mattyblast

*looks up and agrees with JohnMitchell* If the instructors at your DZ are like mine, they'll be happy to explain anything that you feel didn't quite sink in the first time during the FJC. The better the job you do at learning about the various malfunctions and how to deal with each one, the more you'll keep your composure when something actually happens. On my 6th jump, my lines twisted up like a piece of licorice (which isn't a bona-fide malfunction, but still something abnormal that needed corrective action). My heart beat a little faster, but I just thought about the part of class where I had to get up in front of everybody and demonstrate how to kick out. Six or seven kicks later, I had the lines straightened out and was happy that I had put into practice something important that I had learned. The confidence will come with the training, education, and practice...and we'll keep getting lots of all three! "DOOR!!!"

Perhaps you could set a date & time to bring a friend or meet a group of people there. The fact that people are expecting you will help motivate you to get to the DZ. I guess I'm lucky in this regard. The fear doesn't get to me until we're at altitude and the door of the plane opens (WHOOSSHSSSSHSHSHHH!!!!!!). That's when the fear hits me like a bulldozer. But once I step off/dive out, almost all the fear turns into that incredible adrenaline rush that experienced skydivers tell me never goes away. Good luck! "DOOR!!!"

I got mine from eBay. There is usually always one on there with a "Buy it now" price that's lower than most dealers, even with shipping. "DOOR!!!"

Nice job on this one, countzero. Many students (myself included) find this level difficult because of the tendency to spin and the inability to correct it. Practicing the arch on the living room floor, or wherever, is a good idea, especially if an experienced jumper is there to tell you if one leg is higher than the other or something. Kudos! "DOOR!!!"

I'm looking at p. 75 of the USPA SIM and reading about tracking. Its purpose, according to my interpretation of the first paragraph here, is to allow skydivers doing RW to separate safely & efficiently so everyone has room for a safe opening. Now I'm reading on p.75 about how to do it, and it seems consistent with the AFF jump I did a few jumps ago, where tracking was one of the TLOs. I guess my first question is: what is the difference between tracking and the "fly forward" that is taught on AFF level 2? The body position sounds similar (extend your legs, point your toes, arms swept back and positioned no more than 45 degrees from torso, etc.). With the fly-forward, though, I know that your rate of descent increases because, as I was told when first explained the TLOs of AFF Level 2, your body is like a human arrow pointing slightly downward. But with tracking, you're trying to slow your rate of descent, right...so that you've got as much time as possible to separate as far away as possible from the other people in your group skydive? I did a couple of searches through the forums, but with little success. If you know of a thread that I may have missed, by all means, link me to it. I have other questions about tracking, but would like to start here. "DOOR!!!"

*wipes tears* If you could only see how hard I'm struggling to keep from peeing my pants right now... "DOOR!!!"

Thanks, both of you, for the help. "DOOR!!!"

How far is the wind tunnel from the Pepsi Center? If I wanted to combine a trip to the wind tunnel with a Colorado Avalanche game, what would be the best way to get from one place to the other? Is a rental car my only option? "DOOR!!!"

Are they taking reservations yet? "DOOR!!!"

Thanks. "DOOR!!!"

...I had a god-awful weekend. "DOOR!!!"

Happy birthday, and many more! Any chance we could see the photos? "DOOR!!!"

This is a spin-off of the other thread, where a frustrated jumper was spinning too much, and folks suggested having his next jump videotaped for analysis. I'd like to do that on my next jump. Since I'm only interested in the raw footage, and not any editing or music or anything (unless it turns out spectacular, heheh), how should I go about getting it done? Would you recommend that someone other than my coach video the jump, so that the coach can concentrate on watching my technique? Or is it safe to simply have the coach wear a camera? Regarding payment for the service, how is that typically handled? Without the editing services, I'm assuming that the DZ would not charge the full amount they usually do for the folks who tape their first jumps. If I don't need a third person to tape the jump, is it okay if I simply pay/offer my assigned coach something straight from my pocket to his for the service? Or is that a breach of etiquette, since the DZ itself wouldn't be making any $$$ off of his services under that circumstance? (And as great as they are, I wouldn't want to "go behind their back," so to speak, y'know?). Thanks for all your input. "DOOR!!!"

I'm happy to help with anyone's tax questions. By day I'm a tax accountant, and I am working on a Masters degree in Taxation. If you need any forms or have any questions, PM me and I'll do my best to get back to you. Self-edit: I agree that TurboTax is tremendous. Buy it & use it--it's extremely painless and user-friendly. "DOOR!!!"

BLECH. I'm wearing all black on Valentine's Day. Stupid holiday is no fun when ya ain't go nobody who will let you shove your tongue down their esophogus. "DOOR!!!"

I bought a black Pro-tec ($40), and was hugely surprised at how durable it is and how sharp and glossy it actually looks. It fits like it was made for me, too. So if you're not looking into buying audibles, etc., in the near future and want to save some serious money for now, that might be the way to go. "DOOR!!!"

...you turn to the left & say "Check in," then to the right & say "Check out," then "Ready, set, go!" just as you begin to pee in a public mens room. "DOOR!!!"

LOL! I deserved that. (Good one.) "DOOR!!!"

Right, but if you look at it then from a purely mathematical standpoint, it does boil down to 1/1000 when you put all 100 jumps together. 100/100,000 = 1/1000. But is it that simple in actuality? "DOOR!!!"

Which altimeter do you use (or is next on your wish list) & why? Me, I'm not looking to buy any--just curious as to which types folks like. "DOOR!!!"

Indeed a longer-than-usual break between jumps for us students can make the next jump following that break more scary than usual. And I can only imagine how much more horrifying it can seem whenn that last jump had something go wrong to shake you up. Training, reviewing, asking questions, etc., is most important, in my humble opinion. If I'm still feeling extra nervous, what has worked for me is if I listen to a soothing song in the car on the way to the DZ, or while on the ground waiting to be called. Then, while you're in the plane, pretend you're still listening to the song (obviously you're not bringing any sort of music player with you--just so everyone's 100% clear that's not what I'm suggesting). Take deep breaths and use your recollection to continue to "hear" the song in your head...try to "hear" it as clearly and accurately as you can. Not only will the effort you're putting into recollecting the song relax you a bit, but the song itself will relax you, too. It will work especially well if you're a dork like me who likes the occassional Bach chorale or Beethoven symphony. Go back and forth between: - Thinking about the song. - Looking out the window and locate the airport & take an inventory of surroundings, and of course: - Going over, in your head, the jump, its objectives, and the execution of those objectives. - Going over the jump with your jumpmaster. (In other words, don't let this think-about-a-song method work so well that you forget about the important things you're supposed to be doing as a student). Here's another idea: some time between now and the day of the jump, agree to give yourself a reward for going through with it successfully. New pair of jeans, new CD, steak dinner,...anything. Something to make you say to yourself, "Yes, this is scary, but when I make it through, I'm going to treat myself to.... Or tell a cheesy joke to somebody else on the plane. Or shake your hands out and then deliberately make your wrists go limp to show yourself how relaxed you are. Be the first one to do the "slap me some skin" motion with the other jumpers on the plane, wishing them a good skydive. I love the way jumpers do that--it's corny (in a good way) and gets me pumped. Good luck, my friend. If you still are too horror-stricken to jump, then listen to your body and don't jump. If you do conquer your fears and make it, post an update on this thread, will ya? I'll be glad to hear the news.

Smarty pants. What about the spinach dip? "DOOR!!!"

Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and George W. Bush were having a meeting at the White House. Suddenly Trump's Bluetooth rings. "What is that?" Bush says. Trump replies, "It's my new Bluetooth wireless phone. With just this one earpiece, I can talk and listen on the phone." Suddenly Gates says, "Hmm. I understand. Send them out by mid-morning and we'll add their invoices to the next sales report." "What are you doing?" Bush asks. "Oh! Sorry about that. I have a tiny microphone attached to my back tooth, and a wireless receiver surgically implanted inside my ear. Now I can send and receive calls without doing anything at all with my hands." Suddenly Bush feels a huge fart coming. He says, "Could somebody hand me a piece of paper? I think I'm getting a fax." HEEHEHAHAHEHHAHEHAHHAEHHEEEEE!!!! "DOOR!!!"

Look at any video of a skydiver doing his freefall, and you'll see his jumpsuit flapping madly in the 120+mph wind. If he's not wearing a full-face helmet, you'll see his cheeks flapping wildly, too. You can probably see where this is going. Umm...don't other "things" flap like crazy if you're in the buff? "DOOR!!!"

Rug Doctor...steamin' mad at refrigerators. "DOOR!!!"