The past year - whats it been like for you?

[3fLiEr 0]

Well as my skydiving year is over as I am grounded for 3 months! I am reflecting on the past year – what has everyone else’s year held for them?
For me……………..
Number of jumps in the year: 250 (quite good for the UK)
Highest: 16,500
Lowest: 1,100
Most memorable: 1st CReW jump (downplane to 500ft) oh and of course the Cypress fire
Quote of the year: “can we call it a day now” – those that know will remember that one!!
Landing of the year: A student landing on the hanger and then saying “well I was not told NOT to land on the hanger”
For me hooking into the deck and luckily walking away from it(got grounded though!)
Aims for next year: more jumps than last year! and less groundings (7 this year)
Anyone else add to the list of things for the year???
BSBD
"In a world where we are slaves to gravity I am pleased to be a freedom fighter"

[E150 0]

My year started off slowley, but got better and better . . . . . . .
Best Aspects:
Canopy control weekend. An airplane emergency was rigged. Wow, fantastic training. Were we out that door fast or what!
Scrambles. I found out just how much there is to learn when you start jumping with more people.
Malfunction. This opened my eyes to reality. Glad it happened.
Smaller canopy (non hire kit). Now I can start to have fun and learn more about canopy control.
Oh and I've met some fab people and had some great laughs.
Plan:
To jump shit loads more next year, learn as much as possible and have lots of fun.
But, hey, this year is not over yet. Hopefully it will end with a blast in Elsinore.

[philhartree 0]

I think the fact that i found skydiving this year is good enuff... but i know it will get better...
Particularly remember:
Spinning wildly outta control on AFF L5 and L6
First (deliberate) unstable exit - pushed out by JM and getting stable! ( i didint want to do it coz i was afraid of spinning out of control a la my AFF L5)
First (and only) downwind landing on the runway - OUCH! taught me to include finals into the WHOLE skydive
First low lob @ 3000 ft - when I was dumping above that height anyway. Went unstable and kicked the lines off my legs
Second low lob - Back in the saddle to exorcise the demons of the prevoius jump
Saturday night DZ life, ditto the ppl and laffs!
---
If you have to ask, you don't understand

[3fLiEr 0]

So phil....... basically lucky to be alive this year!!!!...... ;op
bsbd
"In a world where we are slaves to gravity I am pleased to be a freedom fighter"

[philhartree 0]

'Ark at the kettle.......
Nah mate - i also remember the good stuff too ;o) But the bad stuff reminds me how GOOD the good stuff is..
---
If you have to ask, you don't understand

[Stacy 0]

For me……………..
Number of jumps in the year: 320
Highest: 17 K @ Chambersburg
Lowest: 2K CRW
Most memorable: big ways in NC, big horny gorilla gone bad or anything 4way
Landing of the year: In teh bean field @ Delmarva.... I looked liek a giant refrried bean for 4 jumps.. yuck.
Aims for next year: 4way 4way 4way
Stacy
http://users.snip.net/~stacy

[nickwhiteley 0]

Biggest one for me is actually doing my first jump and then becoming addicted. The plan for next year is to complete my AFF in January and then progress on from there.
Nick

[Jonno5 0]

Loads happened to me.
Got a new rig: That was good
Got a promotion:That was good
Got paid more:That was good
Crashed a helicopter(ooops): That was bad
Friend was killed falling from helicopter(not skydiving)(not my heicopter):That was bad
So not sure if it was a good or bad year but it was never boring.

[RedBull 0]

Jumps: ~125
Highest: 15,500
Lowest: 4,500 (balloon)
Most memorable: A 5-way back in Sept. where I was exactly where I wanted to be start to finish
Landing of the year: After having a tension knot above one toggle, had to land w/ rear risers -- ugly tumbling landing on the runway at Quincy and tore a hole in my bootie
Mals: One no-pull shortly after getting my rig. "Where is that $&%# hackey?!!" Silver!
Most jumps in a day: 6 (I'll improve that this year!)
Firsts: Reserve ride, balloon, helicopter, bi-plane, night jump, night RW, first WFFC, first jumps from CASA & Skyvan, first jump w/ my own gear
For this year:
- get control of my fall rate
- dabble in the 'Dark Side' (after getting FF friendly rig)
- jump more
- meet more DZ.comers!

[freeflir29 0]

Well...I got my rig in May and since then I have done 63 jumps so far. I have made lots of progress with my head down flying, learned to make real swoops, and the joys of Hook turns this year. Drank thousands of dollars worth of beer at the DZ. I found a new home at Skydive Atlanta after my move from Raeford. I am very pleased to say that I haven't made this many "New" friends in many years. From DZ.com people to all the great people at Skydive Atlanta.
Firsts:
1. Tube Jump on my 100th
2. 360 Hook (went nicely)
3. Casa High Speed exits (went poorly.. 4. HD dock
May have been others but that's all I can remember at the moment. It's been a fun year and I certainly look forward to the spring and warmer weather. I won't give up till next month when it gets really cold!!!
"and I'm not easily impressed...Ooohh look...a blue car!" -Homer Simpson

[Strynx 0]

I found the sport this summer did 4 jumps. Was addicted the minute i got in the Saddle. Almost Finished my PFF but i broke my Shoulder/Colar bone in a mountain bike accident, lost my girlfriend of 3yrs (out of town studies) got a Gov Job,
Next Year: Finish PFF( cdn AFF) Skydive EVERY DAY"Skydiving puts a permanent

• Quote

[skymama 37]

re-enterd the world of skydiving after taking a break-that was a biggie.
Bought my first rig. Already want to downsize. Made 77 jumps-most memorable ones are...
my first sit, and first head down
my 69 jump and my 100 rodeo dive
first boogie at Skydive Atlanta, and the high speed Casa exit-what a blast, literally and figuratively.
jumped into a ranch out of a Cessna (on purpose)-that was sweet!
Found my home at Skydive Deland, and made lots of friends, and I enjoy my friends on dz.com too.
Personally- "finding myself", and doing the right things for me, not what other people think I should do.
Andrea
The brave may not live forever, but the timid may not live at all.

[gemini 0]

And for me:
1) 350 jumps
2) First 3D jumps
3) Everyone at Spaceland
4) Owning an airplane!
Gemini
... Fear? Fear is riding the plane down ...

[PalmettoTiger 1]

--only 15 jumps this year (so far). pretty weak, but it took a while to save up for AFF and gear.
--Got my own gear
--spent 5 days camping out and jumping at DelMarVa and X-Keys on my way to school
--upsized my reserve
--Finished AFF in two weekends after stretching out 4 tandems over 6 months.
--plan to finish my A on my birthday (Thursday) and visit collegiates at the end of the month.
Best jump: AFF IV repeat - I had failed it a week earlier, and the repeat went beautifully. It was the sunset load too. I remember the float under canopy was just gorgeous; the landing rocked (first run-out) and I was whooping and screaming with joy for the last 300 feet.
Worst jump: #18 overall, 14th this year, at X-Keys in September. The jump itself was fine, a Skydive U coached jump. The landing sucked. I flared 6 feet too high, and as a result of the pendulum motion, my feet were too far out in front of me and I was moving slightly backwards as I fell those last 6 feet. Landed right on my tailbone and probably broke it. My entire lower body just seized and I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. I thought I had actually broken my back until I realized my legs hurt too.
Plan for next year: stay safe. stay current. Restart the skydiving club.
I wanted to put some really inspiring lyrics here but none of them fit.
>< !!

[Zennie 0]

Hrm like a lot of posters this was a very strange year for me.
It was my first year jumping (174 jumps), so I have a whole bunch of great memories. My SCR, SCS, being in on someone else's SCR, 12 point 4-way, 8 point 8 way, 6 point 10 way. Got into a stable sit, learning head down, learning swoop basics, no groundings & relatively few lectures On the downside I worked for a certain energy company that turned out to be run by a bunch of scam artists & lost my job (while the execs who screwed the pooch gave themselves a $55 million bonus 2 days before filing bankruptcy). Not that I'm bitter or anything.
My goals for the new year?
* Get a job (duh)... need money to pay for jumps!
* Get stable in head down.
* Smooth out my transitions.
* Get invited on at least one FF big way.
* Be more reliable on RW jumps (i.e. be better about anticipating sink outs).
* Get my "D".
* Refine my swooping technique.
So in a nutshell, my major goal for year 2 is to become a more reliable all-around jumper.
Merry merry happy happy! "Wear the grudge like a crown. Desperate to control. Unable to forgive. And we're sinking deeper."

[indyz 1]

Number of Jumps: 15
Highest: 6500
Lowest: 3500
Most memorable: #14, 20 second freefall. The first time I had been in the air with somebody else. It was just so cool to look out and see Apple 50 feet away, keeping pace.
Scariest: #5, looking past my feet at the clear blue sky, seeing the pilot chute go past them, with the bag following a split second later.
Next year: A license in the spring, my own rig by the time fall semester starts, maybe some freeflying.
--
Brian

[TALONSKY 0]

This year has far exceeded any expectations I have had.
TOTAL JUMPS THIS YEAR: 210
Most memorable Jump: Doing an 8 way speed star that made 3 points then doing another 8 way that made 3 points the next day.
This year I bought my own rig, helmet, freefly suit, RW suit, Pro Track all with cash.
I am finishing up this year with the real hope of buying a house 1 mile from the dropzone!
So to sum it up year has been a complete fairy tail dream for me ! and I can not wait for next ye

[bill2 0]

I started skydiving this year so that automatically makes it a great year. I don't think I've even been in anything that has scared me so much but given me so much joy. I finished AFF, just bought a used rig.
All of my jumps so far (14) have been at 14 - 15 K. Next year I hope to get over a hundred. Love the sport.

[FallingILweenie 0]

Very slow year for me (bout 90)...but 50 since late august.
Up to 253.
Best jumps: my 200th--8 way sit at Archway, the 6 way freefly that was launched as a 4 way line head-down that went perfectly and the 11-turned-13 way from a couple weekends ago that was hilarious.
next year i hope to get a new rig, a freefly suit, camera, helmet for said camera, and a crapload of skydives. I should be in the LA area by feb or march so I will be checkin out Perris and Elsinore for those of you that jump there!
blue skies
Tomas

[gemini 0]

Almost forgot:
Highest: 21000 Eloy, AZ
Gemini
... Fear? Fear is riding the plane down ...

[spinmaster 0]

I had a good year...
I discovered skydiving
I have 16 jumps as of last weekend
Best Jump: Tie
#11 out of a Porter at 14K…can you say 60sec free falls!!!
#13 where I rolled inverted on the exit and watched the plane fly away...too cool!
Did a 2-way with a 10K jumper and didn't embarrass myself.
Best Landing: AFF graduation jump, I landed with the tips of my toes on a 3’x6’ orange target mat, I jumped at 10K…not to bad I’m told.
Next Year…
Get my C license (I’ll get my A before the year is over as long as the weather holds out)
Get my own rig
Do a night jump out of the Porter at 14K+

[Vallerina 2]

# of jumps in the past year: 80-90
Highest: 15000
Lowest: 4000
Most memorable: All of Quincy, first night jump, first jump with my collegiate team (I paid a lot of beer this year!)
Quote of the year "It's okay, you can touch it."
Landing of the year: With all the open corn fields, I still managed to hit the runway (and it cost me $300 in damaged gear)
Aims for next year: Try not to embarass myself as much when I'm trying to freefly
Homer:No tv and no beer make Homer something something. Marge:Go crazy? Homer:Don't mind if I do!

[PhreeZone 20]

# of jumps this year 225 and counting
Highest 16500 at SDC
Lowest 4000 jet pass out of a Casa..... damn that hurt...
Firsts - Helicopter jump, First Licence (C-31712 Landing of the year.... Got to be the time I forgot to let go of the front risers till i was about 5 feet up and hit the flare as i release and poped up 5 feet again.
Goals for next year.... Freefly my brains out I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique

[FallinWoman 1]

2001 for me:
# jumps- 96 so far, half of which are in the last two months
highest- 16,000 on #100!!
lowest- 4000
firsts: new rig, new rw suit, first cutaway, first dropped handle...., falcon, double falcon, eagle, porter jump, otter jump, new dz jump, sit fly, B license, I am sure there are more....
next year....
learnng to freefly, learning not to go low on RW jumps, leaning to not always be one of the drunkest......
blue skies,
Anne
"by stitches, cloth, and cord,...a god of the sky for those immortal moments."-Lindbergh

[Jabeln79 0]

1rst year of skydiving for me. almost 80 since June.
A license, followed by B license. New rig All new jumpsuits and helmets and gear etc. 1rst 10 way 2pt dive. last weekend.. learning to sit.. still learning. No reserve rides so far.. thankfully. First time at the DZ without being able to jump. last sunday due to effects of the Chilli Party, that sucked blue skies outside and couldnt get myself to make one load.
Goals for next year lots more jumps. C and Hopefully D license.. learning all forms of Free flying and more big way rw dives. and then downsize canopy.