Joellercoaster

What, you prefer those of us who spend at least one day for every day the relationship lasted sitting in our rooms, getting drunk and moaning to our friends about how we'll never date again because she LEFT ME OH GOD I CAN'T FACE IT.... Then every time some unsuspecting female approaches us with a knowing glint in their eye, we chat amiably for a few minutes until the beer kicks in and we start regaling them with stories of our ex and how much we miss her but it's good that she's gone because she's obviously an evil bitch and... anyway, guaranteeing no action for a couple of years. *ahem* Sorry. I'm over it now, I really am. Just ask my girlfriend. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

"I plan to do less planning." -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

"It is dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue." -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I know people with the opposite problem are often unwelcome in weight loss circles, but is there room on the list for someone trying to gain weight? I want to do it fairly quickly before I buy gear, otherwise I'll have to worry about wing loading Joellercoaster Current: 185lbs Target: 200lbs -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I'm pretty sure someone on dz.com already has part of the whale soliloquy from HHGTTG as their signature. Absolutely no idea who it was though. Of course, now that it's cool again, they'll probably change it -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

In the opinion of some reasearchers, it should be illegal to drive while talking on the phone, period. There are (apparently) numbers suggesting that even talking to your passenger can be a fairly risky thing to do, and that hands-free or otherwise isn't the problem with cell phone use while driving - it's the headspace you enter while talking to someone, particularly someone remote from you, that causes the accident increase. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

For what it's worth, although I haven't booked yet: I've decided to go to FFU at Lillo, and jump at Empuria afterwards if I'm still in Spain (which is likely, or I'll be back shortly afterwards). A bit more research has really impressed me with their pro-student approach. I'd like to get my whole license done at Lillo, but if I can't, I can't. Consols at Empuria or back in the UK or something. This puts a bit of a kink in the original plan to hang out with my GF and friend on the beach while I was jumping, but the idea was to learn to skydive. That's the most important bit to me, and dammit, it was my holiday first -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Hey, better do these while we still can - there may not be anything to jump on in a while... not without floaties anyway. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Wingsuits. Ooooh. I'm still a student, but I'm 6'5" and maybe 180lbs if I get real wet and hold some books. My first instructor was a bit of an anvil and gave me some stick about my fall rate. But those wingsuit people look like they're having an awful lot of fun. Thinking that my snowflake configuration will be an advantage in one of the disciplines that looks the most appealing... well, that's encouraging. [edit: speling] -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Clicky? (Of course, if you're running your Linux on a PowerPC or a Sparc or an ARM or a... you get the idea, well, this is no use to you. I think there used to be an OSS Flash player project, but I can't find it in the 2 seconds I just spent looking. I'll just assume it's dead.) Be warned though, it will make you want to smash something anyway. On balance, I'd skip the Flash download; being able to read websites like that only encourages them -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

All of this is true. Way cool pants. But their website makes me want to smash something. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Yah. Freefall University at Lillo sounds *perfect* for my needs... but the reviews on dz.com did complain a little about Lillo as a venue for doing anything other than skydiving. SO I'm left with the same dilemma I had with RAPA. Worth thinking about though, and they sound very pro-student on their website

This is all good info! I'm adding to my list of DZs to visit anyway, even if it's making the initial decision harder. I now have another consideration, however. A friend is going to be staying on our couch for a month or so in that period, and travelling around Europe. He can't skydive (spectacularly reconstructed knee), but would like to hang out. And my girlfriend has decided she wants a break too, and would like to come with me (probably doing some tandems). With that in mind, Empuriabrava is looking like the way to go, despite prices and possible wind. They'd be able to see a bit of Spain, snorkel and lie on the beach or paintball or tandem whatever while I'm doing AFF, and we'd still get to lounge and hang out at night. Otherwise, RAPA was sounding good - and may still be the way if Em can't get leave and my mate from Australia changes his plans. And I'll visit UK dropzones after I'm off student status, and am not quite so reliant on getting in the air each day to progress -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Thanks all! I'm not determined to stay in the UK - in fact, the more I think about it, the more I'd like to go somewhere else. I should take every chance I get to travel, which was the whole point of us moving to London in the first place. Since flying to Spain is cheaper than catching a train to the North anyway, why should I risk having my carefully-planned AFF week get rained out? Empuriabrava looks pretty sweet (can't beat the view either) and is definitely the frontrunner - what's the weather in Germany like in June, though? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Basically, your mileage can and will vary. Some people take to any new skill like a duck to water, some people are naturals at just some things (skydiving, for example) and other people learn only by making mistakes a few times until they get it right. Whoever said not to plan on repeating was right, though. In my (limited) experience of AFF, the instructors gave me all the information I needed for each stage, and drummed it into my head so much that I couldn't forget it even though sensory overload meant I did my best to :P If you really worry about the cost of stage repeats (and AFF jumps are indeed pricey, compared to afterwards), then use that as a motivator to absorb every skerrick of information that your instructors give you. Fill your mind with it. Dirt dive over and over again and don't worry about looking like a noob. You look like a noob anyway without that closing pin necklace . If you don't give yourself the option to repeat, maybe it'll be a little less likely that you will. Having said all that... bring enough money to repeat some stages. That way, when you fly through AFF with no worries, you have jump tickets to burn at the end. And you'll want those. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Hey all. A couple of years ago now, I went through most of AFF in Australia but didn't have enough money to graduate (stage 9 and consolidation jumps). I now live in London, and have a week of vacation that my girlfriend doesn't. I figure this is a perfect opportunity to do AFF again somewhere this Spring or Summer, and this time make sure I have the time and money to do it right. In theory I can go anywhere within reason, though I'd prefer to stay in the UK, and I'm wondering where would be a good place. It wouldn't have to become my regular DZ, so proximity to London isn't a big deal. Price isn't either, though obviously when there's £300 difference (which I've seen on DZ websites here already) that's a lot more consolidation jump tickets! So far Hinton and Langar sound nice from their reviews, but I'm totally open to suggestions right now. Any and all advice gratefully received! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Well... in a small town, it can't be that hard. I mean, you're basically looking at the local population of Elder Statesmen of Blues.... (If it was black, you'd have to expand the search to FBI Agents, but it's not, so you're OK.) -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Yup. I don't mind watching BASE, but for some reason that rollerblade shot gives me the heebie-jeebies. Loic swooping the hill with the dune skier though... I could watch that for hours. And will, when I can get the DVD -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

It gets worse. For the first time in months of distraction, I find I don't have to work on the weekends. Finally I can do the last stage of AFF! Err... no. Two weeks in a row, grounded by high winds. Now this weekend I have to be 800km from the DZ I'm learning at. Count on it, I'm not going to be able to concentrate on the job, not with this here window seat. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Curiosity regarding the tzitzit: is there some rule about having to have it visible while it's being worn? I have some long-ago memory of someone telling me this, but can't pin it down. Do you have to wear it? And if you to, can you tie it down somehow so it's not a tangle hazard? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

By the time I finish, it will have been about 14 months. Just wasn't able to get to the DZ often enough early on. 'sOK though, I'm starting to like repeating stages for currency I still have to do my hop 'n' pops and packing, too. Given my time again, I'd just take a week's leave of absence from work and do it in a block. Hindsight is, of course, 20/20. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

This is totally off-topic for this thread, but you've reminded me: On AFF stage 2, I had about four of five line twists. I was kicking out of them OK, but my radio had also managed to die. The TA couldn't see what was going on except that I was drifting out over the lake... apparently he was shouting into the microphone: "Joel! You're going the WRONG WAY!" Thought I was just spacing out and ignoring him. Much hilarity ensued after I came back (on-target, thank you) and heard what had been going on. I'd be pleased witha nick like that... sounds like you just need to find different people to jump with. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

It is. Go. I went long before I started skydiving, and now I don't live in the States any more, but it was pretty awesome. A lot more mainstream than you'd think from their promotional material, but still a heck of a lot of weird fun to be had. The dust storms are part of what's good about it! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Hmm... we have to fight to keep our cat out of the toilet. If I ever leave the seat up and the door open when I leave, I know I'll find him with his front paws in up to his elbows later. The cat eats the neighbours' fish a lot, maybe he's just hoping one will turn up? (Further downside: this is the same cat that likes to find sleeping people and walk around on their heads until they wake up. Do the math... ) -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Good luck Chris... here's hoping for a full recovery. Finishing AFF is overrated anyway -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?