Rusty buckets

[mr_music11 0]

1st.. I am a newbie.. so thanks for being gentle!! Just curious... its been about 3 1/2 months since jumping (had to ground my self for a min to determine some medical stuff!) Will be jumping this coming friday and Im a little nervous. I would think this to be normal.. however its causing me to be a bit anxious about getting back into the air. I've been trying to visualize "the jump" a lot. Ive been going over mentally and physically my EP's to be prepared for that which I've been trained...and know that I can do it (after all.. kinda like riding a bike huh? with a little more risk minimize risk.. maximize fun!! ) What do you do to prepare to jump after a time off? If I'm standing next to you getting ready for a load..what would you say to me? Just curious.. lookin' forward to the blue skies again in 3days!!! blues to you too!!

If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

[BIGUN 1,307]

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If I'm standing next to you getting ready for a load..what would you say to me?

Shut up and go jump.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[davelepka 4]

Do you need to do a recurrency jump? If so, I wouldn't worry about the jump at all for now. Just show up to the DZ, and let your instructor take over. They'll do a review of the important stuff, then help you plan a fun, safe skydive. That's what a recurrency jump is for.

If you don't need a recurrency jump, just take it easy at first. Plan a conservative solo, and dump high-ish, like a student. Study the winds and landing pattern, and maybe write up a flight plan for your canopy ride. If you can, get in a hanging harness and go through your EPs a couple times.

The biggest mistake I see people making after a layoff is grouping up with their buddies, and doing some RW. You shouldn't have to worry about dirt dives, points, and canopy traffic on opening if you haven't been in the air for awhile. The sky is always the same, but you are not as sharp as you were before the layoff.

[mr_music11 0]

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If I'm standing next to you getting ready for a load..what would you say to me?

Shut up and go jump.

ha ha ha ha ha... thanks for the laugh!! whats funny is that you are echoing the voice in my head too!!!

blues

If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

[wildcard451 0]

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If I'm standing next to you getting ready for a load..what would you say to me?

Shut up and go jump.

ha ha ha ha ha... thanks for the laugh!! whats funny is that you are echoing the voice in my head too!!!

blues

He wasn't joking.

[JohnDeere 0]

Depends on how many jumps you have. Before you get there think of thinks you arent sure about, or things you dont remember as well. Let the instructor (if needed for a recurecy jump) go throught want he want to tell you, and if those things you forgot or dont know for sure didnt come up then ask them at that time. If you dont have to go with an instructor the first time i say do a h&p. It give you time in the air by yourself to go throught everything. Glad your gettin current

Nothing opens like a Deere!

You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers!

[skybytch 273]

It's quite possible that I will be standing next to you getting ready for a jump on Friday. I could even be your instructor for your recurrency jump. What would I tell you?

Well, after going over emergency procedures and the dive flow I'd tell you the following - Relax. Breathe. Smile. And let's go have some fun.

[DSE 5]

SIM Section 5-2 USPA A-license holders who have not made a freefall skydive within 60 days should make at least one jump under the supervision of a currently rated USPA instructional rating holder until demonstrating altitude awareness, freefall control on all axes, tracking, and canopy skills sufficient for safely jumping in groups.


Sounds like Bytch has it well in hand (as usual).

[mr_music11 0]

If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

[LloydDobbler 2]

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SIM Section 5-2 USPA A-license holders who have not made a freefall skydive within 60 days should make at least one jump under the supervision of a currently rated USPA instructional rating holder until demonstrating altitude awareness, freefall control on all axes, tracking, and canopy skills sufficient for safely jumping in groups.


Sounds like Bytch has it well in hand (as usual).

And just to point out a particular that I didn't know until recently, note that it says "the supervision of a currently rated USPA instructional rating holder" - *not* an 'Instructor', in the way we think of the word.

So if you have a license, you can technically do a recurrency jump with a USPA Coach, which should be a lot less expensive than paying an AFF-I (and if you've got a friend who's got their Coach rating, they'll likely be cool with going up with you).

Heck, if I was at your DZ, I wouldn't even charge you for my slot (but I don't think most people operate on my 'pay-it-forward' system).

Of course, all this depends on whether or not it's against DZ and/or S&TA policy.

But I find that a Coach's time is easier to come by than an AFFI's - and if being able to jump with a Coach makes it easier/more cost-effective to do a recurrency jump (rather than just blowing it off, as so many do), I'm all for it.

Signatures are the new black.

[Glitch 0]

Lets not try and get technical about it. Especially when concerning up and coming skydivers, an actual instructor is intended IMHO. Do you think that just maybe (work with me here), there is a reason for this? I don't intend to take anything away from coaches, but they are NOT equals to instructors.

Randomly f'n thingies up since before I was born...

[LloydDobbler 2]

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Lets not try and get technical about it. Especially when concerning up and coming skydivers, an actual instructor is intended IMHO. Do you think that just maybe (work with me here), there is a reason for this? I don't intend to take anything away from coaches, but they are NOT equals to instructors.

Mike, I know you've got a LOT more time in the sport than I do, and I respect your experience. All I'm going on here is my own personal experience, and my knowledge of what's written. So we may have to agree to disagree about 'getting technical' - the way I see it, the SIM exists to lay out the technical rules for situations like this one in black-and-white.

Here's where I'm coming from: As far as things go, here's what I've seen typically happening:

1) Person with A-B-C license gets uncurrent.
2) Person with A-B-C license decides they want to get back to jumping.
3) Person with A-B-C license thinks about paying $100+ for an instructor jump, and decides 'nah, I'll just go up on my own.'
4) Person with A-B-C license forges a logbook entry, has it signed, then goes up and makes a 3-way sitfly jump with the same friend who signed it. They're now current.

I'm unaware of any recent incidents involving someone in the above situation. However, I'd rather that jumper know what their options are, instead of them assuming that they're going to have to pay a good bit of cash (and spend a day waiting around like a student) to go make a jump with an instructor.

And as far as what's "intended" versus what's not, I'm certain that when writing the SIM, a good bit of care went into writing out Section 5-2 so as not to be vague. And the phrase "under the supervision of a currently rated USPA instructional rating holder" is anything but vague.

Of course, it all depends on how long the jumper's been out (& DZ policy) as to what level of recurrency training they need...and I'd definitely advise any uncurrent jumper to consult an Instructor on that. In an ideal world, they'd all sit through another FJC as a refresher, then make a jump with an AFF-I. But I've seen enough to know that skydivers often cut that corner.

So as long as they have a license and feel comfortable with it, I don't have any problem offering up the rules as written and letting them make their own call.

I'd rather them make a recurrency jump with some supervision (& in-line with the rules, which helps protect the DZ and its instructional rating holders against liability) rather than blowing it off altogether (as many do).

---

**As an aside, I've been one of the harshest critics of the Coach rating and its 100-jump requirement. I'd like to see that doubled, at least.

But I also know that there are enough variables in play that you can't paint all Coaches with one brush, just like you can't judge all AFF-I's by their title.

But that's neither here nor there. When it comes to the rules, it IS technical - we should follow what's written. And if anyone has an issue with requirements specified in the SIM (for anything), they should by all means take it up with a Board member.

**edited for my crappy grammar.

Signatures are the new black.

[grannyinthesky 0]

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Lets not try and get technical about it. Especially when concerning up and coming skydivers, an actual instructor is intended IMHO. Do you think that just maybe (work with me here), there is a reason for this? I don't intend to take anything away from coaches, but they are NOT equals to instructors.

One of the things a coach is qualified to do is recurrency jumps.

"safety first... and What the hell.....
safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy

POPS #10490

[skybytch 273]

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One of the things a coach is qualified to do is recurrency jumps.

A coach can do recurrency jumps with licensed skydivers. Recurrency jumps with non-licensed skydivers must be done with an instructor.

[erdnarob 1]

The way you feel is just normal after several months of no jumping. The fact you are a beginner doesn't change the situation. After the Canadian winter (4-6 months) I feel the same way at the first jump in the Spring. OTOH if you are nervous, that means you are not a fool and you should consider that nervousness as an exercice your mind is doing to prepare you. The best way to get some relief from that feeling is to attend the Safety Awareness Day your DZ is probably organizing. If not, ask an instructor to assist you to physically and mentaly review your next jump and emergency procedure preferably in a suspended harness including an actual fall on a mattress.

Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all.

[mr_music11 0]

Allrighteeeeee then..... rust knocked off. Good times. Exit.. stable.. turns on heading.. flip.. back to stable.. Good canopy flight/controll... 2 stand up landings! After a ton of visualization and ground talk.. the jumps went well... Skybytch..thanks for everything... promise my pattern will be better on the next jump!! Until the then..

blues

If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

[erdnarob 1]

See.... you did it. Something was telling me that you were a thoughtful person. Congratulations. But it's just a beginning, don't relax too much and beware of complacency. The season is just starting. Have fun.

Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all.

[mr_music11 0]

Thanks all for the input/encouragement. No, I dont plan on becoming complacent.. Safetey has been and always will be my priority number one in this sport. Blues and soft landings

If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.