guppykf

Thanks for all the advice; yeah some people are harder headed than others regarding their own abilities. Based on what this course actually entails I agree I am not ready to attend this course at this time. I am scheduled for both the basic and advanced canopy course at Start the week of 21 May. It is my goal to get myself from sliding on my arse I want to go do the belly flying course next weekend there as well, but unfortunately work is interferring with my play time THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I checked the search forum and didnt find where anyone else asked this question...amazing I think! I was approached by my DZO and asked if I wanted to attend an upcoming coach rating course. I told him I felt I was nowhere close in my own skydiving abilities yet let alone assisting another newer skydiver. I dont know when I may feel I will have enough decent skills to help another, but I anticipate I need at least a couple hundred more jumps and a few hours or freefall to even begin to feel qualified. Heck I still slide on my arse on landings most of the time. Beside, per the SIM's you need to have 100 jumps and I dont have that yet either. He stated he thought it would be beneficial to building my own skydiving skills and that I should attend none the less. So the question is: For those that have this rating, does it assist one's own's skills? Once I am qualified (have the min. # of jumps and pass the course, if i take it), I don't have to use it until I feel proficient enough to guide another..right? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I about peed my pants!! Too funny!!! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Skymamma, As I watch this site, this type question comes up quite often. I wonder if there should be a forum called "FAQ's for the Newbie" to address the common newer jumper questions such as when to buy gear, how to get in with the experienced jumpers, how to use the search feature on dropzone, etc. I know there are several veterans that could help build this FAQ forum since they have read these repeat questions most often. I have seen many of the veterans on the site tell them to use the search feature, but if they are truly new I assume they ask this type question before they know that a search feature even exists. Just a suggestion for you moderators to mull over. Have a great day! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

FYI since the 206 arrived getting on an Up jumper load has gotten a lot easier. I have been there the past 2 Fridays and as an Up Jumper I have gotten 4-5 jumps each day doing 3 and 4 ways and that is with the DZ opening up at 2pm and running til dusk. In my opinion, for a newer jumper you want to stick with 3-4 ways anyways to hone in on your skillz. When you only have a 182 it is hard not to cater to Tandems since they bring in more revenue. Problem was that since SkydiveKy had the 182 so long and nothing else, many Up Jumpers found more active DZ's. Not much of a night life currently, but great people that frequent this DZ. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Yes, I can see how that wouldnt be confusing.. However, in my situation this DZ used separate frequencies for each student in the air. He admitted he didnt know there were 2 students with radios. So the guy who wanted talked through the process didnt get any in air instruction. He was did perfectly fine though; unlike me. (Dumb, dumb me) Lesson learned though! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I agree. Radios can be helpful, but in other instances can provide a false sense of security. On my 2nd AFF jump I was given a radio and the instructor asked me how much communication I wanted. I told him, if he saw me screwing up correct me, if not let me be. Well he talked to me the whole jump and one time I did a turn when he didnt instruct me to, so when I got on the ground he ripped me a new one and told me I was the muscle and he was the brains of the operation. So when I went to the next jump he again asked me how much instruction I wanted and I told him the same thing...only if I am screwing up. Well as soon as I got under canopy he was telling me what to do. So not to get in trouble again, I did everything he asked and nothing else. During the jump he was getting mad and I could not figure out why. Well I went to do my landing pattern and upon Final..I thought man I know I should be flaring by now, but he didnt say anything. (I know this is my fault, because I am responsible for my own safety) but to continue the story, I didnt hear flare, so I finally heard flare, flare, flare a little late! So I burned myself in low and ripped my fingernail completely off. Not a big injury, just enough though to thoroughly tick me off. I took the radio shoved it at the instructor and said keep this flipping radio, if I am going to kill myself, I will do it by all by myself. Now to what happened, I found out after I calmed down. There were two students in the air and the instructor was looking at him, but talking to me. Luckily this was a small incident, but based on this it is my newby opinion radios should only be used very sparingly. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Don't know any UK peeps to speak of, but there is a lot of really cool folks that jump in KY. You wont meet a stranger here. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

They are, but they changed their name Skydive Kentucky and moved to Elizabethtown, KY...they currently have a 206 for the summer and a 182 all the time. They are open Wed-Friday 2pm-dark and Saturday and Sunday all day. I frequent there fairly often since I got off student status. I go up to Start in Middletown, OH for turbines on the 2nd weekend of each month as well. That is only a couple hours from Lexington. 2 Caravans, of course a 182 and they have a King Air coming in in the next week or so. Also, the home of Fastrax! GREAT DZ!! Can get on loads superfast There is also a new DZ opening on May 1st near springfield Kentucky; closer to Lexington area. I am not sure of the aircraft the new DZ will have but it is geared only for UP jumpers and the word is no tandems. Hope you enjoy Kentucky and hopefully we will get the opportunity to jump together. Take care!! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

[Beck's] [Budweiser] [Heineken][Michelob Ultra][Old Milwaukee][Busch][Sam Adams][Harp][Corona][Guiness][Coors] [Miller] [all the lites]- Here is my virtual beer paid. I am a chick, but not a hot one, so hopefully this should give me credit for any stupid questions I may pose since I am a newbie ' THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Elkhart county or Scott County? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

It is amazing that this trend is still kewl. It feels like bell bottoms were in and back out then back in in the time this trend has stuck around. What is fun about holding your pants up all the time? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

+1 ..i believe it is 1000 ways.. My favorite is "boobie trapped"- woman's implant boobs explode at altitude...the guys' bug eyes are priceless!! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Is it magnets? Maybe a newbie question, but trying to figure out how they are able to close a canopy without stows. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Looks like weather isn't going to cooperate with us today. Maybe I'll meet ya next round. Doggone weather! Phooey! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I am in San Antonio for a trade show and some of my associates wants to try to do a tandem on Friday....it may be the alcohol talking though. We will see in the morning when they sober up. However, in case they dont change their mind I have read some interesting reviews, so looking to see if anyone on here is currently jumping there to see if the reviews are hype or real. It's work buddies, so I am hoping they can get the good time that we all know a 1st experience can be. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8Ptr6Mddk8&feature=related here is the result of the road trip...priceless!! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

+1 THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

A couple comments: 1. Skydive Chicago's program is highly advanced. They teach all the necessary things for an A license plus many additional skills for FS. So you get more bang for your buck. I only did a portion of my training there, but was highly impressed with their teaching methodology. Great location nearby hotels, resteurants, airport, etc. great staff! Resteurant and camping onsite and caravan aircrafts $2599 est. 2. West Tennessee Skydiving near Memphis is another great program. They have a program that once you are released to solo status your coach jumps are free/ included, so this is a decent savings!! $2200 est. total. This is a little secluded, but great people and a kick ass fast super king air! 3. If the DZ close to you is available then you might want to find out from other jumpers how their training program is. Learning from the home DZ is nice for social aspects and also helps if you have been trained locally that once you are licensed and still have some weak skills some instructors are willing to help their previous students throwing in a free coach jump or two. It's always nice to toss them a beer or few if they do that. Plus they know you and you know them may make it easier for the social aspect. And also if you are local and you get a bad weather patch you aren't away from your home, which saves money. Know that there is a triangle of expectation to anything in life; you can have cheap, good or fast. Most often you can't get all three. You can have cheap and good, but not fast. you can have good and fast, but not necessarily cheap or you can have cheap and fast, but wont necessarily be good. Training needs to be taken seriously..this is your life and I dont know anyone who thinks their life is worth less than a couple grand. The better question is where can I go to get the most bang for my buck? What training facilities do other skydivers feel were stellar? YOu will get a variety of answers, because there are so many good instructors out there. Good luck! Have fun!! Be safe!! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Another senseless early departure from the world. When I was a kid he was a teen hearthrob. what happens to these actors that pills are the easy way out??? http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/10/corey.haim.obit/index.html?hpt=T2 THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

During the first aid portion of safety day I learned "if its wet and sticky and isn't yours wear a glove." THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

A little off subject, but fairly related. If you aren't a swooper and you have a low wing loading why would you want the AAD set to PRO, wouldn't you set it at student just to be a little safer? My thought process is if you dont have anything over your head by 12-1300' the sooner something gets over your head the better....am I right in my thinking or nuts? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I am a project manager for an hard armor erosion control company. Basically I make concrete mats to put on slopes to keep the soils from moving. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

+1 THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

In regards to skydiving skills ....right? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!