Hello from Western Washington!

[schmoli 0]

Hello!

I did my first tandem a few weeks ago and was immediately hooked, I started AFF @ Jet City Skydiving on Whidbey Island this weekend, and I gotta say, I love the sport, I love the community I've met so far, and I love the DZ already! Weather was beautiful and it's a small DZ so I did my A B and C (1,2,3 I suppose they are called too) jumps this weekend and can't wait to continue on! I think I'm going to go get some wind tunnel time in too, just to get more comfortable with freefall. I'm loving my time under the canopy too, it's such a wonderful feeling.

Also had to do a PLF on my A jump as I flared a little early and fast, glad I practiced that as it was from pretty high up, but other than a little soreness in my hips I feel fantastic!

[jumpsalot-2 3]

That's a GREAT picture ...... keep it forever.

Life is short ... jump often.

[schmoli 0]

jumpsalot-2

That's a GREAT picture ...... keep it forever.

Ha thanks that was just a VLC snap from the video on my reserve side coach's helmet, so I also have the whole video to learn from. I think I'm going to try to get tunnel time soon as I want to improve my leg awareness and I'm dipping my head when I pull and losing a little stability, but with only ~4 minutes of freefall experience so far I understand it'll get better.

Is it bad I can't think of much else than when I can get to the DZ next?

[wan2doit 6]

10-15 minutes in the tunnel and u may be quite comfortable bellyflying. The light bulb went on for me around 10 but I am a whuffo.

[jumpsalot-2 3]

I think we decided you are NOT a whuffo anymore ..... considering the circumstances.

Life is short ... jump often.

[wan2doit 6]

Acceptance by others here that I am not a whuffo anymore is really appreciated but I never felt bad being one since I haven't exited an airplane yet which I'm thinking is what one must do to shake the tag - Since I haven't really jumped I just mention it in case some hardass (and there are a few here) that knows I haven't sees me giving tunnel advise don't jump my ass. LOL One day I may do a tandem but to be a skydiver with a rotten memory like I have, might be disastrous - I cannot imagine me remembering all the steps involved in packing a canopy into the container - I gotta feeling I wouldn't last 6 tries. :)

Thanks jumpsalot-2 for the nice comment.

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[schmoli 0]

skymama

Welcome to the forums!

I don't know about this month, but I'm definitely going to be jumping every weekend I can, and in two weeks they will open up Mon-Tue and Friday and I'll get some after-work jumps in as it's only 30 minutes away. They were just a single 182 but just got a 206 for the summer so they have extra capacity. Jumps have been slow going because of the tandems and my need for two instructors, but now that I'm going single instructor for the next 4 jumps that should speed up. I hope to get 4 in this weekend! Thanks for the welcome everyone!

[Amazon 7]

skymama

Welcome to the forums!

It is the new iteration of the DZ that was at Mt Vernon WA right next to I-5 and then on a small grass strip just west of My Vernon. Rick "Maggot" Mangin runs it.... he used to be at Blue Skies in Bremerton that closed a couple years after Kapowsin moved west to Shelton WA.

I was out there this weekend seeing some old friends and see who was hanging out there. It is a very scenic DZ just south of Oak Harbor WA on Whidbey Island.

[schmoli 0]

Is it normal when learning to go over landing patterns before I sleep? I haven't jumped since sunday but every night I'm picturing my DZ and how I can get closer to that darn X in the field.

Is it Saturday yet?!?!?!

[mamallo 0]

Welcome Schmoli! I'm a regular out at Jet City, so once you're cleared for solo jumps let me know and we'll play around in the sky. See ya this weekend!

https://www.instagram.com/nikkomamallo/

[agaace 0]

Hi Schmoli! Another Seattle area jumper here :) Great to meet you!
Ohhh I know that feeling when you start jumping and cannot think of anything else, the closest I can describe it it's like being in love and drunk and high at the same time, right? ;) Enjoy that feeling! I will be happy to jump with you once you are licensed!

[schmoli 0]

Awesome, thanks everyone! Yeah I'm super excited to get some more jumps in this weekend, freefall turns are next! Also I'm committed to standing up a landing this weekend, so far the closest I've had is taking a single knee.

[Amazon 7]

schmoli

Awesome, thanks everyone! Yeah I'm super excited to get some more jumps in this weekend, freefall turns are next! Also I'm committed to standing up a landing this weekend, so far the closest I've had is taking a single knee.

By the way I was out there last Saturday afternoon.. had to come touch bases with Rick and I had my friend Raquel in tow as well. We are planning a return drive....the weekend after this one.

Once you get off student status... travel to some of the other local DZ's by all means...
Kapowsin
Chelan
Toledo
All of them have great people to jump with and learn from and give some thought to heading over to Montana for the Lost Prairie Boogie the first week of AUG

[schmoli 0]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone on the forum that has helped me and a special thank you to Jet City Skydiving and my great instructors! On Monday (which was also my birthday), I was blessed with the ability of earning my A-license and immediately being able to be a part of a 6-way formation for jump #26 (well, it was definitely a 5-way that sort of fell apart as I opened up for #6, but super fun regardless!).

[mamallo 0]

Congrats on getting your A! Let's jump next time I'm up that way and we have good weather. :D

https://www.instagram.com/nikkomamallo/