hokierower

Don't think I'll be able to make a jump on Friday after work, too far of a drive and dealing with traffic. Hopefully the storms roll through quickly but the wind forecast has got me worried bout Saturday afternoon. Sunday is looking pretty good though!

You're not allowed to lead up to something like that and NOT show a gruesome picture! I was expecting torn flesh and bone and all I got was a broken toe. Not even broken. Just very bruised. Didn't even lose the toenail. Stick around ... you'll see plenty of gruesome in this sport (as well as lots of bumps and bruises and sprains and strains. One of my favorite things to do after a team training weekend is to play "count the bruises." ) Challenge accepted.

You're not allowed to lead up to something like that and NOT show a gruesome picture! I was expecting torn flesh and bone and all I got was a broken toe.

Kind of interesting how this discussion is kinda like the usual motorcycle gear debate where you have guys who wear full gear all the time v. guys who don't wear squate. I made a decision when I started riding to be a part of the first group and so far I've stuck with that. It sounds like you get the same situation in skydiving between shoes, suit, helmet, glasses, & gloves and it's up to each jumper (non-student) to decide which way they want to go.

Thank you for your insight.

Don't see the reasoning being barefoot jumping, nor do I see the point in barefoot running. That's just me though. John, the majority of the original VFFs (Classics, Sprints, KSO, Flows) all have what initially look like smooth surfaces, however when you bend them back you actually see that the bottom sole has little cuts in a zig-zag pattern which helps with grip. The newer shoes all have a additional sole pattern to give more grip/protection. If you got them wet, I would think that being able to swoop with a pair of VFFs would be pretty easy, but at the same time they are incredibly grippy. Just my $.02 after owning them for almost 2.5 years.

Thanks for the advice. I'll see what I can find. Maybe down the road I can look at upgrading to a tougher set of VFFs. They've got a couple of pairs that have some pretty beefy soles.

Didn't know what a goathead but looked one up and damn, those look ugly and be a pain to deal with. I've walked on oyster shells with my VFFs but your weight is a little more spread out vs. stepping on a pointed object. I guess I'm buying a pair of shoes til I get my A-license and have some experience

Haha, it isn't that I can't afford a pair, I just haven't needed a pair in the past year or so, therefore I was trying to see if there was anyone who has already jumped in them and can give me some feedback. Like I said, the only difference that I see between VFFs and tennis shoes is that the VFFs don't have a cushion in the sole. I'll look into buying a cheap pair of go-fasters though. My VFFs let my little piggies feel FREEEEEE!!!

Wow, go to sleep with 3 replies, wake up with a whole bunch! My other "problem" is that I don't have any tennis/running shoes to wear . I wear my VFFs to work out and construction boots for work. When I go out it's either the VFFs, sandals, or my boots. I can see the potential for stuff getting in between the toes or stubbing them, hell, it happens when I'm just walking around. I can see a possible problem from there not being a conventional sole with padding. But I don't see a problem as far as rolling or twisting an ankle because like a tennis shoe, there's no support in that area. I guess I'll see what happens and then make a decision from there.

I am not an instructor, but I do own a pair of those shoes. I think it's highly unsafe and irresponsible to have a newbie jump in those. picture for those who do not know WTF they are : http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-Sprint-Mens.htm Care to elaborate? I'm not trying to be a smartass, just wondering. For the record, I have a pair of sprints & a pair of KSOs (http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-KSO-Mens.htm)...I was wearing my KSOs.

Thanks, that's reassuring. I wore them on my Lvl 1 even though I didn't get to jump and my instructor looked at them and said "you're gonna jump in those?"

Does anyone wear a pair when you jump? I've got two pairs that I wear for most everything (except work) and want to wear them for jumping but just wanted to see if anyone else had done it previously.

The airfield is a private strip, however they pull the weather from 3 sources around them and there's a public airport (San Marcos Municipal) only a couple miles away who's METAR shows up on weather underground. Packing was something that I had considered. I'll ask next time I'm sitting there doing nothing. PLFs...yea, should probably make mine a little better. Creeper racing? Judging stupid stuff...do I have to judge or can I participate? I'll probably just wait for the first great weekend and try and knock 4-6 jumps out.

I've just started jumping, and by just started I mean I haven't even jumped yet, just finished the FJC course. I took the course last Saturday but high winds prevented me from jumping. I showed up yesterday to the DZ around 7:45 and sat for 6.5 hours but ended up with a no go because of cloud cover throughout the day and winds in the afternoon. Didn't go today because of cloud cover in the AM and 20+ mph winds in the PM. I live an hour away by road and probably 50mi as the crow flies but the weather is so different for being such a short distance. Yesterday when I was sitting at the DZ all day I didn't quite know what to do. I brought my laptop with me so I watched a few movies, I talked to some of the locals and instructors but I kinda felt out of place/awkward since I was there alone, not on the board for a tandem, but not really a student either because I haven't even done my Lvl 1 jump. I introduced myself, talked to my FJC instructor, read through the SIM, etc. but still felt antsy and bored. What do you guys do until the ball gets rolling? EDIT: My FJC instructor told me about when he was starting out and that he can't remember how many days he wasted at the DZ b/c of weather issues but said that you just keep showing up in the hope that the cards play out your way eventually

I love the fact that when you google Skydiving Beer Rules, my Alma Mater's skydiving club is the first thing to pop up. Oh, and GO HOKIES, F$*% DUKE!!

It was especially weird because yesterday it was high-70s, blue cloudless skies, and winds were MAYBE 5 kts. How it goes from perfect to crap overnight will always baffle me.

No jumping today . Cloud cover didn't look like it was going to break and the winds started picking up after lunch. Two weekends in a row where the weather has failed to cooperate.

Hello to all! Took the FJC at Skydive San Marcos last Saturday with my girlfriend who was in town, but unfortunately the winds kept us from jumping. I'm going back this Saturday and will kick off what I hope is a future source of adrenaline with the Category A & B jumps. I've been real busy reading the SIM and the boards here trying to get as much info as possible. Lots of respect for the SSM operation, my FJC instructors were great and I can't wait to jump for the first time!

GF and I decided to try skydiving out and we opted to try the AFF Level 1. Showed up in the morning and were helped out by the very friendly staff. Class came together and there was 1 main instructor and 2 helpers for 6 students. Our instructor was Aaron and Tara & John helped out, all of whom were extremely professional. They made sure you were completely confident before moving on. Wrapped up the class around 3ish and then manifested to jump. Unfortunately winds picked up and we weren't able to go, but I will definitely be going back.