KevinP

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Everything posted by KevinP

  1. ROFL That is AWESOME! I just had an epiphany. I voluntarily (even paid) stepped off of an airplane at 13,000 feet, was in "freefall" until about 5,000 feet, and then, with guidance, piloted the canopy to a clear area and executed a safe landing (my first PLF since 1988 LOL). IT WAS SOOO FREAKING COOL!!!! Yes, I still get dizzy when I move my head to the side too quickly. Yes, I'm totally exhausted from a constant 36-hour adrenalin rush, but IT WAS SO COOL!!! I LOVED IT. Yes, even that not-so-well executed jump!! Yeah, I am doing it again. How can I NOT??? I can't make the "is this sport for me" assessment on THAT. Right?? Sincerely, Kevin
  2. I sincerely appreciate all the encouragement. I would have gone back up today, but I'm STILL kinda dizzy. As I replay it in my head, I'm pretty sure it was practically all my fault. I mean, Sammy in the first-jump course, Jay (main-side) and Tom all told me to focus on the wing, I didn't. A few weeks ago, I would still be kicking myself and calling myself an idiot, but I have started to change that. It was a skydive. As ugly as it was, it was a skydive. I KNOW, infallibly, what I did wrong and how to fix it next time, at which point, I will have beer. :) I don't drink it, but I'll buy it for those deserving. You could see how eager Tom was to get back in, but an unconscious Tom is very little good to anyone. Give me a couple of weeks to forget this vertigo and I'll be back. Out..... In...... ARCH Sincerely, Kevin
  3. First, get a 200-lb guy who ate Frosted Stupid for breakfast. Then, have that guy do a head-first straight-down dive out of the door, THEN (oh yeah, the hits keep on coming), have him just fall like a pancake. Gotta hand it to Jay. He held on as long as he could. When I felt him let go, THEN it hit me that I should probably be arching at some point. LOL However, it was awesome. I would have stayed and re-done it today, but, now, about four hours after hitting the ground, I still feel like my brain is more jello than normal! Link to VID:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwK8zwf3Leg Sincerely, Kevin
  4. Eh. Weather went to crap and they shut down the DZ. I finished my class at about 2, figured there was no point in staying at the bunk house for that long, so I drove back. But I'll be there jumping tomorrow, weather permitting. Sincerely, Kevin
  5. Really? I love internet anonymity. Stress is stress, whether in sector or in the sky. And I am just that much of a badass, thank you. EDIT: And if you have never heard of the term "Iraqistan," go ask a Private. He'll be able to fill you in. Sincerely, Kevin
  6. Anyone going to be there? I'm starting ASP tomorrow. Thought I might shake some hands. Sincerely, Kevin
  7. Okay, I gotta ask, how did you wind up with 2 1/2 pair?? LOL At what point do you start buying beer? I mean, I'll be on student status the rest of the time I'm here in Arizona. Should I take some up for Sam tomorrow?? HMM? Oh, and what kind? I drink a beer once ever couple of weeks or so and I prefer Guinness, but I'm not buying it in bulk to encourage a relationship. As for girlfriends, I have been happily married for 23 years, so that is the LAST thing anyone has to worry about. Sincerely, Kevin
  8. I don't know why I haven't realized that before now. Well, besides a staggering degree of inexperience on the matter. LOL Good point. I guess the advice to "relax" transcends even into buying gear. Thanks! Kinda like having a consistent mechanic, I suppose. A good working relationship with one to do those jobs I can't is invaluable. I see your point and appreciate your input. Sincerely, Kevin
  9. Good advice. I have to admit. Yet another mental thing to shake, I suppose. I have never really been a "buy used" kinda guy. If what I wanted was available new, I bought it new. Point in case was my first motorcycle. Everyone was telling me to buy used because "you will drop it." Well, I never did and put right at 6K miles on it, some hard at that. I suppose I look at skydiving gear in a similar way to how I look at any used thing. Some people use, some people abuse. I have purchased several used (because they are no longer produced) Toyota MR2s. I have one that was in awesome shape. Bought it ten years ago and it has been awesome because it was well maintained. On the other hand, I bought one that quickly became a money pit because the kid I bought it from abused the car. If a car breaks, I have to get a ride home. If skydiving gear breaks, I'm waiting for Jesus to explain how I got to meet him in person earlier than expected. I guess that's where a good working relationship with a rigger comes in, huh? Well, it flies in the face of everything I am about, but I'll formally, and immediately, put down the idea of buying anything new and untried until one year after the issuance of my A License. I think that sounds fair. Finding used rigs with 230 sq ft canopies will be interesting. Sincerely, Kevin
  10. Perhaps that is just all you have noticed. I have spent a couple of days up at Eloy and have seen representation from all manner of looks, both male and female. Now, I have been married for almost 24 years, so I don't really "notice" like I used to, but yes, there were some very cute girls there, but there were also some not-so cute. And guys, there were some magazine cover dudes and some, well, otherwise. I liken it to being in the military. Those in military service represent a VERY small percentage of the US population. When I meet someone who does serve or has served, we immediately hit it off because of that commonality. I imagine the percentage of skydivers to be much smaller, hence an even tighter group of people. Just my .02. Sincerely, Kevin
  11. I am a complete, total noob. I have ONE skydive. But, in the way of relaxation and letting things just flow, I am a bit more experienced. When doing patrols in Iraqistan, if I am tense, my section picks up on it and we don't execute as smoothly. If I am relaxed, then they are relaxed and, when the crap hits the fan, we execute as smooth as butter and react more quickly and efficiently. In both cases (skydiving and patrolling Badtown), people may die, but in both cases, calm and relaxed in the brunt of a crapstorm makes things more livable. :) Hope that helps. If not, just ignore me. :) Sincerely, Kevin
  12. Thanks. I get the feeling there is more to this gear thing than I realize. It would be about a month before I started getting serious, but your advice is appreciated. This is one of those things that I feel I don't know enough to know what I don't know. I jumped 18 times back in the very late 80's with the Army. 800' static-line with a T10B. We surely didn't PICK our gear. It was issued. Maybe that's the mindset I need to shake. I suppose there may be more worth to it being MY gear than I give credit. Honestly, I have just approached it from the view of who cares about all these intricacies as long as it is relatively comfortable and keeps me from burning in. I have some mental work to do yet. But, I really, really like what I have read about the Pulse. :) Again, I sincerely appreciate your time and input. Sincerely, Kevin
  13. Hi all, I imagine you all get tired of reading gear questions. I'm a noob and I get tired of reading some of them, but I have a bit of a different angle that may warrant at least a cursory view. I weight ~200 in, say, work-out sweats. That being said, I am fairly certain that, when I look into getting a rig, it'll be a Wings container and will have a PD Optimum 235 reserve and a 230 sq ft main (most likely a Pulse, but time will tell). Right now, Wings is offering a killer discount for military for the foreseeable future. Is there anything I am not thinking about when I consider buying the container soon, then the reserve in a couple of months, then the main after I get my license and demo jump a couple of canopies? Thanks for your time. Sincerely, Kevin
  14. Ya don't have to tell me twice..... Sincerely, Kevin
  15. Leather? Only if it's fashioned into a two-piece Alpine Stars riding suit. Otherwise I can do without. :) Sincerely, Kevin
  16. Great. There's a dude here whose user name is shorted to Remi on a regular basis. Well, unless he makes exceptional cognac, it ain't him. :) Sincerely, Kevin
  17. Just wanted to share that I had a nice dinner with some friends (descent steak at Outback), came home and had an Acid Kuba cigar with some Remy Martin SVOP. I am VERY relaxed now. Just in time for bed. Edit: OOPS, VSOP.... hehe Sincerely, Kevin
  18. KevinP

    Pulse

    On the PD website, when you use the "design your own canopy" tool, it only allows for top skin color changes, so I suspect the bottom skin and inner ribs will both be white. Sincerely, Kevin
  19. Hi all, I'm about to burst! It's Thursday, but it's my Friday (4-day weekend). I start the ASP at Eloy on Sunday. I am ALREADY getting stoked up about it. Class, then 10 minutes of tunnel, then, weather permitting, my first non-military, non-static line jump under my own canopy. Oh man it's going to be AWESOME!!!!!!!! I need carbs...
  20. ROCK AND ROLL! I'm looking forward to that relaxation part, myself. Congratulations! Sincerely, Kevin
  21. Indeed. I suppose falling through the air is relatively harmless as long as you don't hit other things falling/flying through the air. Sincerely, Kevin
  22. Nah. I figure I'd better wait until I get through with the obligatory 7 jumps before I start swooping. I have a Katana 107 on order. I'm loading it at an even 2.0. It'll have to do until I get my Velocity 75. That'll really push my skills at 2.8 WL. I figure once I get ten or so jumps on the Velocity, then I'll start flying a camera. No need to rush things. I've been taking notes. My first canopy, that I'll buy in probably late summer, will likely be a 230. A nice big bus, so that I can actually learn how to LIVE through a skydive. LOL Sincerely, Kevin
  23. Haha. You know, I keep getting that advice. Here, from my classmates, facebook friends. It's good advice, don't get me wrong. I just hope it's not as popular a mistake as all the warnings would indicate. Sincerely, Kevin
  24. So, slight change. I'm starting the ASP on Sunday at Eloy instead of Friday at Maricopa. I did all my "research" and pricing with Maricopa last Saturday. Last night, I noticed that prices had changed, putting those first seven jumps only $95 cheaper than Eloy. So, I'm paying the extra $94 and going there instead. It's an hour closer to me AND there is that coveted 10 minutes of tunnel time. I look at it as that costing me $9/minute, which is pretty cheap. I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed to see the prices go up in the week before I was going to finalize, but Eloy will work out, I'm sure. I'll put up reports as I complete stuff! CLEAR SKIES!! Sincerely, Kevin