matthias

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Me and some friends from work are going skydiving next month in cedartown, georgia. It's on july 2nd at 12 noon. My main reason for going is to try and overcome my fear of heights. Also, I've never flown in a plane before either, so I'll be getting two for the price of one

Heheh. Well it was told to me that it takes more courage to make the decision to stay on the plane rather than jumping. If you have a good tandem master they'll help you relax a bit before the exit.

Fear of heights, as someone else said your sense of depth perception is bluffed at 13,000ft so its a bit different.

Let us know how it goes.

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But now I'm wondering if, once I've done level 1, I'm not going to find it so much fun that I'll want to do the rest.

I don't see that happening. The only reason it wouldn't be fun is if the freefall part of it unnerves you to the point of not wanting to continue the training. If that isn't an issue, the adrenaline rush of it should keep you coming back for more. Just my 0.02

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I think it's very impressive that you landed correctly without the radio working. I would have been scared to death!

Heh...it was a pretty uneasy feeling. I think what may of helped me out just a tad was playing ms flight simulator in the past. After not receiving anything over the comm I looked around to spot the DZ from the air and steered toward the staging area. I'm not certain if I followed the flight plan to a T and decided to come in alongside the runway. Not the best choice as I was landing in a 5mph crosswind but not too much of a problem. Landing was more of a crash landing/semi-PLF rather than a standup as I flared a little too early...

I have confidence the rest of the training will work out. Relaxing during sensory overload part of the freefall seems to be the greatest challenge.

I've been lurking for a while, posting here and there but never got around to making an intro post.

I've always dreamt of skydiving but just never got around to it as I felt it would be too expensive (which..hasn't changed, heh). The last 6 years after leaving the Marines, I mostly pursued my passion in electronic music. Back in April, had the chance to meet Brittany S (who I see is pretty famous on here) and the way she described the sport and the way her eyes lit up convinced me to head to Skydive Houston 2 weekends ago and do my first tandem. I was hooked, and the weekend after I did the AFF level 1 ground course, tho due to rain I had to wait until yesterday to do the jump.

I ended up having to repeat level one because apparently I was unable to reach the PC well enough to pull it in time, mainside JM pulled it for me. Ah well. Got it and passed the second time around even though on that jump we exited very unstable and the reserve-side JM went flying off. That was utter insanity. Canopy control was relatively easy and was able to steer it back to the dz even on the first jump when the radio failed.

I'm not sure how far into the far I plan to go..but like many other beginners I've found it so far to be a very rewarding experience and its helping me deal with alot of tough times. I look forward to meeting alot of new people both on the forum and at SDH, and having a good time.

Blue skies,
Matt

check sig

Nope. Find them attractive actually.

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Seeing as Brit is the only rigger I knew before getting into the sport...she has my vote as well.

hmmm, you should come to atlanta. there are a couple dj/ skydivers here. sometimes cool parties.

I think britt told me about you.

Brit is definitely good people. I only just met her in April, after taking her to a Tiesto show I was opening for she talked me into making my first tandem skydive, as a result..I'm currently going through AFF. If it wasn't for her influence I am unsure if I would have gotten into the sport. Glad I did as its been alot of inspiration toward the music.

I've heard alot of good things about the Atlanta scene and really good to hear that there are more out there who both skydive and work with electronic music. To my knowledge I am currently the only one in Texas.

I plan to get the hell out of Houston eventually, first just focusing on graduating from student status. Good to meet ya bro.

Seeing as Brit is the only rigger I knew before getting into the sport...she has my vote as well.

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ASK YOURSELVES WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO START SKYDIVING? WHAT SET YOU OFF?

WHile nothing 'set me off', I got into to sport shortly after meeting a longtime jumper who posts here. I would have gotten into it much earlier but just never thought about seeking out a drop zone and always figured it was outta my budget (heh..still is). I was one of the kids that had the dreams about human flight, was fascinated by videos of skydivers, etc.

I'm currently in student status at SDH though I plan to get into BASE once I feel I am ready. My motives for getting into skydiving and any of the disciplines tho, have nothing to do with wanting to die. I both understand and accept the inherent risks, just as I did when I was a U.S. Marine serving overseas; though my motive was based on the achievement factor and living life to the fullest rather than seeking a death wish.

In comparison, those of us who live in major cities (I'm in Houston) risk our lives every day just by getting on the freeway, and I figure I'll probably burn in faster from an idiot driver rather than chute malfunction or pilot error.

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AND BY THE WAY AGAIN I'M HAVING MORE FUN NOW THAN ANYTHING OR ANYONE HAS BROUGHT TO ME EVER. IN MY WHOLE LIFE BUT I KNOW EVENTUALLY--BSBD

Yeah, there are risks. With the greatest risk comes the greatest reward. I'm pretty certain that the people who climb mt everest aren't looking to die, they just want to get to the top.

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I admire his strength when my siblings and I lost our mom. I don't know how we was able to do it.

0:0:0

Did AFF level course course. Tho the rain and the lack of a second JM the whole weekend kept me on the ground. Ah well..hopefully better luck next weekend.

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You must be rubbing it wrong.

http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/90168/200.jpg

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Be careful with the Zicam nose spray. I saw a news report once that said it kills some people's sense of smell permantly.

Heh...for me living in Houston that could be considered a good thing.

Yeah I've never dug the name Matthew myself. When a few guys from Germany referred to me as Matthias it stuck.

I never got into being a diehard fan, but got to attend a Nascar event in Pomona, California while serving with the Marines in 2000. Our comany was asked to provide security for the event, and I felt sorry for the grunts who got stuck gaurding the elevators while I was posted in the grandstands right up next to the track. Got to see a 2-car wreck at god knows what speed.

Scariest shit I ever saw outside of a firefight. I would agree tho that seeing a race in person is way more exciting than watching it on TV. Same goes for a ballgame.

first tandem sunday morning. looking forward to starting aff on sat

Matthias - Symbiosis 4:

01 Space Safari - Burning [SOG]
02 Little Green Men - Through With You (Thomas Penton remix) [Forensic]*
03 Delerium - Innocente (DJ Tiesto remix) [Nettwerk]
04 Chris Scott - Dub Sonar (Luke Chable mix) [Silver Planet]
05 Hanna & MV - Mr Roboto (Stef Vrolijk remix) [Little Mountain]
06 Mirco de Govia - Vital Spark (Cressida remix) [Euphonic]
07 Interstate - Remeber Me (Shawn Mitiska & Tyler Michaud remix) [Armind]
08 Soulscape - Seeing Things (Phunindustries Phunkd Mix) [Amniotek]**
09 Shawn Mitiska & Jose Amnesia - My All [Coldharbour]
10 Rachael Starr - Till There Was You (Gabriel & Dresden Club Mix) [You]
11 Alex Stealthy - Once (Liquid Souls Whacked-Out Remix) [SOG]
12 Way Out West - Activity [Nettwerk]
13 Solar Stone ft Jes - Like a Waterfall (Max Graham remix) [Deepblue]
14 Deep Dish - Say Hello (Paul van Dyk remix) [Ministry of Sound (Germany)]

*track 2 was mixed with Gabriel & Dresden - Arcadia [Organized Nature]
**track 8 containes a vocal from Markus Schulz ft Departure - Without You Near [Coldharbour]

Not too many who weren't in the Marines, especially younger children..are going to be able to relate to alot of the stuff in this movie. This is more of a drama than it is an action movie (as the gulf war was mostly fought by smart bombs and airstrikes and the scout snipers didnt see too much action)
Totally unlike the situation in Iraq today..but yeah, most people expecting anything similar to Black Hawk Down will be dissappointed I'm sure.

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Hey everyone, I'm not in the sport, but I am good friend of brits17. I know what it's like to lose friends and I wanted to extend my sincere condolensces to everyone on the forum she had an impact on as well as her family.