clintster

Holy crap Kelly, Nice job getting it done though. I would like to share some friendly advice. It may pertain to this or it may not, but just in case. If you continue to have problems pulling rt handed, just switch to the left. For my first 500 jumps I had a hell of a time pulling rt handed. Something about my rt arm just wont get up that far. It was a pain in the butt when I was jumping the larger rigs, but when I purchased my last container, it became very difficult and to be honest, quite stressful. Greg from UPT was around and I noticed that he was pulling left handed and we jump the same size and model of rig. We switched it out that night. Changed everything. If I'm not mistaken, you have a Micron correct? If so, it should be fairly easy. That is if shoulder problems are part of the problem. It may not be and never be an issue again, but, if it does, you do have options. Respect.

My girlfriend can swoop her Sabre 2 135 loaded at 1.1 better than that.

The OSU Skydiving Class is worth 1 credit hour. More info at www.osuskydivingclass.com . Interestingly enough, the Fall Quarter class starts in 3 hours.

You're thinking too much. Get out of the plane, relax, and AALR, just like I showed you

Popsjumper, you say that you would, in this videoed scenario, cut away the main then deploy the reserve for the student. Correct? Assuming this, I have a question for you. Have you actually done this? Have you, while on an AFF Cat A (no pressure there), made the choice and acted on it, in a timely fashion (sometimes easier said than done) while in malfunction mode, at the bottom end of the skydive (no pressure there either) that has turned to shit (really, really no pressure there) and the clock is tick-tock-tick-tock ticking away, cut away a student’s canopy while the bag and lines were bouncing 1.5 feet from you and banging on the students head ? If you have, and you’ve made these statements based on experience and previous performance, you’re one steely eyed, ice for blood, bad ass AFF Instructor. You’re the type of AFF I that I strive to be and I humbly apologize for what I’m going to say next. I believe you are full of hooey and just talkin’ on the internet. Here are a couple of different scenarios that I’ve thought about in regards to this. Scenario #1 Student pulls, main side hauls ass, deployment bag is bouncing away on the student and I’m going to go cut that shit away. How am I going to do that? For starters, I know that I’m going to need to be super close and tight with the student. Usually, not a problem, I like to keep nice and tight on my students. However, with that bag and lines doing the tango on my student, I’m going to keep my distance and only be as close as I have to be. I can’t quite figure out how you intend on getting the reserve handle without getting your head super close to that mess bouncing around. Let’s say that you are going at it blindly. Head up high, left arm reaching around and trying to find the cutaway handle. You know sure as shit that when you’re about to get the handle that bag will bounce around, wrap those lines around your neck and that sonofabitch PC will decide to work. No more Pops. I know this scenario is a little bit of a stretch (no pun intended), but we all know predictable AFF is. Senerio #2 Student pulls, main side hauls ass, deployment bag is bouncing away on the student and I’m going to go cut that shit away. How am I going to do that? We already talked about the high road and the potential problems with that. I guess the other option is the low road. I go low on the student, still have the harness with my right hand, looking under the student and reaching for the cutaway handle. Things are looking up; I can see the handle this time. Then, my student freaks out because of my position in relation to him, puts his feet on his ass, backslides away from me, flips over and decides to go back flying for a while. There I am, with one freaking grip on this guy, trying to control a situation that is beyond repair. While I’m doing that, he and I just became one big steaming pile of horseshoe malfunction. How in the world did I end up here? I put myself in a place that I should not have been given the situation. I'm going to get some nylon over this kids head, track like a bitch to give him some room, and do it with enough time for him to deal with whatever malfunction decides to show up. Is it possible for him to have an entanglement? Yessir, sure could happen, and I would feel bad for him. I believe the AFF Instructor did the correct thing in this situation. Props to him. With Respect, Clint Cappelle

My favorite. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mitoR2I7P_o Thank you kkenan for every thing you do.

Why don't you come up here and show us

So, are you wanting to get students to skydive, or join the club? Because in my experience, those are two very different things. If you want them to skydive, I would recommend you post fliers everywhere you possibly can around campus. I mean everywhere. Students should not be able to walk into a building and not see a flier. As people remove them, you put them back up. Do you have a website for them to visit with information about jumping on it? If you don't have one, get one. Here is a simple example of what we have here at OSU. www.osuskydivingclass.com However, this is for the class, not the club. As for filling up the club with members, money talks. Here at OSU we have a club, but we really don't. The club is really only used to facilitate some stuff for the class. We have a very weak club. Why? We have no money. OSU provides only $300 a year, if that, for the whole club, and you have to work your ass off for it. In contrast, UC has a fairly strong club, guess what they have? Money! If I'm not mistaken, it is upwards or around $7k per year. If you want a non-skydiver to join the club, in my experience you need to offer them something. Discounted training and jumps? Fun times, or just free pizza at your meetings. Cool videos to show? Stuff like that. However, I may be totally wrong about this, and that is why our club is so weak.

In the skydiving class we do talk about the history of skydiving, but the majority of the class time is spent preparing the students for their skydive. The first and second classes are basically an AFF class taught to everyone. Then the class is split up and the AFF students go over the dive flow with the instructors and the tandems do their thing. The AFF students get a refresher when they get to the DZ. They work in the mockup, go over emergency procedures, learn to plf, and they are good to go. If I remember correctly, out of the 200 students we had for the spring class, 60 were AFF students. Possibly more. They don't have to jump to pass the class. They have to show up and participate in the three classroom sessions, make the field trip to the DZ, and write a 500 word essay on their experience. So far this year, I think we had only one person not jump and that was because he was over the weight limit for tandem. The final class the students are introduced to all of the diffifrent flavors of skydiving and competitive skydiving. We also watch some of the student videos. This class was initially started by Dr. Brian Smith and when he left OSU, it was turned over to Jennifer Olson, the instructor of record for the class. A lot of people have unselfishly contributed to the success of the class over many years.

Just a quick question for all of you that know of or are associated with a university skydiving class. I am interested to know if anyone has knowledge of an approved skydiving class at a university that the students receive credits for. The reason for my asking is the Ohio State University has an approved skydiving class that the students receive GEC credits for. This class is in the process of receiving some good press and we were asked how many other universities have classes like this. I know that many universities have clubs, very successful clubs, but I don't know how many have approved for credit classes. I am just trying to give the reporter accurate information. Thank You.

I will be headed to California for business next week. I will have the 19th and 20th to skydive before I have to fly out of Oakland. I will be in Dublin for business but I can drive to any DZ (within reason). I am thinking Byron. Does anyone have any suggestions?

What will I be doing on Valentines Day. Spending time with my man...........AKA, my son.Kyle.

OOPS!!!

I know that I am the new guy here. But what a better way to get known than to post a hottie pic. The quality of the pic is poor, but you get the idea.

Well I figure it is about time for me to introduce my self to all of my skydiving friends out there. I have been surfing dropzone.com alot more lately (winter in Ohio SUCKS ASS) and should get in on the action here. I made my first AFF in June of this year and have made 65 jumps to date. I am fortunate to have made all of my AFF and following jumps at AEROHIO and am very greatful for the all of the wonderful instructors, coaches and friends that have helped me become better at a sport that I truly love. One thing about skydiving that is amazing that I did not expect when I started. YOU. What a wonderful group of people. You all should be proud of yourself. I have never felt more comfortable in front of strangers as I do with you all. Especially after I have TOTALLY destroyed a skydive. Not one word of anger or frustration was said. Only sound advice and encouragement was given. Then they asked me to go again.( but get it this time) That is extremely rare considering the cost of the sport that we have all chosen. I will be attending Eloy this month and I am looking forward to it more that Christmas. Actually I will be there for christmas. (present for me). I am a little nervous about such a busy drop zone, but I think I will be just fine. If anyone has any advice they would like to share I would be most grateful. Once again. Thank you all and I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can in Eloy. Blue Skies Clint Cappelle