soarfree

Thanks everyone for your suggestions - please keep 'em coming!
When I said we were doing sitflying it's just because it's part of the program, not because I'm planning on working on that move first. I am very aware I need to do more important things like keep my legs out so I don't fly backwards so much.

I figure the basics are where I need to start, but being a 5 day old skydiver, I am not 100% sure as to what all those are and what things are most important.

And Doug - the tracking improved, but yeah, I'll still be working on that too!

Thanks for your help!

Blue skies!

AJ

I'm nearly off student status and I'd like to know what you did in freefall when you first started. The last few coached jumps I worked on sitflying.

Since this is all I can think about I need some more food for thought!
Any suggestions?

Way to go man - enjoy it!

4 days!

Class + 2 jumps Thursday
6 on Friday
5 on Saturday
4 on Sunday

Tired and sore, but I can't wait to go back for my first solo jump!

Didn't pack and jump my own chute so I can't do my 18th graduation jump until after packing class! #18 is free though - yippee!

Don't worry Beth, plenty of AFP'ers at SDC (and no doubt elsewhere) that are on a more extended plan. I saved for a year after my first tandem to be able to do my AFP jumps all at once!

Blue skies!

Amy Jo (AJ)

Hey Beth,

I'll see you on the plane
Hope to not see you in the corn

Let me know when your next trip is planned. I'd love to cheer you in!

AJ

Hi all,

I did it! I headed to Skydive Chicago last Thursday, took the AFP class and started jumping. I made 2 jumps on Thursday, 6 on Friday, 5 on Saturday, and 4 on Sunday to complete all 17 levels of the AFP coached jumps!

After PLF'ing every landing from 1-13 (probably could've stood up 4 or 5 of them but was too anxious to not roll on the ground) I stood up on 14-17. Everyone at the DZ who had been watching me roll for 3 days could hear me screaming and jumping in the field on #14. (well okay, I think I was jumping and screaming for #15 as well)
Just need to pack and jump my own chute and then it's on to my graduation dive! Woo hoo! Any suggestions for a jump with 3 people (myself and 2 experienced jumpers) to have a fantastic graduation jump?

THANK YOU to all the staff and skydivers at the DZ. I was amazed at the kindness and encouragement I was given. Every single person I met was willing to answer a question, listen to me talk about my jumps, or just hang out.

THANK YOU
Manifest for getting me on back to back loads
Packers for having the chute ready for those loads Everyone who cheered my first hop & pop
Whoever helped me get my chute back to the hanger
Whoever picked me up in the golf cart
AFP students (congrats Tino & Ferris on graduation)
Tish for the AFP class and encouragement
Rook & Dave for jumps 1 & 4
DZ.com'ers who said hello this weekend

And everyone at the DZ (even though your names are a blur) because I cannot stress enough how incredibly awesome it was to be there and how amazingly welcome you made me feel.

A special thank you to Nanette for being my instructor for 15 of those 17 jumps. YOU ROCK!

Looking forward to my first solo jump!
And of course, looking forward to jumping with my new friends

Blue Skies,

Amy

Beth!!!

Great to meet you yesterday at SDC. Awesome job on your first jump!!! Hope to jump again with you soon!

Amy

Hi Trish,

I'm a new student at SDC too. I will start AFP on the 22nd. Seems like there are a few of us new folks who can now only think about the next time we'll get up there!

Welcome to the club
And for all you SDC folks, can't wait to see you on the 22nd!

Amy Jo

Congrats - great job! Glad to hear you had fun AND did well!

Hope to see you out there while we're both doing our student progression.

AJ

U2's Beautiful Day is on my tandem video and I love it!

I think a student forum would be valuable. I also would like to share the experiences I'm having, but I'm just not always comfortable jumping out onto some of the other groups.

Thanks for suggesting it SkiD

I heard that working out underwater in the pool can help with form in freefall, especially working on the basic bellydown form. I've tried this a couple of times, but having only been flying once, so I'm not sure how much good this is doing me!

Since I cannot start up again until Spring, any more pool tips would be great, thanks!

My tandem master was Donna.

Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. On a whim I jumped out of a plane tandem at the end of last month. One of my friends received it as a gift and wouldn't jump, so I got it passed over to me. Lucky!

So hi from just west of Chicago! Looking forward to more jumps!

--AJ