involving at least two participants d. received the signature and official stamp on the USPA A License Proficiency Card or USPA A License Progression Card (ISP) Note: For USPA A-license registration purposes only, USPA Headquarters will accept either completed card signed by a USPA Instructor without the official stamp. The registration fee must be included. The next question should be: What is the 'USPA A License Proficiency Card or USPA A License Progression Card'. Answer, again; SIM. Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!

Hey Monko, Welcome to the legal adrenaline filled life of skydiving !! I, to, have ADD and want you to know; just pay attention to the instructors and IF you drift off, are distracted, ASK them to repeat what they said. My ADD is extreme when I am told to read something. When I'm shown, anything, I can lock it in. (thus) know your weakness and you will find skills to work with it, like I have. Know that skydiving is a skill and your learning will never end. -anyone else, AMEN to that?- So relax, listen, and enjoy the lessons. Next time you hear DOOR know that the instructors will not push you past your learned skills. Be prepared to repeat some jumps, its common. Finally, and again, welcome to the friendliest community of adventurers; skydivers. hubs Anyone can swim, only a few swim well. Anyone can skydive, everyone can skydive well. Practice!