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Actually, that's a great scenario. I never thought about that. I'd imagine i'd be in a similar predicament. That's a good way of handling it too, by letting the student look for himself and seeing the shit. I would do the same and cut. Guarantee he never forgets to look up after a collapse again. Now that i've read that, neither will I.

What confuses me, is that in our FJC and Safety Day, we were DRILLED all of the malfunctions and how to initiate emergency procedures. They really tried hard to not only scare the shit out of us, so that it sunk in, but also tried to get us to build muscle memory and react quickly. Everyone had to sit and do harness training over and over and over until it was like second nature. Even our instructors occasionally quiz us while being briefed for a jump. (and would be pretty upset at us if we performed anything incorrectly by that stage.) How do some people need to be told to cutaway? It's really beyond me. I think the training has made it quite clear that your life is in your hands, and yours alone. The radio is by no means an instruction. Especially if you're up there seeing things the radio guy isn't.

I just did my IAF Level 5 (Hover, and second time under canopy alone) at the Ranch (which I understand is notoriously known as a tough place to land, compared to other DZ's) And i'm really glad I had the radio. The instructors give you not steering turns and detailed instructions, but more like guidance. Like I remember hearing "Looks like the wind is change a bit to X direction, if you give yourself a turn in this direction you should be heading straight for the dz" So I'd do the turn, and start feeling the change in my direction (I was crabbing to get back) and it really clicked in my head. Like an OHHH, now I get it! I had the theory in my head from the FJC, but having the feeling of it, and somebody just giving me a hint makes a big difference, at least for me. Makes it a lot easier for next time. Most of the rest was "You're doing great" or "That's the perfect heading, nice!" Or "See your altitude now? Why don't you hang out right there and s-turn a bit there to bleed off some altitude." It really clicks and feels good to get that bit of help. The rest kinda makes sense, because you're doing it and feeling it. It's like someone backing up what you already know by confirming it over the radio. So far on the radio (which has only been twice) I've gotten mostly nudges, it hasn't felt like I was given directions. I'm glad we have them.

I'll be sure to have this stuff properly adjusted on the student rig for the IAF jumps. The hanging harness rig was a really old bastard rig too. I think your right, the main lift webs were too long. Luckily I am completely recovered now (almost a week later) but I'll be sure to adjust everything properly for my IAF jumps. I'll be sure to bug my instructors until I get it right. When we were doing practice pilochute throws with actual student rigs, the rigs fit much snugger. It's the same rigs we'll be using on our IAF jumps, and damn they are a lot heavier than I was expecting!

Well, both you guys know I'm game. I'd just be a pain in the ass for you to pick up Bill, as i'm in NYC. So you'd have to get into the city, (via tunnel or bridge being $8) and then fight the traffic before getting out. Although the ride up through Jersey is pretty smooth all the way up to the ranch. PM me when you are next thinking of heading up, perhaps we could carpool. The bus ride outta NYC + cabs out to the Ranch end up costing me $70 anyways, (That's like 1/2 an IAF jump!) And, Etch, if I had rode with him, I would have gotten back to the ranch HOURS later. J/k. Speaking of which Etch, did you end up out tracking that one chick who thought she was faster than you?

I only got that just now... !!! When I was getting in the hanging training rig, I asked the instructor how tight I should make the leg straps, and she says "enough to protect the family." Good enough for me!

Not only that, but when you pull the cutaway and fall that foot or so, the chest strap practically punches you in the chin. I think i'm starting to get a bit less sore. But, damn that was killer!

Luckily she knew where I was, so she was cool with it. And of course, it worked well to ask for massages! Although the whole time she's like "You did it yourself! What are you complaining about?" Then she asks me if i'm doubting skydiving... HELL NO!

Yeah Mine too. But i'm making it up there anyways. Luckily I escaped Etch's roofies quick enough. Little Russia was getting a bit dangerous!

The furthest we did our PLF's was about off the top of a picnic table! But yeah, I wasn't expecting to be so sore afterwards! I mean, it took a day for the soreness to show up. I was fine while we were actually doing the training. Do you ever get this sore from just jumping?

Hey guys, I had my ground school (Comprehensive Jump Course, is what The Ranch calls it) on Saturday, and it was a fucking blast. Lots to learn and soak up in a day. But I think I did pretty damn well. Anyways, we did lots of pilochute throws, cutaway / reserve training as well as canopy " 4 S's" training. And we did stuff over and over again, of course, all from the hanging harness. We also had "malfuctions" where someone would grab the rig and shake the shit out of it, while you're looking for your cutaway / reserve handles. It was pretty awesome, and very sobering. I'm really glad they do this, that way there's no hesitation if I actually have to cutaway. So, it's been two days, and i'm still sore-as-fuck! It kicked my ass! Anybody else get pretty sore from that training?

Lead, just don't send your giant fucking tarantulas after me. That's all I ask.

HA! Now begins the phase of "Who do I trust up at the Ranch..." lol. Oh man!

Nice dude! Thanks for the advice. I'll give it a shot! I mean, if I gotta take a cab, i'll take a cab. No biggie. But i'll def be bringing beer! Sidenote: is there a decent amount of light in the field near the parking lot? I'm gonna be setting up camp there. Thirdly: Where does everyone hang out after hours? Thanks!

Thanks for the relocate admin, I had no idea where this post would go. Anybody Interested?

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Guys! I'm taking a bus up to the ranch to camp out for ground school the following morning. I'll take a taxi if I have to, but it's typically like $15+ from the New Paltz bus station. That $15 can be spent on better things: like Beer! Being a student newb I'd like to spread the love and pick up some brewskies. If anyone is interested, post a reply here or PM me. I'll be there around 8-9pm. Thx! Ps: Beer!

Oh, I haven't started AFF yet, but I was just curious. Ground School is actually this weekend. I have a log book, and have gotten my three tandems logged, I assume i'll be getting this card during school. I know there's a few things that you have to do to fulfill the A license, like packing your chute once and etc... I assume this is on the same card?

Now how does that work? When you are off Student status and you've finished your AFF but have some jumps left to get to your 25 for your A License, do you still have to jump with a coach, or are you just allowed to fun jump on your own until you've required the amount of jumps?

Guys, thanks for the advice, especially on the weather. I heard one former student at the ranch say, "I rode this bench for 3 months while waiting for good weather." Although i've heard from other guys, that the did the whole course over a weekend (!) I'll pray for blue skies. Anyways GROUND SCHOOL on AUG 15th!!! I'm READY BABY! Any other students going that day? I heard if the weather is good / the instructor is in a good mood that you can do your Jump 4 the same day. That would be rad. P.s. I'm planning on camping out (coming up from NYC) on Friday night. Any suggestions for good tent setup areas?

I may be wrong about this, but don't the series of tandems count towards your 25 for the A license? I mean, if you bang out a bunch of tandems, especially ones with dive flow tasks, like turns and such? I would think it would make signifigant progress towards the license and get you a decent amount of freefall time accumulated. I've only done 3 tandems thus far (The Ranch does a IAF tandem progression, then ground school, then AFF style jumps) and I'm VERY glad that they do tandems first. It's so much more comforting with somebody right there giving you guidance, especially with the Canopy ride down. I know i'll be way more stable / calm on the AFF's. I think you could learn a lot from a handful of tandem jumps! I think the only downside is the cost. It gets quite pricey.

Out of curiosity, where is that recorded once you sucessfully do a pack job? Is it put in your log book with a rigger signature?

I'm going to be doing ground school in a week or two. I know they are full next sat, but the following Sunday is good. I may go then. I think it shouldn't be too tough. I've been reading the sim a bunch of times. I'm really interested in seeing manuvers demonstrated, like emergency procedures, how to do flat turns and flares. There were a few guys there on Sat who were giving me advice on landing at the ranch which can be tough on hot or gusty days. I understand the turbulance from the hangar and the far trees sometimes gives people trouble. Going over the Tarmac near the owners place gives you a bit of lift on a hot day too. Felt it on the T3. But I'm excited nonetheless. I don't think I'll jump the same day. I'll save and do 2-3 jumps in a day if possible.

I was there for a good portion of the day, I did my T2 at about 12:30 with Kevin, my friend Malcolm came up for his first tandem and went out on the same load. My T3 was at 2:20, also with Kevin. We ended up hanging around until 5:00. You may have seen us!

Tandem 2 and 3 are DONE!! Body control in freefall was so much easier than I expected, nice and smooth controlled moves made it pretty easy. It took a bit more focus to keep my legs in the right position, but made corrections really quickly (ARCH!) and stabilized right out! WOW, everything was so much clearer this time, I could see more, I could think faster. And time was much quicker. Especially doing COA's and checking at the altimeter every few moments it felt like the 60 seconds were more like 30. It was awesome to be so focused. Can't wait for ground school and my first AFF jump! INCREDIBLE. Guys at the Ranch, Kevin & Batman you guys fucking rule. Thanks for being so friendly and offering advice. I'm very proud to say the Ranch is my home DZ.