Kalrigan

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Posts posted by Kalrigan

  2. Quote

    Hi Kalrigan,

    I wouldn't worry about the end of the season. Parachute School of Toronto is open year-round. Although, we don't usually go much higher than 5k in the winter very often.

    Should be do-able to get one H & P done before next year.

    Check us out. www.parachuteschool.com 1-800-361-5867 :)



    Oh yeah? That's good to know, thanks for the info. I started jumping at STI because I had a friend who jumped there, how would that affect my solo certificate? I didn't think you were able to hop around dropzones during PFF.

  4. So here I am a new skydiver, started PFF (Canadian equivalent of AFF, sorta) and the weather has become such a pain here in Toronto. I'm on the last jump to get my solo, which is a 5k hop and pop and I can't seem to get it done. Everytime I go it is either too windy, too cloudy or something else that's equally annoying. All previous 9 PFF jumps have been great, incredibly fun, did well, learned a lot and passed them the first time.

    Now I'm stuck here and worried this will be the end for this season. :(
    What happens if it really is the end for now, what will I have to do when I come back in the spring? Just finish it and all is good? I just want to jump FFS.

  7. Quote

    The bottom line here is that Yeager publically showed his contempt for someone who has just made a major mark in aviation history.

    I’m not trying to diminish anything about Yeager’s great accomplishment of being the first man to go faster than sound or even his service in WWII. He is certainly an American Hero. But clearly he is trying to diminish everything about what Felix just did. Read what he said people!

    Twardo, I too have met him on a few occasions. The first time was in the mid 1990’s when I was working for USPA. We were both speaking at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, during the NAA 10 Most Memorable Flights Awards Ceremonies. After the ceremonies, when we were introduced, he commented that I was one of those “stupid people that jump out of airplanes on purpose”. There I was, meeting an aviation legend, as an official representative of USPA and he called me stupid. I call that arrogance.

    I have since met and observed him at Oshkosh. I have seen him ignore kids asking for autographs and walk away. I have seen the owner of a P-51 change the paint job of his airplane due to Yeager wanting royalties because the aircraft was painted like his WWII Mustang “Glamorous Glennis”. Other Warbird pilots that I know and respect tell me that Yeager’s head is too big for the cockpit.

    If he’s arrogant and self promoting that’s one thing. When he dismisses other great aviation accomplishments that’s BS. Joe Kittenger even fell into the trap 10 years ago when he claimed that he went supersonic and had to retract it. At least Joe had the guts to step up, admit it and work with Felix to help him to become the first skydiver to go Mach 1+.

    I have no problem giving respect to those of the past who did incredible things. But I do have a problem with those same people who won’t respect the achievements of the present.



    100% agreed.

    For someone who fought in WWII, Yeager's ego sure is fragile as hell. The guy is an ass, that's all there is to it. Never liked that arrogant prick.

  9. Quote


    Anyone else have any experiences in dealing with a worried mother (I'd love some advice) and their own AFF journey?



    First of all welcome.

    Second of all, if you thought your tandem was amazing wait until you start doing AFF. For me my AFF is at least 10 times more fun than my tandem was.

    Third of all, this mother thing. That's a very tough one, every time my mom finds out I went/going/planning to go skydiving she freaks whether she finds out through me, my sister, or whatever. I'm 28 years old and I still have her calling me telling me to think about what I'm doing every time I leave my place to drive up to the DZ. I've invited her to the DZ plenty of times but she doesn't bulge. So if you find a solution let me know haha, the way I have accepted it is that my mother will always be worried. When my dad found out he was like: Oh cool be careful and have fun. My mom on the other hand hah, no luck.

  10. First I would like to say welcome to the forums, and the sport. Everyone here has given you great advice, I just would like to see if I can help and maybe the words coming from a newbie just like you might encourage you.

    As I said I'm very new to the sport, just finished my 6th AFF and funny enough PChapman has been my instructor for my first 2 jumps hehe. Anyway, let me try and break it down one concern at a time.

    1) Gear and harness in particular: Just like you I'm always worried about my harness coming loose and not being tight enough to hold me well, but all my instructors have been great. They have watched me strap myself, made sure everything is secure, safe and in good condition. Then again, I am not exactly a slender woman to it might be different.

    2) Nightmares: I think they are pretty normal, happened to me when I first started a lot. The more I jumped the less frequently I got those nightmares, they still happen just not as much anymore. I mean, you are jumping out of a plane for the first time in your life, that's pretty nightmarish enough to be honest, but as long as you are confident in the knowledge you have received from your instructors you should feel more confident. What helped me a lot at the beginning was knowing that my instructors are great, experienced, and know exactly what to do in case anything goes wrong. After all, you are jumping with them right next to you. Knowing both of them will be around me the whole time you're flying down, they actually hold on to you, made me feel a lot safer about the jump.

    3) Doubt in gear: I don't think it's possible for you to have absolutely ZERO doubts in your equipment. Just know that as long as you take pre-caution and try your best to follow what you are taught to be safe you will be fine. Malfunctions will happen, line twists will happen, but you should be ready and prepared enough to deal with them.

    I also believe you are stressing yourself way too much with the whole powerpoint stuff and what not. It's great to know what you're supposed to do if the worst were to happen, but what you are doing might be affecting you psychologically and scaring you more than you should be in the first place.

    Now when it comes to fear of the jump itself, you will be scared and chances are the first 10 seconds or so you will be in shock after you jump, I definitely was, but that gets easier as well. I would be lying if I said I don't get scared still every time to come up to the door, but it's a good thing. One of my instructors told me: "See that fear that you have? Hold on to it for as long as you can, because once that is lost, you'll start doing stupid stuff."

    Another tip, you will be expected to relax your body for the flight, and it is definitely easier said than done. What helped me to be honest with you was something my instructor told me, he told me to make sure I'm smiling on the way, smiling while exiting the plane and smiling flying down. That's what I do now, that and watching the horizon helps me relax more than anything else I have tried.

    Good luck, and I hope you stick around with the sport. It's a beautiful activity, wait until you your instructors let you fly down without holding on to you, and the first time you pull your own canopy, and the first time you land by yourself. Feelings that I can't even describe. You will be in love.

  12. Quote


    I no-pulled on L2 so had to repeat. Don't be concerned about how many jumps it takes you to get through AFF - I had to repeat some levels, but each jump (pass or fail) was a great learning experience as I learned a lot more about getting out of the plane, stability, canopy control and landing and getting my 'head' in the right frame of mind.

    :)



    Totally agree with this. I myself I'm still working on my AFF (passed level 6 yesterday) and my biggest fear was failing one. The thing is, with every jump you learn something, with every jump you get used to flying more and more, it starts feeling more and more comfortable. So even if you happen to fail one or even a few, don't be too hard on yourself, every single jump helps. When I thought of it that way it just didn't matter anymore and I actually started enjoying the jumps more and felt more relaxed and aware.

    As a new jumper myself, I remember going into some sort of shock the first 10 or so seconds of my AFF 1. I was still trying to figure out WTF is going on and why I decided it was a good idea to jump out of a plane. All of a sudden I could barely remember what each hand signal meant and my altitude awareness was pretty bad. Maybe that same shock eventually hit you later on in your jump? I mean information overload, added on top of the shock of a first "solo" jump, that's quite something you know?

    It gets better, with every jump it will feel more and more natural and things will become normal. Checking alti every 5 seconds, or knowing it's time to pull etc... It becomes like driving and looking into your mirrors and stuff you know?

    Good luck man, enjoy your AFF it's a great and fun experience.

  16. Quote

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    I'll speak to him this weekend when I go back to the DZ. Thank you very much sir. I like those 2 helms, especially the Benny.



    If you call today, you could have the Protec or Benny for the weekend. Just do it, you will be OK. Of course that is easy for me to say, but really, the protec is the student standard helmet. Just go with it.



    Order it today and get by the weekend? No way, that's too soon I think haha. It's not biggie though, I mean I can do whatever jumps I'm planning to this weekend with any helm, but like for future jumps. I'll definitely see if I can order it today.

  18. So I just got into this sport recently, I'm working on my AFF at the moment and I know I've been advised not to buy gear yet until at least after I get my AFF done, or even A Level license. I totally agree with that and I think it's a good idea, except the helm. I really want a helm of my own mainly because I don't want to use helms from my dropzone, feel quite uncomfortable with putting something on my head that's been worn by god knows how many people. I'm ok with everything else, but the helm.

    Any suggestions on a good, not too expensive, beginner helm?

  19. Man it's so frustrating. I haven't been able to go back for more AFF. Been stuck on my first since Aug 4th. This weather is killing me, everytime I've had time off the weather ends up being crappy with rain, storms and what not. Now I figured this weekend would be my time and I'd go do maybe 2-3 jumps, but nope. Now that the weather is great, the one of PFF instructors is in Montreal so I can't even get the first 3 done which require 2 instructors. Sigh, bad luck. Been itching to go back, all I do is check weather reports every 15 minutes. Every day off I wake up at 8 and hope for the best, but noooooo. F U mother nature. :(

  20. No my friend, 30 is not too old for Skydiving. I thought that too for a bit, I just started and I'm 28 but I was told it's not even close.

    As for the fear part, my take on it, is if you're not scared to some extent then there is something wrong with you. After all you ARE jumping out of an airplane 15000 feet high, at least in the beginning. I believe it's fear what keeps you alive. It makes you want to learn more and learn properly, it makes you be cautious and reasonable. Having a bit of fear is a good thing believe me.

    As I said I'm new to the sport as well, loving every second of it but I would be lying if I said I'm not scared. I am and there is nothing wrong with that. Butterflies and everything are still around and that makes every jump so much more beautiful in my opinion.

    To drop or not to drop? Well man the decision is yours obviously, but skydiving is one of the most beautiful and amazing things I have ever experienced. The second I jumped my first time I knew this is for me, I knew this is where I belong and for me it's worth it. I understand and know the risks that come with the sport, I just don't let them stand in my way and try my best to prevent them.

  22. Quote

    Quote

    hell might even be tomorrow if Skydive Toronto calls me back and tells me both of their PFF instructors are available tomorrow.



    Even if the instructors aren't there you can go and watch and absorb anyway. Never hurts to watch people packing before learning how to do it on your own.

    You tend to see interesting shit there even if you're not jumping. Last week we saw a glider have an emergency landing at the DZ. The funny thing the closest glider port is 20 miles away. Talk about landing out!



    Hhmm, great point. Maybe I'll do that since I won't be going to work so won't have else to do.

  23. Did my first PFF on Saturday and it felt great. I feel like I finally found what's been missing in my life, I feel like this is where I belong and want to continue doing this for as long as I can. The class wasn't as hectic as I expected, and MikeJD you were right it's a lot of repetition for a good reason. I enjoyed every second of it.
    Thank you all for the advice, help, and support. I will keep updating as I will be going back for more this weekend, hell might even be tomorrow if Skydive Toronto calls me back and tells me both of their PFF instructors are available tomorrow.

  24. Quote

    Only places that sell things like that are the local dropzones usually. If your DZ does not stock anything then you will need to look at ordering things off the internet or from catalogs.



    Yeah figured as much. My local dropzone does have stuff, but the variety is not that big. Oh well, thanks for the reply sir.

  25. Hey guys,

    I've been trying to find some stores in Toronto/Vaughan/North York that sell skydiving gear but I can't seem to succeed. Anyone know of any locations? I'm not even looking for canopies or anything, at least basic stuff like goggles, helms, maybe jump suits and what not. Not planning to buy anything as of yet, still working on my AFF, but it's good to look around and plan ahead.

    Thank you.