Newbie 0 #1 May 19, 2003 Hi, i only have 60 jumps or so now, but im wondering what i should be doing - my jumps have either been all solos (the vast majority) some WARP/SkyU jumps (im up to my 3 way now) and 2 non coached 2 ways. I spoke to my friend at the dz the other weekend and he was saying i shouldn't be doing solos anymore as i'm just going to get into bad habits and not really learn anything which is a fair enough point. He said after 40 jumps he never did a solo anymore, he just would do 2 ways, 3 ways, 2 ways, a 4 way etc. Should i be pushing more to jump in 2/3 ways? I'm on the verge of getting my FS1/Cat 10 with only my 3 and 4 way to do, and then i want to try some freeflying, as i've been holding off until i get a little more aware of whats going on up there. Anyway i was wondering what everyone around my experience level was doing? I guess i should really be practicing tracking as well on my solos, as thats something i haven't done much of and is a really important skill. The things i generally do on my solos are turns in place (as fast as possible, but controlled, but also more gentle turns), backloops and frontloops, and occasionally a little track. It's all good fun but, should i be "working" towards anything at this stage (other than my FS1 rating?) "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bluepill 0 #2 May 19, 2003 Hi Dave, I was in the same position you are, when I was jumping (havent jumped in a long while now). I had almost got FS1, but needed a bit more training to complete the four-way. Hinton was also my home DZ. At the time, money was tight and I just wanted to fun jump. I discussed it with the CCI and he said it was OK to jump with someone of my own ability. So, he basically hooked me up with 1 other guy of similar ability to jump with, which was fun. Bottom line though, is complete the FS1. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #3 May 19, 2003 I second the notion that you should not be jumping solo any more. If possible, jump with someone above your skill level, if not, then someone at your skill level. Make sure you make a comprehensive dive plan for every jump, but don't make it too complex. Keep it simple, but push yourself. Put plenty of variety in it, from exits through the rest of the dive. Diving exits, piece launches, individual turns and redocks, piece turns, tracking perpendicular to the line of flight.... -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 May 19, 2003 Whether you continue with solo dives or focus on group dives really depends upon where you want to be by the end of this season. Now is a good time to make a season plan. Chat with local jumpers and coaches to decide what skills (free style, sit-flying, formation skydiving, accuracy, CReW, etc.) you want to master by the end of this season, then ask a coach to map out a training plan. Ask your coach to brief you on each new skill before attempting it. If the fellow is busy he may just hand you a magazine article. If money is tight, you may do two or three solo dives before asking a coach to critique your freefall technique. But remember that one jump with coaching is better than three without and video accelerates the learning curve even more. Some people do thousands of solo dives to master solo skills (i.e. classic style or free style) but in the long run they still ask coaches for tips on improving techniques. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #5 May 19, 2003 Quote It's all good fun That's the key right there. As long as you're having fun with the jumps you're doing and are being safe about it, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. You don't have to challenge yourself on every skydive. Mix it up a bit - do more 2 and 3 ways, do some solo or even 2 way (with an experienced person and an okay from whoever needs to okay that at your dz) tracking dives... and do some jumps where you don't "work" on anything, just enjoy the air and the fact that you can fly. I still do solos occasionally. They're fun. And fun is what this sport is all about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,063 #6 May 19, 2003 I think you should be doing whatever you want. Don't worry too much about 'learning bad habits' in freefall - you're also learning altitude awareness (I hope at least!) learning about fall rate in different positions, seeing how fast you can track, seeing how to get stable quickly again etc. Do whatever you want to do (within reason.) 2-ways are probably next. Basic RW skills are critical for whatever you do next (even freeflying) and are a natural progression from solos. You can do these with a coach, another experienced jumper or another jumper of your level. All three are valuable, although doing only jumps with another 40 jump person can be a little frustrating. Sometimes getting a coach to plan your dive on the ground, then going up with a friend, can work out pretty well - you get the safety stuff and the plan, and then you both try to work it out based on the same plan. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #7 May 19, 2003 Dave, The kind of jumps you should be doing are the fun ones. We often forget this is recreation. Have fun with it. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #8 May 19, 2003 At 60 jumps you certain could be working on any one of a number of different aspects of the sport in freefall, but what what I'd like you to really think about is all that stuff that happens after your freefall is over; emergency procedures, collision avoidance, predictable patterns, stand-up landings and accuracy. I personally think far too much emphasis is placed on what happens in freefall and not enough on what happens afterward. Think about it this way; you have your entire skydiving career to learn whatever freefall skills you want to, but you absolutely must learn your skills under canopy in order for that career to be a long healthy one.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cheneyneel 0 #9 May 19, 2003 What you should be doing is having FUN.. Screw egveryone else if they dont like what you are doing.. But my suggestion would be to find a friend.. SOmeone at your level and just jump with them.. If people see you having fun with someone else all the time then they will then want to jump with you... Skydiving is about jumping with your homez.. Dont care about ratings or what you should be doing if you dont gain the fun of skydiving with the fun of friendships then you should be doing something else... Jump alot with who ever is your friends...that is all you need to do... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dgskydive 0 #10 May 19, 2003 Good call staying away from the freeflying right away. We have a guy here at Perris in your situation. He did a alot of solo sits and then thatought he was ready for two and three ways. He didn't know shit. Broke a guys Tibia in free fall as a result. Spend time on your belly flying. Become aware. Work on your fall rate, staying relative with other folks. Doing two and three ways will help you see how much seperation you can get while tracking away. A good foundation in rw well go a long way in free flying. If you can't stay relative on your belly and get used to the speed at which things happen that way then you will have a hard time understanding where you are and where you will end up in a sit or on your head. Be safe!Dom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamsville 0 #11 May 19, 2003 Very true the last post. Most mid-air incidents that I have heard about in free flying are due to vertical closure speeds rather than horizontal (including a buddy that died this way). That doesn't mean that you can't get hurt just as easily by a collision from the side, just that "corking" or diving hard from right above someone seem to be the most common cause of serious problems. It's easier to manage risk if all the players are at the same relative altitude, and that's one of the toughest things to learn in skydiving anyway. Once you can keep the same relative altitude consistently with your partner(s), you just need to have patience on the approach. It works. This stuff challenges us all. But, don't let the challenge steal the joy with friends or the beauty of the sky. |I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #12 May 20, 2003 I too am in kind of the same situation as "newbie" here. I'm confused as to where I want to go (in skydiving ) next, and what i want to do to get there. Seems everyone i talk to has a different lesson plan in mind, and a different interpretation on what is an appropriate next step. Riggerrob and Dgskydive, seriously, i appreciate your way-good advice. It helped me clear things up in my own mind on what i'm going to do next. sds =========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #13 May 21, 2003 hmmm unstable... I think you should send jump money to your fellow kstate students... especially those who are out of kansas right now seriously though, I would say to newbie, do what you are interested in doing... if you can get someone to jump with you and help you learn techniques, great! if not, get some advice on the ground, and try it solo. MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #14 May 21, 2003 Quote hmmm unstable... I think you should send jump money to your fellow kstate students... especially those who are out of kansas right now *** oh yeah, right. send money to poor fellow kstaters who on the extream bad day HAVE to jump yet another 182 while the CASA is out for the day. sds =========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
