mr_music11

Yeah.. you can usually cross train @ diff DZ's with your jump log and AFF video.. But I too stayed at one DZ just because of comfort level. Again, congrats! and good luck! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

What is "normal"... show me it.. and I'll show you why its not! For me.. couldn't get it out of my head for about a week (not that I tried too hard to remove it as I was imidiatly signed up for my AFF right after my tandem) Hop on in... the water's fine and the livin' is easy!!

Ok.... maybe I was asleep that day in stats class!! Didnt mean to piss any1 off! No worries.. obviously my "guestimation" of calculated risk was obviously off. My words were only to try and compare some of the obvious risks that each of us take everyday in our normal lives and put that in perspective to the choices that we make as skydivers. Minimizing risk is ALWAYS the name of the game. That being said... blues skies to you risky skydivers! and safe travels while on the ground too!! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Woooo hooooo... another 1 in the fold!!! Welcome! As with any risk based sport, there will always be an element of the unknown to face. Read other threads on the site about "favorite parts of skydiving".. you'll find a miriad of answers as to when each of our hearts race or stay calm. For me, all I have to do is think about the way I feel after a jump with all of its elements combined and it ALWAYS sums up to=may I have another please! No matter when you get into your comfort zone for the sport, it will be a journey that you will NEVER forget. Again, welcome... good luck in your training.. blue skies If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

If YOU consider yourself a skydiver ( assuming you are "active" in the sport ) then who are "we" (anybody else) to try and contradict you just becuase of what ones personal "meaning" of what a skydiver is. If you jump out of planes as often as you can/afford... well.. you do the math If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Welcome! Yes.. skydiving definatly has a way of reminding you that you are alive! Nothing like a little attitude adjusment with a little alititude adjustment! Good luck on your training! C'mon on out to Nor Cali where the fun is high and the skies ususally blue! Enjoy! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Skydiving has CONSUMED my thoughts ever since my first tandem 2 years ago. Skydiving isn't just a sport, its a lifestyle. A lifestyle that can not be explained in words. So well put by another... I don't skydive to die... I skydive to LIVE! Statistically speaking, your chances of hurting yourself or losing your life are more than likely higher on your local roads heading towards the supermarket than jumping out of a plane. But to each their own, in their own comfort levels. I personally choose to live life to the fullest. Living lifes moments 1 by 1, trying to take it all in, appreciating all that that moment has to offer. Skydiving is the consumate of that! Although skydiving is NOT for everyone, if they could only do it once to begin to understand what we skydivers are addicted to... we know why birds sing! I believe that when its your time to go... its your time to go. I would rather be able to say that I did it.. living, loving and laughing the whole way!! Blue skies.. and good luck with the reluctant family! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Welcome... and makes no difference(at least if you ask me) wether you jump 1x a month or 100x a month.. you're still envolved in the most wonderfull sport! Nor cali is a great! place to go for winter fun jumping! c'mon out! blue skies If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Ahhh...yes, another addicted person to the sport!! welcome to the wonderfull world of "living in the moment" ( when was the last time you jumped out of a plane and thought about your car payment that was due!!! ) Never will skies, planes or big pieces of colorfull fabric look the same. What a liberating feeling for the small price of a jump tix. Good luck in your AFF, come on out to northern cali where the weather is great and the skies ususally blue! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

What DZ is this at? If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

I would say that it depends on the DZ. It took me a little over a year to get my A license.. sometimes going as much as 2.5 months in between jumps/yes the long the time in btween, the longer it takes to "knock the dust off". I kept an constant relationship going even though I might not be jumping on a given weekend, i would be @the DZ practicing packing or getting other helpfull info on the sport. So the AFF instructors/DZ operator knew me well, and allowed me to go up even after the 2.5 months with just a quick ground school refresher course(no charge) to ensure that I wasnt going to forget everthing that I had learned in the previous months. Learning in Lodi, CA the weather was pretty cooperative all year round(come on out.. lots of places here in nor cali ! ) Wind tunnels are an excellent way to keep your brain in the game/but expensive!! good luck! blue skies If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Congrats! on the AFF1.. not too long now and you'll be well on your way to the A license. Dont forget northern cali to try jumpin! Skydance/Davis is a great place as well!! Hope to see you in the blue skies! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Your "kick ass" chic will accept you for who you are and wont ask you to compromise that which truly makes you happy If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Welcome! Blue skies and soft landings! I went up in a glider there on the North shore... while aloft we saw two! tandem cut aways on the same load. I wasnt skydiving at the time that I took the plane ride, but thought it would be a blast to jump there in Hawaii. I too have thought about jumping there and wanted to know about the trade winds... what are they usually there? Am sure that by the time that you are done with your training that you will be well versed in high wind situations which will put you will above the curve compared to most "new" skydivers like myself. Again, welcome! come on out to Northern Cali where the weather isnt quite as tropical, but we still have great! jumping weather! Good luck on your training! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Yes.. it is Lodi,CA where you can get $13 lifts. Yes you do have to get them bulk (I think its $20 when just a single ticket is purchased).. but if you're gonna be jumpin' might as well do it as cheaply as possible (of course with out compromising risk! ) They dont have any rooms in Lodi, but campers/RV's seem to be welcome as I have seen both there on many an occasion. The weather stays pretty good thru out the year and even winter jumping isnt too cold. Bill Dause is the cheapest in the area.... and he knows it! And for that you do pay for some of the attitude that is there / not quite as friendly as other DZ's that I have been to. But for the most part, a great place for experienced jumpers to go. There is also a new DZ in Lincoln,CA (just north of Sacramento) Havnt had the chance to go there yet, but look forward to it soon! Anyone out there have any reviews about the new DZ? Blue skies to all! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

1st, welcome to the wonderfull world of skydiving! Yes, addictive. Yes, initially expensive to get into the sport. But after you have your first rig.. you can find lifts as cheap as $13 to 13k! Can be expensive on the buy in, but once there... you're good to go. I would recomend first going thru your classes first, even get some jumps under your belt with rented gear from your DZ or maybe demo'ing some various manufactures eq. The $ that you will spend will be well worth it. Not to mention, you will usually downsize @least 1x as you progress thru your 1st to 50th jump ( I did twice... trained on 210, downsized to 190, 7 jumps later downsized to 170 (although Ive heard from some that I did that too quickly, have had no problems tho) and have stayed @my now 1st rig with a triathalon 175) Have ANY gear that you purchase inspected by a liscensed rigger. Purchase all used gear thru a reputable source/most good sources will also have a return policy (square 1, action air parachutes) I have gone more than 30 days in between jumps(not by choice, just by gas prices! to get to the DZ) And although it takes a few more min to knock the dust off while on the ground, you mentally prepare, go thru the dive before you climb onto the plane, no problems.. like anything that you have trained well in, you'll remember, just like riding a bike. Good luck! Blue Skies If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

I think I'd say after your 1st totally un assisted jump. However, I think that my brain considered itself a "skydiver" after the 1st tadem as I knew from that point forward, if I had anything to say about it, Id be skydiving. So you could almost argue that you're a skydiver that moment your brain says "we're going to do this again, and again , and again" and commit to the course of classes/learning the sport. Blue skies If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Welcome! Although a mostly male dominated sport, you will find that most in the sport are open to sharing and encouraging all to get involved. And the more women the better if you ask me!!! I was thankfull to be "indoctrinated" by a fellow female skydiver who gave my wife all of the words of comfort that she needed to hear to feel secure that her husband wasnt taking too large of a risk when starting the sport. I too jump in Lodi (also wen thru my AFF there/Mikey was my instructor) and dont have many jumps under my belt (heading towards jump 40 this friday!) If you are interested in getting together for some fun jumps or have any questions about my experiences there in Lodi... drop me a line. Blue skies! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

I still get nervous everytime on the ride to altitude (and yes the antique apearance of the jump plane doesnt help that! ) Once out, I am more calm. But same as another jumper in this thread, BPM is up on the ride, down right after exiting the plane. Back up @ pilot chute throw and delay for chute open. Back down after chute opening/canopy flight. Back up when Iam in the pattern for landing and @flare time. Ahhh, what a rush!! Skies, clouds, planes or lare pieces of colorfull fabric will NEVER look the same! Hope I never lose that "newbie" feeling as it is such a rush!! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Welcome back! after so long! Nothing like a good skydive to remind you that you're alive. My condolances to you in the lost of your loved ones. Living your life to its fullest will be a nice tribute to them. And thank you again for your service to our country. Enjoy! Blue skies! Blessings If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Hey.. so, heres the link(below) to the new DZ in Lincoln. Havnt jumped there yet, but am planning to do so in the near. Give me a heads up with a little advance notice, we can do this! http://www.skydivesacramento.net/ If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Hey LuckyMcSwervy! Love the user id!! Welcome to my world of excitement! Had flown small planes for a short time to experience the joy of flying.. and was satisfied with that experience...but after skydiving I now know why birds sing! Nothing more liberating! falling/flying from 13K WOW! All prev posts are true, the skydiving community is opened armed to newbies (just like me!! /and turnin' 40 on 9/11!! ) Enjoy your AFF !! Blue skies! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Hey guys. Am juiced about seeing other newbies to the sport in the Sac area as that is where I am and jump as often as I can afford in time/$$ !! (usually in Davis or Lodi) Do you both know about the new DZ in Licoln area? Give me a holler, would enjoy goin for some fun jumps. More importantly WELCOME to the wonderfull world of flying! Until then... Blue skies!! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Im still pretty darn new to the sport (only 37 jumps to date) so its ALLLLLLL still fresh and exciting. From talking to other jumpers, to a certain degree that "edge" is taken off ( Like with anything that you would do over and over again) but they still get the jitters/excitement when jumping. I try to remember that no 2 jumps will be exactly the same. Learn from each one of them and enjoy them all. Again, blue skies and welcome! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.

Thanks for the questions! and link to other thread.. was wondering this myself as I have recntly purchsd a container that wasnt the "dream container" cuz of funds. Was thinkin about chanin' some things.. but looks like Im stuck with "wearin ugly" ha ha ha ha LOL blue skies! If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive.