Orlando

Thank everyone for you kind words. The doctors were expecting a much longer recovery. Thanks to God and to everyone good wishes, I got back home in one piece. I did manage to get a hit in the brain. The Doctors did a couple of surgery in the head to help with the swelling of the brain. I do not remember the event so I'm not even sure of how the accident happened. That will be something to figure in a future date. So these days, I spent the time going to Doctors and doing a lot of wear testing to figure that everything in the brain is still in place and working. I'm hoping to get back to work real soon. Also look forward to go back to skydiving the weekends. On the note of skydiving here you find links to some of the pictures and video from this weekend. I have been looking for an opportunity to get back to jumping. It seem this past weekend I got lucky. Pictures and Video So take care and blue skies to everyone..... Looking forward to see each of you in the next dirt dive... Saludos, Orlando Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Ouch! The fun started last night..... The day started slow with the weather. Still, I managed to squeeze a couple of 40 ways and some other fun jumps. This is my first time at summerfest.* In the morning, the helicopter got here and started doing rides for skydivers and non-skydivers alike. Everyone that walked out of that ride, came back with the same grin and saying how great the right was. Seems the pilot did a great show for the riders. I still don't know who played last night, but they were great, once the figure out how not to trip the power breakers. The place is like disneyland for skydivers. The swimming hole, complete with sands beaches, proved to be entertaining after midnight. The tiki bar had lot of alcohol for anyone interested. I think my alcohol quota is covered for the rest of the event. The weather looks great this morning. I expect that we should get a lot more jumps today. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

I'm arriving to O'hare on the morning of the 27th and driving down to SDC. If anyone needs a ride on that date, send a PM. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

I found Zhills 8 year ago while traveling to Florida. Since them I have made it a point to stop there when I travel to the States. Is like a second home DZ for me. There are always organizers available to bring people together for jumps. The local jumpers are very friendly and make it a point to welcome you. There is always a twin otter available to jump, all year around. Sometimes, there are three. The landing area is huge and they have a swoop pond. There are all the amenities, cafeteria, town hall, bar, rigging loft, skydiving schools, packers and self packing area, sun deck, tent area, showers, rv area. There is also a great pro shop in site, the Sunshine Factory. The DZ is conveniently located next to several manufacturers, like Sunpath and Tony Suits. There is always something going on a Zhills, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas boogies. Large formation skydiving and wingsuit events.

Really? That's not very useful. Last year, one of the thing I did in researching the boogie was ordering the video. I belive it is an excellent marketing tool. Plus it is entertainment and it can bing back memories. I'll never forget watching from the ground those reserves poping right after deployment in the low altitude skyvan passes. That would have been good video... Here is a link to the post, in case you missed it last year. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Yeap, count me in. Did my first visit last year. The Dallas organizer group (dog) did an excellent job of keeping everyone busy in the air. The free beer, music and beer keg bowling did the rest. This year I'm bringing reinforcements. There at least 10 other skydivers from my home DZ going this year. Hopefully they will keep me from pulling stupid stunts (See attached). See you all there....

How good was the spot? Did he landed inside the DZ? The peas? Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Well, sign-up a couple of jumper from xtremedivers in Puerto Rico.

By my count there are 139 skydivers. You can see the pictures at: http://jumpdakine.smugmug.com/gallery/2652698#140250990 Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

You can view the pictures from the camera fliers at jumpdakine.smugmug.com, www.tonyhathaway.com and www.laszloimage.com. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Just noticed that we exchanged a casa for a twin otter and the slot are being changed. Any updates? Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

I used to do it, but stopped because it left finger marks on my screen. Now I just use the next page button. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Good Point. I tried posting this message during the Boogie but my cellular modem refused to work. I'm sure there is a ton more, but here are some posted on my page. My pictures from the Puerto Rico Boogie Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

A record!?! Does that mean it is a first? Humm, smell like beer to me. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

There are a couple of threads in the Bonfire with pictures and anecdotes... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2627658;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2631214;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread And Skydive City has a photo album at: http://www.kodakgallery.com/skydivecity/main/johnny_gates_tribute Saludos, Orlando MB3561 Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Just as a reminder, the passport requirement for US citizens that starts on January 23rd does not apply to Puerto Rico. As described on the state department web site: The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. So leave your passport at home and come down to the island!!! For more information visit: US Department of State PS. off course, if you decide to hop from here to one of the non-us parts of the Caribbean, the I suggest you bring it. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

I made one new entry in the map for the Mamposteao Restaurant in Hatillo. That is like half a mile west of Punta Maracayo on road #2. I also made some comments about returning from the beach and that hard to find entrance to the side road for the Rosa del Mar Hotel. Locations in the map: The DZ San Juan International Airport (SJU) Beach Landing site Salitre Restaurant Mamposteao Restaurant El Buen Cafe Hotel and Restaurant Punta Maracayo Resort and Restaurant Punta Maracayo camping area San Isidro camping area Hotel Rosa del Mar and Restaurant Walmart You can find the maps at the usual location: DZ directions. By the way, there is 50 days to the Boogie. Click here to get a more accurate count. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Here is an update to the Xtreme Divers entry in Puerto Rico. This is a small change to include some landmarks the one can watch under canopy, like the Arecibo Observatory. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Ok, I little research located the local cockfight arena about 2 minutes away from the Rosa del Mar hotel. In the same town of Hatillo. Very close to road #2. Look for "El Club Gallistico de Hatillo". See attached map. The direction are starting on the Rosa del mar hotel, so you will need the original directions document to find that reference. PS: The usual map disclamer apply Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Where is the Condo Located? Is the location something that other skydivers could be interested? I only ask because other large groups could be interested in getting apartments/Condos instead of a bunch of hotel rooms. Maybe something that can be leveraged. By the way, when reserving at the hotels, make sure to inform them that you come for the Skydive Festival. There are rooms separated for the event and if they don't know is for skydivers, they could tell you that the facilities are full. Plus it gives them an idea of how much extra insurance they need. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Ahh, beach jumps, we did some this weekend. Here is some Beach Jumps video from this weekend. On Saturday there was a wedding going on when we landed. If I had know I would had landed closer. You can see them in the background. For some reason, people started to run. Since they don't know me, there is now way they can know how bad my landings are. So I can't see a reason for them getting scared. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

But will you still drive a mini-van and get us lost and angry? Well, maybe this will help. I started to work on some directions on how to get from the San Juan airport to the DZ, DZ to the nearby hotels, and DZ to the beach and the welcome party. You can download it from DZ directions. If you are an old hand at traveling down to the Island, maybe you can suggest others spots that need to be marked on the maps. If you following this directions and still get lost, feel free to pull over and ask someone else . PS. You will need Acrobat Reader to open this file. You can download from www.adobe.com Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

Entry for Xtreme Divers in Puerto Rico. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

What dicipline, RW, FF, CReW, WS? I see on Guy Wright's web site that he will be there. No Idea on the others. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers

I got the oportunity to talk with one of the persons involved and corrected my numbers. Two landed in a side by side configuration, one entangled, one downplane, and one cutaway. 5 in total. Saludos, Orlando Hispa #48 || www.amador.org || Xtreme Divers