Skyrose7

I agree as well. Last year I attended a beginner freefly seminar that gave me some good tips and good drills to work on during solos.

I was randomly selected by my airline to be fully searched when I went to Georgia. This was flying out of flint, MI though. Anyway, he actually wasn't going to let me take my rig with me at all (the whole reason I was going to Atlanta), so make sure you have your cypres card, and I think there is some letter you can look up that explains that rigs with cypres's are still ok to take on board. He said the laws changed again this year. Also, I would recommend being patient. If you do get checked, this person can make or break your day---depending on how nice you are to them.

I agree with kelly. I take a good glance at the whole piece. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

Actually, that is what I am doing this month (under suggestion of one of the representatives) and it will still be late. He told me that I had to do it by 1pm today, and I actually did it the day before just to make sure and it still only let me schedule my payment date on the monday...day after it was due and they were going to charge a late fee. That was why I was pissed. One guy told me that would get it there on time, then the next person told me no, not so. So, I got that fee removed before it even got added. no worries. I am not screwing around with that anymore. Online payments sound good to me....a week before it is due, just in case. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

Naaahh, they wouldn't cancel me. I spend too much money on skydiving for them to lose out on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

hehe, I have some odd, but effective techniques. I am a s-l instructor out of a cessna 182, so the student going next is sitting next to the door. I tell them on the way up that when I open the door, I want them to grab the strut. Then, once they do, I encourage them to stick their hand out and play in the air (showing by example how much fun I'm having). Then, once they do that, I point out the dropzone (which is still in front of the plane) and tell them to stick their head out to see the target...you won't get sucked out. They actually end up with their head outside the plane upside down looking at the target (still sitting down). It's wierd, but by giving them exposure to the wind before they climb out, I haven't had a long climb out in a long while. They have already been exposed to the wind (without realizing it) and it makes it less suprising when they climb out. I don't know if it makes it less stressful, but they always do a better job. I have also used this one if they are really freaked "What makes you so special that millions of people have made successful and unharmed skydives, but YOU are going to get hurt? That usually makes em laugh and come back to reality. Plus, I'm not promising they will be ok, just asking a question...

I suppose I don't give a shite about the politics of this thread, but if anyone really wants information on physical and verbal abuse, go to mcadsv.org ywca.org or, I bet you could do a search on "domestic violence" and find a whole bunch of acredited people that will tell you you can't "preserve" a violent relationship in a healthy way. period. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

I DO! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

will you buy me a house too? Well, I just finished fighting with the cc company and I got them to waive half of last months late fee (was postmarked on time, but apparently that's not their policy as was with my last card). Doing bills as usual, I realized that by their policy, this month would be late too due to misinformation from a representative and also because payment was due on sunday. I did pitch a fit(and then apologized profusely for being a bitch) and they are waiving the late fee this month as well. Now that's some smooooooth talkin'. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

my happy thoughts include the fact that there is a real possibility I may be moving to Cali

Hey, I know some of you HAVE to know problems with credit cards. Does anyone know if you have a billing date that falls on a sunday, can they charge you a late fee if it is processed on that monday? I was under the impression that #1 you just have to have your bill postmarked by the billing date, and #2 if your due date falls on a non-business day, you have until the next business day to pay. Any info would be great, I have been fighting late fees all day and I am getting pissed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

this thread seems kind of dead, but I wanted to point out something. Peckerhead, I see from your profile that you have been jumping for 20 something years. It is very easy for you to sit back and tell everyone they should be jumping with all the newbies for free because you have had your time to do whatever you want without judgement. Most people have not been in the sport so long and are still soaking up different disciplines while doing coaching or instructing on the side to help pay for this money sucking addiction. Do I jump for free with people I don't know (this isn't too much of an issue for me as coaching jumps happen, but not regularly at our dz), but yes, I do. Would I rather be learning more about headdown with a more experienced jumper in FF? Yes, I would, and that is my choice. So, if you want to make a difference, try not telling other people what they should spend their money on and do like some people have mentioned and start free coaching at your dz.

what makes a half a jump?

hehe, that's a good one ANyway, I just read on a different thread that someone tried to steer their canopy when it was inflating and it ended up collapsing the canopy (or part of it). It reinflated, but I guess I don't want to form habits that assume I have the altitude to recover. just my .02

histrionic: moderate everything else was low.

If you are aware during freefall that you can't keep a heading, try to bring awareness to what your body is doing. Click your heels together to bring awareness of what position your legs are in. Mentally think of pushing your hips out. Become aware of what your arms are doing. It is pretty quick to do and it covers the body. If you don't know if you are keeping a heading, look down. Pick a road, line yourself up to it and see if you can stay in that spot. Good luck to ya!

I don't think there was any reason for him to say anything in front of the student. Even if it was a safety issue, he could have easily butted in with some class and just ask if he could talk to you for a moment in private and then tell you what he had to say without jeopardizing the trust of your student. I can't imagine doing that to another instructor..or coach for that matter. I would say if he/she does it again, after they are done ranting, ask them if you can talk to them aside(be the bigger person and don't do it in front of your student or you are just as bad) and explain that you would prefer if he/she has advice for your coaching method to take you aside from the student as to not disturb the trust. Good Luck!

I used to grab my risers right after pitching as well--until I noticed my hands were getting cut up. I don't think you have to grab the risers right after pitching in order to be safe. If you grab them right after throwing out, you generally get your hands on the risers while the parachute is still deploying..and I personally don't do steering with my risers while the parachute is still deploying. I think it is important to get your hands on the risers as soon as you are deployed to steer away from possible traffic.

stretch. It does wonders. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

no shit, I hear Chicago weather is quite unpredictable as well. We are just on the other side of the lake. Lake effect, baby!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

I have had that happen, but where was the discoloration? on the white, right? I just kept on flushing it out. I hope that works for you.... Burns like a biotch, though, doesn't it?! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

I have made a vow not to complain about hot weather. I hate cold weather so much, every winter I promise not to bitch about hot weather. I guess I shouldn't be a Michigander if I hate cold weather, but it takes a while to get out, I guess. Bring on the 80-90's, baby! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

I have had tmobile for a few years now and I get service most everywhere (even at the dz, but I have to walk out to a certain spot under a tree...). The only place I haven't had service was in West Virginia, but who needs a phone when you are at Bridge day ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose

I guess I think the risks lie in freeflying with others. If you don't want to invest in RW, you don't have to. I don't see anything dangerous about solo freeflys as long as you can get stable on your belly for pull time. I would just ask you this. Say you decide to do a two way with someone else. It can be very tempting when someone asks you and you think THEY know their shit. At this point, are you aware of your fall rate and able to vary it with that person? If not, what happens if you cork out and they are above you---what position would you go to? On break off, are you able to back away from a formation before turning over to track? Can you stay stable in a sit to identify where others are before going to belly? I think you can develop a lot of skills you would use in freeflying by doing some RW. RW's not all bad. Understanding the principles of moving your body through the air may as well be done at a slower speed as a novice. I am not discouraging you, but it is more dangerous. A freefall collision in a freefly position can be fatal. Maybe not even for you, but somebody else. I think it is good you are trying to become aware before getting into it. I would say- solo, solo, solo. Good luck

My list isn't as impressive as the rest of these, but it is a start, I guess. Netherlands Germany Poland Czech Republic Hungary Austria oh, and Canada and U.S. Traveling was my passion before skydiving....now I don't have enough money to make it farther than the nearest boogie. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose