Snowflake 0 #1 August 23, 2001 While jumping last weekend I met someone and discovered later that evening at the party that they did not really know how to track and furthermore that a lot of their jumps were with people using them as a swoop target to practice with. This really pissed me off (I'm gonna ramble here). This person had more jumps then my 37 and I was having to explain tracking, and the people from this persons home DZ let them go this route(I'm kinda gettin ticked thinking about this again). Tracking is one of the most important skills you can have in RW (I realize I'm preaching to the choir) and people were jumping with this person and not saying a word to them afterwards. I asked what number of jumps most of the people this person had been jumping with and got between 50-150 and most of the jumps were people leaving after this person and then saying they would come down to them(in other words "lets play Sky Tag"). I told them what one of my instructors told me "Don't waste your jump money being a swoop target".The point I'm trying to make is that when you see that person with a "hmmmmm I don't know what the hell I'm gonna do" look. help them out please this sport depends on it.The reason I feel like this is because I've been lucky enough to jump with people that are in the 1000+ (thats how I got my SCR on jump#23). These folks take care of me and make sure that I'm learning. when they could be out organizing fun for themselves. I in turn will do the same thing when I'm good enough. I was gonna jump with this person to help them, but thats like the blind leading the blind.I mean is giving 1 or 2 jumps every other weekend such a bad thing to give up. Just remeber your ass was a flailing, backsliding, no fallrate havin newbie at one point and someone helped you so give up some of that loveNote this is directed at anyone person it applies to I personally have been givin all the love I need (well not all.....but almost) at my home DZ, and it's not something I run across a lot or ever for that matter but maybe someone will go out of their way to help some lost soul next weekend and that would make this post worthwhile instead of it being me getting on a soapbox"so this one time at bandcamp......"JG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #2 August 23, 2001 This is a very good thread Snowflake. It is good that someone makes a point to make sure that people learn to track. My AFF JM has us track on EVERY skydive just to practice. He has about 5500+ jumps and says that on every jump he makes, he tries to do it better, faster and farther. It is very important to get good seperation.I, for one, am starting to learn how to track efficiently so I can only improve. Thanks for bringing this to people's attention. --------------Drop on in...leave a message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aviatrr 0 #3 August 23, 2001 Quote I mean is giving 1 or 2 jumps every other weekend such a bad thing to give up. Just remeber your ass was a flailing, backsliding, no fallrate havin newbie at one point and someone helped you so give up some of that love I enjoy helping people out.. Actually, I've always loved teaching from the time I started teaching people to fly.. I'll jump with just about anybody, especially if I feel it can help either one of us.. Just don't ask me to help ya with RW.....I need plenty of help there myself.. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
