Most fun you can have on a solo...

[Yossarian 0]

I don't get to jump much, mostly for financial reasons, and so when i do i like to make it worth the money. ive got my fs1 and love jumping with my friends from my uni club but this time of year we're scattered all over the country so its hard to get together, and i dont like jumping with strangers i meet on the dz because im not that good and i always get the impression ive wasted their money if we didnt manage everything we planned, and theyre usually a lot more experienced than i am and i feel im wasting theyre time (i know they may not feel the same but thats how i feel). another thing is that when i do jump after a layoff of up to 2 1/2 months i also prefer to do a solo first to get back in the swing of things so i only have to think about me and my safety and not worrying about someone else. basically my question is, does anyone know any cool things to do on a solo? i do the usual backloops, barrel rolls etc (my dz doesnt allow freeflying pre-ff1 unless you're with a coach and the CCI has the eyes of a hawk...) but is there anything else i can do?

[skybytch 273]

Practice tracking.

Pull high and do canopy control drills.

[NWFlyer 2]

Practice tracking. It's a lifesaving skill that you can never work too much on. Of course, if you're going to track, talk with the pilot and senior folks at your DZ about your plans and get some advice on exit order and the direction to track.

But... I would also say don't worry about "ruining" the jump for more experienced jumpers. If they're willing to jump with you, it's all fun as long as everyone gets down in one piece. You can learn and practice new skills on a solo jump, but you're really going to progress by having someone in the air with you so you know where you are relative to someone else. Jumps with others don't have to be big complicated things, just plan a few simple points, have fun, and come down with smiles on your face even if you funnel the exit and spend the rest of the jump trying to get back to each other.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[AFFI 0]

Survive...

Or

Dont deploy, but you can only do it once...

Really though, the chicks have it summed up well...

[AFFI 0]

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Practice tracking.

Pull high and do canopy control drills.

The best advice ever given in the history of our existence!

[Yossarian 0]

i do love tracking, but without a reference (ie someone else) how do i know how far/fast im going? i may have a body position that feels good and solid and stable and be the right shape but how do i know its working?

[georgerussia 0]

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and i dont like jumping with strangers i meet on the dz because im not that good and i always get the impression ive wasted their money if we didnt manage everything we planned

Don't worry about that. If you ask the people to jump with you, tell them the truth about your jump numbers and skills (you do, right?), and they have no problem with that - nobody will expect you to perform like a world class champion. We jump for fun, not for points - points are good, but if you have fun even making no points, it may be better that if you make all the points but have no fun.

So don't be shy. Ask the people if you can join them, and tell them truth about your jump numbers and your skills. They may not invite you immediately, but they will keep you in mind, and may invite you on later jumps (with smaller formation, for example). There is a lot of experienced skydivers, who like jumping with newbies, and have fun.

* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

[Yossarian 0]

im always honest about my numbers and skills, usually over modest as far as skills go just to be safe. i just want to make every jump count, so many exits to try and not enough tickets to do them all!

[Zeemax 0]

Looking at your profile, it seems sibson wouldn't be too far away for you...

I'm there pretty much all the time (certainly weekends). Come down, ask for Macca, and we'll go tracking

Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE
Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies

[StreetScooby 5]

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i do love tracking, but without a reference (ie someone else) how do i know how far/fast im going? i may have a body position that feels good and solid and stable and be the right shape but how do i know its working?

Pick a road, and use it as a reference point.

We are all engines of karma

[MagicGuy 0]

Do a really fun exit. Do some back or front flips out of the plane and hold it for a few seconds. I'm doing mostly solos during my transition from AFF to A Licensed, and I try some kind of cool exit each time just to vary it up.

[Tink1717 2]

Either find another drop zone or start jumping with others.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[Yossarian 0]

i think my reasoning behind doing a solo after a long break is sound enough, its my safety im thinking about afterall. im just trying to get the most out of every jump, a 2-way track might be a plan, harder to mess that up as i know i can track, just not necessarily how well

[KenGoff 0]

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Do a really fun exit. Do some back or front flips out of the plane and hold it for a few seconds. I'm doing mostly solos during my transition from AFF to A Licensed, and I try some kind of cool exit each time just to vary it up.

That's what I do, also.

[JumpRu 14]

Try booty fly. this is not "freefly" really, your speed is just a little faster then on RW jump. Make sure your rig is freefly friendly. Also alt. awareness is critical it is a little harder to watch your altimeter, so audible is a good idea.

[Yossarian 0]

booty fly?

[snakeeater 0]

ever closed your eyes in freefall? for a few seconds and with enough air under you. it's a weird feeling.

try tracking in different angels, or backtracking, doing curves, etc.

and get your ff1 asap. then, a whole new world opens up

.. and they won't let you try a sit, even just for a few seconds/jump? with a freefly save rig, i don't see a problem there. but of course, the DZO is always right, so don't listen to me..

"He tried to kill me! He tried to f***ing kill me!"

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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i do love tracking, but without a reference (ie someone else) how do i know how far/fast im going?

Look down.

[bob.dino 1]

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...i dont like jumping with strangers i meet on the dz because im not that good and i always get the impression ive wasted their money if we didnt manage everything we planned, and theyre usually a lot more experienced than i am and i feel im wasting theyre time (i know they may not feel the same but thats how i feel).

Indeed. As long as you're upfront about your skills and currency, they know exactly what they're getting into. Trust me, it can be a hell of a lot of fun to do a jump with a lowtimer. Honest.

[DougH 270]

On my solo jumps that I am playing, and not strictly practicing tracking or some other skill, I play with different exits. Nothing makes me happier than tucking into a ball and just falling away in a tight tumble, or exiting back to earth and watching the plane fly away.

It is ALL fun!!!

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[Orange1 0]

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...i always get the impression ive wasted their money if we didnt manage everything we planned, and theyre usually a lot more experienced than i am and i feel im wasting theyre time (i know they may not feel the same but thats how i feel).

Indeed. As long as you're upfront about your skills and currency, they know exactly what they're getting into. Trust me, it can be a hell of a lot of fun to do a jump with a lowtimer. Honest.

Hey Yossarian.. I know those feelings. But I have been amazed at the people prepared to jump with lowtimers and even more when they say what Bob said, even if you feel like you really wasted altitude! And you know what is also really cool - is getting that look afterwards that says "you flew a lot better than I expected"

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[woodpecker 0]

Well, it would be a little bit of a drive, but you can always drive down to old buck and jump with us. We have a mixture of talent (and talentless...sorry andy ) so you wouldnt feel out of place or worried that you wasted anyone time/money.

If you decide to come down shoot me a PM so I make sure I'm there.

Billy

SONIC WOODY #146

There is a fine line between cockiness and confidence -- which side of the line are you on?