rohicks

Wind tunnel was invaluable. It helped me relax a lot, and it was just generally a lot of fun to do. Hopefully i can find extra cash and get back in there another time.

What?

So my levels 4 and 5 were a bit rough with my turns couple weeks ago. I had this problem that when I would turn left I would keep spinning in a medium pace spin. I got some tunnel time at iFly Orlando with Benji as my instructor on Saturday (3/16). Realized my problems were mainly being relaxed, and trying to turn with my hips which would drop my leg a little and make it hard for me to stop. Video for that is linked below. To save you some time; my last session starts at 9:25 and it's the only one you really should watch. Unless you want to watch my progression between the sessions. http://youtu.be/q478cfWnUAs Now today I went to the DZ and knocked out levels 6 and 7 with ease thanks to the wind tunnel. I fixed the left turn, and didn't have a problem with anything during the jumps. My level 6 video is linked below. I had video of my level 7, but when we got down for some reason the video file was corrupted in the gopro so we lost it. Oh well the only difference was I did a back flip and a few barrel rolls. I also packed my own parachute on my level 7 (with assistance). A little nervous jumping that one, but it opened and flew just fine! http://youtu.be/pcnxhYnEO18 *note* You have to watch these videos on an actual computer. Google won't let me enable mobile viewing due to the music that i put in the videos. Enjoy.

I was referred here by a friend that had done her AFF at this DZ. She was right about this DZ they are very friendly, professional, serious about safety, priced reasonably, and are always having fun! If you're in the area this is the place to be for skydiving. They are open Saturday and Sundays, and then open during the week by appointment only and sometimes open up on holidays during the week. I started my AFF here the weekend of Jan. 19-20, and I was able to get through 2 levels. Looking forward to jumping more and making some good friends here. Their tandems (at this time) are 185, and that's a pretty good price when comparing it to other DZs. If you ever wanted to jump don't hesitate and don't psych yourself out about it; head to Skydive Palatka and take the plunge!

Well I just completed lvl 5 today, but not with flying colors. No video although it would of been really helpful this time. I had the same problem again on level 5 this morning. I did a right 90 and came back left. Checked altitude and then my left spin began again randomly, and I couldn't stop it. I have this weird thing where I tend to fly left, and we can't seem to figure out what's going on. My instructor on this one said she now knows what my previous instructor said in my book about my spin because I did that left spin pretty much the entire jump this morning. She had to dock on me to stop it, then I locked on, waved, and she let go then I started to slowly spin left again right before I pulled. Luckily no line twists though. I didn't freak out or anything and I was altitude aware, but it's just this left spin that I can't seem to conquer. We've come to the conclusion that I need to over exaggerate my right arm more to stop the spin because I have good form when turning left, but when I try to dip my right shoulder my left arm doesn't want to come up I guess. Does that matter that my left arm doesn't follow form when dipping my right shoulder? I'm able to turn right, but it's always a slow turn; but when I turn left it's easy and fast and I can't stop it. Instructor said she wasn't sure why I was spinning because my body position looked pretty good and everything seemed equal. We are going to try to do toe touches next time and see if that helps. Another possible issue is maybe my left knee is dropping causing the spin. My arms feel like they are fine to me so I think maybe it's my legs...

Here is my level 3 video. http://youtu.be/Zpv0o8lKEoE I actually did this about 3 weeks ago. I don't have video for level 4, but the notes from my jump are below. Exited really good, good practice touches, released 2 seconds after exit, 90 degree right, then 90 degree left, and for some reason I kept slowly spinning left and couldn't stop it. John (my instructor) and I came to the conclusion it was because my head might have been down, and for some reason my left arm was flying lower than my right. He actually thought i was just wanting to turn left, but when I didn't stop he had to bump me to get me to stop. Since I was trying to stop myself in the left turn I ended up locking on altitude a little late and pulled around 5200-4800. I took my downwind to far, good canopy control with minimal effort, and decent landing. I've been at the DZ for the last 3 or so weeks trying to finish AFF 5, 6, and 7. However, the winds and weather haven't been very good. High winds, cloud cover, and last weekend it was 9 degrees at altitude with high winds. This Sunday appears to be promising, and I've got my fingers crossed to hopefully finish then.

No i don't care about bells and whistles. However if a store can't take care of it's online appearance and services then I question (as should everyone else) about it's credibility. I just wanted to know what stores I can trust and what ones most people preferred to shop at. Wasn't that hard of a question that could of been solved in one post. Thanks for the referrals to paragear and chutingstar. I haven't been in the classifieds yet, but I plan to lurk them when i get around to actually needing the gear. I have been reading the gear section with the reviews from users here.

Thanks ass. The amount of time it took you to do that it you could of provided some actual help. I'm aware of google and how to use. Maybe he's just better at it than you... His search brought up exactly what you were looking for I highly doubt it, and no it didn't bring up what I was looking for. Forget it; always a bunch of smart asses in forums. Pot, meet kettle. eta: and the funny thing about your last post with the links to the stores is those exact same links came up in the first responder's link. Learn how to read; I'll explain it further for you though. I said quality stores. Each one of those sites look like they were made in the early 90's. If you know anything about branding, marketing, and web development. Designs like these break trust with consumers. I wanted a referral of quality websites that I could trust, and finally got them from a wonderful member here. Take a look at square1's website. Look in the footer. The site's footer hasn't even been updated since 2008. That alone tells me this store probably is a place I don't want to shop at and trust my money with.

Oh, you just keep digging, don't you? I should make popcorn now. But seriously, at your stage in the sport, unless you're looking for goggles, helmet, or altimeter, buying anything of your own is premature. Still, you got your answer to your question, and the rest of us a got to laugh. Welcome to the sport. Now bring a case of beer to the DZ, sit around the bonfire and drink it with experienced jumpers who will answer all of your questions to your face. If you want a second opinion, come back here. But, first bring that very code to the search box (upper right of your screen) and see if your Q has been A'ed already. I'm not looking to buy a rig yet or anything extensive. I was looking for a place to start researching my gear and a way to look at prices. As well as a place to buy an altimeter and helmet and compare other brands of gear in one place. Every site I've come across looks like it was made in the early 90s; that's why i said 'QUALITY' in my OG post. But there are apparently a lot of smart asses here that obviously can't help. Fortunately another member PMed a few good sites. For other newcomers that people won't help ether here is a list i was given. http://www.paragear.com/ http://www.square1.com/ http://www.chutingstar.com/ I was planning to ask my instructors this weekend about an altimeter, but like I said still need a place to gauge prices and even find a place to buy one. FYI you can't search with code.

Thanks ass. The amount of time it took you to do that it you could of provided some actual help. I'm aware of google and how to use. You asked a simple question that you could have answered by using the search feature on the site and you're calling him an ass? Obviously you don't know how to use Google or you wouldn't have asked this question. I'm very well versed in google searching seeing as my career is technology. I develop the very code you use to browse the internet as well as the back end to systems that support your trolling.

Thanks ass. The amount of time it took you to do that it you could of provided some actual help. I'm aware of google and how to use. Maybe he's just better at it than you... His search brought up exactly what you were looking for I highly doubt it, and no it didn't bring up what I was looking for. Forget it; always a bunch of smart asses in forums.

Thanks ass. The amount of time it took you to do that it you could of provided some actual help. I'm aware of google and how to use.

Still new to the sport, but I'm finding it difficult to locate online retail stores that sell skydiving equipment. Can anyone share some links of your favorites quality stores... or do you have to buy directly from the manufacturers? Thanks in advance.

Right on. Thanks for the quick reply. I work in the (web) technology field myself, and I understand what can happen when you make big changes. Best of luck, and looking forward to the future changes when y'all get around to them ;)

Ignore me if this has been discussed before, but I haven't been apart of the forums for that long. However, when I first registered I was a little taken back at how old and crude the forum software seems to be. I have no idea what it's running (or who actually owns this site/domain), but it seems like it might be time for an upgrade...?

Thanks everyone. My instructors said they were very impressed with me, and I've been one of their best in awhile. So that makes me feel more at ease and proud I'll probably do level 3 and 4 in the first week of February. I'm having a blast and can't wait to get back up in the sky!

Well it's been a long 6-7 year wait since my first level 1 jump. Feels good to be back at it, and ended up doing two levels today at Skydive Palatka in Florida. Have some short footage of my free fall if you want to watch it. http://youtu.be/sAxjfU3he84 I did fairly good; some minor problems I seem to keep doing is when doing practice pulls I want to put my left arm on top of my head instead of in front of my face. Another is if you watch the 2nd level dive you'll see my left 90 degree turn is a bit tough to get through. I had trouble with dipping my left shoulder to get me to move. However, other then those two I passed with flying colors!

Thanks for all the input.

Thanks; sounds reasonable. I plan to ask my instructor(s) too once I get my first jump scheduled again.

So 6 years ago I started my AFF course and ran out of money because I was in college and due to Indiana winters. You can read more about this on my intro post > http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4418015 I'm restarting my certification again (hopefully sometime in January or Feb.) back at Level 1 because I only completed Level 1 in 2006, but I have a question I'm just generally curious about. Is there a time limit on when you have to complete the AFF course jumps or your 25 jumps to be accepted for the A license? In other words if i start my AFF do I have to complete the course jumps within say 6 months for it to be "legally" counted? If you don't jump for a long time, even after you have your A license, are you required to do a refresher course with an instructor ? I scuba dive as well, and after not diving for a period of time you are required to do a refresher course, and some charter boats will refuse to allow you to dive if you can't prove that you have been underwater after a long period of time. Also one other small unrelated question... What are the average costs of jumping after you complete the AFF course. I obviously would have to pay for a lift ticket and rental gear for awhile until I'm able to purchase my own. I know it depends on the DZ prices, but I'm curious as to what is a normal or average price to rent and jump after your A license or after you do the 8 jumps for the AFF course? Thanks.

Ya I wouldn't feel comfortable starting at Level 2 after 6 years. I was planning on starting back at 1 even if by some chance they said I could continue where I left off ;)

Hey everyone. I've been lurking around the past week reading some posts and getting to know the site. I'm looking to restart my AFF that I had originally started 6 years ago. Hopefully within the next month-ish I'll be scheduling my level 1 with the DZ in Palatka, FL - Skydive Palatka. I was referred to them by a friend. I'm originally from Indiana (now currently in Jacksonville, FL), which is where I started and completed my Level 1. However, I was a sophomore in college (boiler up!) at the time and I ran out of money and winter came around so I couldn't continue with the course anyway. Disappointed then, but now I'm ready to get back to it. I did a tandem jump in Greensburg, IN at Skydive Greensburg back in 2006 then a week later I had scheduled my AFF at a local DZ near my hometown. This is my tandem video from Skydive Greensburg back in 06. http://youtu.be/xwwtfJMEXmw I've attached some proof that I completed level 1 ;) Any advice for someone that's been out of it for 6 years? I still have my log book and hand signals cheat sheet my last instructor gave me to study. Figured it'd probably be good to look at them and memorize them again.