ManagingPrime

They were advised that I would be working on sitfly...gave a 5 second count. Did not track until about 5K...there was a good bit of vertical (maybe 300) and horizontal (maybe 200) seperation....which may be laughable to some...but as a low number jumper it was close for me...or maybe I'm just becoming more aware of the other jumpers on the load. In any case, it got me to pull real quick. lol

Good advice. I'm tracking away from jump run, but I did chill out on the track after I came closer than I would like to a two way that got out before me. Recent video has me spooked about mid-air collisions.

+1 to the pit idea. I followed directions off the internet and it turned out awesome. Takes a long time to cook, but it's worth it.

5 jumps. Rain on sat...winds on sun.

Good thread. While I would like to think I'm smarter than the people in the "Small Format Camera "Incident" list " thread.... It is probably a good idea to heed the advise of the more experienced...even though they are just jealous of my mad skillz. Question: If the primary issue with the small camera is distraction, what changes after 200 jumps? Is someone that could be described as a "flake" less of a flake after 200 jumps? Experienced jumpers, what are you really looking for in a jumper by 200 jumps before jumping a camera is a good idea?

LMAO.

Nope! Off hand I can't count how many times I've moved and I always ditch almost everything. The only item I regret ditching (and it was by accident) was my pilot log book. Moved just last week. Put up a craigslist ad...everything with the exception of a suitcase, a garment bag and my most beloved rowenta steam iron was gone within 24 hours. I had great fun watching people pick around the dumpsters for the "great finds" that I left out there....CLUCK it all. You come into this world with nothing but your body and intangibles and you leave with nothing but the memory that others hold of you....why slow yourself down with stuff?

....well, when you put it that way....

Neither turned on or amazed...remind me never to take any drugs from paris hilton.

I'm just going to plead the 5th. This one is proving to be interesting: Hey Can I ask you a question? 1:16 PMErica sure only if i can ask one too lol 1:22 PMPatrick NM 1:22 PMErica oh come on..lol you cant do that what was it/ 1:23 PMPatrick A serious HR violation if you do not get my sense of humor like some others lol 1:23 PMErica lol oh well im sure it wasnt that bad 1:23 PMPatrick http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=3150636 1:26 PMErica funny

Patrick: Hey Can I ask you a question? 1:18 PMMichael: I think you just did 1:19 PMPatrick:When are you gonna let me tap that? 1:19 PMMichael: which are we talking about? 1:20 PMPatrick: I'm busy i need an answer 1:20 PMMichael: tap it today. YIKES!!

ME: Hey Can I ask you a question? 1:04 PM HER: yep 1:04 PM ME: When are you gonna let me tap that? 1:05 PM HER: now rite now ME: Ummmmm.

Did my first tandem with a friend on his 30th...Been doing it myself since then (because he's broke )...while I would like to punk my friend in freefall (soon enough) I've been content jumping by myself. If you have any social skills at all you should have no problem finding people to jump with as it's a pretty popular thing to do around DZ's and if you are a female...fooogetaboutit! Just do it! I just got off a rant on another thread about how I don't really care for group jumps, but if it's an barrier for you...shoot, I'll jump with you when you have your A.

Very cool. I can see some of myself in your description of your progression. I agree about the strangeness of the sport (socially)....I don't know what I expected, but it's still something I'm adjusting to. At the end of the day I'm jumping because It's the best 60 seconds money can buy...with a few arguable exceptions. I just don't like the feeling of being pushed into a certain direction that as you mentioned is "high pressure". It causes a knee jerk reaction to head in the other direction and reinforces the fact that I just kind of want to chill and do my own thing... and if that's alone so be it. I guess that's my kind of "loner". LOL

Now that I'm getting more comfortable on my back...back tracking does sound kind of cool...I now incorporate belly tacking in all my jumps...It's a lot of fun! Pulling high sounds very interesting, but aside from trying to not land way off...what is to be learned? With some decent uppers it sounds like you would need a pretty long spot. I'll look more into this one. Thanks! Think I'm going to make a new sig line: Just tryin to be less sucky

Why then you need to be an instructor or an organizer Wendy P. So we are talking a coup d'état are we? Now you are speaking my language. How would one skip ahead to organizer/instructor at 39 jumps? I assume some basic document forgery is required.

I would not say that I'm anti-social. When asked if I want to jump with someone I'm down and if anyone wants to hang out by the campfire and drink beers or whatever I'm down.... I'm just not that interested in group activities that will dictate how my time is spent in the sky and on the ground...unless of course as GB put it....I'm the dictator.

Funny, I plan working in the direction of both. So is the consensus if you don't enjoy X-ways you are not going to develop your skills and get burnt out on the sport? I'm not rulling out x-ways completely...as I understand it a number of them are required for license progression. I'm still new....I'll figure it out. At least no one is telling me that I'm screwing myself at this point in the game.

I'm sure I could help you load on some new debt. Why skydive? Well, I've flown in my dreams since I can remember...since I started flying airplanes, the air/airport is the only place I feel at home...and it's still a lot cheaper than therapy. I would not say that I am bored per se...I'm having a great time working on exits, tracking and sit fly. I'm bored with solo belly and I just don't have any interest in trying to get in on any X-ways....Continuing to work on belly and getting on X-ways appears to me to be the standard progression. I don't want to retard my progress (building bad habbits by myself) as I've got a lot of work to do to get to a point where I would be happy with my "skillz", but the standard progression (as I understand it) holds little appeal. With the mix of personalities I've come across and the number and depth of the various disciplines I would assume that others have/had similar sentiments regarding early progression.

Obviously, the kind of loner that can't spell. ...Mortgage actually.

I guess I need to get more coach jumps in to ascertain where I am at as far as belly goes. I'm pretty confident that I have the basic skills to be safe around a group. My recent dive flows are something like; Exit (working on getting head out cleaner...the recent mix of planes made that a little hit or miss). Go onto my back and watch the load for a few seconds. Start working on sit fly...back onto belly between 7K and 6K. Turn 180 and track until 3.8K - 3.5K. Accuracy is of interest. So is flying camera... at a later date (and I understand this is going to require a strong mix of belly and free fly skills). Any suggestions on how to hone skills without trying to jump with groups or constantly paying for coach/camera jumps...I do plan on putting a good deal of tunnel time in this winter.

No one has flat out said it yet, but I feel it's been implicit a couple of times...as a new jumper I should think about what discipline I want to pursue. Group belly dives hold no interest. Freefly dives with more than another jumper don't really interest me....flocking does hold some interest, but that is a ways off. I'm told to keep working on my belly skills, but I'm kind of bored with belly down and I don't much see the point if I'm not going to get into RW. Before I got into the sport Freestyle seemed really cool, but I guess that's a dying discipline. I guess I've always been a bit of a loaner. Any advice in regards to direction?

...Please share. Edit to read: + 1 to BillyVance comment above.

How many does your book hold? I think mine holds 500... it'll be a while. Student book....with the page that was added to the book....39.

4:3 First CASA jump First Otter Jump First Sitfly First logbook filled Think I may have a new addiction to Boogies...and CASA's.