Getting back to the Jump of things

[eskelte 0]

So - I took a couple of years off after rejoining the jump community after taking - you guessed it, a couple of years off.

So, As the story goes, one of my daughters had/has some medical issues that more or less halted life as I knew it almost 2 years ago (October 31st, 2012). I had just received my main back from a reline and small line burn patch and was ready to add the AAD back into the gear fold. I had just been promoted and had all this extra jump money (the wife seemed to think it was meant for furniture-HA!). I was ready, the weather was finally turning positive, even though it is the fall, Dallas stays warm (95 today). Well, that changed, and we spent the next few months living on sofas in ICU and back home, then waiting rooms and back to ICU... not ideal conditions to tell the wife (who mind you, every time I have suggested she jump has followed the question with 'I'm pregnant' - I stopped asking her to jump) - hey I am headed to the DZ for the day.

With the bulk of this stuff in the past, fingers crossed, here I am, wanting to get back into this awesome sport.

Some background on me: I have 320-ish jumps without consulting the log book, still need to file that B/C license paperwork (so hold my A license).

I live in Dallas and am only 30-35 minute drive to Skydive Dallas, but never found the DZ all that inviting. Maybe it is because I spent so many weekends sitting around for the wind to die down, finally gave up on showing up to jump to just sit there, or maybe it was because the couple of people I did 'click' with have left the area. Either way, I am sure I am having some reservations about going back blind to what I found to be a defined group of people. When I left 2 years ago, I was just beginning to find a route into 2/3/4 way groups, but like most DZs it was difficult to find roads in with the more experienced jumpers - which meant the group i was joining was a lot of sub 100 jumps - not saying there is anything wrong with a low jump count - in fact I think that it made me work harder/improve my own abilities to jump with someone who is lighter in experience.

So now the return. Reserve repack, renew the USPA standing, work with S&TA for what I am sure will be some form of a check dive, etc.

My question is how have those of you who have moved to a new DZ or after leaving for injury, family, one reason or another, come back to our sport and reconnected with all that is new? Have you found the load organizers to be inviting? Maybe I just caught people on bad days, but I found I was doing a lot of Solo jumps. If anyone on here is at Skydive Dallas, before I reinvest in currency for everything, what else am I missing as far as testing/requirements for jumping, etc.

Thanks - EJ

[councilman24 37]

Nothing specific to Skydive Dallas or Texas but....

Invest the time to stick around for the beer, stories, trip to the restaurant, etc. Get to know the folks and let them get to know you. Also find some really old farts. A lot of us are willing to jump with just about anybody. Mainly because the kewl kids laugh at our gear. We grew up before anything like paid coaches or wind tunnels. We had experienced people willing to jump with us and we're willing to do the same. It is a little tougher with the higher prices for jumps these days but some would say in corrected dollars it's not more expensive than it was.

Find an old fart willing to organize a 3 or 4 way and split their slot. Can't go wrong there. As you've found out it's hard to learn with all newbies in the air. But find a one or two at your level and work on drill dives.

From the day I started in 1980 guys from the 1974 and 75 world championship RW team were willing to jump with anyone anytime. Especially if your hanging around all the time. I try to give that back (but have never, ever been near as good as those guys). I know it's tough to hang out all weekend if your not 20 and single but do what you can.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE