philhartree

Sounds like an offer i cant refuse... (i think that is prob the biggest deal with FS1 - you dont need to worry if there;s another CAT8 on the jump etc etc.) I think it kinda makes you feel like a 'proper' skydiver [silly grin] I'm off boarding next week - but i may be able to get up a week Sunday... Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

Thank you Craig - it's not often we see you here ;o) They said it would be by the book and wouldnt make it easy for me. I had to fly my slot - but seeing as they were in their's, i didnt need to hang about for them to get into position. I'd like to think that 10 points is'nt just scraping by... Big was about 7 - which is big enuf for me - moslty FF coaches, camera ppl and experienced FF-ers. I had about 20 sit jumps (some coached) before i did a 'big' one. I was the base, as i was the least experienced. Everyone came to me. I probably didnt know where everyone was at the time... i remmeber snippits even now - but you need to know at the time. Wave off and track was about 6000-5500 i stayed where i was and watched everyone track to their own space. I felt safe - even in the new environment. I did 3 camera jumps - sit flying. It was really for my experience, rather that to actually 'film' somebody. I understand that there needs to be some 'rules' regarding when you can and cant do things... again - i felt reasonably safe - and at the end of the day - you always have to do something 'for the first time' at some point I jump @ Hinton - there are lots of us Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

erm............ i didnt want to be that much of a hog - so i spread it out over a few jumps... Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

You know - i have no idea! Coz i'm pretty new to it all - i just keep my nose clean and go by the rules of the DZ - i'm a good boy i am! And i have more jumps than you too - but less posts Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

The notice i saw at our DZ goes something like.... You can only sit fly if you are on a coached jump or have already attained FF1.... And seeing as you need FS1 to go to FF1 - that's no solo FFing Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

i guess they do over here - either that or i misunderstood the notices on the notice board... Maybe it;s not the UK but individual DZs Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

I didnt mean skills progression... I mean a little less.... anal, i guess.... as i understand it... if you have your A licence in the US you can jump with anyone... none of this: "...well, you cant jump on this one cause we already have a CAT8 on it" or "...you cant do solo sit, coz u havent got your CAT10" As a result - it seems that things like FFing are available far earlier in the skydiving career... I know it;s safety and all... but i was jumping safely enough on large sit jumps and i think as ling as you have a good brief and get confidence with smaller jumps in the beginning - you can progess faster? Just my £0.02 (hehehehe i always wanted to do that) Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

Of course... the case was put in it's rightful place.... on the smiley face! I'm a poet and i didnt even know it.... All the time i speak in rhyme... Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

Nah - a guy with the freakiest accent... he originated from the North East, alreet pet, went over to NZ for many years and is now in the US. His name is Neil Bradley IIRC Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

So, there I was, on the last night of the holiday chatting to some english guy. Being a Brit myself on holiday in Lake Wales, Florida, it was nice to catch up with a fellow countryman. I was on holiday with 4 freeflyers and me, an 80 jump flat flyer. I was telling him what a great time jumping i had had, and the fact that the US is a litle more 'progressive' compared to the UK. I had gone to the US with the intenetion of getting my CAT10 / FS1 (formation skydiving qualification that allows you to jump with other jumpers) You also have to have this qualification if you want to freefly in the UK. As i didnt need the FS1 to freefly in the US, my mates persuaded me that I should freefly and do the FS1 back in the UK. It turns out this guy's an AFF instructor on the DZ. He said "well, come down tomorrow and i'll rally another 2 AFF instructors up and we can do your FS1 here" Only problem being we were planning to leave for the airport at about 11.00 "ok" he says "turn up at 0900, we'll brief the dive and jump it" I thought about it over night and came to the conclusion it was fate talking to this guy... I only needed to pay their slots and with jumps being cheaper than the UK, I thought it would be my best shot. I turned up at 9.00, briefed the jump, jumped it and was packed and saying my goodbyes by 11.00 It was my first jump of the day and last jump of the holiday and I had achieved my FS1. The qualification (for those of you that may not know) is a 4 point 4 way - I managed a 10 pointer, so i was really proud of myself - proud to bursting!! I had a load of new jumps to my credit too: first FF / big way sit / 100 jumps / CASA / tracking / tube / rodeo / camera / train / all good! I love this sport! Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

you're a 'net whuffo roflmao.... Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOo - oh too late..... you just got sucked in to a post that you really wanna steer clear of...... Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

i did see two X X's on the board.... Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

do you have no shame? scrub that... :op Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

Nice work Will, dude... What the deal with Steve's nip? Did it get ripped off / out or just smart a bit? Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

Who? nah - only joking (she'll read this and kick my arse) I cant imagine she'll miss me or get upset - she's a skydiver... and it's not like we're married or anything... Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

check out my other thread on 'Who's going to Florida'...... ho hum - somebody's gotta do it... Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

Does that mean young, fit, nubile chicks running around a dz, drinking beer and sitting in the sun.... Man - it's gonna be tough Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

hallelujah to that brother!! Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

Erm....... nope - i'm winding down for Xmas, and , oh, did i say i was going to Florida.... jumping? heheheheheheheh Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

Can you tell me what '....collegiates...' is please? Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

CLANG!!!! name dropping again... i wont be there either- i'll still be in Florida..... skydiving..... hahahahahahahaha ahh hahahahahahaha Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

heheheh - whatever works for you... you can see me moving my lips in the free fall vid saying "Relax, man" ad infinitum. Once on the ground, the JM asked me why i was singing! I was sooooo not relaxed... LOL Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

I couldnt resist - i think i'm bigger than my boots Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand

heheh - Alfons - sounds exectly like my AFF course... Ditto on pretty much all of that... i had been jumping 3 or 4 times a day for 3 or 4 days and it's pretty extreme stuff at the start... Add to that the frustrstion, dissapointment, expectation. A freind of mine did all her AFF levels and consols in a week - and it put pressure on me to do the same... Man, i'm not ashamed to say i was in tears, it was SOOOO EXTREME! This was my main summer holiday and that usually involves much beer and late nights. However i was up at 0800 to get to the DZ for 0900 - skipping breakfast and sort of dirt diving in my head what i was s'posed to be doing... I think i was over doing it a little, so I took a day off, drank a little, swam a little, just had a break. When i returned a day later - i had a different JM - and we breezed thru a repeat L4 and L5. Wow - easy as that... I remember sort of just breathing out and pushing my pelvis down and letting the air do it's thing on my limbs - it was really really comfortable - i think until then i had been fighting with it... During my consols. i was worried about doing an unstable exit - so one of the JM's said he'd push me out and video me. One of the finest jumps yet - tumbled for 5 then big arch and stable - then the JM swooped down to me and i just geeked the vid and did 360's all the way down. That was a memorable jump for me. One more thing to add - when you drive down a motorway (freeway, whatever) if you change lanes - you don't actually turn. If you want to stay in a lane - you dont hold the wheel stiff. You naturally make small adjustments to wherever the vehicle is going - it;s the same with turns. I only realised this recently - when i turned to track, i saw on the video that i don't push my arm down - i just kind of moved in the right direction - it was really weird - but nice to know that subconsciously it's all sinking in.... blue skies and cold beer Phil --- If you have to ask, you don't understand