npgraphicdesign

Petition signed. I truly hope that are efforts are successful!

That's funny...and morbid...all at once.

Just put on a jumpsuit and go as a skydiver. If you want to really make it risque, put on a rig. Or get a female companion (g/f, wife, mistress..or better yet all 3!) and go as a group...

My choices... AC/DC - My favorite band of all time. Love their music, have all their albums, and just pre-ordered the new album that's coming out on October 20th!! Yet, aside from the very unique track titles, most of their music sounds exactly the same. It's as if they simply rearranged a few notes, swapped a few guitar riffs, added a new name, and BAM! new song! Chuck Berry - Same as above. Love his music and the influence he's made on music & future artists, but how about a little variety Chuck? Even Michael J. Fox's version of Johnny B. Goode sounds better then yours What do you listen to and continue to enjoy, even though it sounds exactly the same? Oh and in case anyone is interested, here's the information for the new album. And no I don't work for AC/DC...wish I did though! http://acdc-preorder.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=14359_14367

Well I'm not clamming up...HA!

Until you realize that there isn't any practical difference at all between 13000 feet and 130 feet. Well there is a difference. 12870 feet to be exact.

Huh? This sport is like very few other things. Maybe you are a really bad driver. Maybe he/she drives a drag car as a daily driver. Those have parachutes that help it slow down at the end of the race or maybe he/she does this on the way to work every day... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZyGMKpgyHA

Let's share some experience and lessons learned throughout your skydiving AFF training. Whether you just started, are a few jumps into it, almost done, or just fresh off your license completion, share what we've learned so far. It might help everyone, and personally I am curious how differently everyone experiences skydiving. My lessons learned so far, in no particular order: 1. Don't expect to pass every jump on your first try. And don't beat yourself up if you don't pass. 2. The radio is your backup only. Assume that there's always a possibility that it might not work, and be mentally/physically prepared to land on your own 3. The nervousness will disappear with time. A great advice that someone gave me at my home DZ: "Remember, although it's extreme, it is a fun sport! So relax, smile, and remember your training." That advice worked on my last jump. So, fellow AFFefers, what have you learned?

I would recommend learning something else, too. 4. Get back first and THEN play around. Good point. I am learning after all...that's why we don't get our license after only 1 jump, right?

Your answer is brimming with eloquence and succinctness (yes it's a word.)

You will be itching to get out that door soon. It's a little euphoric spark now everytime someone yells "DOOR!" and open it up... I always have a big grin on my face, can't wait to get out. Oh I'm itching already believe me. I know it's not a huge deal, but finally passing my B jump (sunday, 3rd try, first two were back in May/June) just gave me such an incredible rush yesterday and today. I'm still thinking about it and can't stop smiling about doing relatively well. Can't wait to go back next weekend for my C/D, and maybe more than that! Weather and money permitting...

You're lucky. We don't even have a red light in our planes. There's the 'are you ready to go skydiving?' and then the door opens and you get that 'what the f*** am I doing?' feeling

can I at least have my A license first, or should I just let you push me off of this: http://www.burjdubai.com/

This is a question more for experienced skydivers, more-so then someone who's just getting into the sport I've gotten the relax hand signal a few times in all my jumps. I think I am the type of person that will always be a bit nervous when doing an extreme activity. I mean, I felt the same way first time I was with a girl, so... But all jokes aside, will the nervousness always be there? Regardless of how experienced you are? And from what I gather, being nervous is good...right? When you relax and think everything is perfect, there is more potential for error..or so it seems.

"What if you get scared half to death, twice?" - Larry the Cable Guy I felt the exact same way when I started. I only have 4 jumps so I am as noob as they come. But, in terms of overcoming the fear? Just do it...it's the best way. I first did two tandems, and that (in my opinion) is a good gauge of whether you'll enjoy going solo. Yes I was scared/nervous, still am...but it's the best feeling in the world. Well...almost. Go to a good dropzone, pay attention, ask questions, learn, and jump! Good luck with making a decision and jumping!

Hang on... lemme raise my prices real quick! http://www.skydivingstills.com/keyword/cpi-aerial#331184114_xnF78 And congrats! Dave Oh that's a NICE photos. I think that will suffice...

Well i finally passed my B category jump...on my third try!!! I want to share a few aspects of my dive w/ the rest of you so that anyone going through same ordeals can benefit from the error of my ways.. Exited the plane, didn't freeze this time!!! maintained altitude awareness, COA, hand signals understood/processed, etc. Puiled on time, saw the airport / my JMs chutes & and started playing around. By about 4K, i haven't heard anything from the radio, and realized that it's probably not working. So I attempted to make it back to the airport. By 3k, I was still far enough away and realized I wasn't going to make it back, so I started searching for another spot. Transferred my landing pattern ok, came in and landed well. 1. Waited to long for the radio assistance and lost time & altitude, thus wasn't able to make it back on time. I attribute to not just the time delay, but also lack of experience in canopy piloting. 2. Didn't establish my orientation soon enough & lost time 'cause of that as well. 3. Lost my goggles while trying to find my way out of my landing area...(Jim, I owe the DZ a pair of goggles! ) What I learned: - Don't rely on the radio. The batteries were dead, so screw you Energizer Bunny! - I now know that I can transfer the to another area & land the chute on my own if I can't make it back to the drop zone (at least in normal conditions.) I can't stop the feeling of adrenaline today! I know it's just my B jump but I'm psyched that I learned from my mistakes, and most importantly, was able to land on my own.

Congrats!! That's great....do you get a pie in the face? Or is that 1000? ;)

N/A

Well we're still a year away...and I hope by then I"ll have my license...so at least I can jump. Don't about all those other rascals.

http://npgraphicdesign.com/myphotos/skydive2/ This was a short journal entry I did about my first AFF2 jump. I learned a lot from that jump, the first and foremost bit of knowledge being DO NOT CRASH INTO TREES Thankfully I got of pretty easy, and I had to repeat it because i hesitated when pulling and missed my target altitude by about 1000feet. The 2nd time I did my AFF2, I froze completely, and only 'woke up' when it was time to pull, and I still pulled late, about 700 feet too late. Going back to my recurrence training memorial day weekend and starting to jump again. I learned that there is no shame in repeating jumps. Yes it's more money and time, but wouldn't you rather get it right, when a potential mistake could be very very costly? So while I was beating myself up about having to repeat AFF2 a 3rd time, I'm not any more. Looking forward to jumping again!!!

Hey guys!! Well I'm hoping that by June next I'll FINALLY have my license. I took a break for 3 months and picking up my AFF again memorial day weekend. Yeaaaaa!!!! Here's my question: If all goes well, I'm going to design conference next year in Austin, Tx. I want to get there a day before and take a bunch of fellow designers jumping...even if it is only Tandem. One of them even wants me to push him out of the plane with a well placed sneaker in the back. Are there rules against that? So are there any good places around Austin, or within a respectable driving distance? I don't want to drive too far...but about an hour or so is doable. Thanks Guys!! Wish me luck on my license continuation...hopefully I can get past my AFF2 this time... And Doug, Dave and all of you who want to make wiseass comments about me crashing into trees...sheddap.

Hey guys, Just did my 2nd AFF Category B jump (1st repeat) and in some ways it was worse and better then the first. First time, I was nervous because the plane ride freaked me out, i became nervous on the actual pull at 5500, missed the mark, and had the JM guide my hand to the pull handle. This time, I was ok about the plane ride, but as soon as we exited and i did my COA, i completely froze. I mean, put me in a freezer and i couldn't have frozen in a worse way!! I completely forgot the practice pulls, altitude check, hand signals (which came in a barrage at me, but I completely blanked!!) ...in the end, i missed my pull altitude again, but reached for the handle on my own, and pulled around 4500ish, and had an ok landing with a somewhat late flare. A bit bummed that I have to repeat the jump again, but at the same time, i know why, and what I need to fix. But how do you get over that feeling of disappointment, and moreso, the feeling of nervousness? I think my mind went into overload because of what I was doing (hello skydiving? It's nuts I tell youse) and forgot all that i practiced. Any advice guys?

Well the answer is simple: The trees got in the way.