BlueSkies415

I started AFF training in Chicago, got transferred for work to Phoenix, and carried it over there. Finally after all the travel I requested to come back home to the bay area. I restarted my AFF and had to make the choice between Monterey and Lodi....lets just say I wish I had picked Monterey. What a horrible experience here. I went in, registered for my aff, received the most beat up student hand book and videos that resembled the start of an 80s porn flick, three in total, only two that worked. I've jumped in Santa Cruz...Amazing. Las Vegas...Amazing. Chicago...Amazing. Phoenix...Amazing. Lodi, what a joke. The best part about Lodi were two parts, 1. I had to do a tandem since it had been longer than 30 days and I got to jump with Blain AKA Xbox, super awesome, and fun guy. 2. Hanging out at the campfire at night enjoying cigarettes with a bunch of seasoned skilled skydivers from around the world who were more than happy to help with any questions you had. Super good time. I went every weekend, watched the skilled jumpers do their landings to help learn (four hours total drive time for me each time I chose to do this). Even if the weather was bad I would make my way hoping that it would clear, and at least I could learn and ask questions so it wasnt always a loss. Blain was not able to be my aff instructor as he was on vacation...I should have waited until he came back. But I have been so passionate and excited about this that I decided to give it a go the following weekend. I checked into ifly early sunday morning to get in some tunnel time, then headed to Lodi, the weather finally cleared and they were able to get about 8 loads up. I sat at the landing zone and paid close attention to everyones landings. Monday morning comes along, I wake up at 7 am, hit the shower, do some more studying and wait for class at 9 am with my lunch as instructed. As soon as Bill sees me he says "You know, we only have maybe a ten percent chance of jumping today. I said, thats fine, I did not drive all this way for nothing so I will still finish ground school and if needed I will come back next weekend to complete the course. He tried talking me out of it three times. While waiting in the class room area, who comes to be my AFF instructor?....Bill, which now makes sense why he tried talking me out of it, he did not want to do it. He started playing the old cam corder dvd on the big screen and going through everything and I asked if I could grab my notepad and pen from the bunk house, just so I could write down any pertinent questions I may have during the video that I could address at the end of the videos without interrupting anything. He tells me if I cant remember it in my head it must not be important and no. I politely said okay. My phone which was faced upside down on top of my MRE for lunch was next to the handbook and he threw everything to the side, I was not even on my phone. Regardless of training I am still a father to two children and operate my own businesses in downtown San Francisco. I did not quite appreciate that. He should probably read what he wrote in the book and refresh his own memory such as fifteen and ten feet in level II positions, book says one thing, he says another. Exiting air craft, left foot 18 inches from the door vs 12 inches with what is said in the book. After going back and forth a little and I was extremely respectful, he called me not studious and disgusting. For the record, I have a degree in hotel and restaurant management and operate high end nightclubs and restaurants in SF, LV, Chicago, and Miami. Although I know the two are completely different, customer and guest service should be some sort of priority. 2nd to safety with skydiving I feel. I drove home that day and decided I think I will never again skydive and just forget about it and find something else I love, but then I slept on it and realized that I will not allow some miserable old man to take something away from me that I enjoy so much. I also hope he realizes getting into heaven isn't just how you treat dogs, its also how you treat your fellow man. I almost feel sorry for him. Again, for the experienced skydivers, you cant go wrong, the prices are perfect, and you can get a lot in for a great price, I get it completely. For us newbies in the sport, this is not the place for us, or maybe it just wasnt for me because I had a man with some form of a mental disorder as an instructor. I really should have held out for a week. Will I ever go back? Never! Id rather pay double for an instructor with patience to deal with someone new to the sport. I guess in that little bit of area hes the king of his domain, outside of it, which Im sure he doesnt venture far from, he is nothing more than a grumpy old man, with some extremely odd excentricities. I look forward to getting back up again, this time, with some one who know that it is in fact 2015, things have changed a lot since the 80s you know? Thanks for taking the time to read this novel. Blue Skies everyone!

Thank you guys for the feedback. I will make sure to look at those locations, and if I am in Byron, I wont be a stranger. lol. thanks again.

Hi everybody, I am currently an AFF student in Phoenix Arizona, but will be relocating to Northern California (SF area). 2 questions, does anyone have a DZ of choice in that area that my AFF can be completed? And also, I can call and ask but am I able to transfer my AFF from Phoenix to California or does it look like I need to start all over again? I hope not! Thanks all for reading this and thank you for any input.

You guys are great...lucky I stumbled across this thread. Laughed so hard I almost spit out my soda on my office desk!

And forgot to mention, the pic I uploaded was my last day in the hospital before going home. Injured? Yes. Never more determined and committed!

RAO, Skymama, and Hollywood, thanks a bunch for advice and responses. I greatly appreciate it. I can't wait to get back up, although I know I will have a little anxiety. But I won't make the same mistake again (hopefully). Thanks again. And hopefully this post doesn't come up three times as I appear to be having some computer issues. Shawn

Thank you guys for the responses, I appreciate it. I'm looking forward to getting back up there. Our injuries were much the same. My instructors thought my landing looked perfect. I chose to land in the holding area, and unfortunately the arizona desert terrain isn't very forgiving. I hit a pretty large rock with my right foot and everything went downhill from there. I broke my leg, my ankle, foot and tore some ligaments. I also cracked the bone on my T1 in my spine. Surprising enough my spine/back didn't hurt at all. After reviewing things, I definitely should have flared much harder at landing. I guess lesson learned though. Again, thanks for the reply, good luck to you too my friend!

Hi everyone, just wanted to introduce myself. I'm new to drop zone and wanted to say Hi. I started my AFF in Chicago and was transferred to Arizona (fine by me because you can skydive more out here anyway). Got my AFF started back when I got out here in Maricopa. Had an injury on my AFF 2 and was in the hospital for about a week. Probably in another 2 months I should be good to go back up again. I can't wait and not going to let the injury slow me down. Which leads me to my next question for anyone who has been through it. I'm sure the first time I go up after getting injured that there's going to be some anxiety due to the last jump. I'm sure just relax, don't over think it and of course hope to not make the same mistake again. Anyways, thanks for reading this and I'm happy to have become a part of this board. Blue skies and have a great day everyone! Shawn