IceWater

It's all the step by step process I guess. After my first jump in which I was really just along for the ride, I'd get little shivers thinking about pulling the chute. Then again I must say that first off I had just finished reading an accident report where an AFF student didn't activate her AAD and spent the entire 12,000 feet feeling around her container for the drogue, until her hard lading. Of course I did not want to repeat the same mistake. Now I have pulled cord and wondered what on earth was I worried about! :-) I enjoy sky diving and it is the most relaxing, and mentally challenging thing I've ever done (and I come from a world of 'extreme' sports). I'll continue with my AFF - I was just nervous that by missing the opportunity to pilot a parachute with a tandem instructor along, that I'd have a couple extra hurdles to get over during AFF. Life is not about how many breaths you take; but rather how many moments there are that take your breath away.

What does a person do when they are handed a golden ticket – then back away? I had my second tandem jump (way too poor to take AFF (this month – next month hopefully!)), but my instructor was lovely and started to teach me the art of sky diving… Lets start with the jump – I cannon balled out!!! Flipping and rotating through 1,000 feet of sky before I was stabilized thanks to the work of the gentlemen that was along for the trip. He offered me the toggles to learn control of the parachute, but after my disastrous trip out – I declined. Now the question is – how much of a hole did I dig for myself? Do I need to (read SHOULD I) do another tandem before AFF? Did I miss too much by not landing the parachute myself with an instructor on board?? What do you think? Life is not about how many breaths you take; but rather how many moments there are that take your breath away.

What does a person do when they are handed a golden ticket – then back away? I had my second tandem jump (way too poor to take AFF (this month – next month hopefully!)), but my instructor was lovely and started to teach me the art of sky diving… Lets start with the jump – I cannon balled out!!! Flipping and rotating through 1,000 feet of sky before I was stabilized thanks to the work of the gentlemen that was along for the trip. He offered me the toggles to learn control of the parachute, but after my disastrous trip out – I declined. Now the question is – how much of a hole did I dig for myself? Do I need to (read SHOULD I) do another tandem before AFF? Did I miss too much by not landing the parachute myself with an instructor on board?? What do you think? Life is not about how many breaths you take; but rather how many moments there are that take your breath away.

For a new 'A' with less than 100 jumps - what type of line is good for a beginner chute? Thanks for the help & the votes! Life is not about how many breaths you take; but rather how many moments there are that take your breath away.

It didn’t take long (about 4 minutes) for me to be addicted to skydiving. After years of trying to get others to go with me, it finally happened. Here is the thing – I’ve learned a lot of book knowledge, and had a great experience at the DZ, but I’m not in my home state. I’ve been reading the reviews, and doing as much research as I can on Colorado DZ’s for a place to take my AFF course, and make it my home. The only thing that I’ve come into is wildly conflicting views, petty arguments, and flat out attacks between DZ’s. Overall it has left me very uncomfortable. I would be content to travel, and take vacation from work to do my course either in TX or AZ but call me silly - I’d like to be close to home… I’m looking for any advice on a place in Colorado. One has outstanding facilities; the other seems to have better staff. When push comes to shove – whose hands & gear do I place my life into? Especially as only having my 1 jump I don’t know what to look for at a DZ. Advice is so very welcomed!! Life is not about how many breaths you take; but rather how many moments there are that take your breath away.

I just took my first tandem jump on 11/06/09. However, I’m not from Arizona. After three years of trying, and failing, to get a group of newbie’s together I finally ran into a friend who is an experienced fun jumper. He raved about Skydive Arizona and their facilities and I can see why. Not only can you do anything and everything at the DZ, every person is lovely as well. I had a great jump, and the video and pictures are hilarious. More due to the fact that I’m a goofball – the quality is still great. Over and over again as I look for a home DZ I see debates about staff, and friendliness, and he said – she said. Complaints about long lines – anything and everything that stops me from being fully confident in getting my ‘A’ certification complete. THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE!! I love it so much it is nearly worth the time, vacation, and extreme expense to fly to Arizona and stay at the DZ for 2 weeks to get fully certified. If you read this – know wither you are an experienced jumper – or going for your first time you should choose Skydive Arizona. It’s worth it all the way around. (As an aside – I repeat I don’t even live here so my happily raving about my experience is about as unbiased as you can get.) :-)