bodypilot1

Quote I have over 1200 AFF dives. I would never take a L1 with only 1 JM. *** The student this all started from is NOT an AFF 1, and NOT doing his 1st skydive with 1 JM. He is going through a TAF progression, and has completed 2 very successful skydives (TAF) jumps before going through the ground school and doing his 1st AFF jump with a single Instructor. All guidelines of the USPA. Those AFF Instructors that choose NOT to go up as a single JM all have the choice. Some will, some won't. I have done this since USPA implemented the TAF program and have found it to be a VERY successful program. Ed 1300+ AFF jumps www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Quote My advice to you would be to go out and get some "real" ratings and play around with other disciplines within the sport. *** This would help out ALOT! Quote of you who are interested in getting BM instructional ratings ought to go ahead and at least get a coach rating, less you be disqualified from attending our course in the future. *** Maybe this requirement as a coach or the eqivalent should have been implimented in the start of the BMI rating? Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

I know. Let's ask Birdwoman? What does her Sports and Exercise Science degree tell us.... Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Quote Is it okay to do these arm workouts after a hard run? I believe you aren't supposed to do much weight training after a long run?*** Yes, cardio and stretching is always good before working out any muscules. Quote I'm starting my fitness routine up again today which means I'm gonna go run on a treadmill. I'll be worn out (because I am out of shape compared to how I was 3 months ago) but I would still like to do some of these arm workouts. I should be okay, right? *** Be sure to start your "new" workout routine very easy and build up from there. You dont want to do damage to any bodypart that hasn't been worked in awhile, so start with short runs and "light" wieghts. And make sure you getting the proper nutrition before any workout! Good luck, Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

I totaly agree. I have used the BOC for years now on students and find thats its much easier for them to find there then on the hip using a rip cord and a spring loaded pilot chute. The packers liked the change too! They didnt get the pilotchute in the face anymore when they lost a grip trying to get it compressed in the container! And training them again on BOC after they have learned on a ripcord was stupid. Train them on what they will use all the time is much better..... I was only joking about throwing the handle... That's the only downside to not using the ripcords, is that we'd make them by BEER if they didnt land with the ripcord, and we always had beer in the fridge. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Throw it as soon as you pull! That way the Instructors always have some beer that you bought for throwing your handle Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Relax Jeff, You'll find out about the whip cream at 100 jumpsHa Ha.... Make sure there's whip cream on the DZ then or ya may get the Mayo! Keep up the great jumps. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

I do, but I'm not too sure as to why you go about posting the question like this? *** I'm considering Level 1 as the students first AFF dive, with a maximum of only 1 tandem "fun jump" done prior (i.e not tandem progression). So, my next question is....what are the safety implications of this? Thanks for the info. Blue skies Ian This sounds to me as though you are a student? My question is, why act as if you are a student to get the answers? Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Quote If you aren't doing anything wrong and have nothing to hide, I couldn't be fishing for anything...right? *** I train my private students under USPA guide lines even though I instruct them at a non USPA group member dropzone. And your absolutely right. I have nothing to hide. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

he made your links clickable easier for us to follow by just clicking on the link as opposed to cuttting and pasting the url Cool. Thanks Gary www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Huh? www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Thanks JP.

I think he may be fishing.....? http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=722813#722813 from what was on this page. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=725782;guest=3076304#725782 I had the same question...... Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

The problem I've seen with the Tandem progress is legs out even with 1 tandem there is the legs out problem Quote One of the things I teach during the TAF progression is the same hand signals you'd give during a AFF jump. As the TAF Instructor you have to REALY pay attention to "overall" body position on the jump, as to whether you think they can proceed to the next level. As an Instructor that can give personal training to my students, I have the choice to let them proceed to the next level. But sometimes you cant always work with the same student through all his progression. Some DZ's have thier students go with the 1st available instructor they have. The problem I have found with this is, sometimes the instructor they get put with is a guy with 500 or so jumps and just recieved his Tandem Rating. I think at times this instructor has no business teaching a TAF and trying to evaluate if the student is capable of going on to the FJC and AFF with a single Instructor just for the reason you said, "Legs on thier butt", thus causing most of the skydive trying to get them from not back sliding. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

The general public doesn't know the things we know And as for the his writing abilities? Yes, he could use some help Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

The TAF progression requires 2 tandems befor e completeing the FJC and going onto a single Instructor AFF jump. The 1st TAF tandem requires the student being able to do 3 practice ripcord deployments after exiting, read the altimeter correctly and "unassisted" pull at the required altitude. The 2nd TAF tandem is 3 PRCD's, the same as the 1st, but with 180 degree turns and good body position, and a pull at the required altitude. The TAF2 also has all the canopy control done by the student on this jump. It's great 1 on 1 training. The judgement of the Tandem Instructor on whether he feels the student is capable of continueing on to the FJC and a single AFF Instruction jump is purely up to them. This program has been a great progression/tool for the student that wants 1 on 1 in air training before putting on a solo rig on his back and going up with 2 Instructors for his 1st freefall. I hope this answers any question you may have? If not feel free to contact me. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Not a bad article.... Usually they make us sound like "death seekers" in a very "un"calculated sport, but the writer didn't over write that "skydiving=curtain death".... Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Hi Jeff! Great to hear a story of a new jumper that truely enjoyed thier first training jumps! Thats exactly why I instruct.

*** I jump my wingsuits as a release from the drudgery of endless tandems and AFF jumps. Me too, but I wasn't getting enough wingsuit jumps in, so now I just do TM and AFF now and then to get more wingsuit jumps in.... And for a responce to FeFe about the tracking contest at Lodi*** Like one to one tracking, or something more sophisticated (based on GPS data)? In the Lodi tracking contest we fly all the participants on a jump run that is a little offset from the norm, have them all get out on the same past and fly 90 degrees off the line of flight, and judge who is the farthest when they open (about 2000ft). Surely this will have to be refined abit when we are judging distance in a wingsuit, but thats the way we have done it in the past. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Quote You probably don't remember me *** One of the almost 1100 AFF's?, probably not by name....... But I do remeber a face? Glad to hear your an AFF-I also. I'll look you up next time I'm in Elsinore Mark, or look me up next time your in Nor Cal. Ed Absolute Flight 530 304 3374 www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Good one! Here's what the pumpkins look like in some areas of SF..... Ha Ha Ha.... www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

QuoteOn average, how long does AFF take? Would it be worth it for me to drive 7 hours to Perris, find someone to stay with (hopefully) and take the AFF course? Or, should I just stay here and go the S/L route? *** Hi Jeff, Feel free to contact me if you'd like. I'm "Independent" USPA AFF/TM/PRO/BMI contractor in your area, and I'd be happy to discuss a program that would be best for you. Possibly at a DZ somewhere very close to you? Ed Absolute Flight Co. 530 304 3374 www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

One can never be too safe but one is never really safe as long as you are living in this world. One can spread his wings "safely" after he has cleared the aircraft that he has left from in order to possibly jump again...... Be safe. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Is something like taking a stabilizer to the back of the head "planned"? Be safe....r. Things may look cool for the video, but we sure wouldn't want to lose a fellow Flocker because he was being cool for a video. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Yah, do what Birdwoman said.... But don't drop the soup can on your toes! Good luck! www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com