brucet7

I know it is possible to get your license at Shelton over the winter. I did it a couple of years ago. It was hit or miss, and when I could jump it was two or three a day. I had the advantage of living in town and a job that allowed me to "slip" away on a couple of non-weekends. Still, there were enough good days that I was able to start September 15 and license on May 23. And I was poor enough that money slowed me down some. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

The best way I got to understanding this is watching some army guys with smoke exit. I was several miles away and got to see the arch. It really helped understand the "real" throw versus what it "feels" like as we are exiting and come off the hill. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I jump regularly at a DZ where two of them regularly are. They were instructors for my AFF and I have jumped with them, asked them questions. etc. I cannot say there are not better coaches anywhere else. I know this, they are great guys I feel confident asking questions of. I do not freefly so I cannot speak about their coaching skills in that arena. I would be willing to travel and learn from the two I know. And it would not be extra because it was them. If they were there and not occupied doing AFFs and Tandems they would jump for the coach fee. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

+1 POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I am not the guy to answer, but I have two suggestions. First, watch a pack job or two before you do your own, just to refresh yourself on the steps. Second, take your time and don't rush. It is not a race. Sometimes that bunch of lines and fabric look like spaghetti. Taking a moment helps bring things into focus. Oh, and be confident. These things want to open, or so I hear. I am surprised everytime they actually work. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I wouldn't say it shook my confidence, but did add a little excitement to the first couple back after it was over. Mine was a night jump and I have not done that again. And not sure when I will. I think it taught me to respect my limits and be realistic about my abilities. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I had mine first yesterday and I totally understand the feeling of being ready. No panic, but lots of adrenaline. All those times on the plane practicing the hanles paid off. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I have only had a Brand X $35 helmet but it saved my noodle just fine. It gave itself up and had to be replaced, and I did have a concusion, but I am alive and well and still jumping. I have a new Brand X and paid a couple of bucks more for it. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

55 POPS #10623; SOS #1672

http://freak-brother.com/downloads.html Clicky Thingy POPS #10623; SOS #1672

39?!?!? If I had started when I was that age I would be a skygod by now. 55 wasn't a bad starting age. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

If you have a smart phone, the pdf will fit. I have mine with me all the time. On Saturday, it had been a month or so since I did much jumping, so I pulled out my phone and read the emergency procedures. Not all phones can handle PDFs, but a lot do. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

Saturday we had some tandem families at the DZ. One of the jumpers asked a little 8 year old if she would pack for him, and offered her $5. That little interchange followed with her and her older brother receivinga simple packing lesson. In ten years or so I think two people will join our sport. All because a stranger took a second to value them instead of wish there were not there. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I agree with this. It depends on what kind of DZ the owners is interested in having. It would seem to me that the more tandems, and the more potential AFF students a place has, the more "family" it might need to be. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

My first jump, at age 55, happened for two reasons. First, it was to fulfill a lifelong ambition. I have talked about skydiving over the years and looked into it a time or two, but was never really sure how start, or limited by weight or money. I used to jump out of trees and off the garage, haystacks, and the grape arbor with dish towels, bath towels, sheets, anything to simulate a parachute. Skydiving was in my blood. The second reason was as an interim reward to myself during a weightloss program. I have losted 75 pounds and rewarded myself by jumping from the plane. Now, I skydive for a different reason. I love the challenge of learning and improving my skills. I suppose it could be any sport, soccer, scuba diving, basketball, whatever. But I have chosen skydiving. I read, practice, equip myself to get better and better. I don't really have any goals, instructor, pro rating, or license level in mind. I just want to be good at freefall, learn to jump with groups of people, teach and help other skydivers, and land safely every time. And I jump because I enjoy it. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

Two 182 dzs. Ralph's place and Central Oregon Skysports. Although I wouldn't be surprised if both closed soon. Their owners are both older and I think wanting to get out of the dz business (at least that's the unofficial vibe). Both are still alive and well. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

Shelton, WA. It is 250 here, and some have been over that. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

My experience has been months, not weeks. Anti-inflammatories and ice, lots of ice, will go a long ways, even after this amount of time. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

Why a "B?" Because "B" follows "A," and "C" follows "B." "D" follows "C." Coach rating falls between "B" and "C." Then comes the instructors ratings, the Pro rating. Each build upon the previous one and requires completion of each step before proceeding to the next. That is the progression skydiving has set up. It is in the SIMs which is a fairly useful document. You could use a different progression, not involving licenses and rating, belly, free, wingsuit, 4-ways, 8-ways, 16-ways, big-ways. Have goals for each season is great. It really doesn't matter which way you go, just go. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I was in Albuquerque visiting family and brought my chute for a day of jumping. I arrived and found my way to manifest easily. I was greeted quickly and several people welcomed me. After the requisit paperwork, an instructor showed me the landing areas, talked about pattern, and because I jump a sea level, some help on landing at 5200 ft. As I entered the aircraft, I felt confident that it would be a good jump. The only negative I had was with the pilot, and I personally had no problem. He spotted us short, and was lower than expected. An instructor on the load tried correcting the issue, with some success. I will bring my gear the next visit to ABQ and I will be sure to visit Skydive New Mexico again.

I was 250ish when I started at Kapowsin in Washington. And I jump with someone who was bigger than that when he learned. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I started jumping at 55 as a personal reward for a weighloss program. I am not very flexible but so long as you can arch and climb around a strut on a 182, you should be good. I think the most tiring is carrying it all back to the trailer and crawling around packing the chute. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

This will depend upon the doctor. My doctor hates skydiving and would answer no to the question for anyone and everyone. He is so anti-skydiving that my friend walked out of an appointment and I am looking for a more skydiving friendly doctor. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I have visited four jump centers. For me it is about finding ways to improve my skills, or acquire skills. I am not looking for a place to party. I go, jump, talk jumping, and go home. While I am there I like people offering to show me, or practice with me, or ask me occaionally. A good center has people looking out for strangers, shy folk, and rookies and engages them. As to the worst, I don't have a large enough sample to give good comparison. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

While no expert, I wish I had done a PLF instead of a face plant on my first night jump. Would have saved a concusion and trip in the ambulance. POPS #10623; SOS #1672