flyinggoose

Are there 26 people that would be willing to run the Kentucky Derby marathon (april 24, 2004) and then do a 26-way afterwards(probably a first, 26 cases)? There's a DZ 35 miles away and the race starts at 7 a.m.(plenty of time to go through a few jumps and do a 26 way after the run) Just think of all the free beer you could drink that evening!!! I get alot from "whuffos" for both. "why do you want to run that far?" and "why do you blah...blah....blah...?" I am not a big-way organizer (just read my profile) but think this would be one helluva day. I will be running with some whuffo buddies (they run for cash, but love beer) and will be looking to play afterwards anyway. "Never waste a heartbeat."

And under any circumstances NEVER EVER get married. Have to differ here. My wife was the one that kept wanting to go. It wasn't until the 4th or 5th skydive that I was hooked. I just looked over and said "remember baby, this is all your fault." "Never waste a heartbeat."

Just like rolling out of bed. If you roll out of bed on the right side, you fold your right arm into your body and roll your shoulder. "Never waste a heartbeat."

Feb 2, 1968. Yes, I'm one of the few, the proud, the Ground Hogs. We even have a web site in our honor. http://www.groundhog.org/history/ "Never waste a heartbeat."

Someone may want to take a look at the description when it gets posted and bounce it off the stolen gear list. Me thinks the glass may be half empty on this one. "Never waste a heartbeat."

John, Even if funds are tight (believe me I know the feeling) there's much to be gained from hanging out at the DZ. I am sure you have met Pierre, he talked you down on your first jumps. He is also a master rigger and loves to teach packing. I am a constant pain in his ass. He can teach you everything about canopy construction, container construction, main packing, reserve packing, 3 ring ratios; what do you want to know about a rig? I want to know everything about that backpack that will save my life! John can do the same. I highly suggest you talk to these guys and pick their brains. They love to teach. Stephanie taught me how to pack. I jumped 4 or 5 of my own pack jobs before I had it signed off. I could have probably gotten a sig on it but she was always asking "are you gonna jump that?" I get a 500-600 snivel every time. Even after I got my license she asked "aren't you gonna pack that rental gear?" and I do. Eric's son is 11 and has about 800 pack jobs. He can teach you. Yeah, I said ELEVEN. Kid knows more about a rig than 90% of the people jumping them. The DZ is a very social place but I urge you to come out and learn the important stuff. Goose "Never waste a heartbeat."

Alot of good feedback here. I'm mostly paying attention to the NC people as I am only 20 miles from your stateline. I am concerned with the humidity here. I have gotten mixed signals in this forum as well as my dz. Now I will show my complete ignorance. What about Rainex or something like that? Does it degrade the faceshield that much? What do the Harley riders do? Has anyone asked those guys before? Just thinking out of the box. Goose "Never waste a heartbeat."

In Suffolk, VA they say we'll jump through the winter (my first season). Is there a risk of the face shield icing over? Are goggles a better option? It's starting to get a bit nippy at 14000. "Never waste a heartbeat."

Spatula, I jump out at Suffolk too. When you see the name "goose" on the manifest, that'd be me. We may have met, not quite sure. See ya' round the beer lamp. "Never waste a heartbeat."

I never would have done this myself, my wife talked me into it. I think she should buy me a dropzone. "Never waste a heartbeat."

I made a comment on jump 3 (or whenever they let you go in freefall for the first time) that I felt like a Goose. My name now comes up as Goose on the computer for manifest. Sort of cool but nobody knows my real name. "Never waste a heartbeat."

Have to concur with AggieDave on this one. I wanted to be the typical "MAN" and go AFF from the start after my wife did a Tandem and wanted to do AFF. She passed, I didn't pull, try again. Just stay on top of it. I've never seen a group of people work as hard as these instructors. They love what they do. Just hope I can take on their responsibility someday. They saved my ass on my first jump!! By the way; I still finished the requirements in 25 jumps (IMHO was a good move by the USPA) and experienced jumpers walked up after my checkdive and asked if I wanted to do a 4-way (probably for the beer) and I was right on the next load. It's all about having a good time with good people. "Never waste a heartbeat."

Tom, We are considering the trip with John and the group from Suffolk, VA. First things first, rigs, expenses, blah, blah, blah. Hope to see you guys soon though. "Never waste a heartbeat."

I have read several of the threads in this area and have the same questions that other new jumpers do. "What can I do to start honing the real skills? When do I start to learn to fly with my feet, not my arms? How do I learn to get the most out of a dirt dive?" I have an extremely low number of jumps (18) but knew from about jump 3 or 4 (which ever one they let go of you) that RW is the way to go. At my DZ I have been fortunate enough to have coaches that will let me plan the jumps and determine what I want to get out of it while mixing in the requirements for qualifications and maintain a high level of safety. This way I get to pick exits I've seen and learn them, work on chasing the coach out of the plane (2-3 sec count) or let him chase me, plan the grabs (touches) and presentations so I have to think the jump through before I manifest. If I plan something unsafe or above my level, they let me know, I get fixed, we move on and have a good time. I DO NOT want to make this recommendation to others because of my lack of experience but figure it's probably the same at other DZs. If you come to your coach with a plan, you just made the coach's job easier and they will teach you what ever you want (to your ability). The coach wants to enjoy the skydive and get as much out of it as much as the student. Defenitely think the wind tunnel trip is the way to go for the belly down people. My wife likes freefllying. WHAT DO I DO??? ***Never waste a heartbeat "Never waste a heartbeat."

She was actually the first to go (never got that case by the way). Got her a tandem for her B-day. Next thing I know we're in an AFF course. Pushy women. Gotta luv em'!!! "Never waste a heartbeat."

Just saying hey. Should wrap up the A liscense in the next couple of weeks. Can't believe I let my wife talk me into this. Skydiving, good friends, and alot of beer.***Never waste a heartbeat. "Never waste a heartbeat."