DougH

We are going to be bringing three or four teams this year. A four way team, two way vrw, and a two way rw team. www.uconnskydiving.com Actually we are looking for another person to complete the fourth 2way belly team who is from New England, and eligible to compete. Our school gave us a lot of support so I think we are going to enter in every event possible. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Boston is a little bit a hike, but when you come back consider checking out Jumptown in Orange, MA. They are actually jumping on weekends until the end of december so you should stop by and check the place out. I am the same way as AFFI, I would have jumped any way it was offered. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Your right, that Bill Booth guy doesn't know squat about skydiving equipment!!! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

You can't go wrong at Jumptown. In my opinion they have one of the best student programs around. They don't just pump out graduated AFF students, they stick with you from the first jump course, through AFF, till you get your license, and beyond. Their instructors and coaches are all top notch. They will turn you into a proficient and safe skydiver. It is a great place to hang out. Their Twin Otter is awesome, their hanger and facilities are really sweet. There is a real sense of community at Jumptown, you really feel like you belong there, regardless of experince or jump numbers. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

I highly recommend a Pilot for a transition canopy. They have great openings, on heading, with nice long snivels. The canopy has great glide and when flown properly will get you back from long spots. The canopy can be a lot of fun when pushed hard, but very forgiving down low when combined with the use of your brain, and braked turns. Flares great too. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

I can't wait for it to get into negative numbers. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Moral of the story? Shut up and jump. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

J. Town is open until X-mas I thought? Don't give up yet Corey, we have to stick that newbie 5 way exit first. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Dear Eagle, You need to ask a question, in order for us to give you an anwser!! Love, Doug "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Obviously experienced, with thousands of pack jobs, I would hope!!! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Correct me if I am wrong, but most people dying aren't pounding in because they trash packed. If they were, then maybe you would have a basis for your apparent packing paranoia. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

No I think you are being overly neurotic. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

This is exactly my point !! Should new jumpers be taught to pack with enough confidence to have to "knock on wood" when they are done?? HELLO?? I want to be taught by EXPERIENCED people with many hundreds or thousands of packs so that I am not leaving anything to chance. I was being sarcastic. I have good results because it is simple to do. If you can handle jumping out of a plane, you can handle packing without a whole college semester worth of instruction. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

I was taught by one of my friends and packers at my DZ in about 15 minutes... I just asked if there was something I was a little foggy about a little later. I knew all the saftey do's and don'ts. The stuff like better control for bagging just came with practice. Knock on wood, but I have pretty good results thus far. Set the brakes, uncollapse and later quarter the slider, walk the lines, flake the cells, control the fabric. It isn't rocket science. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Agreed. The packers at taught me to pack DZ taught me for free because I asked, and so they wouldn't have to. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Gen aviation > skydiving They have every right to use the airspace just like us. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Thats it Big Fish, no more packing for you. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Oh oh this is fun.... A turbo C206, with floats. Small enough to do loads of three, fast for a Cessna, and beach jumps would be awesome. One of those huge russian helicopters with a tailgate ramp. A blimp. Ballon jumps, and landing on target. Twin otter because I think they have a lot of soul. The fifth would have to be some huge jet. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Holy hell Ron, have you recently taken a blow to the head? "that centers around my instructors, and not the discipline I learned under" In simpler terms, my experince would have been great SL or AFF, due to my great instructors. I think you are failing to see that overall I agree with you, even if I don't agree with some of your saftey points. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Once again, I never said that AFF is strong, or static line is weak. I think it is pretty clear that I had a great AFF experince, that that centers around my instructors, and not the discipline I learned under. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

That was my only point Wendy. I personally wasn't pointing out any negatives to static line. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

As low as I can jump, considering USPA min pack openings. When my USPA license changes, I will jump at the opportunity to do lower hop and pops. At least 40% of my jumps are clear and pulls from 3.5k, I eat them up. This is only a valid point if after AFF you no longer skydive. I continue to jump and land, it makes no difference if I do so off AFF status, or as a continuing static line student. The math is simple I thought, one jump one landing. Continuing until death, or dropping out of the sport right? If students aren't spotting during AFF that is there instructors problem, or their drop zones problem not a program problem. I jump at a Cessna drop zone, and I started spotting on the first jump. Your problems with AFF seem to center around piss poor instructors and drop zones, not a flaw in the system itself. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

I fail to see how SL or AFF makes you any safer, one versus the other. Sorry I don't buy it. I went through aff, got great instruction, and never thought twice about my low altitude hops and pops. If the pilot tells me to get the fuck out at 1750 feet I know I can do it, but I will be going silver. I learned to land my canopy the same as some one doing SL. My 8 aff jumps got me 8 landings, 8 static line jumps would have gotten me 8 landings as well. I had to practice exits to get out of the plane, no different than SL. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

I think it would be nice to do a mix of SL and AFF. I think that would be way better than the *tandem* progression, which I think is just a way to fleece students of their money. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer.... good luck with finding a new freebag. I for one would be sad if I didn't get to see you trying to squeeze into that rig any more. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P