falling.gator

Absolutely! Everyone is welcome to come hang out. If you're not in college, pretend like you are and do a keg stand or play beer pong or something like that. It'll make you feel young again.

I'll be there. Coincidentally, that weekend starts Spring Break for the University of Florida. I couldn't think of a better kickoff event. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

Being Prez is different than being a jumper. Did it lead to jobs? No jobs, but I think that has more to do with my lack of experience in the field (I'm only a sophomore) than my jumping. During an interview with General Electric, the interviewer commented that he particularly liked my involvement in skydiving and how relaxed I obviously was under high pressure, decision intensive environments. And your right, being Prez is different than just being a jumper. If I weren't Prez, I could jump more and not have to deal with Student Government whuffos. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

I'm an aerospace engineering major at the University of Florida. On my resume, under leadership, I put that I am currently the president of the Falling Gators Skydiving Club. Every single one of my interviewers mentioned it during the first 2 minutes. They always thought it was outstanding and it led to a great conversation. Many of them had either made a jump or were interested. It may help that I was interviewing for an aero eng. position, since the fields are a bit related. I was often asked what type of jump planes I used. I say use it for sure. It shows that you're a dynamic individual with varied interests and excellent decision making capability. Besides, you should always be proud of being a skydiver. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

Okay, hopefully this answers some questions. During the day our club will be offering food concessions on site at reasonable pricing. Food will most likely include eggs, bacon, biscuits & gravy, coffee, juice, pastries, and the like for breakfast; hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, chips, etc. for lunch. I'll work on getting dinner donated by local food providers like Sonny's BBQ and Domino's Pizza. As for beer, we have a fellow regular jumper who drives a beer truck for a living. Enough said. As for instructors, there are plenty at Skydive Palatka. They are well versed in the methods of AFF and S/L. Since Palatka owns two C-182's, S/L jumps are no problem. Also, I'm trying to get T-Shirts made for the boogie. If your club knows how many and what sizes, please let me know so I can order more accurately. Right now I'm thinking of modeling the design after a Corona Extra label. If there are any other questions or suggestions, just let me know. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

Don't forget about the University of Florida Collegiate Boogie January 13-16. It's all about fun in the air and partying on the ground. We'll be jumping a Grand Caravan and helicopter with a Porter on call if we need it. Plenty of jumpers in all disciplines including wingsuit flocks. For more details visit www.skydiveuf.com or www.skydivepalatka.com. If you have any specific questions PM me here or email me at falling.gator@gmail.com. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

The club moved to Skydive Palatka for its superior service and safety. I learned to jump at Williston and made many good friends there, so I will never disown the place. However, in an objective comparison, Palatka is better suited to the needs of the club. A quiet instruction room and safer student equipment lend themselves to superior instruction methods for our new jumpers. The support facilities, such as bathrooms/showers are in better condition. There is a rigger on staff who can do all our club gear maintenance work. The landing area is directly next to the main building / packing area. Also, during the summer they run 2 planes which allow us to get more loads in the air so that everyone stays happy. Skydive Palatka will also be flying a Grand Caravan this winter, which is the same plane we used for last year's boogie, and has access to a helicopter, which was not a luxury last year. I do not mean to start any feuding or name calling on this or any other forum. I simply wanted to lay out the reasoning the club used in its decision to move our support to Skydive Palatka. Be assured that the club harbors no hard feelings toward any individuals. While there may have been personal conflicts in the past they have been rectified by the parties involved. The club does not maintain a malicious intent in any of its dealings and wishes Skydive Williston the best of fortune. We are all in this sport to have fun and be safe. The club simply concluded that, for us, this can best be accomplished at Skydive Palatka. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

What happened to Williston?*** Lots of things. Among them: we left in favor of Skydive Palatka, who have actual doors on their planes and other safety innovations. We feel that Skydive Palatka is a superior dropzone and will support them in all our activities. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

Tammie beat me to the post. I was just logging on to put some info up, and dang it if she didn't spoil all my fun. Like she said above, we look forward to some great jumps with fellow collegiate jumpers. I know the date is really close to Collegiate Nationals in Lake Wales, but trust me, our boogie is worth coming too. Past years' fun included intoxicated foreigners leaping over the bonfire, taking an inflatable fat chick for her first AFF, cruising around in a bulldozer we found during the night, that kid from Maryland eating a grub he found in a log for a jump ticket, and other stories that I'll censor for public decency's sake. If you're not in college, but wish you were, come make some jumps with us, anyone is welcome. So far we have confirmations from UGA, Florida Tech, UNF, and Embry-Riddle. I'm going out on a limb, but I'm assuming that the crew from U. Maryland is coming again like they always do. Spread the word and we'll make this year the biggest yet. For any questions/comments/concerns/criticisms/etc. you can email me at falling.gator@gmail.com or PM me here. Jared Lee President, Falling Gators

B2 Paige f1freak LouDiamond justaflygirl IhazySky Jwilson Marcandyalysse MarkM Meux Salsa John Superman0710 JGarcia Rick RockyMntHigh The111 Thanatos340 - Bringing Jello shots and Body Paints (PM to set up a time if you want to Painted) keila_beatriz ivanrockon Stiner Falling.Gator - will be making 100th jump! Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

Change the first warning for breakoff depending on the dive. 3500' lets me know when to start braking from a track (assuming I don't need to be tracking for obvious reasons). Sirens start at 2500'. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

I'm currently a freshman at the University of Florida (Go Gators!), a new skydiver, and the VP of Advertising for UF's Falling Gators Skydiving Club. I began jumping in July '04 and currently have 36 jumps. That doesn't seem like much, but thanks to some awesome coaching and a small DZ I've already completed a couple 8 ways, several 6, 5, 4, 3 ways. You get the picture. It is now my goal to put together a competitive 4 way team for next year's collegiate nationals. I'm going to be attending collegiates this week in Lake Wales to get some input on how to best go about pulling together a team. I thought that some people on here could also give me some great advice on building a team, training, coaching, cash-flow, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Jared Lee

I packed from jump number 1. Of course, I was supervised by a coach for the first 5 or so packs, but after that I was on my own. After I got off student gear on jump 8, I packed a nearly Triathlon with about 10 jumps on it for myself. I've packed every time I landed and twice for other people. I have 36 jumps and I don't really know what some of you people are complaining about. Packing is a life-saving skill and something that you should learn to do well for all types of canopies. Sure, that Triathlon was a pain in the ass and I started over on more than one occasion. But the skills learned were well worth the effort. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

Also, check out the UF Falling Gators website: www.skydiveuf.com Hasn't been updated too much, but keep checking back for new info. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators

I'm a VP of UF Falling Gators. I'm a new jumper, but I just can't seem to get enough. Skydiving and college do mix, even at a large university with an active social scene. The Collegiate Boogie @ Skydive Williston will be Jan. 14th - 17th and I'll be there all day, every day since my club is throwing it. Everyone is invited to a great party with plenty of skydiving. Jared Lee Cohete Rodriguez / Team Dirty Sanchez #74 Former President, UF Falling Gators