dove

Wow - I totally missed that one... I didn't know you had a collision! Hope you are ok. I'll pray to the skygods for your speedy recovery! Elisa

Congratulations on a job well done! That is awesome! Cheers! Elisa

Since everyone else is posting their firsts... Saturday was the first time I did 10 jumps in one day (if only the sun wouldn't have set... if only I packed faster!!!) and I went 224 MILES PER HOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for the first time!!! Yippee-Kay-Yeah!!!! Headdown rocks! And I watched the sun set upside down for the 1st time - from gold to orange to vibrant red in a solid headdown. It was breathtaking! And then to land and be surrounded by such fantastic people... bliss! I LOVE SKYDIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope everyone else's weekend was spectacular too! Elisa

Glad I don't have to do that again! But if I did, I sure as heck would be the first to go - didn't think ahead of time about how nasty a dripping wet harness could be! Especially and old one that hasn't been out since last year's water training. Smelled worse than a jumpplane fart!

How can this guy still be allowed to jump at your DZ?!?!?!?! Being of danger to yourself is enough to get grounded at many DZs, but sound like this oaf is a hazard to everyone on the plane and in the landing area. Frightening!!!!

Holy s#$@!!!! I am just getting online for the first time today and I can not believe what I started with my "really stupid question" post! Hilarious!!!!! My stomach hurts from laughing so hard! So, thanks!!! And just for the record I am 0:6:0 for today - not bad for a Thursday. Lucked out with a boatload of tandems at the DZ!!! Yippee for me!!! And to top it all off, I passed my C exam! Wow! And the weekend hasn't even started! Watch out columns 1 & 3!!!!! Elisa

Thank you for enlightening me, oh wise one!!! Is that a dz.com thing? And is that by the day or week?

OK - I know I am going to feel like an ass when I read the answer to this question - but what does the whole number/ratio thing mean? (i.e. 0:1:0)

Thanks! I feel better now. I don't know why people feel obligated to impose their unsolicited opinions on me when I am packing. The stoes have worked great for me so far - so I will keep with them. Thanks for all the helpful input! Cheers! Elisa

I started out thinking freestyle was the most graceful thing I had ever seen. I even learned how to do the splits (ouch!) after never having been able to do them all my life. And I still hope to be able to learn freestyle. But in the meantime, RW is awesome! It's a great feeling to be flying with friends and turning points. The feeling of comraderie and accomplishment is incredible! And then I started to learn freeflying... I'm like a kid with candy. Grinning and having the time of my life! So, now I am as confused as anyone and don't know which I like best. I LOVE it all! And I am having so much fun! Some people say I need to choose - but why? I am really enjoying myself doing it all. Geez - all that typing and I haven't helped you one bit! Cheers! Elisa

One of the packers mentioned the bag lock scenario to me - but bag locks happen on rigs with rubber bands too! And the tube stoes roll off so easy I just can't see it happening. Also, I am a super-anal packer and am very careful about my stoes. Not that that means I won't ever have a malfunction, but am I putting myself at risk? I love the convenience - they are easy on my hands when packing (us females are so delicate!) and several of the ones on my rig have 50 jumps on them already and none broke before 40! But safety outweighs convenience. Are there lots of documented cases of bag lock from tube stoes?

Wow! It is shocking that you weren't taught a PLF. But I agree with Lisa, you should ask for more before you bail. You might have just been unlucky enough to get the laziest instructor at the DZ! When I was in AFF I learned the most on the days where the weather would keep us on the ground. I'd just pick the brains of all the instructors and JMs I could find - even the ones who weren't jumping with me. They are a wealth of information and are usually more than happy to share with someone who is eager to learn. If you still feel like you aren't getting what you need - then absolutely move on! This is your life and your skydiving career! Do what feels right.

Thanks, all for your support! I know I haven't been very outspoken on these forums, but reading them has kept me in the sport when I thought I wouldn't make it. You are all awesome! And speaking of pie - I haven't received mine yet, actually. I didn't let anyone know I was near 100 so I wasn't pied. Not yet, anyway! Once everyone found out (at some point I had to get my logbook signed... I'd been hiding it since 92!) they all insisted that pies are retroactive. Needless to say I will bring an extra change of clothes next time I go out! I was thinking Tasty Kake (yeah, a nice 3-inch pie will do just fine!). As long as it's not cow pie, I'll be alright! (the DZ is in farm country!) Well, thanks again!!!

I have been using tube stoes since my last reserve repack when the rigger put them on my main D-bag. I absolutely love them! But I have heard some people at the DZ talk very negatively about them. I was wondering if any of the riggers out there had an opinion. And if you don't like them, is it just a matter of preference, or one of safety? Thanks for any input you may have!

What an awesome week! I made my 100th jump (PIE!!!) on a 4-way with 2 guys who are going to nationals, did my first 10-way (at sunset, no less), worked at and finally got my sit and stand, and then nailed head-down out the door! Yee-hah! This sport rocks!

Viking, My grandpa had 2 heart attacks within a year of each other. My uncle, who is a doctor and was taking care of him, called everyone and said to come visit quickly if we ever wanted to see grandpa again. That was 3 years ago when he was 94! He is still doing great, although he broke his hip last year. But he's recovered from that too and even works in his vegetable garden every day!!! So I will say the same prayers for your grandpa that worked for mine and hopefully he will be up and at it again in no time! Elisa

Julie, I had a cutaway on my 1st jump off of student status (jump #8). It felt wonderful to know that I had my emergency procedures down pat - as do you now! But I had some butterflies after going home and thinking about it. It's easy to get all caught up in what could have happened and the scary part of it. But just think of all the wonderful things about skydiving instead - the awesome comraderie of your fellow skydivers, the feel of 120 mph winds on your face and body, breathing in the fresh air at altitude, flying your body around the great wide open... those things are so much more powerful that what could have been, and what fortunately wasn't! Just watch some skydiving videos or go online and look at skydiving pics -- all the grinning freefallers will get you back in the groove in no time. The statistics are in your favor now - you've already had your malfunction! So buck up and have some fun! Elisa

I am a newbie too, but I have put 50 jumps on my Tri 150 and I absolutely love it. I have NEVER had line twists or and off-heading opening and I have stood up every single landing on it. And it is fun too! I would definitely recommend it, but I have never jumped a hornet so can't compare. Have fun! Elisa

Hey Rainier! There have been a couple of times I have felt like my alti was too loose in freefall. I think I decide sometime on the ride up that it would feel more comfy if it was looser and then in freefall it is too loose. So I keep it on pretty tight and don't adjust it again. And during freefall it is perfect. Also, don't adjust the fit over your sleeve. Your sleeves often pull back from your wrist a bit when you arch and then your alti may be too loose around your bare wrist. Hope this helps! Cheers, Elisa

Before you buy anything you MUST call Roy from Rigs and Things (www.para-service.com) He is the coolest guy and the prices are unbeatable. When I was buying my first rig and had thousands of questions, he was so patient and helpful and not pushy at all. And the price - literally unbeatable. I called another gear shop that advertised they will beat anyone else's price and told them what Roy from Rigs and Things offered and they said no way! They asked me how he could afford to sell to me at such a low price. Give him a call (877-TOP-RIGS)or go to the website and email him with your questions. Cool guy. Elisa

Sis, I have a Javelin (not an Odyssey - I ordered mine right before those came out - LOL!) and I LOVE it! I think the most important thing is chest and hip rings. They make such an unbelievable difference! And of course, buying new so it is made just for your body. But of all the used ones I tried on first, Javelin was tops, so that's why I went for it (not to mention the reputation!) Cheers!

Oh my God! You'd fit in my pocket!!!!! Sounds like an awesome rig! Congrats! Dove

Froggie & Speed - Thanks for the invite, but as Speedracer already mentioned, I have to work. I am SO bummed I didn't get to meet you last time, Froggie. I got a slammer of a headache and didn't feel so hot. You know I must be sick if I leave the DZ early - that never happens! I came down with an obnoxious flu and I was sick again last weekend so I am aching to jump! I have all of next week off so I will jump like a maniac then. I don't know if I'll make it back to Cross Keys - maybe for a boogie. But $12 in tolls is almost a jump ticket and plus the club membership fee - Yikes! But I'd come up for a big event. You and Stacy ever think about venturing south to some other DZs just for fun? Anyhow, have fun up there and don't burn off all you toes! They can be invaluable when landing! Cheers! Elisa

My "fav bev" is the Bev Hotbod suit! Dove

It's like froggie said - too many details of the ground below are distinguishable. I was a little weirded out about doing mine. I did AFF and never did one before getting my A license. I think mine was about jump 55. But it was really no big deal because it was unplanned so I didn't have time to dwell on it. On a normal jump, clouds moved in underneath and so pilot said no-go. So we went down and jumped about 4K, which actually isn't really that low. And you don't reach terminal so you have a little more time than you'd think. It was really quite fun! Cheers! Dove