Emma 0 #1 July 9, 2001 Have been thinking about all the different options in skydiving, different disciplines, flat or free, camera, instruction, sky surfing, competition, etc etc, plus all the different reasons people have for skydiving , and different goals....Where do people see themselves heading in their skydiving? Do you think you'll want to get your ratings, go into competing, maybe get into it semi-professionally ever (tandem, camera etc), or just be a regular fun club jumper who skydives with whoever is around?There are so many things you can do and objectives to achieve, I'd be interested to hear what direction people are taking with their jumping.Cheers,emma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cyberskydive 0 #2 July 9, 2001 All of the above at some time or another, but right now I just wanna have fun :) and learnC-28534http://www.sunraydesigns.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #3 July 9, 2001 Also all of the above at one time or another. Now, I mostly teach FJC's, do sequential big-way, and swoop.Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #4 July 9, 2001 It is hard to narrow it down to anything...like my previous posters...I would like to try it ALL at some point in time.As far as what I am doing now though...it is still trying to nail my awareness down so that I am more competent in formations. I love turning points!!!At some stage, I will transition to Freeflying and learn as much as I can there...once those two are "mastered" I feel everything else should - more or less - fall into place.Then there is always BASE, which, living around all of these high rises...is pure TEMPTATION 24/7!!!!!Kahurangi e Mahearangi,PykeNZPF A - 2584 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #5 July 9, 2001 There is so much to try and so much to learn but I think I just want to keep it fun. If it ever becomes work I think the fun would go away. One thing I thought was fun was the hybrid dive so we are planning one for my 200th! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dove 0 #6 July 9, 2001 I started out thinking freestyle was the most graceful thing I had ever seen. I even learned how to do the splits (ouch!) after never having been able to do them all my life. And I still hope to be able to learn freestyle. But in the meantime, RW is awesome! It's a great feeling to be flying with friends and turning points. The feeling of comraderie and accomplishment is incredible! And then I started to learn freeflying... I'm like a kid with candy. Grinning and having the time of my life! So, now I am as confused as anyone and don't know which I like best. I LOVE it all! And I am having so much fun! Some people say I need to choose - but why? I am really enjoying myself doing it all. Geez - all that typing and I haven't helped you one bit! Cheers!Elisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
axe96bam 0 #7 July 9, 2001 I do mostly RW and now am in the process of working on my ratings. I also like swooping and have started working in that area as well. There is just so much out there to learn, it keeps the sport interesting all the time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rainman 0 #8 July 9, 2001 I currently have only 23 jumps, so I do not have many options open at this time . The way I think of it now however, I have my hands full keeping things safe and organised for myself, and I am not keen to take on responsibility for others, so I don't see myself becoming an instructor anytime soon. Who knows when I've made hundreds of jumps....For the rest I try to remember the famous quote: 'Minds are like parachutes, they only work when open'Blue skies,Rainman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tee 0 #9 July 9, 2001 Quote I started out thinking freestyle was the most graceful thing I had ever seen. Coming from a gymnastics background, I couldn't agree with you more. Tee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #10 July 9, 2001 I see myself trying freeflying, RW and maybe CRW. Depending on how things go, maybe camera as well, but not in any commercial way. I don't think I'd want to go for any instructor ratings, tandem ratings, or into serious competition.I work hard enough during the week in my regular job. When I head to the DZ, I want to skydive and have fun. For me, that means minimizing my role in DZ politics and BS. I'll probably end up jumping with low-time skydivers and helping once I have enough experience to be helpful, but not in a formal way. That way, I won't have to deal with students with bad attitudes, unsafe jumpers, or feel obligated to coach or instruct when I don't feel like it. Doing it on my terms without any contractual obligation seems like it would go a long way toward keeping everything fun.JustinMember of the Whuffo Conversion Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grogs 0 #11 July 9, 2001 I think my true calling is on my belly. I'd love to be on a kick-ass 4-way team some day. In the mean time, I'm working on my ratings (got my Coach rating already -- maybe AFF in another year or 2) and I'd also love to try camera flying, but with the $1000 or more of gear it takes to start up, that probably won't be any time soon. I've also been working on freeflying a bit lately, and I think it actually makes you a better, more well-rounded flyer than always flying on your belly. Freeflying is also nice when you end up on a load with all tandems and AFF's, or you show up at the DZ 2 minutes before the first load of the day comes up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #12 July 9, 2001 Well, you asked what kind of jumper are you, and my immediate thought is "I am lost in space". BUT - if I eventually get to be o.k. in the air, I think that RW and freeflying will be where I gravitate towards. I watched some CRW yesterday, and at one point while they were landing I really thought that the top guy was going through the bottom guy's canopy. Didn't happen (of course), but as my first taste of real life crw, it really scared me. It was gorgeous, but not for me. I do, however, reserve the right to change my mind (hopefully not in mid-air).Ciel bleu - Michele Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daygs 0 #13 July 9, 2001 What's up all?Been checkin' this site out for a while now. Basically just soaking it in and learning as much as possible. And yes, this is my first post (yeah I know, BEER right).I think I chose this tread to reply to because this is the aspect of this sport that intrigued me the most. I mean, I feel like my head is spinning. There are so many ave.'s to travel down (which way do I go, which way do I go?)! I don't see myself getting bored with this sport anytime in the near future (or ever for that matter). All my whuffo friends think I just going through a phase, boy do they got another thing coming!!!Anyhow, back to the topic of convo. I am fairly new to this addiction (21 jumps), and already I have tried a lot! I've done some 2-way RW, standing, attempted sit flying (what a pain in the a**), and on my last jump exited at 14G locking elbows w/ a friend. We rolled out of the plane into a heads-down freefly. WOW!!!! What a rush. Had to be the most amazing thing I've done to date. Such an odd feeling standing upside down on the clouds with the world, literally, on your shoulders. Of course, a few seconds after we split I corked out and the experience was quickly ended. Obviously, I'm going to work on my freefling some more in the near future.Basically, I'm just hungry to learn it all. Just tap an I.V. into my vein and fill the bag with skydiving. I'm not going to get picky at this point. I don't have time for it.SKIES & OPEN EYES Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brits17 0 #14 July 9, 2001 the discipline i want to get serious about is skysurfing... i enjoy freeflying the most, but the competitor in me wants to have a challenge. so i'm moving onto the intermediate board, and got a great cameraman and hope to make it to nationals next year. but always remember whatever you do, have FUN!!!! i do the occasional level 8 coaching jump, and very rarely do rw, but whatever type of jump it is, i have a total blast!Blue Skies,Brittany S!C-31392 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #15 July 9, 2001 "The only problem with me dabbeling in freestyle is that there are VERY FEW people at my dz or the surrounding ones that practice that discipline."While probably true, I would not let that stop you from doing something that you think you might like. Buy some videos and just go for it. We have plenty of "followers" on DZ's; dare to be different. Have fun.Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #16 July 9, 2001 Quote But in the meantime, RW is awesome! It's a great feeling to be flying with friends and turning points. The feeling of comraderie and accomplishment is incredible! And then I started to learn freeflying... I'm like a kid with candy. Grinning and having the time of my life! So, now I am as confused as anyone and don't know which I like best. I LOVE it all! And I am having so much fun! Some people say I need to choose - but why? I am really enjoying myself doing it all. Geez - all that typing and I haven't helped you one bit! Well, all your typing helped me not have to type, Elisa...those are my sentiments exactly. Andrea"Up high, I feel like I'm alive for the very first time" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PalmettoTiger 1 #17 July 9, 2001 Well, all this has to be taken with a grain of salt since I only have 12 jumps, I'm nearly uncurrent, and I'm completely out of money. That being said, my most immediate goal is to win Collegiate Nationals before I graduate. Since they don't have a freefly division (4-way, 2-way, style, and accuracy only), and since my rig isn't freefly-ready, I won't do much freeflying for the next few years. I love flying my canopy (even though I'm not good at it), so I'll definitely work on accuracy. There's also a lot of RW expertise available to me, so I might have a shot at achieving this goal via 4-way or 2-way.Beyond that, I don't know. I really love flying my canopy, so CRW and maybe some swooping...?Blues, squares,PTiger"Beer: the OTHER other white meat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freaksister 0 #18 July 9, 2001 I want to do some CReW, learn to do some freeflying, and improve my RW. I would love to be part of some hybrid dives (RW and freeflying)... I don't have much interest in skysurfing or freestyle though, nor much interest in style and accuracy. I do want to improve my accuracy but not for competition reasons. I am not really that competitive (when it comes to skydiving, anyway!) I am more of a fun jumper who just wants to dabble in everything until I get pretty good at one thing and then possibly focus on it some more. The NSL and the Nationals and all that stuff don't interest me much! I like watching them but don't want to participate.I am also interested in video and/or video editing with music. Don't want to be a tandem master, but maybe a JM would be cool. If I ever get that good, LOL.Sis It isn't brave if you aren't scared... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #19 July 9, 2001 I'm really starting to like RW. Ever sincd the Otter came that weekend and all we did was formation jumps I learned a TON about flying my body with and around other people. However I wuld also like to try Freefling.jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeekStreak 0 #20 July 9, 2001 Right now I just want to freefall! I'll do my first practice throw Saturday 1111,GeekStreakM-00001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallingMarc 0 #21 July 9, 2001 Let's see... currently my skills are limited to turning, diving in a half-assed attempt to track, and checking my altimeter constantly. Plus I can usually land in the general area of the DZ, and I've come up with some really creative new exit positions, but that's getting better...But eventually... RW and freeflying both look like so much fun, I believe I'll have to make a clumsy attempt to learn both of them at the same time. But what I'd really love is to become a TM and cameraman, and see all the new people on their first time out the door!Then again, as long as I'm jumping, I'm happy...Marc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #22 July 9, 2001 Sounds like everyone is doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing....having a great time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #23 July 10, 2001 what kind of jumper am I? a very fast one!!!!Marc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emma 0 #24 July 10, 2001 Thanks everyone, it's interesting to know what you all want to get into..I guess the overall feeling is we ALL want to do ALL OF IT! Which is pretty cool, pretty much the same way I feel, I just wish I could become brilliant at everything NOW NOW NOW! Sometimes I stare up at the mountain of possible skydiving accomplishment and it just seems so.....endless! Aren't we lucky? This is something I could NEVER get bored of!Now, enough of these over-emphatic exclamation marks and CAPITALS...I need to actually do some work instead of sitting at my desk, dreaming about freefall and failing to get anything done....Ciao Emma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daygs 0 #25 July 10, 2001 WORK? What's that?OH YEEEAAH, that thing we HAVE to do between skydives. Wait a minute, I'm here now, I keep forgeting. Seems like ever since my first pathetic release of a c-182 strut, this skydiving addiction is all I can think about. SKIES Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
