tps7c 0 #1 November 29, 2008 Hi, I just started jumping in October and have completed cat b in AFF. In your opinion, do you think it would be better for me to do one jump a month over the winter to not lose currency, OR, wait until March/April when I can start jumping every week. I'm kind of torn. I worry about it being harder to "get back up there" if I take a few months off. But at the same time, I've heard people say that as a student you learn skydiving much better if you can do it more frequently as opposed to just jumping once a month over the winter. What do you think? Has anyone been in this situation? Thanks, Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #2 November 29, 2008 Question: If you do not jump is there any realistic chance that you will have saved the money for jumping later, or will you just find something else to spend it on? The correct answer is to get in your car and drive to Florida once a month and finish your A cert over the winter. Edited to add after looking at a map: or Raeford. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyPainter 0 #3 November 29, 2008 QuoteHi, ....completed cat b in AFF. In your opinion, do you think it would be better for me to do one jump a month over the winter to not lose currency, OR, wait until March/April when I can start jumping every week. [snip] What do you think? Has anyone been in this situation? *****> Well, I am in the exact same situation here in New England - waiting to jump a D-1 and onward. I am also torn, although I am greatly leaning toward taking a week or so and heading South - maybe Eloy, AZ, or Florida, and jumping the entire week to try to get AFF done. The money is an issue, and the time away is also, but it seems like a reasoable thing to plan, maybe. Otherwise, I will just wait-out the winter, and hit the Wind Tunnel a lot to improve my flying skills. In reality, your skydive is a lot like a minute in the Wind Tunnel. As I climb to altitude, I repeat to myself that "I WANT my minute!" Canopy handling is okay for now, and will come with more jumps. The big student "Sky Barge" I am jumping is okay for now, and very forgiving. I am more concerned with gaining more body stability and control to begin with. My goal is to be the safest Skydiver I can be - both in the air, and under canopy - and learn to have fun with it at the same time! Either way you choose - NEVER QUIT! Blue Skies and Safe Landings Always SkyPainterLive deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Gary73 10 #4 November 30, 2008 Definitely keep jumping as frequently as you can. More than once a month if at all possible. If your home DZ closes over the Winter, find another one. Florida's nice, but you don't have to go that far if time and/or money are issues. If you just can't get to a dropzone at all, at least go to a wind tunnel and get a few minutes there every month. It's not skydiving, but it's a whole lot better than staying on the ground all Winter! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Andy9o8 2 #5 November 30, 2008 QuoteDefinitely keep jumping as frequently as you can. More than once a month if at all possible. If your home DZ closes over the Winter, find another one. Florida's nice, but you don't have to go that far if time and/or money are issues. If you just can't get to a dropzone at all, at least go to a wind tunnel and get a few minutes there every month. It's not skydiving, but it's a whole lot better than staying on the ground all Winter! I agree. For a student, currency is more than just maintaining flight skills, it is also, very much, about maintaining the mental currency to overcome door fear and sensory overload. That's why I'd urge to OP to maintain at least some actual jumping, even if he has the chance to go to a tunnel. According to his profile, the OP hails from Williamsburg, VA. I'd expect he'll find several DZs within driving distance that are open during the winter, at least on weekends. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DonTheGeek 0 #6 November 30, 2008 Quote Question: If you do not jump is there any realistic chance that you will have saved the money for jumping later, or will you just find something else to spend it on? The correct answer is to get in your car and drive to Florida once a month and finish your A cert over the winter. Edited to add after looking at a map: or Raeford. Indeed ... come on down to Raeford. We'll be jumping all winter! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DanG 1 #7 December 1, 2008 QuoteIndeed ... come on down to Raeford. We'll be jumping all winter! Or just stay at Skydive Orange, where you started. We'll be jumping all winter, too, and the weather is essentially the same. - Dan G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites tps7c 0 #8 December 1, 2008 Dan, I love jumping at Orange!! But it's over 2 hours from me and West Point is 20 minutes. I'll definitely be going back and forth, especially when it gets warm again and I can camp out. As for Raeford, I did my first AFF there and will always feel loyal to them, ya know? But since it's 4 hours, I will probably only get down there a few times a year. Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DanG 1 #9 December 1, 2008 Cool. I just wanted to clear up any misconception that you had to drive to Raeford, NC to jump in the winter in Virginia. As far as the original post, I think it is better to keep trying to jump during the winter, even if weather gets in the way, than to wait three or four months. Even if you can't jump, you can certainly knock out the ground portion of your card, and maybe get some jumps in on good weather days, whether you go to Orange, West Point, or Raeford. - Dan G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Gary73 10 #4 November 30, 2008 Definitely keep jumping as frequently as you can. More than once a month if at all possible. If your home DZ closes over the Winter, find another one. Florida's nice, but you don't have to go that far if time and/or money are issues. If you just can't get to a dropzone at all, at least go to a wind tunnel and get a few minutes there every month. It's not skydiving, but it's a whole lot better than staying on the ground all Winter! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #5 November 30, 2008 QuoteDefinitely keep jumping as frequently as you can. More than once a month if at all possible. If your home DZ closes over the Winter, find another one. Florida's nice, but you don't have to go that far if time and/or money are issues. If you just can't get to a dropzone at all, at least go to a wind tunnel and get a few minutes there every month. It's not skydiving, but it's a whole lot better than staying on the ground all Winter! I agree. For a student, currency is more than just maintaining flight skills, it is also, very much, about maintaining the mental currency to overcome door fear and sensory overload. That's why I'd urge to OP to maintain at least some actual jumping, even if he has the chance to go to a tunnel. According to his profile, the OP hails from Williamsburg, VA. I'd expect he'll find several DZs within driving distance that are open during the winter, at least on weekends. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonTheGeek 0 #6 November 30, 2008 Quote Question: If you do not jump is there any realistic chance that you will have saved the money for jumping later, or will you just find something else to spend it on? The correct answer is to get in your car and drive to Florida once a month and finish your A cert over the winter. Edited to add after looking at a map: or Raeford. Indeed ... come on down to Raeford. We'll be jumping all winter! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanG 1 #7 December 1, 2008 QuoteIndeed ... come on down to Raeford. We'll be jumping all winter! Or just stay at Skydive Orange, where you started. We'll be jumping all winter, too, and the weather is essentially the same. - Dan G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tps7c 0 #8 December 1, 2008 Dan, I love jumping at Orange!! But it's over 2 hours from me and West Point is 20 minutes. I'll definitely be going back and forth, especially when it gets warm again and I can camp out. As for Raeford, I did my first AFF there and will always feel loyal to them, ya know? But since it's 4 hours, I will probably only get down there a few times a year. Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanG 1 #9 December 1, 2008 Cool. I just wanted to clear up any misconception that you had to drive to Raeford, NC to jump in the winter in Virginia. As far as the original post, I think it is better to keep trying to jump during the winter, even if weather gets in the way, than to wait three or four months. Even if you can't jump, you can certainly knock out the ground portion of your card, and maybe get some jumps in on good weather days, whether you go to Orange, West Point, or Raeford. - Dan G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
