mr_music11

I love watching first timers... always reminds me of my own! The rush, the view, the feelings that you have afterwords. NOTHING looks the same, especially skies! A new perspective on life is to be found! Advertures for all who decide to take the ride! The skydiving community is wonderfull! Extremely friendly and always looking forward to new members. Welcome and blue skies If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Talk about triple digit speeds, wait until you try head down!!.. very addictive! Thought I wanted to fly planes, but as Ive heard it said and now believe, if flying a plane is like flying, then driving a boat is like swimming! Welcome to the real world of flight aka skydiving! blue skies If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Ok.. so lots of "2 cents" in this thread.. heres mine. I agree with jump first, decide if it is something that you are going to want to get into ( no use in spending money on new or used and then not being able to get out of it what you put into it/$$ wise) If you decide that its the sport for you.. and trust me, its VERY addictive, then go ahead and get your first rig. Of course size appropriate. Used is usually more readily available with out a shipping/ordering delay, as long as you are patient with piecing your rig together ( I first purchased my container used Wings 11, then my main a used triathalon 175 and then my reserve a used PD 160, new Vigil AAD, total cost $3050.00 and took about 2.5 months to get together) Unless $$ is not a matter AND you dont mind stock colors for your gear, you will be looking at a delay becuz of manfacture time and order back up for the given compay(s). Most reputable places like square1.com, sunshine factory etc...dont sell gear that is NOT inspected by one of their riggers, but would recomend before you buy, make sure you have it checked by a rigger. Also ask what the return policy is for any used gear that you might be looking at getting. Any reputable seller will have a retrun policy of sorts. Anyway.. thats my 2cents. Thanks for reading.. blue skies to all If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Ahhhh, another one in the fold!!! Welcome to my "legal addiction" !! Thought the same thing... you know... "its a 1 time thing" ... "something to cross off my bucket list" ... LOL Soooo within 2 weeks of my 1st tandem, I was in AFF class! About $6k later, I have my A license and my first "new to me rig" (Wings W11, Triathalon 175, PD 160 smart reserve and Vigil AAD) It permiates all my thoughts.. skies willl NEVER look the same/I end up daydreaming about falling thru them all!! Again, welcome!! We(the skydiving community) look forward to seeing you in classes soon!! Blue skies If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Ha ha ha ha ha... Exactly!!!! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Okay... one more came to mind. Prob around jump 16. Had just gotten the new full face mask and was very excited to try it out, looking forward to the lack of wind directly against my face(although enjoyed, still prefer it without the wind in the face).. jumpin' in Lodi.. the corn field to the south of the airport.. comin down I mis judged my downwind leg.. had to turn towards the airport. Landing over the corn field now.. very hard to judge when to flare as the corn was quite tall @this point in the season. Flared too high.. about 8>10 feet off the ground.. total stall, came down and found out why there are full faced helmets! A few steps and a stumble later, my face fully intact and my pride not as in tact, I am very thankfull for my full face diving helmet! Again ...thanks Oxygen! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Thanks for the question and replies... I just bought my first rig.. a wings W11 with Triathalon 175/PD 160 reserve... Hadnt found any manual for the container until now. thanks again!!! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Around jump 33, rushing to catch a load.. hadnt put my altimiter on ( was inside my helmet with my gloves ) @about 11k as we're all getting ready, I cant find my altimiter! Oh Sh**!!! Had accidently slipped out the face shield opening and fallen onto the floor...thanks to a fellow skydiver on the same load. Lesson: Put on and do the gear check BEFORE you get on the plane!!! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

disclaimer: new jumper/36 jumps, Triathalon 175 loaded @1.2/ft2- my only exprience with "slow sprial" to maintain vertical space in the pattern got me a new one ripped. And this was in clear skies! I imagine that the same would apply in cloudy conditions. Slow and straight will be my game plan ( This is of course only if I have made the mistake of jumping in weather that would be less than desireable for the experience level of the ENTIRE load and not just me or another jumper) Thanks for the input/advice! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

I would agree with the views that include Skydance is VERY SAFE! I have been in the sport for about 3 years now. Skydance and their staff (contracted or otherwise, including those at Action Air Parachutes @the DZ) have been nothing but supportive and active in their desire to keep skydiving a safe sport, and have gone out of their way to ensure my personal saftey on more than one ocassion even at the expense of my own pride! and risk of indirectly encouraging me NOT to jump at Skydance (which at this point I would prefer the originator of this post to do... DONT GO TO DAVIS . I dont want the negative vibes at my home DZ!!) NO DZ has NO accidents!! As mentioned before, skydiving has its risks (what activity in your life doesnt!?! Have there been any deaths on the freeways that you frequent? I would bet yes.. and yet, you still decide to take those same roads because of your experience and perceived calculation of your safety during that journey) It is about minimizing those chances for ALL those involved! Before making any slanderous remarks, I would definatly get your facts straight. Have fun a fun jump where ever you go ( and yes, Skydance is a GREAT place to go) but .. hope NOT to see you at Davis If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Welcome to my "legal heroin" world! ha ha haa... felt the same way! 1st jump 9/10/06, was in classes by 9/27! Go AFF. The learning curve is a little higher becuause altitude of your initial jump. (usually @13,000 w/2 instructors and a camera flyer VS static line training where you begin with hop n pops where the plane pulls your main chute. ) Well worth the added $$ you will spend. Dont delay.. do it while you're still high off the experience and have the "feeling" in your brain as it will transition you to your classes better. Again welcome! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Congrats Bruce! Yah.. the "new to me rig" was the cheaper route! May upgrade later, but am quite satisfied with what I got. 50 jumps and already your B license! Impressive, I'll be joining POPS after September 11th/my 40th B day! Thanks for the post blue skies If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Not actually FROM the east coast, but have spent good amounts of time in Virginia/Washington DC, New York and Florida. Im @skydance as often as I can but not as much as I would like! Missed the American boogie (really wanted to jump the skyvan! ) Haven't met the "bytch" yet. Or maybe I have! and just dont know it! As Im sure that is just a nic name, everybody there has been super nice and helpfull ! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Whats goin on DZ! My name is Brett.. not too new to the sport but a slow starter ( 3 yrs/35 jumps , time & $$ to blame! but hooked just the same!! ) Just got my first rig put together (wings w11, triathalon 175 (loaded @1.2/ft ) PD reserve 160, Vigil, So I know I'll be progressing faster now. I learned in Lodi,CA but now call Skydance in Davis, CA my home dropzone ( any other newbies out there wanna get together for some fun jumps!?!? ) Am addicted to the sport like a dope fiend! and look forward to many years of fun.. thank you to all those already in the sport who have so graciously given of their time and knowledge.. what an awesome community! Look forward to interacting with and talking with many of you in the future as my skydive career progresses! peace/love Brett If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

(this is a duplicate posting from the "general" category, I just wanted to place it in this one as well to get further feedback! thanks all! ) Hi all.. am new to the sport and just purchased my first rig.. am getting practice packing my chute and have a concern.. having NOT mastered the whole packing thing, it is a certain struggle thru which I will sweat... some of which ends up on my chute. What effect does sweat have on Zero P fabric? Is there anything that I can do(besides covering myself from head to toe in anti persperant!) to keep my chute in tip top shape? (washing? wiping down? ) Thanks for your time and support If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Hi all.. am new to the sport and just purchased my first rig.. am getting practice packing my chute and have a concern.. having NOT mastered the whole packing thing, it is a certain struggle thru which I will sweat... some of which ends up on my chute. What effect does sweat have on Zero P fabric? Is there anything that I can do(besides covering myself from head to toe in anti persperant!) to keep my chute in tip top shape? (washing? wiping down? ) Thanks for your time and support!