larry

Just found out about it Sunday night (DZ owner graded test and called me up). So haven’t had a chance to take beer there. Will bring a case this weekend, especially since it is a Memorial Day weekend... Yahoo! -Larry

Everyone may be tired of hearing this kind of post, but I have to tell someone: I got my A-license! None of my whuffo friends or family understands what it means to me (even when I try to explain it to them). So I had to post it here… Now I’m looking around for a rig. Send me an email if you have something with a ZP 260 (yeah I’m that big) you are looking to sell. [email protected] My local DZ is the Pittsburgh Skydive Center. -Larry

At last it's Friday... In 8 or 9 hours I'll be in the air. In the 40 seconds of the first freefall, I’ll lose all the stress and bullshit I picked up during the week. What a great sport.... You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. – author unknown

I I know this is an old post from last week, but I came across a good site... Go to this skydive naked site and download the video at the bottom of the page. It looks REAL painful to me. http://www.funinbc.com/skydive/skydive.htm You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. – author unknown

Got a real wakeup call last weekend, not by what happened but by what could have happened. I’m close to having my A license and am feeling more confident about jumping. Enjoying it more now that I don’t have the performance pressure of being rated on each jump and landing. Doesn’t mean I don’t push myself to grow and learn. Anyway, two times while suiting up I was talking or otherwise distracted while gearing up and misrouted my chest strap (looped it through but did not route it back in over the pin, just tucked it under the strap that holds down the excess slack). I caught my mistake as soon as I did it, but what scared the hell out of me was what if I had been more relaxed in my check or more distracted? I have read about several deaths due to falling out of harness while opening. I always do the three-point check for leg straps and chest strap routing, but will do it religiously from now on. My point to others just beginning is to never let your guard down. I’m sure those with hundreds or thousands of jumps got to that level because they (try not to) get over confident. (Interesting side note: heard there was once a jumper about 10 years ago that forgot to wear a rig at all, did not realize till pull time. I have heard this from a reliable source and believe it to be true though some of you may think I’m full of shit) You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. – author unknown

I agree with mountainman. In my humble opinion AFF is the way to go. I went through AFF and will soon have an A license. The program is more intense with a little more performance pressure. The costs can also be high, but the benefits are worth it. You are freefalling from day one and can complete the course in a short time (money and weather permitting). I think you will have much better freefall skills in a shorter time with AFF. Worry about hop -n- pops later. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. – unknown

Since I’m new (15 freefalls) I don’t know all the jargon yet. I was wondering if potato chipping is referring to a spin or the bobbling caused by being stiff as a board. I know relaxing can cure both.