crazydaisy315

Congratulations and welcome to the addiction! I got pretty queasy on my tandem (even after taking dramamine for motion sickness) but have only gotten myself queasy on one jump, when I was playing and doing some hard "yellow zone" spirals and then reversing and doing some more. Its really fun at the time though! My first AFFI told me that she gets motion sickness on tandem rides too. Its less likely when you are in conscious control of what's happening.

My tandem (from a caravan) had me sitting on the floor between his legs, until the last minute or so when I need to sit in his lap to finish the harness set up. Not gonna lie that I was turned on so much at that moment! But I'm a pervert, so me getting turned on so easily really isn't a shocker. Does that make it extra creepy?

I'd recommend checking in with the DZ's, as I am headed out to Cairns, in less than a month and the DZ there doesn't allow fun jumpers, its only a tandem shop. The "nearest" fun jump DZ from Cairns is Byron Bay, which is a 20 hr drive from where I will be. Go to the source for detailed and accurate info.

Welcome to the addiction! That's how I started last year - its a neverending cycle of skills to learn and fun to have!

I have the Atlas for my wrist mount, and got a Quattro for my audible, and I really don't like the Quattro. The Atlas is super easy, go here for the menu, one push to advance, long hold to go back. So I agree with the UI comment wholeheartedly. No reason why Quattro's couldn't be more user-friendly. I had to read the user manual to know how to operate the Quattro, and need it on hand in case I want to change settings. I don't need that with the Atlas. I'm a n00b, I want my mental energy directed towards planning my dive, not figuring out my gear.

I am a complete novice, so you are welcome to disregard this all you want, but I was at the Flight-1 class at SD Kansas, and as it was my first time jumping the Shark, I talked to Jen Sharp and she gave me a really great way to think about the exit. I struggle with my exits, sometimes they are picture perfect and sometimes I might as well just have cannonballed out of the plane. She said to break it into 3 different components, so you can truly analyze and think about each step individually: 1. Set up in the door. You want to be positioned so that you are facing the right direction to be into the relative wind. 2. The Launch. She said to aim for the idea of having a snapshot picture being taken 2 feet outside the door of the plane, with your hips into the wind. (Some separate coaching I got was that I should step almost forward a little on my launch, because I push off too far to the side, which causes the wind to catch my outer hip and put me in a spin.) 3. Fly the hill with a good arch. Based on that coaching, it helped me to understand that I may not be giving myself the best set-up, which then impacts my launch. And the separate coaching I got about my launch while we were just practicing the exit on the ground. I thought it was really helpful, and while I'm not anywhere near being qualified to coach anyone on anything, I just wanted to share this, maybe it will help you as much as it did me.

That's what I'm psyched for: Flight-1 canopy control at SD Kansas this weekend - cannot wait!! Really wish I had realized I only needed to be cleared for self-supervision to take it, instead of waiting till I got my A license.

Skyhook or other MARD. And a hook knife on mine. I also have an audible altimeter, in addition to my digital. I do not like the analog alti's. I find the large digital number to "sink in" better.

Changing canopy also takes time. I flew a 260, 240, 230 and 190 on various student and transition rigs. Now I have my own 190. And my landings got worse on my new one initially, but are finally getting better. Each canopy has its own tricks and techniques, and its taken me 10 landings (PLFs) to barely begin to understand my glide path (and how its flatter with better penetration into the wind, so I overshoot and have to correct my landing pattern on the next jump) as well as my flare. It has enough flare at the bottom to pop me up a couple of feet (which the student gear did not) and the first time that happened, I inadvertently lifted my hands, and then had to flare again really hard to prevent the nearly inevitable dive. That was my 1st standup landing under my new one, and it taught me the importance of really digging into the bottom of the flare to get every last bit of it. I had some doubts about the size of canopy I went with, but its right at a 1:1 wing load, and everyone at my DZ has been counseling patience (and a canopy control class). As newbies we are so damn hard on ourselves. Do you think golfers are any good after not even one round of 18 holes? You have only landed a parachute 14 times, and I'd be willing to be you had never done anything remotely like that before.

You were exactly spot on. I had originally felt all around the top edge of the pad, because I thought "why would it be in the bottom, too easy for it to fall out", but no, it was jammed in there really tight. Thank you!!

I feel like such an idiot asking this, and if I can't get the answer here, I will suck up my pride and ask my rigger (so no need to tell me that). But I've had my new-to-me Vector 3 for about a month, and I will be damned if I can find the reserve repack card. I feel like I have looked all over the stupid thing, and just cannot figure out where it is. It would have to be somewhere easily accessible right? As I said, if no one here knows, I'll suck it up and ask the rigger. I just wanted to spare myself the embarrassment of asking such a stupid question of someone that I get to see in person.

I finally did it, thought it was taking a long time, and was having trouble getting my final landing accuracy, but I did it! I got my new rig a couple of weeks ago, so the last 2 weekends have been jumping a brand spanking new canopy and just could not get my landing close enough, but I finally nailed it! Close enough that it would have qualified for B-level accuracy! So excited to be off student status!! Now I just need to get a canopy course in, so I can make accuracy a regular feature.

What you didn't mention was that it's the WOMEN doing the deciding once a week. The men just think they're in charge. As it should be!!

As a recently divorced woman, you just made a huge case for living this lifestyle! Damn!

Hi! Still on student status, but only 3 jumps (if I nail my accuracy!) to get my A. I've got my rig (well, technically the rigger has it), my jumpsuit (for RW, need to get a freefly for my tunnel time), an altimeter (thinking about getting a second so I have an audible and one on my wrist), and my helmet. I know I need a packing tool. What else am I missing? I want to travel with my rig, both commercial flight and road trips - any suggestions on gear bags? Got 2 beautiful jumps in this weekend, winds were gusty most of the weekend here. But after the rain cleared out on Saturday, things settled down and I got my recurrency and caught up on a few coach jump pieces (canopy work) I had missed before. Hadn't jumped since February, missed it and was getting nervous again. I'm all better now, and aching to be back up there asap.

Haha! If you can find the secret to not being scared, let me know. I have 22 jumps, and I'm scared shitless regularly. I do it anyway, because I stop being afraid as soon as I'm out in freefall. I know that the doorway to the plane is literally the doorway to flight, freedom, exhilaration and the most amazing experience any human could be allowed to have. The first solo jump is the most emotionally intense experience I have ever had. I have been told by jumpers in the 1000's that there is no secret to not being afraid, it just stops being scary around jump 40-50 because you've done it enough that the fear subsides. You just have to accept the fear and do it anyway. Part of the personal growth in this sport is learning how much fear holds you back as a person. At least for me!

Landing was always my big worry, and my first several weren't so great, and they still aren't so great. I'm maybe 50/50 landing on my feet vs. plf. Want a newbie's recommendation? Practice your PLF. And again. I purchased a camping mattress, stuck it on my living room floor and PLF'd off my chair and couch over and over. I did this after a rough landing that pulled my hamstring and left me limping for a couple of weeks. I wish I had done it sooner. Go to your FJC, learn the PLF and practice it, practice it as much as you practice your EP's. If you really want to do this, the EP's and the PLF are what you should practice all the time. Again, I'm just a newbie, but practicing life saving and limb saving techniques will never hurt.

I did a tandem on a whim in June 2015 with a few friends. I couldn't get it out of my head and knew I had to do it again. I was in the FJC 2 weeks later and couldn't imagine backing away. Not licensed yet, but only a couple of jumps to go, with the goal of getting my B license by the end of the season here. Still have to deal with a lot of fear/anxiety when I have gaps between jumps, but desperate to get back in the sky now that the season is open. Its been too windy lately and I am going stir crazy.

No clue, but I did the genetic testing on my rescue dogs, and had a lot of fun finding out the results. One of the girls looked like a bully breed (we thought for sure some pit bull or related) but she was actually a mix of pug, cocker spaniel, soft-coated wheaten terrier and dalmation, plus the possibility of boxer and a few other breeds. It was the Wisdom Panel brand, about $100. You never can tell based on appearance alone!

THIS!! Again, lots of good words of wisdom from other commenters too. My work load is fluctuating, but I'm considering a trip to Perris in January or February. Actually, when there isn't a big boogie or anything going on. Fewer witnesses to my inevitable rough landings and various idiotic moments. Sounds like a lot of it is "suck it up, buttercup!" Which is true. conquering the fear initially was part of what was so cool about it, but its been creeping back in faster than I expected. And this is definitely me: I was actually at Perris the weekend of the big wingsuit record, and was too intimidated to do anything.

My Level 7 (E) was a front flip out of the plane, a backflip and barrel rolls in each direction during freefall. Checking altitude, getting stable and maintaining heading between each maneuver. My front flip was more of a dive, because I moved into an arch a little too soon. But my instructors were most concerned with getting unstable, and re-stabilizing yourself, without major heading drift. It seems like each dz maybe does it slightly differently.

Thanks for the kind words and words of wisdom from all! I have no problem with refresher training, I'd be a fool not to at this point. I will review the SIM. It will probably be another month or two before I can go anyway, so I will really need the refresher training at that point. I need to move south.

I just started skydiving this year, at the age of 41. I only got in 14 jumps this year, but finished my AFF, thanks in large part to 30 minutes of tunnel time. My last jump was basically the final AFF. I did a hop and pop that day too, but didn't have a good exit so it didn't count towards the license. I haven't jumped for 2 months now, as the season is over for my dz. I haven't really clicked well at my dz, because everyone my age is way more experienced, and everyone at my experience level is half my age. I've been thinking about taking a 1 week vacation in a warmer area to wrap up my A license. But I'm struggling a little bit with the fear increasing the longer I go without a jump, as the memory of the last jump fades (which was absolutely epic). I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one! How did you deal with it? Am I being too proud for my own good to not reach out to my instructors and talk with them? Its not like they are bad people, but I just feel like an idiot. Any words of advice would be welcome!