fred

Normal? Okay, wouldn't know about that. Comfortable? I don't think so. Feet jabbing into each other, one jumper crouched over another's legs, ... I don't consider it cozy. Although, when the jumper crouched over your legs is a hottie, it can be worthwhile. Now I miss my 182.

Aren't students exempt from the beer rules? I'm pretty sure that's in the official list. Of course, I think we're also supposed to be exempt from the beer.

On one of my first couple jumps, on the ride up to altitude I was looking all terrified (I'm told I do this rather consistently), and one of the more experienced jumpers just looked at me and said, "Hey! What's the worst that could happen?" Brings a smile to my face every time I think about it.

I think this is a pretty big advantage. Take away the bear's strength and claws, and who's it going to beat?

I think the chat works 24/7, but it's usually dead. Wednesday nights are about the only time there are more than a couple (silent) people in there. So, afaik, wednesday's are happy hour, but feel free to stop in any time.

Can anybody point to a website or reference as to the common steps of a tandem jump? My dad is very much a whuffo, but he'll be doing his first tandem jump in about two weeks. I have never done a tandem, and only seen them on video. Specifically, when does the TM/TI actually attach their rig to the student? My dad was concerned that he would have to climb out on a strut before being attached, which is obviously a whuffo concern, but when does it happen? If I was the tandee, I'd want it to happen around 2000 ft, and definately before the door opens. What is the exit procedure? Cross arms and say, "Go" is about all I can gather from the videos I've seen. Any other notes of reassurance I can give my dad before he jumps out of a plane at 13,000ft AGL? I'm so looking forward to Eloy.

Lowell is just east of Grand Rapids, where I live. I jump at Great Lakes Skydiving, just west of Kalamazoo. They have bad things to say about the student equipment and training at Hastings, so I probably won't go there until I have my own equipment and license. At that point, I may go more often, since they've got bigger planes. NOW: The big news. I always thought my parents were pretty unsupportive of my newfound skydiving love, and it turns out I'm very mistaken. Yes, folks, my Dad is going to do a tandem. He's in his mid to late 50's, and in excellent physical condition, so he'll do fine. He's afraid of heights, but so am I. I'm very excited. I hope that I'll be able to ride up to altitude with him. Tandem's jump before ASP, right? I very much want to see the look on his face when he stares out that door at 13k. It's also likely that I will be completing the ASP program when I'm there. I'll be doing it on borrowed money, but it'll be so worth it!

Really? It's been awhile since I've heard something that I had no idea about. (I'm a student, very inexperienced, but curious as a kitten). So, when a tandem pulls the ripcord, it releases the pin, and the drogue pulls the main out? I imagined something far more complex.

Freeflir, you're statement bothered me. Am I missing subtexts? I guess I better ask the outright question. I can trust Skydive Arizona, right? They're not going to put me in an unsafe situation? I'm pretty confident in my abilities, but I'm definately a student with a lot to learn, and a lot of my confidence hasn't been tested. I realize that I didn't ask Skydive AZ any of the questions that I would want to know if I was actually switching dropzones. I figure they know what they're doing. Is this right? Or, a better question, is there anything in particular I should watch for when doing an ASP level 3 jump at Skydive Arizona? Especially considering I'm used to a SL program at a small dropzone here in Michigan? They're giving me transitional training, but I wouldn't mind any tips for exiting or landing at a crowded dropzone.

Well, I talked with Eloy, and they're going to let me do an ASP level 3 jump after a $25 transition/refresher course. 13,000ft here I come! They've suggested that I could go on and do the rest of the ASP program and even finish it in a day. Anybody want to give me a couple hundred so I can do that? I was very happy with their customer service. I sent them mail describing my experience and asked for their recommendations. Birgitte asked me a few more questions about my training, and then laid out all the details. She was very friendly.

This definately depends on your dropzone. I'm a student, and spotting is one of the most stressful parts of my skydives. I'd rather be hanging from the strut than leaning out that door. Though I must say that the first (and only) time I had the pilot make a correction was a pretty thrilling experience. My concern, however, is that the spot doesn't seem to matter much in a C-182 and a 3000ft opening, so I don't really have a penalty for being early or late.

Word. This job market sucks for computer people. I'm still unemployed, and I have skills similar to yours. I have degree in computer science, and my work experience has been: "do everything". I was system administrator, web developer, database developer, firewall/security administrator, and blah blah blah for about 3 years, but it's not enough of any *one* thing for anybody to take an interest. I'm fluent in over 12 programming languages, but ... Ah... now I'm getting depressed. I can't offer you a job, but I can offer sympathy.

I'm sure you've heard it before, but cafepress.com is a good way to go. While the shirts aren't screen printed, they are high quality (A lot better than many concert T's I've owned). They print on demand, and the prices are not bad. And while the T-shirts are good quality, the coffee mugs are *excellent*. I was really surprised at how well they turned out. You're welcome to take a look at my merchandise, which is here. My t-shirt has survived many washes (inside out), and still looks beautiful...

I love this thread... Anybody else believe as a student that the grips on a rw suit were there for their aerodynamic properties? I thought they helped you turn and dock... Though, I still believe that when that door opens it's going to suck me out...

Well, my parents are retired and "wintering" in Casa Grande, about 15 minutes away from Eloy. I'm going to be heading out to visit them from Jan 30-Feb 5, and I was thinking about stopping by. Is that sad? I can't jump, seeing as I don't yet have my A license, and I don't have any money. But I think I'd like to see the planes and find out what a large dropzone looks like. Is there anything else I should check out while I'm in the area? Is there a windtunnel in AZ or is the closest one in Vegas? Does anybody want to show me around the dz that weekend?

I'm really keen on the new Pink song "Get this party started" or whatever. In general, I like sublime or everlast for some good skydiving tunes.

Frankly, as an inexperienced skydiver, this means a lot to me. Considering how apt people are to complain about something, the fact that PD reserves don't have a bad review says, (A) they suck and anybody with a PD reserve bounces, or (B) they do what they're supposed to. When I go to buy my next main, I'm going to be very concerned about soft openings, performance, and la-de-da... but what I want from a reserve is one thing: OPEN. If it does that, and it slams me into the ground and breaks some bones, it's still better than it not coming out, yes?

That's a handy little trick! Thanks for sharing!

Yeah, I've seen a few students forget that part of the training and cutaway from a pretty simple line twist, but I think they count. I, myself, have had a half dozen openings with line twists, but thats because I can't learn to fall stable (er, not spin). I don't consider them mal's. They're more like "D'Oh!'s". IMO, they're mal's if you cutaway or should have cutaway.

I have a feeling that this post is going to be a novel, and it might get a bit flamey at times, but I really recommend that you not get all defensive. I think you posted not because you actually wanted advice, but instead just to vent that things aren't going as well as you'd like. But I strongly recommend that you go back and read what people wrote and try not to get defensive. There's been a lot of good advice in this thread. But first, it's not all your fault. Your parents do seem to need to be more supportive, and I'd strongly recommend that you talk to them about counseling, for all of you. You clearly have some issues. Second, to get this out of the way, I'd also like to see the source that "pot doesn't affect driving". While I don't believe the article, I do believe that you read it somewhere. If you can recall where you heard it, that would be helpful. There are a lot of strange conclusions drawn by scientists, and I'd like to read the original article/paper. Now, onto the pot thing, since, despite what you seem to be saying, it is a *big* issue in all of this. You're right, it's not physically addictive. I've read 3-4 papers on the addictive effects of THC and they all draw the same conclusion: there is no physical addiction present. And then they talk about the mental addiction and conditioning. Marijuana *is* addictive, but it will not give you shakes or detox. And you know what? Nicotine detox lasts less than 14 days, but the habit is still hard to quit. If somebody smokes pot daily for 3 years, it's going to be hard to quit smoking it, even though the body doesn't need it (in the way that the body initially "needs" nicotine, or the more lasting physical addiction of heroine). The reports usually go on to describe why mental addiction is more significant than physical, and blah blah blah. Further, you are describing the symptoms. You "lost interest in" your classes, you aren't doing housework, etc, etc. I'm not telling you to quit, but I'm telling you that if you're smoking more than 2 nights a week, that's too much. It's the difference between recreational and habitual use. So, if you want to help things, you need to cut down. This will not, however, solve all your problems. Also, I do think you should consider going back to school. Take classes, and show up for them. You mentioned that you started going to university but you weren't "sure what you wanted to learn". Well, that's what freshman and sophomore year is for. Take classes that seem interesting and fill in your general requirements. Take calculus, physics, sociology, and history, and see what you like. And get that piece of paper. It will help you get a job, hold a job, and make more money for more jumps and better equipment. And university is full of freetime for jumping! You get freedom like nowhere outside of academia. It's beautiful weather and you want to go to the dropzone? Skip classes. The penalty is not nearly as severe as skipping work. The other alternative, in my mind, is if you know what you want to do. I have a cousin who isn't going to college (university), but in his last two years of high school is learning a trade. We're very proud of him. You've mentioned your bodyguard training a few times, but I'm unclear as to when this will actually become a job, or how you plan to pass the routine drug tests that I'm sure are a part of any position you might find. If this is the course you're sure you want, I wish you the best of luck. It's too bad that you and your sister aren't getting along. It sounds a lot like how my older brother and I were before he moved out. It's amazing how much not-seeing-each-other-every-day really helps sibling relationships. Move out when you can afford to. Oh, and one last flame. If you really want support and to come off as an intelligent person who's in control of their life, you need to put more effort into your writing. Apostrophe's and proper spelling will do wonders to get people on your side, as will clear thinking and reasoned out paragraphs. Further, as an armchair psychiatrist, you have some self-confidence issues, and need to see a real psychologist. I don't know what the health care system in the UK is like, but it's civilized enough that you can find some that you or your parents can afford. A psychiatrist is someplace you get to go and talk about yourself for an hour each week. It's not such a bad deal. If you get one who seems to be blaming you for everything, switch until you find one who does more listening (which seems to be what you crave). I have a group of intelligent friends, with and without degrees, and I don't know anybody who is willing to "work all hours to get anywhere". There are lots of real life people who work hard monday through thursday, and still have fun on their evenings. I don't know anybody who works hard on friday ;). I really wish I had more positive things to say, but the best I can do is assure you that your parents are trying to help in the best way they know how. You need to find a way to reach common ground with them, and that probably won't happen for a few years. I wish you luck.

I think I applied to 10 jobs today in Florida and Arizona. Any other great year-round skydiving states I should look in? This snow just is not working for me.

Yeah, the 2 ft of snow we got this past week is really putting a damper on the skydiving. I haven't heard of a wind tunnel in Michigan, but if there is, I'd love to hear about it.

Realize that video stores pay $90+/tape to have the video on its release day, so the $300 charge isn't so far out of wack for 3-4 videos. The second mistake was using a debit card. They just don't have the same consumer protections as a credit card, so while "challenging the charge" is a good idea, it won't be as effective if it were an actual credit card. But *definately* write letters to headquarters. Big companies hate angry consumers, and they'll probably work with you to sort everything out.

I tried to quit about 3 months ago, lasted a couple weeks, and then slowly regressed back to where I was. I'm setting a new quit date for January 2nd, and I hope to stick with it this time. I wish you the best of luck. It's really hard to quit smoking, but it is the best choice for health, appearance, and finances.

Last year, before I'd taken my first jump, my parents went out and watched some skydivers in Eloy. (They're retired, touring the country, and heard something about Skydive AZ). Anyhow, turns out that they saw somebody bounce on the tarmac after a low canopy collision. So when they found out that I'd taken up the sport, they were less than enthusiastic. It's hard for them. There are real dangers. I don't expect them to be supportive, and understand why they aren't running out to buy me jump tickets or even come out to watch me. They don't particularly want to hear about it, but respect that it's my choice and it's something I love. That is to say, they pretty much ignore it. I'm fine with that. If they're still living in denial in a few years, I may have to sit them down. And I'm going to insist that they see my graduation jump next summer, whether they want to or not, they will be there.