skreamer

Dude, I admire your guts for coming back every time. You obviously have what it takes, and I hope that your flares are good and your PLFs are sweet. Sort of puts bitching about credit cards and lack of money for jump tickets into perspective! Blue skies and safe landings! /s

Last week at Skydance, I was on a Cessna 182 load with 2 other inexperienced jumpers and one guy who has major many jumps. What made the experienced skydiver really cool in my eyes? Firstly, it was a sunset load, he joined us at the last minute after work, walked up to one of the other *newbie* skydivers who he knew and said 'So, wanna do a 2-way with me?'. Once she got her tongue off the tarmac, she started nodding frantically.

It was National Service in South Africa, you had to go to the army. I don't think I had the most positive of attitudes, and could have done a lot more in my time there. I did become a platoon commander in the infantry, and really should have signed on for short service, because when I left the army and went to university I started screwing up badly. Oh, well, don't make the same mistakes as me, Skyhawk. Go in with a positive attitude, make the most of it and you will really have a good time in the army (and make some great friends). /s

Either that or a 208, perhaps one of the fly-boys can set us straight. Anyway, I know this is the plane I jumped from : caravan /s

I think I posted part of this on the old dz.com, anyway : When I was a kid growing up in Oudtshoorn, South Africa, they had the world champs there in the '70s. I can still remember seeing lots and lots of canopies in the sky (all rounds of course). Then my father who was in the military used to bring me the little silk parachutes from '1000 illumination flares. I used to tie fishing sinkers to the end and spend hours and hours packing and throwing my 'canopies'. Quite a few mals too, until I got my packing down!

Hi Frank Here's a little story that might make you feel a bit better. It was hardly life-threatening, but definitely VERY embarassing. Last week Thursday, I was on a Van load. I was doing a 2-way, and then the last group out the door after us was an AFF level 2 jump. Anyway, light goes on, all the freeflyers bomb out, my 2-way partner moves into the door and... I'm totally paralysed, I want to get up and skydive but I just can't move! Was I paralysed by fear? No, I had forgotten my seatbelt on! And behind me I have a nervous AFF student and 2 not-very-impressed AFF instructors who are getting hosed on the spot. Luckily once I realized the problem, I got out pretty quickly and we still launched the 2-way OK. And, thank God, the AFF student made it back to the landing area! Anyway, I have now made a gear check AND seat-belt removal a personal drill at 1500 feet. Hope this cheers you up a bit.

Hey Larry In South Africa that would be considered fore-play! /s

If I ever get pregnant I am definitely going to stop skydiving! /s

Have I mentoined tht I made 6 jumps at Skydance today? nyaaanyaanyaanaanaaa!

Woo-hoo! Went to Skydance today and had a total blast! Gary Lum came out and we did a couple of jumps (does that qualify as a dz.com boogie?). I had my checkout jump with Ed, he was really cool. then I did 3 fun jumps. Learnt barrel rolls and forward somersaults from a track (sorted out my legs as well)). Man, I had sooooooo much fun! One of my fun jumps I flipped out of the plane backwards and hung onto my knees for about 5 seconds - what a blast! Then JP from Action Air did a couple of 2-ways with me. The first one we got separted on exit and then only managed to dock once. The second jump was WAY better, JP wore a bigger suit and I arched a lot harder. We turned 6 points and I was over the moon! Man, 6 jumps in total and I still have a smile on my face right now. The weather was great, and even if I only manage another 4 jumps in the next 3 days I will be happy. Tomorrow I'm going to try sit-flying and Saturday one of the free-flyers is going to take me out, so I can try going head-down. WOO - HOO!!!!!! skydiveskydiveskydiveskydiveskydiveskydive WOO-HOO!!!!!! Oh yes, here's the beer list I clocked up today : *first jump in northern hemisphere *first jump with own rig (inc. conversion to BOC) *first jump from caravan *first RW Went out for supper afterwards at the flight line (path?) bar with some of the guys, great way to end an awesome day! And the best part? tomorrow morning i am going out to do it all over again. Life is good! /s

Dunno, but why do pilots always wear baseball caps? To hide the lobotomy scars! (I'm sure your dad will like that one...)

Jumpergirl, I would be honoured to jump with you one day. I have considered driving to Texas, but 25 hours behind the wheel might leave me just a little tired...

Actually Gary, from the way you are typing it does appear that you are coming down with something...

Thanks Gary! It is not that I have a problem with paying $60 per coach jump, I just don't have the money for it right now. I will be at Skydance bright and early tomorrow morning. Man, if I had made this offer in Cape Town, there would be some seriously shit hot skydivers beating a path to my door. /s

Carrie, I don't think you quite understand the situation. I flew out to California for a week with only two goals : collect my *new* rig and get as many jumps in as possible. If you lived in London you might understand my desperation to get jumps in. I accept that I am at the mercy of the weather gods (living in London you learn to live with crap weather but not like it). If I am the only jumper at Skydance tomorrow then I will pay double for every jump and it'll be just me and the pilot (all that leg-room just for me!). I got signed off Cat 1 on the 7th of January, I cannot afford to wait for blue skies in the UK (they're about as rare as winning the Reader's Digest sweep-stakes!). That was a sincere offer and I am sorry to say that nobody from northern California has taken me up on it. But then these people probably all earn a fortune working in Silicon Valley and don't need free jump-tickets. How long will it take me to drive to Coolidge? (and I'm not kidding either) /s

I drive a Giant Yukon convertible. In the city I leave the Ferraris and Porsches for dead. And the mileage? Some Powerade and bananas and my 2 stroke engine will keep going for hours and hours... Cars suck! /s

Hi Mike I live in Wembley (hey the rent's cheap and I used to be able to hear the stadium concerts from my room). Netheravon is about 82 miles from me, I have been thinking about buying a car to get there. Their awesome lift capacity is what really appeals, and work prevents me from jumping on week-days anyway. I have also been thinking about joining the TA (yes, I know - the weekend w*&%%&ers) because then I could get my jumps subsidized. I have heard Hinton is good too, but that's a bit far north. Any ideas? /s

Mike, don't hate us because we are *superiour*... My favourite expression when getting into trouble : "DIPLOOOOMATIK IMMUUUUUNITY!!!" And the next Englishman who tells me that South Africans are aggressive and violent - I'm going to kick his head in and burn down his house for spreading such vicious lies! /s PS Mike which DZ in the UK do you jump at? I am considering Netheravon, you got any recommendations?

Hi Jen Here is an excellent on-line magazine which won't cost you a penny : skydivemag It is the official mag for the BPA, they post the hard copy to everybody who pays their membership fees and then very generously make it available on the web for the rest of the world. Hope this helps with those winter blues! /s

ROTFLMAO STL? Tee, no offence, but that sounds like an AA meeting for the Smurfs! OK, now I KNOW the americans lace their water with Prozac. Can't wait to get back to London : bad weather, shit food and worse service. Actually I like the way everybody here in California greets each other and has time to chat - it reminds me of home when I was a kid. Tee, you rock! /s

OK diver123, now put the top back on the glue bottle and get back to work!

OK, now that I have your attention here is the deal : I am about to spend a shed-load of money on a jump-suit, bone-head and gear bag. I can no longer afford coaching jumps at $60 a go. I intend jumping from tomorrow until Saturday at Skydance. However according to weather.com,only Wednesday and Saturday look jumpable. The offer : any D-license in the Bay area, call in sick to work tomorrow and meet me at Skydance. I will pay for ALL your jumps for the day. I have been signed off student status, but need some RW jumps towards my A-license. I am attending the quiksilva team in the UK's dirt-dive coaching sessions, so am NOT expecting major coaching from you. Just some good, safe basic fun 2-ways. First person to mail me at [email protected] wins the jackpot. For your safety and mine I would prefer that you have a D-license. /s PS As long as 2 people want to jump, the Cessna at Skydance will go up. If you would like to make a bit of cash you can pack my rig at the standard rate ($5 I believe), so we can get back in the air quickly. A packing lesson would be nice too (at the END of the day), but I can get that in the UK as well.

What's with you people??? Either you are totally intimidated by Sangiro or you guys just want to crawl up his bum! You won't see me behaving like that, even though he is THE best web-master to infinity and beyond AND is the greatest living skydiver in the world. No sirree, I won't kiss up to him, you know why? Because I have my dignity. /s PS Sangiro is it true that you landed a wingsuit with a case of beers strapped to your back and a nympho Swedish porn star as tandem luggage?

Don't worry about time, I'm going to leave you and Sis passed out in little puddles of perspiration - AND THAT'LL ONLY BE THE 4-PLAY!!! hee hee hee /s PS if I make it to Texas this summer for Skydive University, it could be really *educational*...

Thanks Lisa I will actually be at Skydance this Wednesday thru Saturday (let's hope this storm blows over!), so will probably buy from Flitesuit. My visa is going to be in critical melt-down after this little holiday, I can tell you that much!!! skreamer