Para5-0

Word.

Boy, you ruffled some feathers here. I have visited most of them on the east coast and would have a very tough time naming the best or top 10. I would hate to leave anyone out, being almost all DZ's have some great prople to hang with. I will name some that I have enjoyed over the years, just to give them credit, (East Coast) S.D. Long Island (Calverton) The Ranch (NY) Cross Keys(NJ) Sky's the Limit (PA) Louisbug (NC) Deland(FL) Z HIlls(FL) Raeford Spaceland (TX) Chicago I am sure I left some great ones out. No specific order.

I think this is only a method at busier DZ's. But Safety is of the utmost importance. A full debrief should be given to all jumpers if this method is to be used. If you are not sure just grab the ST&A and let him give some insight. Regardless everyone should be looking down as well as all around while in F.F. How many times have you spotted something below to alarm you? Planes, clouds, helicopters, balloons, birds, and yes canopies.

After 15 years, I am still nervous prior to every jump. Mostly because I have three people with me at all times. My passenger (tandem), myself, and my life long friend murphy. My advice is to channel your apprehension or fear to knowing you have completely prepared yourself for the jump. Your equipment has been checked, rechecked, and rechecked, You know all of your procedures EP, and mentally you are fairly confident that you can think clearly under pressure. unfortunately over confidence has killed in the past but underconfidence might be a close second. BLue Sky's

I must admit, I have done it both ways and prefer the tandems out first. Some advantages are: You actually get a bit more time to be with the student prior to the plane landing. You do not have to rush as much, letting you pay attention to detail. I admit it adds some concerns. The jumpers must look out the door to assure their is clear air and jump run should be offset. Also being coser to the door you do not have to drag the meat from the back of the plane all day, which wears on you a bit. I guess this is very selfish though.

Did you ever think of a trip to a southern DZ, where weather and Instructors are not an issue. You can bang it out fairly quick and be warm while doing it? I think you would enjoy that. Not to mention the less time between each jump will make getting through a bit easier than weeks between jumps. Just a thought.

Where do you live? I know several options for you. We certified a 265 lb guy AFF, with a specially made rig. We still have access to it. Coincidentallly, he is still jumping and starting to compete.

Funny, we jump with large plastic bags into the beach on Friday and Saturday nights. The bar is right there and we use them to put our gear in so it doesnt get sandy and wet.

We are in the process of switching over tandems to soft links. I have read the forums, just curious what is being used out there?

Let me give you a secret, just dont tell my wife. Get to the point where you can become an instructor/coach. Now, it not only does not cost you money, but you will make a few dollars. Your wife will see you making some extra cash for the family and eventually start to treat it as a part time job. Very important: act tired when you come home, tell her how hard work is , and how mentally draining it is. You can start an account and tell her you are saving all of your skydiving money for a family vacation. Of course dont put it all away. Oh yeah does your wife read the forumn? If so disregard the previous...your screwed. or you can always pull the red handle.

It is important to remember at deployment the weight of the passenger pulls down on the harness. So they are hanging from the two shoulder attachments. The force does not pull it off the shoulder. This TI seemed to do a nice job. I personally like very tight shoulder straps. No reason to be critical here.

I would see your AFF Instructor with a case beer. Miller Lite, I know him....

I will only say I am not satisfied with EG. I will not use the forumn to vent.

Oh Boy. Interesting video.

The difference between someone who is in the sport for 30 years and someone who is new is very apparent here. If your D # is correct and I am sure it is, the reason you have been in the sport so long is, you can check your pride at the door and ask questions to make yourself better. Please ignore anyone who is not assisting you, they know not what they say and I am fairly confident will not be around in 30 years from now. Your time in alone should be respected, and is on my end, good luck. Some very good pointers here, that I have read. I have not been able to view the video.

Where is the video? I cant find it here?

I actually got a full truck axle from a junk yard and buried it with cement, attaching a creeper like top about 3 feet high, to the end. This allows me to turn the student 360 degrees as warranted. Works great and use it everyday.

I posted here, because I am interested in hearing from H.P. canopy pilots. I know most mafunctions on these chutes are high speed and spinning. MY question to Swoopers is, Have you had difficulty regaining stability after a high speed spinning mal. The force and spin are usually off the charts, as I had a nasty one Sunday.

I watched this happen to a student just cleared for solo, and doing a coach jump. Her right shoulder dislocated in free fall. I had to deploy for her. Needless to say that it was not listed as a medical condition on her waiver and we were never made aware of the problem prior to this jump. I was told by the student that her shoulder "pops out" every now and then. She did seek medical treatment but I have not seen her since. It is very important to know that you have no physical limitations prior to pursueing this sport. Need I explain why?

but a coach with 200+ jumps shouldn't attempt to make a living teaching new and upcoming students a damn thing without the evperience to back it up. and if your implying that they should then........................ Then why does USPA only require 100 jumps and a B license to be a coach?? I do not recall it saying, You are eligible to get the rating but can not charge until you win a national Free Flying Competition, in your words. Listen, I hear what you are saying and I even respect your opinion, I just have a different one. I beleive if coaches are going to be teaching students they should be equipped with the latest education, and given the proper tools to do the job. And I mean, do it to high standards not just forward and backward motion. It is deeper than that. FYI, I have taught both courses and choose to use the same sylabus for both. Doesnt that solve the problem.. Coaches are getting both ratings in the same class. Now all coaches are ready to go into the student world and teach... P.S. I remember paying for a packing class.....

Raymond, I have spent some time, too much if you ask me, reading what threads you have responded to, in an effort to see exactly what angle you are attacking this thread from. Unfortunately, I am unable to understand several things. You have no home DZ listed, you have, no jump #'s, or ratings listed. Where is this wealth of knowledge coming from? Let me elaborate on the purpose of this thread; Ozzy13 has posed a question, simply what is the difference between the two ratings and how can he make himself a better coach through education. He is looking for assistance not discouragement. As far as your statement, "any joe dick in the mud can teach ppl to move forward, backward, do turns, dock, ect.". I truly can not beleive that this comment has gone unaddressed. If that were the case then why even have ratings? You can just teach everyone. Being a coach USPA or otherwise is far more in depth than teaching forward motion. I have both ratings and can tell you that I have seen coaches on both sides that are excellent. We can't just stop there and close ours eyes. If skydive U has a different way to do things then we should look at it and see if we can make it work so to speak for the STUDENTS> That is ultimately who will benefit from threads like this. To Ozzy: Yes their is a vast difference between the two approaches. Keep an open mind and learn from GOOD INSTRUCTORS, regardless of the rating. Raymond is of the mindset that anyone can be a coach. Untrue!! It takes someone who cares about the future of the sport to be a coach, (USPA or Skydive U). Raymond: If a student covers a slot for the coach, then how exactly do you suggest coaches make a living? You do realize some people do this full time as a profession?

Ozzy, That is the ultimate goal, to make the same standards across the board. We are all working hard on making the USPA Coach Course and The Skydive University course the same or at least similiar curiculum. Some issues that have been raised are whether or not currently rated USPA Coach's would take the time to upgrade, so to speak. Some have and hopefully others will. I am an advocate of education in the sport. In other words we never stop learning, and beleive me their is some good new information being taught that was not being taught 5,10,15 years ago. I suggest if you are going to continue along this path, that you look into the Advanced Instructor Course as well. It can only make you a better instructor/or coach. Side Note: their are some outstanding USPA Coaches out there, please do not miscontrude the above as a slight to them. Just a thought on how to standardize all future coaches. good luck

I am on your side, beleive me. I actually had filled out the IE Prof. Card and submitted it to find out it was no longer given, couple years ago. That would be like going to the classes and accumulating the credits for a college degree and them saying sorry, no longer issued. Fine, sour grapes. I repect the rating and continued on to get a CD rating. I am just wondering why it is not comparable when endorsing currency year to year? If a I.E. (who deserves the respect can endorse, why cant a CD endorse? or fine do away with IE but give a comparable rating to acheive.

"NO TURNS BELOW 500 FEET - PERIOD." I teach No Hard turns below 200 Feet. Further we do discuss minor corrections from 200 until landing. It is empahsized, Minor toggle input to stay into the wind.

check out Skydive University website under coach course.. they have the check out dive as well as other good information...