Baksteen

I haven't read the middle portion of the thread, but I find it rather pathetic that the school is sueing children. Whatever happened to the molding and guiding stuff that is supposed to take place? I'm not saying that a bully should be allowed to do as he pleases, but legal repercussions? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

"Yeah, like, I'm a skydiver. I did, like, three jumps and they, like, made me an instructor because I'm so fearless?" "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Moo who? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Me tink, zerefor me is. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

No, but I mentioned it on my resume under "hobbies", after "skiing, reading, classical music and playing the flute". Then again under "volunteers work" as I am a manifester in summer, can check student's packjobs and am a member of the PR-committee. I also mentioned I got an A-licence. The licence was the first thing they asked about. I explained briefly about it. Then they were impressed that I was allowed to learn people to pack the main parachute () nad even more when I explained about manifesting. I didn't get the job yet, but I am through to round 2. That interview is tomorrow... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

The minute you walked in the joint I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spammer "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

:2:0 Exit, pull, wait, flare. Damn those bloody winds... Packed 5-8 parachutes though - mostly student gear fresh out of the repack. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Just ask yourself, what would Chandler bing say: The "hills" are "alive" with the sound of "music". "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Shadows or not, Knowing you you'll just sweep away those doubts once you properly get into the tunnel. Look at it this way: even if you have the same stability problems, at the very least it could be a sort of research trip as to how to further improve your braces. I'll be looking forward to read how it went. You'll get there, Minna! Dennis. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

disclaimer I have no knowledge at all of aerodynimic thingamijigs, colloquial English, or common sense. Furthermore, I am neither experienced in any discipline, nor do I have any seniority rights by being a skydiver for years and years. The following comment may be easily interpreted as a troll line, but bear with me: I totally agree! Lets do away with all those unnecessary disciplines - What's the deal with that RW stuff anyway? The definition of RW (FS) as i know it is "A skydive during which at least one of the participants has the intention of getting close to at least one other participant". This also applies to a lot of freeflying jumps I have seen, as well as wingsuit flocks (while wingsuiting itself is merely tracking in a different jumpsuit). And how is BASE different from a simple hop and pop, except for the lower altitude? What makes those people special? The point I'm trying to make here is that every skydiving discipline (and related sport) has at least some things in common with every other discipline. All it seems to take for a "subdiscipline" to become an acknowledged discipline in it's own right apparently is a few people who are willing to invest a lot of time in it, becoming very good at their favourite type of jump and trying to implement some standards a jumper needs to fulfill in order to teach such things to other people. "Expert" instructors, in other words. There. Rant over, flame away. Edit: Please don't bring out that tired old "faulty diagrams" argument yet again. The discussion as it is raging at the moment should have nothing to do with academics, but with the skydiving itself. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I'm not an instructor, etc. so just look and see what's useful to you. First off, don't forget to have fun! I see many other newbies (still counting myself as one) being very competitive, there seems to be a race to get that Holy Grail of A-licences as soon as possible and in the minimum amount of jumps necessary, which is not always the same thing. Why? Relax, take it easy and focus solely on your own progression. Ladydiver has it right - every student encounters some bottleneck in their jumping career. For me it was flying the landing pattern, I landed out a lot. However, the landings in themselves were mostly sweet and soft. I also breezed easily through the obligatory canopy control exercises. Then, as I progressed through my task list I couldn't seem to do any kind of tracking at all. Took me at least fifteen jumps to get it sorted. So what? Even if you fail a task, it doesn't mean you've failed the jump itself. Focus on the positive stuff. Did you enjoy jumping? Did you have a sweet canopy ride? Which parts od the freefall did go right? Did you have altitude awareness? How was your landing pattern? etc. As to not being able to jump often, well there's nothing you can do about that for now or so it seems. Try to make the most of the "nice enough weather"-Sundays that you get, make more than one jump on such a day if you can. That way the comments of your instructors are still fresh in your memory. Also, your instructors will brief your jumps thoroughly with you, but you should still ask questions. If you feel uncomfortable about the exit, ask them if you could spend some extra time rehearsing the exit at the mockup. It would be a very poor instructor indeed that doesn't want to help you with such things, but if you don't tell them what's on your mind they cannot help you. Good luck

And I saw it happen... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Having lived in Northern ireland for nine months I have no problems agreeing with you there. They DO like their spuds though. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

No shit there I was - so I grabbed my front risers like this.. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Could've been cross country

[replyOK, how about this? If you've been in it long enough that you try to AVOID the topic with your non-skydiving friends instead of bringing it up (like every single one of us used to). It's just your sport, and it's annoying when they try to play it up or down as anything else. I like that one too. Personally I stopped bringing it up because of all the polite faces of my friends who almostalmost completely managed to hide the thought "Oh no - not again!" whenever I was talking about jumping. Occasionally though, one of actually *asks* about skydiving. I suspect they treat it as a kind of punishment: Be good, or you'll have to talk to Dennis about skydiving... Concerning strangers I agree with you though - I don't want to be bragging..much. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

"Fixed" it for ya "" "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

NO comment. Too many instructors and other people among them who can make my life miserable if I rag on them... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Where I'm now, I consider someone a skydiver once they have landed and say they want to do it again, with that ..shine in their eyes. You know, the spark of addiction. However, I only felt like a skydiver when an experienced jumper called me one in casual conversation. I had seventy to ninety jumps at the time. Also, just to nitpick over definitions, I don't make a distinction between "students and skydivers", but between "students, licenced jumpers and instructors" - all of whom are skydivers. (edited for clarity) "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I got seven witnesses...

No, but it is EVIDENCE "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

This is a typical example of when the old "Talk to your instructors"-reaction does not work. There is no way that anyone can judge how happy you'll be in any job, and how well a job fits your personality and ambitions. Not even if they have years and years working exactly the same job you'll be applying for. You are the only person who can answer that question. I'd start at thinking back to college - did you really enjoy the stuff you learned? And what made that job you had so miserable? Mind numbing and/or monotonous work? Collegues you didn't connect with? Problems with the style of the manager? Too much work? Too little? One thing I have learned in my current job is that no matter how nice the collegues are, if you don't get any satisfaction out of the work you do, you'll be utterly miserable. That's why i decided to switch jobs. However, i know there are jobs out there that do offer flexibility, variation, new opportunities/responsibilities and whatnot. The challenge is to find them. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

7a. When you contact me about a job I might be interested in - tell me what it is! translated into English as well as I could - at least his Dutch was correct.. "Dear Candidate, Based on your on-line resume we feel that your profile fits the candidate our company is looking for. We would like to invite you for a personal interview to discuss the possibilities. Please contact me for an appointment. Drs. [..]" I tactfully replied that i needed further information, and here's the second email from this genius: "Job opening concerns a research technician position with a pharmaceutical company. Please call me Drs. [..]" At least I had a company name now, because said genius replied with his standard signature, but still i was unable to find out more about the job. He's only in his office from 9-5 too. Can't say I am overly impressed if the person contacting me is representative of the company with regard to competence and professionalism. (is that a word, Krisanne?) Edit: 7b Also make sure that I actually qualify for the job. Some more nagging finally got me the job details. The company fails to describe even a single technique that's on my resume. I hadn't in fact even heard of some of them. Apparently they are looking for a research technician in a completely different scientific field. Sigh...and to think these guys actually research medicine. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

No - next time I'm caught I can say something about pots and kettles. Evidently girls are just as bad.. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I posted this earlier in the Gear forum, but it may have some relevance to this discussion. I'm sure some veteran can elaborate if necessary, but when the Dutch KNVvL implemented their unnecessarily impopular and rediculously strict but still mandatory guidelines about downsizing *, they did so stating that you could keep jumping any canopy you were jumping now, but had to meet the requirements when you wanted to change canopies or downsize further. I understand that it wasn't a very popular decision, and still isn't with some/many. Note though, that it's your own choice: do as they say, or go jump across the border. Also note that if you're from across the border, you can't officially get grounded based on these rules. They'll ground you on common sense instead. Personally, I am very glad that such rules exist - it gives me clear guidance as to what's viewed as an acceptable risk and what is not. As some have said, the opinion of two different instructors at two different DZs may vary. However, time and again you hear the argument that light people are overlooked in these guidelines, as they only look at jumpnumbers versus wingload. I'm not saying this is the magic solution, it is a solution. (*sprongen = jumps, minimaal = at least, ongelimiteerd = unlimited) edited to clicky.. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom