Beverly

Thanks for all the input. I suppose everyone has their own way. Maybe being a girl I don't want to see gory pictures. I will tailor make my lectures to what I feel comfortable including. Thanks again Bev I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

Thought some of them were really cool. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

I am a new SL instructor and we are standardising our course material. There are some of our Inst who show students horrible pictures of plane crashes and ripped and smashed doors as an illustration of premature deployments and canopy hook ups etc. Personally I hate flying, and those were horriffic to me as a person with over 1000 jumps. What would the student feel. Are shock tactics valid? Do other people do this. I would prefer the "deep breaths" rather that military way. Any comments please!! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

My course average 5 hours. I am particularly strict about breaks and time back in the classroom. They normally jump around 3, no later than 5 in the afternoon. My quickest was a Friday night and 2 hours later the kid (16) knew everything, including his first Aff level. i was shocked, until I learnt that he had done a tandem 4 months earlier and has read the first jump course notes for 4 months. He was brilliant - Also the kid of a skydiver, so he was current on the terminology and had packed some chutes. If there is a slow student, I tend to hold him back and go through everything again, including more harness training before they can jump. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

Any which way, you are all speaking of a girl weighing 95-100lbs. Any weights leading upto 10lbs is 10 % of her body weight. Not Great. Do an away visit to a high altitude DZ, swoop or no swoop, you are in danger zone. Take away the balls and pride and you might have a conservative canopy pilot. Add the 100 jumps a year and you enter a medium currency jumper - caution. So all in all, taking the fact that SHE might be jumping with 10+ lbs of weight on any given skydive, her wingloading is high for a medium currency jumper. Just a caution. I don't want to see another girl in the Incidents Forum this year. There have been too many already and it is because of boyfriends and guys on the DZ pushing them and telling them they will be fine. If you cannot conservatively land a canopy at 5000ft above sea level on a no wind day, stay where you are!! I am exiting at 145lbs and sometimes at 151.8lbs. On a 105 canopy at 5000ft ASL. It is fast!! Believe me!! And I am doing 5 times the amount of jumps she is. Be careful guys! That is all I am emphasising. Be careful. This is high performace stuff you are talking about. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

I think there are 2 threads in one. The first on weights is a relevant concern. There are issues with the girls weighting up to compete with the boys. They are weighting up to be competitive. Solution : Separate classes : Female category W/L Categories. I wear weights if I am team jumping and not when I am coaching a small girl, so I have to be aware of my canopy's performance with weights and without. When I start competing, I am not sure what the choice would be. If girls and smaller guys are strapping the equivalent of a small child to them, then I think it is a problem. The second issue : Drugs and drug testing. Any international sport competition has to comply with the drug administration. Understanding that dope and Coke are both Illegal! I have seen people burying themselves in the ground while being high - Your choice. Our team even stopped taking flu pills 6 weeks before world meet - Let alone taking any recreational pharmaceuticals. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

ha ha! I don't think there is one! Ok, Maybe a minibus Taxi Driver in peak hour traffic. To import a pest - Tempting.....But NO! Read the thread in Bonfire on Learning Afrikaans for some more tips on SA! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

These questions about South Africa were posted on a South African Tourism Website and were answered by the website owner. Some really useful travel tips... Q: Does it ever get windy in South Africa? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK) A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die. Q: Will I be able to see elephants in the street? (USA) A: Depends how much you've been drinking. Q: I want to walk from Durban to Cape Town - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden) A: Sure, it's only two thousand kilometers take lots of water... Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in South Africa? (Sweden) A: So it's true what they say about Swedes. Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in South Africa? Can you send me a list of them in JHB, Cape Town, Knysna and Jeffrey's Bay? (UK) A: What did your last slave die of? Q: Can you give me some information about Koala Bear racing in South Africa? (USA) A: Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the pacific. A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe which does not..oh forget it. Sure, the Koala Bear racing is every Tuesday night in Hillbrow. Come naked. Q: Which direction is north in South Africa? (USA) A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions. Q: Can I bring cutlery into South Africa? (UK) A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA) A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Hillbrow, straight after the Koala Bear races. Come naked. Q: Do you have perfume in South Africa? (France) A: No, WE don't stink. Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in South Africa? (USA) A: Anywhere where a significant number of Americans gather. Q: Can you tell me the regions in South Africa where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy) A: Yes, gay nightclubs Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in South Africa? (France) A: Only at Christmas. Q: Are there killer bees in South Africa? (Germany) A: Not yet, but for you, we'll import them. Q: Are there supermarkets in Cape Town and is milk available all year round? A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegan hunter-gatherers. Milk is illegal. Q: Please send a list of all doctors in South Africa who can dispense rattlesnake serum. USA) A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca, which is where YOU come from. All South African snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets. Q: I was in South Africa in 1969, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Hillbrow. Can you help? (USA) A: Yes, but you will probably still have to pay her by the hour. Q: Will I be able to speek English most places I go? (USA) A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

Stats in South Africa Total Population 30 310 million adults (Over the age of 16. 75.2% are Black 13.6% are white 8.6% are coloured and 2.6% are Indian 74.8% can read or understand English 38.6% can read or understand Afrikaans 19.9% can read or understand Xhosa 31.2% can read or understand Zulu This is duplicated Hint. Take what Peej said. The other stuff is rude. To a girl: Jy is mooi - You are pretty Jy = You Ek = Me/I Is = are (Pronounced like b[ui]scuit) Anyway, yes they will speak English and can communicate well. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

Come to think of it, I have never seen a tse tse fly. Have you? I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

No need to get nasty. We are not that primitive as you think. We are just not that anal about making money through lawyers as Americans are. It seems that the states is the only place that has an age limit. From the thread, NZ through to France has jumped young kids and have harnesses especially fit for them. I think that the kids do definately have an understanding about the dangers and risks involved, but the parents have more fear of something going wrong. How many times have you seen a parent stop a child from doing something basic and saying "you will hurt yourself!" Instilling fear into the kids. It is the skateboard death, the bicycle accident, the car crash. We cannot put the kids in a plastic bubble and protect them from everything, as much as every parent wants to. But if the kid has said they want to do it, why would they sue their parents? I fully understand if a parent has bullied the kid, but not if they have specifically requested to do it. We don't let adult SL or AFF people jump if they are being coerced into it by a partner, husband, wife, girlfriend, mother, dad etc......... Anyway, we let them jump and they love it. We have not had an incident yet (Touch wood) I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

Ok OK . You're so right. Johannesburg Skydiving Club in beautiful S. Africa has at least 2 of the most beautiful women in skydiving that i know. Beverly and Sheri without a doubt. I was just testing you Beverly to see if you were here. Ha ha very funny. Baiting is not fair!! Anyway, the guys here are awesome, but the states keeps stealing them, so we may have to steal some of your boys in return!! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

We don't have a minimum age for tandem. Our youngest has been just under 4 years old and we have done many young un's. Many kids of ages 6-14 have done jumps. In fact the young kid that did his first tandem at age 3.5 has since done 2 more and is only 6 now. We have had no issues with the kids. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

Oh, c'mon: You have gotta be kidding me?? I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

I just thought I was special to beable to see it. Kinda like "I see dead people" I can see dates. We are going early to do the BMI course run by Juri! Should be lots of fun. Phew, ek het gedog ek was 'n bietjie doff! Sien julle daar!! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

Dates are on the front page!! 26 Dec - 5 Jan. Tam, it will be great to see you there, we are going to do some girl big ways!! Thanks PJ, need to PM me and let me know how you did that! IT illiterate!! That's what I am! YAY!! Gonna be hot hot hot! Bring Bikini! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

www.africanfreefall.com Should be pretty cool!! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

http://www.africanfreefall.com Mmabatho African Freefall Convention South Africa I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

I think there is a lot more to consider than just wingloading. Is it a very windy DZ? Is that the reason she does not get much penetration into the wind? I spent the most part of my first 1000 jumps at a wingloading of 1.0 or less. To me, discussing someone who does 100 jumps a year to be on a canopy the sizes you are discussing (80/85) is just looking for trouble. If there is no desire to do high performance landings, then there is no real reason to be downsizing. The need for a canopy will be to bring her safely to the ground. A tiny canopy like that takes her into the danger zone. Dunno, maybe I am just aware that girls are so much more conservative than guys under canopy. I just don't want more girls to get hurt. Just my 2 cents worth. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

Very funny Peej. He has a sense of humour too! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

I am under permanent coaching by one of our experienced CP guys. Every landing is critted and debriefed. I did 18 jumps this weekend, every jump had a discussion and a debrief. I get crapped on alot and the last one of the weekend was AWESOME!! So worth it. Yes, everyone can benefit from coaching! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

Ok, the side slide technique is as follows: In the advanced body position (Mantis - Head up) You need to dip your leg and same side elbow into the wind. A 45 degree slant. maintain the arch throughout! The even dip of the knee into the wind and the elbow into the wind will allow you to move to the side. If you are dipping to the left and you find yourself turning to the right, = too much leg and need to compensate with more arm. If you are just turning and not making any movement progress, you need more knee. The best way to illistrate is jump with a coach, or a friend that can just fall down the tube and be a point of reference. There is a need to get the right balance between the knee and elbow. Practice on the same jump to move left and right. Please PM me if this is obscure or if you have any further questions. It is a great skill to master. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

EEEK dude, you have not even begun to experience skydiving and the various aspects of the sport. You need to work hard in getting past the initial progression programme stuff, which is essential in ensuring that you are a safe skydiver amongst other skydivers. We all had to do that, so we don't kill our friends. In skydiving, nothing will happen unless you make it happen. Once you can jump with a coach, do it. It is essential to ensure that you jump with the best person you can so you can learn. Moving into various dicsiplines is fun. Wingsuiting is great, but there are other avenues to explore as well. I have done so many different and wonderful things in this sport, from breaking records, Big way formations, world meets, canopy piloting, wingsuiting and trying to learn freeflying But you need to ask people to get you involved. The more you are part of the scene and can actually perform in the sky, the more gratification you will get out of the sport. Out of the 18 jumps I did this weekend, I can remember each one! Every jump had something special and I learnt something from each one! Don't ever think that you know all there is to know about the sport, you really have not even tasted the tip of the iceberg. I hope you stick with it! Will be nice to see you at a world meet someday and chat about this!! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

0:18:0 A bit passed the buying beer stuff for a while - I get to drink alot!! Great skydiving weekend! I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa

MM, prices seem fair. If you were asking why the drinks came seperate, next time ask for Vodka with Red Bull and they may pour it. It is cool that they don't charge you for something you already have as a mixer. I think true friendship is under-rated Twitter: @Dreamskygirlsa