JerseyShawn

Today I finished my side job of building the set for a puppet pilot show! It has consumed my weekends since January. Wooofuckinghooo! They love the set, got my last paycheck, and tomorrow I celebrate with some jumps! Sucks I've only had enough time to stay current, now I can jump my ugly redheaded with matching colored pubic hairs mug off! .....all smiles

Everyone can bitch back and forth about the whole canopy incidents thing that is going on. Not much will change. I've been reading these forums for about a year before I made my first AFF, then joined up. Reading back 10 years or so, the same canopy problems and threads still arise to this day. Some will take warning, others are already set in their downsizing crazed ways. Nothing will stop them (obviously). Us youngins (low jump numbers, not age) are the future of this sport that you old timers perfected as well as you could (making it safer). Maybe beating it into students heads early, not only how to learn, but WHEN to learn new skills will change things over time. Not only on DZ.com but verbalize it at the DZ. Like teaching a pup good habits early to curb bad behavior later on. Be proactive as possible. Tell students (we all will always be students until we can't learn anymore) to have someone watch every pattern and landing, critique them. If they're doing well consistently, add a new skill to their skill set. Teach them to encourage other students to take a safe path on how to obtain new skill properly. Let them know its respected to be safe and you'll get farther going slow. And what they crave to learn will be waiting for them at the right time. We have an upcoming canopy course I've been itching to take. Hopefully Ill meet a few sub-50 jump jumpers. Im going to try to organize an on going accuracy contest we all can get in on repeatedly/frequently. Last out, pull at slightly higher altitudes than the previous jumper and perfect set up of patterns and landing in different conditions (Ill ask the best way to set that up so two people are fixated on the target the same time). For me, learning to fly right is important, but my main focus for the beginning of my career is learning my canopy. My canopy will be my bitch, not the other way around. Any other ideas that I can ask about at the DZ that would help youngins be better/safer properly are welcomed. Before my first jump I thought I wad crazy for being interested in jumping (reading the canopy threads previously). After my first jump I knew this is where I want to be. Still reading the canopy incident threads, I still think Im crazy for pursuing this. I fell in love, Im here, and Im going to try to make it as safe as possible to enjoy hopefully 20-30 years from now. Call me a stupid no nothing youngin, but Im going to strive to make things better for my future and others in this sport. Slow your roll peeps and "Change the future culture" that I am. Be safe, teach safe.

Practice locating your cutaway handle with your eyes closed, on the ground. Glad you're ok.

With 175 jumps and 174 posts, I cant believe you wasted your 2nd to last usable post on this.

I look foward to seeing the movie. "Flying in the Mist", awesome title! Sorry to read about your injury. Im glad you posted it for others to learn from (and for you to learn from too). An inspiration you are! Heal up and get up there! Blue skies are a waiting!

Like this? Let's turn this into a picture(s) thread!

That's livin'

I think it could prove to be beneficial if you posted it. Thanks for your time and sharing it.

Wrap. (sic), too lazy to edit my horrid sentence. Wrap, canopy?, I would imagine. How did you get out of that?

How would a DZ benifit from lying about their jump numbers?

What jump scared you the most out of you? Lesson(s) learned from it? I don't have one yet to share, so lets hear yours.

You have to visit SF September through October to steer clear of the cool foggy months (the rest of the year). Those months are our warm and generally not foggy season.

A friend was holding two drinks once talking to some girl. He got pantsed from behind, boxers and all. Stood there looking stupid with his junk hanging out

http://vimeo.com/15069551 The fog around San Francisco. I think its pretty, sorry if I wasted your time.

Hanging on the edge of the aircraft door knowing in about 2 seconds I get to "feel" life in its purity. I hope that never goes away.

QuoteDo you find that this awareness and focus spills over into non-skydiving activities?Quote I think it may be the other way around to a degree, for me. Your skill level of thinking logically and quick in stressful situations on the ground will prove you to be better in the sky. This is one reason why I feel in love with jumping. For example, on the ground, I do a lot of skateboarding and mountain biking. I bomb hills on both, jump down stairs and ledges. I have a split second decision whether or not to bail at the last second of landing something cleanly (hopefully) or to know Im going to mess up and get hurt (the point where I bail out and roll out of my fall). I have to be constantly thinking ahead and thinking in the moment at the same time. I adapt that to skydiving.

You need to wave off too. You could of hurt someone else. Hope you heal fast.

Driving while pissed off is just as dangerous as some idiot going slow in the fast lane. You get into revenge mode instead of focusing on drive safely. I hear you though, people that don't know how to work a 4-way stop (waiting their turn), people that buy cars without blinkers, texting/on their phones, driving the wrong speed in their lane, people that don't get up to traffic speed entering a freeway, all used to annoy the shit out of me. I've been in a bunch of arguments and one fight driving, in the end nothing changes, the stupid will continue to breed other stupid people, and that's just life. We have to live amongst them, being pissed is wasting your life. Instead of listening to some punk rock or metal while I drive (in traffic times), I put on the jazz station and just chill. That helps me not to be annoyed. This and that that pisses you and I off doesn't/wont matter in a hundred years, we'll all be dead, and no one will remember. Be glad you you're not stupid and that these people aren't flying canopies in traffic with you. Don't let stupidity make you sweat.

If you buy out of state and have it shipped to you, you can save about $100 on tax.

Personal experience, if the alti ever says "5000 feet" 3 times in a row, PULL! During AFF I bought my own alti. Jump 3or 4, I forget the altitude I had a problem at (close to pull time), looked at my altimeter after COA and it was the same as the last look, locked on it, stayed the same, just shaking in the same spot. I pulled. I didn't know where I was altitude-wise. Instructor asked why I pulled early. I passed with a "good call" comment. Had it pressure tested and works fine ever since. Thanks for the heads up Mitchell

Lots of time to enjoy the jump when you don't have to perform for someone. I kept looking at my alti on my first solo and was like "really?, Im falling forever and its not time to pull?" Thought the alti was broke but the ground wasn't coming up fast, so I was chill and enjoyed it. Best jump so far. Congratulations on overcoming AFF. Be safe.

Sgt.Sausauge, props for making it so you can "chop" the next crappy looking canopy! I understand there's a lot to remember about your jumps, can be overwhelming. You have choices to make, your own choices that only you can make, life saving choices. Whether you're up high making choices, you first make a choice on the ground. If somehing doesn't make total sense to you on the ground (gear check, dive flow, canopy check, landing pattern), when your instructor asks are you ready to jump, you can say NO if you don't feel like you fully understand the knowledge taught to you. Again, I understand there's a lot to retain and you did your best what you thought was right. But I think a "no, not ready to jump, let's go over this again" would of been a good call to understand your canopy control check and EPs (emergency procedures) a bit better. I've said no once because I couldn't get the dive flow down in my head, went over and over it until we both felt I was ready. My instructors made me go over the whole jump (dive flow), canopy control check and EPs before they felt I was good to go every jump. They made me repeat it all the way up until the door opened, then asked if I was ready to jump again (you can still say no at that point too). Good luck with your training! It gets fun!

I waited til I was done with AFF to present beer to the DZ. I bought enough for everyone (instructors and locals) to enjoy a couple bottles. I threw some sodas and iced teas in there for those who don't drink. Mixed it up with different imported beers. Have some class too, bring it in a cooler with ice. Its up to you and your personal budget ultimately. Have a blast with your AFF!

No shoe size requirement Shah? That leaves your door wide open Good for you.

We have two places to rent gear from, the DZ and the riggers shop next store. I've asked about day rentals or package rentals, both no. Maybe Ill meet someone similar in size that will let me rent an extra rig they might have.