mbolism

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  • Main Canopy Size
    175
  • AAD
    Cypres

Jump Profile

  • Home DZ
    Tecumseh, Michigan
  • License
    B
  • License Number
    24527
  • Licensing Organization
    uspa
  • Number of Jumps
    112
  • First Choice Discipline
    Freeflying
  • Second Choice Discipline
    Freestyle

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  1. Dave, I was crying reading your post. It was beautiful. I'm glad knowing how much Pops meant to the skydiving family has helped you through this. I had wanted with all my heart to be at the DZ yesterday but unfortunately, I am w/o a car at the moment...it's still in the shop. Believe me, I was with you there yesterday in spirit. I know I haven't been around this year, but my heart is always out there with all of you. We'll see you tomorrow- our thoughts are with you. those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  2. mbolism

    mbolism

  3. Jessica- I totally agree... I told my boyfriend how many views and responses I had to this post and he said that I must've hit on a hot topic!!! Thanks everybody for the input! I did 7 jumps over the weekend (only 1 on Sunday because of the stupid weather!!!!) All were fun and I really got the hang of the front risers vs. toggle turns, etc.... UP HIGH of course! I told you guys I'd play it safe! I did the little low s-turns in and picked up a little speed...on a couple I had to run them in at full speed though! At least I was on my feet! More in my quest to swoop next week..P.S. I think I'm gonna' get a Mirage! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  4. Jessica- I totally agree... I told my boyfriend how many views and responses I had to this post and he said that I must've hit on a hot topic!!! Thanks everybody for the input! I did 7 jumps over the weekend (only 1 on Sunday because of the stupid weather!!!!) All were fun and I really got the hang of the front risers vs. toggle turns, etc.... UP HIGH of course! I told you guys I'd play it safe! I did the little low s-turns in and picked up a little speed...on a couple I had to run them in at full speed though! At least I was on my feet! More in my quest to swoop next week..P.S. I think I'm gonna' get a Mirage! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  5. I can't imagine growing up that way!!! I don't know if I would've appreciated it as a child if I was a dzo kid!!!! If people think I'm spoiled now, I'd hate to imagine what I'd be like if I grew up with Roger Nelson as my dad! BRAT comes to mind. Actually, I grew up as an airport brat, my dad is a private pilot, oldest brother a flight instructor and FAA employee, and two other brothers pilots. I've been in planes almost constantly since I was 4 years old. I've found it definitely gave me an advantage that other first time jumpers didn't have. I don't think many kids grew up being as comfortable on planes as me, and it was a logical step in my mind to want to jump out of them! I think the first time I thought about skydiving was when I was 13 or 14...I was in the back seat of my dad's Piper Tripacer and the door next to me popped open! It scared the crap out of me, but it was the first time I looked out the open door of a plane at the ground. I also used to stare at the big huge cottony clouds and want to reach out of the plane and touch them. My mom used to look at them and say, "don't you want to just get out and jump into one of them?" After my first few jumps, I reminded her of when she said that...I don't think she thought it would ever come back to haunt her! :) My family's really supportive, although they always say, "we're supposed to be flying the planes, not jumping out of them" Well, I always was the blacksheep! My FAA bro is cool though, he said when he retires from the FAA he's considering being a jump pilot! He rocks!!!! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  6. mbolism

    Newbie Questions

    They are on the sides, near waist-high hip level... they are like the leg straps, only they tighten the container vertically...ask your JM to check them before you jump again, mine had to tighten mine every time. It's probably not something you should do on your own anyway, because it's easier for someone standing facing you to do. Don't be afraid to ask...you'll be a lot more comfortable! Also, STRETCH STRETCH STRETCH before you jump!!!! If you've ever worked out before, do the same kind of stretches, that will help you not pull muscles, stc. while jumping. Remember, it is a sport! Have fun this weekend! I'm headed out to the dz in a little while! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  7. Personally, I've always had a dark sense of humor, even before I started skydiving. I find that it is definitely a release from something that is uncomfortable or difficult to talk about. My best friend is a doctor, and he probably has the darkest sense of humor of anyone I know. It was a necessity for him in order to deal with the daily task of seeing sick or dying individuals. Just imagine doing that job and not being able to laugh at life and death! It would be soooo depressing...I agree that making light of situations makes them easier to accept, also, life is funny! I look at life and death as a game. It all shouldn't be taken toooo seriously because you never know what's gonna' happen tomorrow. When I did my first few jumps and met my boyfriend ( met him at the dz after my first two static lines...) I changed my beneficiaries on my life insurance policies at work. I put him as the first beneficiary and I told him, "look at it this way, if I die, you get an extra rig, and will probably have enough money to buy a few more!!!! I may actually be worth more dead!!" He didn't like that joke at all!!! He said he would rather have me around than any rig, which was sweet, but he definitely doesn't have as dark of a sense of humor. At least not when it comes to me...I just find I can talk about it with no problem. Also I am a huge believer in reincarnation, so I don't worry! I'll be back again anyway, and if I'm really good (good karma!) I'll be a bird in my next life!!! TWEET!!! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  8. Hey, that's pretty much what I've been trying, what altitude is your 45-90 turn at? My first "accidental" baby swoop took me a good 15-20 feet, and it was really fun.. Who cares how it looks as long as we're having a good time!!!! Thanks for the tips Tee! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  9. Good luck on the Millenium award! I know how hard good RW is, I've been doing a lot of sitflying and I always go back to some RW and it is more difficult when you only do it occasionally. It always leaves me thinking I have to do it more! This week I did a two way RW to let my sweetie practice with his new camera helmet, and we did a lot better than I thought we would. I really like all the hybrid formations I've been seeing. I talked to a packer we met from Palatka who is working at Skydive Chicago for the summer, and he told us about this "hog-flop" competition they have at his home dz for Halloween...it's hilarious! He said they have all these hotshot RW teams who think they can do it and win, and it's fun to watch them blow it apart!!! In case you don't know what a hog-flop is, the team forms a round, has to let go and each do a backflip and then form the round again. He said it sounds easy, but is almost impossible to do, no matter how good you are at RW. We're gonna' try it this weekend just for laughs. Apparently, after the backloop, everyone is all over the place and usually can't get back together...if we can ever do it, we're goin' to Palatka!!!! It's a good story about an easy-sounding formation that actually takes an enormous amount of skill. Not for the weak!!!!! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  10. mbolism

    Newbie Questions

    I almost forgot...just hang out at the dz and watch and listen besides jumping! That way the adrenaline rush won't be there and you'll remember to ask all the right questions. Also, make a lot of notes to yourself. I love to look back at my logbook and laugh at the funny things I wrote. I put funny comments as well as stuff I wondered about. Someday you'll look back at it and crack up. Just remember, there are no stupid questions. One of the things you don't ask because it seems obvious may be the thing that saves your life! Oh, also, I still get strange muscle soreness in odd places. My boyfriend had a good explanation. He said no matter what you do on the ground, it will never compare to what the air does to you, it twists and turns and moves you and your whole body in ways you could never do on the ground. Add to that once you're in freefall for a minute, you're doing these odd body positions at 120 or more mph...! When else can you think of when you are in an arch with your arms out and bent with your thumbs about to go in your ears!?!? OK, no bizarre sex stories from any of you in response to that!!!! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  11. sorry! I came home last night to jump at my home dz for the weekend ( also the last three days of my vacation!) I'd be in trouble if I didn't make an appearance there, besides, I want to hear all the Quincy stories! But have fun and just go up to him and say hi. I walked up to Olav in the lobby and told him how cool it was to be on my first Otter with him- BEER! - I also asked him what he thought of students learning RW then moving to Freefly, or just going from student status right into freeflying. All you RW people will be impressed to hear that his advice was to definitely do some RW because it helps you learn to move in relation to others in the air, and in freeflying you have to do the same thing-just in different formations and body positions. I overheard another guy ask him what he thought about EPSN/X-games dropping skysurfing, but I didn't hear his response. That's funny- when I saw him he was drinking a Heinny too! They should have him do a commercial!!! Anyway, just go talk to him-you'll be glad you did! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  12. I like playing with my three dogs...oh, sorry I mean "kids", and believe it or not, my favorite thing to do when not at the dz is landscaping and gardening. We've been landscaping our whole backyard and it's a ton of work, but it looks really cool. The hardest thing is spending money that I could use for jumps on plants, soil, retaining walls, etc... But I do have a plan for all of those who think I'm crazy spending perfectly good jump $$$ on the house stuff! When we sell this house, we are going to get a new place within 15 or 20 minutes of the DZ instead of an hour. See! It's worth it in the long run. Every time I do landscaping, I just think of how much it will increase our resale value, thus moving me closer to the airport. Yes, I have a problem, and Rhonda, I don't think I do anything that doesn't somehow in a roundabout way relate to skydiving! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  13. yeah, it was good to see them in person, both jumping and just hanging out. It puts it into perspective. I was so temped to walk up to Olav and ask him to tell me a story about when he sucked at freeflying....he probably doesn't have one!!!! haha! But wouldn't it feel good to hear all their stories about when they used to flail and funnel and cork and basically screw around just trying stuff! There should be a post by all the skygods called "a story from when I sucked at freefly..." It would make all us newbies feel soooo much better! It was funny meeting him and kinda saying.."oh, yeah, I have like 70 jumps!" whoooo-who!! Olav was incredibly cool though. He doesn't make you feel like your'e a novice or anything. He had some great words of wisdom, too. But yeah, they are all people just like us. That's what makes skydiving sooooo cool. (Among a lot of other things!) those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  14. Another good point, I have a huge amount of upper body strength and I can barely, and I mean barely front riser turn! I lifted weights 5 or 6 days a week for three years and it's still almost impossible for me to do. I've only tried it way way up at like 2 or 3 grand and I had to use my whole body to get then to budge. Of course, if you've ever tried to front riser a Monarch you'll know what I'm talking about. I actually bought it from a Skydive Chicago/dz.com'er off the classifieds and when I saw him there this weekend, he said in the time he owned it, he couldn't do anything with the front risers. A built in safety feature if you are tempted to swoop before you are ready to!!! I think when I did my "accidental" swoop, it was due to the way I turned with my toggles...tell your swooper to get well soon! Like I said to another poster, I like to learn from other people's mistakes so I can keep jumping, so thanks for the post! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.
  15. ok, all the sudden I'm posting a bunch of stuff, but this past week was the FIRST time I went to a different dz...I know, BEER!!! So I get to Skydive Chicago and get on an Otter load, and at the last minute, two more people hop on as we're getting ready to leave the loading area. There were only 8 of us on the load, and as I look to the back of the plane, I realize the two guys are Rook and Olav. Now, for someone from a big DZ this may not seem like a big deal, but for me, it was the whuffo version of meeting some huge movie star. I kept looking at Olav and thinking...."don't stare, don't stare, stop staring at him!" It was so cool. I talked to him later that day and he teased me about the entry in my logbook that read :"first jump at SDC (BEER) first jump in twin otter (BEER) etc etc..." He looked at me and said, "well, where's the beer?!?" Even though he's a skygod and the father of freefly, he's still a skydiver! He signed my logbook for that jump and I've probably looked at it like 50 times! The coolest thing was that he was really nice and easy to talk to. I told him that he was my hero and he was really modest. It's gotta' be weird to be at the top of your sport and not be a household name to anyone except other skydivers. In almost any other sport there are the "big names" and even if your'e not into the sport you know who they are...I know the names of a bunch of Nascar guys, baseball, football, and basketball players, but I don't care for or watch any of them. Too bad my whuffo friends and family can't appreciate how cool it was for me to hang out at a dz with Steve Utter, Olav, Rook, Emmanuelle Celicout, Mike Ortiz, Dusty and a bunch of others...(oh, Fiala-he's cool too!) I just have to blab about it to all of you because I have to tell someone and no one else gets it!!! Every time I got on the Otter, one or all of them were on it and it was like having a backstage pass for the All-Star load! So cool, and I think some of their talent actually rubbed off on me. I did my best freeflying this week...if any of you listed see this, Thanks! It inspired me to keep learning and working at perfecting my skills. And no matter how modest Olav is, he's still my hero! Thanks, Olav! those who fear nothing may not live...those who fear everything may never live.