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swoopdog

IM STUCK

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ok well I blitzed through my AFF course and b relative course so i guess i was on a huge confidents boost. THen I decided to tackle my starcrest (allows one to jump with more than 10 ppl - must dock 5th or later in an 8way).... I can't seem to do it, I keep going too low. They say I don't use my legs enough in general but to slow my fall rate I must make them wider from time to time. Any tips to make you use yours legs more??? and help me with my confidents????

JPW



If your going to live in FEAR, why live at all!!!!!

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:)Be patient... If you are chasing or diving after the base,, it can be easy to "over-dive" without realizing it... then your momentum carries you past the base... IF you are a "fast faller" (as I am) that can get frustrating... (* I swear!! "I didn't go low"!! the base FLOATED!!!! ) :S:P;)..hahaha
It may help to stop your dive a bit sooner than you think you need to...Sure it's good to "get there" and "get there" quickly,, but for certain body sizes and shapes, that can cause you to settle out UNDER the base...
try to "start stopping sooner."...... I'm sure your jumping pals will be patient enough to wait for a slow and gentle approach, rather than be the "target" which you go sliding past,,, 15 seconds out the door... Of course.. Jumpsuit choice is very important here as well.... Talk with your instructors.. to have them help you determine if you need more drag, or just a bit more refinement in your technique.. Good Luck...:)

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Star Crest rules are that the formation must be at least an 8 way or bigger. To get the SCR, you dock anywhere in the 8 way. To get the SCS, you dock 8th or later. :P
"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

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help me with my confidents????

JPW



Confidents? Is that anything like condiments?

I think "Confidence" is the word you are looking for :)


And I'm sure that attitude will help him with his confidence. :S

To swoopdog: have you thought about doing some coach jumps to just work on fall rate and diving issues? Perhaps a couple of jumps where you don't have the pressure of trying to complete the formation will help you. I am, like you, a fast faller, and I'm constanly working on those skills.

As others have said, make sure you're dressing for success - talk to your instructors about the right jumpsuit for you. Booties make a HUGE difference for me in terms of extending my range. I'm still learning to really use them to their full benefit, but I do notice a difference when I fly with them and without them.

And, please don't take this the wrong way, but (assuming your profile is correct) stressing over being able to jump with 10+ people when you only have 64 jumps seems a bit premature. I have almost three times as many jumps as you and I still haven't jumped with more than 10 people. I'm totally okay with that. As you're learning, there are a lot of safety issues associated with larger groups, and there's no need to rush to be on bigger jumps. I would encourage you to continue working on your skills with lots of 2-ways, 3-ways, and 4-ways, with people at different experience levels.

We all hit road blocks at different points in this sport. We're all going to progress at a different pace. Stay safe.
"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

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And I'm sure that attitude will help him with his confidence.



What attitude?

So you advocate never pointing out mistakes for fear of harming someones self esteem?

Why is it that we can all handle having spelling errors pointed out when we are children, but once we are grown up its taboo?

I prefer to be told about my mistakes (and I'm 40!) , thats how I learn. Even now. Still. ;)
__

My mighty steed

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Oh, trust me, I'm the Precinct Captain for the Grammar Police. I just tend to keep it in Bonfire where the one-liners fit in more, that's all. And, apparently, we can't tell children they make mistakes any more because it might damage their fragile self-esteem. But that sounds more like a topic for Speaker's Corner or PMs.

Sorry, no more threadjacking... I'm sure there are others who have some good advice for the struggling fast-faller, here. I know I'm still learning to slow myself down, too, and would like to hear more.
"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

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He's an Aussie. We have different rules here; the Starcrest is part of the APF licencing program. I've posted before on the rules, but in brief:

- You need a Starcrest to jump with more than 8 people in any orientation.
- To get your Starcrest you must complete three Starcrest jumps.
- Each jump must contain between 8 & 10 people.
- The Starcrestee must dock fifth or later.

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He's an Aussie. We have different rules here; the Starcrest is part of the APF licencing program. I've posted before on the rules, but in brief:

- You need a Starcrest to jump with more than 8 people in any orientation.
- To get your Starcrest you must complete three Starcrest jumps.
- Each jump must contain between 8 & 10 people.
- The Starcrestee must dock fifth or later.



Dave - are there any guidelines for jumpers on when they should be going for the Starcrest requirement? The USPA's 2-point 8-way requirement is for the C license, which you can get when you have 200 jumps. There's nothing saying you can't get that 2-point 8-way well before you get to 200 jumps, but I know in my case, I haven't even tried to rush it since I'm just now (at 177 jumps) feeling really comfortable with that size formation.

Just seems to me like it's a high-pressure requirement for a newer jumper that is actually encouraging them to get on bigger jumps since now they've "proven" that they can handle it, rather than encouraging smaller formations for good skill building (such as the USPA's B-license requirement for "successful completion of the the planned formation on at least ten group freefall jumps").
"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

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There's no requirement to ever get a Starcrest. I'd venture that quite a few jumpers at Cessna DZs never get their Starcrests. My D number is lower than my Starcrest number.

That said, my DZ doesn't like to sign off on a C Licence (100 jumps) without a completed Starcrest. Mainly 'coz we have a Skyvan, Twin Otter, and Turbine Beaver, and larger formations are common.

For reference: I made my first incomplete Starcrest attempt at jump 51. Lesson learned: don't reach down for grips :P. I did three successful jumps at 97, 98, & 99, 'coz a 4-way team intervened...

I'd hazard a guess that most jumpers do theirs between jumps 60 & 100. At Picton it would be unusual to see someone with under 50 jumps doing a Starcrest jump.

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