vincenzo57

Hi mate, I started jumping again last year after 20 years since my last military one. Now with woman and kids I did AFF in Spain and steadily built up to where I am now, B licence, FS1 and 93 jumps. Luckily I have an understanding other half, but it helps that I work offshore and I'm away anyway quite a bit, so it didn't seem too strange when I'm not there. I try and not jump all weekend, so if the weather is good I'll do a couple on a Saturday and not kick the arse out of being away. so I can take her out at least one of the days. I also went to Seville in February and again in June to do jumping. It sounds like I've got the best missus in the world and I guess I have but she doesn't necessarily like me jumping but realises that without it I would be the Mr. boring whose only recreation would be to do the gardening or go down the pub. What sort of bloke would I be for her then. I bet secretly that she would be proud of such an awesome dude who does something out of the ordinary compared to all the usual people who are content to stay in their comfort zone with darts night or going on the firms bowling night. I'm no adrenaline junkie apart from skydiving, but it feels like I'm living life these days. Vince, age 56

What a fucked up country you've got over there if this is what they do.

RIP to all the people who lost their lives in the Polish skydiving accident at the weekend. Does anyone know when a list is likely to be published of those who died, as I have Polish skydiving friends and am concerned.

Quote I had problems for a while like this. The simplest one thing you can do is always remember to do a good arch and keep looking up. It's amazing how just looking up can improve your arch and from that your exits.

I went here to do my FS1 and B licence progression course. With such a lot of things to achieve I was amazed that I got so far, and now consider I have vastly more knowledge and ability than I did before. The shortage of time meant I only got to my 3 way but that was partly down to a few windy days, but all in all some great coaching from some brilliant people. The vibe here is great and everyone was willing to help.I will certainly go back here and would recommend it as a great place.

Yep, thanks for the comments. It was a case of get back itis I think. Valuable one learnt here.

Not a dramatic post or anything, just a few lessons learnt mainly on my second jump of the day. Firstly, lots of cloud when I exited the plane. I don't really remember seeing the DZ as I was concentrating on my exit, but after getting stable I noticed a lot of cloud covering the area, with a few holes. I was conscious of my mate who was out in front of me, both of us opening at 4000. It was the first time I've been through so much cloud, from about 8000 untill about 6000, and when I opened at 4, I noticed how far away from the DZ I was, as I usually open a bit higher, being a low jump number.I struggled to get to the airfield but extended my canopy range although I never had time to do a downwind, and came across a runway too low and landed 90 degrees cross wind. I got a telling off for making some wrong decisions but realised that it all started from not really knowing where the DZ was when I was above the cloud. All in all an enjoyable jump but slightly annoyed making basic mistakes.

Having the "money no object" clause kind of suggests that you could spend it how you wanted, not just on jumps. That's the problem, after my 4 jumps a day getting drunk once a week and travelling a lot I'd want to spend the money on other stuff too, maybe like re hashing my PPL and doing jump piloting. If the money was purely for skydiving it'd be 600 jumps a year,to allow some time for lager.

I did my AFF in Empuriabrava in Spain. Great DZ, made some friends, great scenery, beaches mountains, plenty bars. I liked it so much I've just been back to take my family to the nearby resort of Roses so I could go jumping in the mornings while they slept in. Just got my A licence now so will be back there asap.

I've not had any really anti type reactions although a fair few "why do you do that" comments. I'm getting to feel that I've got to hold back a bit about talking about my new favourite hobby though as I'm getting the idea that some people feel as though I'm not the bloke who's really enthusiastic about his new hobby but I'm the guy who has such a massive ego he's just banging on about his new dangerous sport to make the rest of us feel a little bit less than him. This is absolutely not the case but I'd hate to lose my non parachuting friends by coming across like that. What I actually believe is that the absolute negative reactions that were mentioned at the start of the post are all to do with ignorant people who know nothing about our sport and wouldn't dare to live their life a little, and what's more, they absolutely know it. I think back to before I jumped and the idea was quite mad, so that's how they think, and unlike us they have done nothing about it.

Now I'm starting to realise why I'm doing skydiving and continue to do it, I would do enough jumps all the time to get comfortable enough to not get the jitters when I'd have a break. For me that would be about 4 jumps a day for a whole month, make some friends then move on to the next country and do the same, returning to earlier DZ's now and again, especially ones I'd had a good rapport with people or where there was some good scenery. I'd also include a couple of courses along the way. Beer would of course be drunk along the way.

~Good stuff, love the music. Getting together some good vids here. Just missing parachuting at the moment.

Good stuff.

Loved both of your suggestions including the music. Great stuff. It's keeping me going through these weeks where I'm not jumping at the moment.

Great vid and music. I haven't jumped for 3 weeks and I'm missing it, watching that reminds me how much.