bertusgeert

Haha, I was in the same boat until a few months ago. You just gotta figure it out for yourself man, I did, and now I'm doin pretty damn good. What is the end goal you are trying to reach by going to college. Is there another way of achieving that goal? If this is the best option, then simply do it man. A sign of maturity is being able to handle delayed gratification, seeing the whole picture, instead of wanting now. I started simply by disciplining. No guitar, no tv, no movies, and yes.... no skydiving... until I get my GPA up. THEN use it as a reward for yourself. Also take some time off. I did, and I'm very glad I did. Hope it helps man, just keep fightin with yourself, I know what its like! Just think of the opportunities you have that so many people in the world dont, they would give their left ball to be where you are. That should be enough motivation! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Cool then. I will see if I can get on a course sometime soon, and learn what I can from the experienced ppl. I'll stay away from those risers, and concentrate on improving my pattern. No sense in falling to earth at 120mph, opening fully working parachute to stop you from bouncing, and then using that parachute to go ahead and smack yourself into the ground anyhow! Thanks! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Good point! The pattern is very important. The descent rate is something I will keep in mind. So maybe a gentle use of risers on high final is safer than S turns? Right or Wrong? I like to play under canopy quite a bit and usually cut a little freefall time to get more canopy time, I open at 4,500 to 5,000. This seperates me from the more experienced folks a bit. As I get better I will work on sharing the airspace. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Sweet then... I now jump at Kentucky Skydiving Center in Frankfort, Southeast of Louisville. I will def. fight my boss to get off then! THanx all! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Dude, I sell 'em all, SPrint, Verizon, T-Mobile, Cingular, AT&T, Airlink, Nextel. They are ALL out to rip your waller apart. In the US, these guys want every single cent they can. Notice how US technology is so far lacking, old phones. I had a japanese guy tell me one time our newest phone was like 5 years old. WHy? Because these companies sell as much product as they can to get every penny before they have to come out with something new to capture people's atention. And they all do it. End result, it suks for you, the person supporting them. As for plans, I have heard so incredibly many screwups its incredible. Only way to get around it is to just not use it. I sell 'em and I have the lowest plan ever, just for emergencies. Cell phones PISS ME OFF. How about joining together in a violent mob and protesting? ANyone up for that? --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Globes rock. just like Vans or any other skatie shoe. So comfy! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

I have always had on target landings, and only one non-standup, my 5th, first one in no winds, so I wasnt used to the forward speed and tripped, my instructor watched me and told me it was all good, I just wasnt prepared to run, the flare was fine. I am a very heads up pilot. I used to play a lot of FlightSim in heavy traffic doing touch and goes. I think this actually gave me a lot of sense about looking around, being aware of a lot of things that applies to canopy flying as well. The outs at my DZ is great on one side, some trees, but quite a bit of open space. The airport is pretty dang big itself. The other side is buildings and yards. I have never had an off landing (yet!) My landings has never been over 30 yards off, and the last 20 jumps I have def. been within 20 yards consistently, often even more accurate. I know about S turns, and use them. I also know about the glideslope trick and use that. Front risering is not a problem at all. Anytime throughout my canopy flight I can pull and hold them fully as long as I need to. I climb quite a bit, so this isnt a prob. So thanx for the advice. I understand that Safety is of primary concern, and even if I was the bestest, i will not use the front risers on approach until later when I get some direct instruction. I was simply wondering when it would be safe for someone to try. Ans in reply to skydvr823, I see what you are saying, and that is kinda what I'm thinking. I am landing everything I jump really well, very close to the target. My paterns are pretty good, no prob at all. I have done everything I can under the 220 up top, and i'm reading and trying everything I can find on here. (up top!) Obviously, i feel very confident underneath the 220, I do feel that it would bore me pretty quickly. In the end, thanks all, any comments and warnings are def. apreciated. I will wait for a canopy like Courteney said, it'll come along! What about this tho. One time a jumper (unnamed) didnt know i was renting, when he found out, he said I should have told him and he would have loaned me his rig since he wasnt jumping. It was a 170, and he knew me pretty well. Was this stupid, or not too stupid? (i didnt!) En ja, seker mar. ek was so lanklaas in Suid Afrika dat ek nie sal weet nie. Ek sal gougou my sig. lyn verander! Dis so lekker om so moerse baie SAers hierso raak te loop! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

So I got a message on my phone that my DZ is getting a Turbine Westwind in this weekend... I have no clue what it is, and have searched all over for it... Anyone have pics? The only thing I can find is a Corporate Jet. Should I make plans to fight my boss to have this weekend off? Tell me more about this plane, and if it is cool or not. How many jumpers, how fast? Note: We usually only do 5 or 6 loads a day out of a 182 on weekends... i know that this weekend we have a shitload of tandems tho... --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Started jumping last Sept. Put 19 in before October. Kept current over the winter, and a little more. Went to Deland 3 weeks ago and put in 9 jumps. Going to put in 5 this weekend. So maybe not AS uncurrent as you thought, but I understand I am still very inexerienced. I'll change my time in sport to

I know I know its dangerous! Thats why I ask! I wont do it ! Sorry! Ok, so I love playing with my canopy, have done a lot of reading on it, and understand airflow very well. I have played a heck of a lot with it up top. (I have done a lot of reading on planes since I was little as well). I want to know a ballpark for how many jumps I need to start using front risers to not overshoot my target. (not to pick up speed to swoop, but just for acc.) I know my instructors are the best resort, but I jump at a tiny DZ, and the DZO is the only instructor, and he is extremely, overly safety conscious. He tells me I need a 250 F111, and I have jumped a 220 several times no prob, on target, standup. (even the guys at Deland said I'm overdue to use a smaller canopy). See my prob? So any advice? I weigh 175. (also... I want to buy a canopy, and my DZO is trying to sell me a 250 he has. I KNOW I'll be bored VERY quickly, and I want to keep the canopy for at least a hundred jumps or so to make it worthwhile. So what is a safe canopy size to start out on? Other very experienced jumpers have told me that a 170 - 190 would be a good range to look at and try out before I buy.) --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Definately. US Airshows Rock. The only problem is that most Americans dont know that, and take it for granted. First US Airshow I saw blew me away. So much variety, and it doesnt stop. Friggin awesome. Anyone been to the Dayton Airshow? Oshkosh? How do they compare with Edwards? --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Ummmm..... I might be the dumb one here, but isnt that a picture of three Para-GLIDERS? --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Welcome man I love reading these and being reminded of that first few days after that first jump! Uncomparable, just like you said. May you have many more safe, productive and fun jumps ahead! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Ive done it. It seems to fit pretty good, but there are times when it doesnt really. Pretty crazy tho. The album also will play through more than once, but it'll still fit. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Somewhat agree. It surprises me that people here worry about their status, whether it be jump #'s or # of posts. In the end it doesnt matter. I have talked to some really experienced dudes, and never knew how many jumps they had. It doesnt make them different as a person. Only when people give advice (in other forums) should we be concerned. If someone is so worried about their status, then let them be happy with the fake #. For now, I would like everyone to just chill around the fire?! how bout that?

Check this out, I wonder what the doctor's opinions are! http://www.newcanoeu.com/Colleges/School/BodyBucks/ --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Dude, that is crazy. You always hear of chernobyl. It s good to know what it looks like, it was very informative as well. Pretty insane, i wouldnt even go close to there. --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Dude, I feel ya, Ive been through the same. Then I thought about it and realized something. I can earn money the rest of my life at a job, letting people control when I work, when I sleep, What I eat, what i drive etc etc etc. Or I can open a business and make my own rules. In today's society that is the way to go. I was a raftguide in CO, and had a guy on my boat, and through talking, I learned he had a house in FL, NC, and CA. He was flying out the next day to go buy his wife an island in the Honduras. I was like. DUDE, tell me how you did this!! He told me.. go read RICH DAD POOR DAD - Robert Kiyosaki. So I tell you now, go read it! It'll change your life! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

HAHA Describes excactly how I felt! My first jump was AFF (had the same thoughts as you once under canopy. I was like, ummm, that ws it?! too quick dammit!) , and after I landed and all, my instructors got me to debrief with them. So they are all serious, and ask me, BERT..... DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED..... I was like.... ummm..... well... we got out of the plane.... and um.... fell.....i did some stuff and all of a sudden we were at 6000! I had to lock on wave off and pull!!! THey just cracked up! Now I can remember it all, including practice pulls, COA's, and how I stuck my tongue out and smiled at them. I didnt remember any of this for two days after the jump. Its awesome to see your awareness increase. You think you are there on your 5th jump, but then you do another one and you are ven more aware, and it continues, i'm still seeing the same thing occur! That only means one thing... I CAN GET A LOT BETTER!!!!! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

dittoooooooo --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Haha, very true! Since TB has been closed, I got on the computer less at work, school and home. - I wrote and finished a paper 3 days early, unheard of for me - I got on the net at home, had nothing to do on there, so I went for a jog, first one in months. I now jogged everyday since TB's been closed. - No joke, but I at least doubled my sales every day since TB's been closed. I miss it sorely, but HH, for the sake of my future and others, keep it closed! (And since TB is closed, and I cant say it anywhere else..... I GOT a big fat "A" stamp today....finally!) --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

Thats a very friendly and helpful attitude! Kinda relates to my point I was making on localism. I have greatly enjoyed asking q's here, learning a lot over the net from all you BASErs. But I agree with BASE813. But what other sports are more closely related to skydiving than BASE?! Sorry man, I agree with you on the rest, but thats ridiculous. On the one side BASErs say Skydiving is a REQUIREMENT for BASE. Then you say that there are other sports more closely related, and skydiving should not be seen as having anything to do with BASE? Would you care naming a few sports? Skydiving - jumping out of things from very high BASE - jumping OFF of things much lower in both activities you get your ass saved by a parachute, small or big. How can you argue that these are not closely related? I think if you dont want this forum here, then dont talk here! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

WHat a good idea indeed. But... If there are no moderators, that means whatever people want to say can be said. With that comes personal attacks, and with that comes agrtivation and even hatred towards specific others. Sometimes this situation occurs in the real world as well, yes, but far less than it will here, as someone posted an article about internet rage in talkback a while ago. My point being, agrivation and seperation in our community will occur in the rubber, unregulated, closed door room. It will then spread out over to the other forums, where people will be pissed at each other. Just a potential problem, but it might cause some grief for moderators in the rest of the forums, as well as creating big seperation in our community. (But in the end I think thats unavoidable with the amount of people on here!) --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

What a cool idea --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

I strongly agree with Rainbo, even though I dont kno you! Various forms of validating identities are being discussed here, but go look at each one of them, they can be abused by anyone who decides to take advantage of this very cool community. All those forms of validation can be faked and forged. I dont think we will ever find an answer here. (I applaud everyones efforts, I find some of them quite ingenious!) I am a three month old DZ.com user, and I love it, I have learned an incredible amount of skydiving info here. Talk Back was a fun area to "hang around the fire and talk shit". But it got out of control as we all know. It has been suggested that some people "vouch" for others. I know NO-ONE on here personally, although I have made very good friends in the short three months I have been on here. I can now travel to various DZ's around the country and meet them. All this said, I think the basic requirement should be to fill out your profile COMPLETELY. People can then decide for themselves if they want to trust you or not. It is easy by looking at someone's posts, and seeing how much crap vs. actual info they talk. The only system that works is by learning to trust for yourself. For instance. Being relatively new, I went to Deland a few weeks ago. Being used to a few jumpers that dont know a whole lot, I met some people down there that were very willing to talk about their experience and tell stories and such. The first night there I thought... this place is full of egomaniacs that make up bullshit about themselves, trying to look good to newbies, and establish their place at this major DZ. But soon enough I realized. These guys stories were REAL, they weren't talking shit, they knew what they were doin, and they were openly sharing, because they were cool assed dudes. They were the true thing, they were there when the shit went down. I say all this to show that only through listening did I realize these guys were the real thing, but I had to listen long enough. Someone that I trusted coulda told me that they were, and that woulda made me trust them, but this way of gaining someones trust will not work online. I had to decide for myself. And after that I had one of the funnest times of my life, talking to some real legends. I hope you all understand the point I am trying to get across. Just as Rainbo said, just as in real life, learn to trust for yourself. I did in three months, and learned an awesome lot. And by the way, this place, and you all, kick ass!!! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei!