FinallyTracking

I'm in the coached jumps phase myself. The exits are much more fun at this level :) AFF 1: $320 AFF 6: $850 Beer: $36 Not having to wear the bright blue spandex student jumpsuit because it's the only one small enough to fit me: Priceless

I had the same spinning problem when I was going through AFF. Any idea what's starting your spins, and what's preventing you from stopping them? I had to repeat several levels of AFF, and a couple of them more than once... My DZ sent video up on two of the jumps for free and used it as a teaching tool. My big problems? Uneven legs, not exerting positive pressure on the relative wind, and not being relaxed. Toe taps fixed my uneven legs. Once I started spinning, I would stop if I just arched as hard as I could and relaxed, BREATHED. Relaxing up there is hard when you're new! Well it was for me anyway, and it sounds like it is for you, too. My instructors told me to take an extra second when I looked at my altimeter, take a breath, arch, and relax. That helped a ton. What also helps is realizing you actually have a TON of time up there to work with. There's no need to get stressed and try to rush through! Just breathe and do it at a steady, even pace. Don't get overwhelmed :) If you mess something up, take a breath, fix your arch, and try again. Don't ever try anything if you're not stable, because you'll just be stressed and it won't turn out right. Take that extra second, breathe, stabilize, THEN try again. Taking that extra second will save you time in the long-run, because you won't be repeating manouvres. Where's your home DZ? I see you talking about going to LA for a windtunnel, and I'm curious if we're jumping at the same place. AFF 1: $320 AFF 6: $850 Beer: $36 Not having to wear the bright blue spandex student jumpsuit because it's the only one small enough to fit me: Priceless

15 jumps, huh? Good for you for sticking with it! It took me 13, so I'm sure we had some similar experiences trying to pass ;) Don't feel pressured to complete your A License requirements in the next 10 jumps. Remember that you're doing this for fun! If it takes 30, 35 jumps to get that A, nothing lost, right? My advice for you is to get some fun jumps in and work on some of the basics for yourself before paying for coached jumps. That way you don't have to waste the money just to repeat them if you don't get it at first. Blue ones! AFF 1: $320 AFF 6: $850 Beer: $36 Not having to wear the bright blue spandex student jumpsuit because it's the only one small enough to fit me: Priceless

I say go ahead and start, and the money will magically make itself available for additional levels. It's true... You might end up with a second job, but you'll find a way to finance things ;) I kid. Cost decreases GREATLY after coming off student status, especially if you can afford your own gear. Trust me, once you make that first jump, you'll be much more motivated to follow-up with additional ones. AFF 1: $320 AFF 6: $850 Beer: $36 Not having to wear the bright blue spandex student jumpsuit because it's the only one small enough to fit me: Priceless

Thanks! Go you, too! :) AFF 1: $320 AFF 6: $850 Beer: $36 Not having to wear the bright blue spandex student jumpsuit because it's the only one small enough to fit me: Priceless

Thanks for the welcome! Yeah, we're both on the same track right now, working toward our A License. It was initially funded by our tax return (which we just got a couple months ago), but we're definitely blowing through some $$ right now! Thankfully we both have steady income and I have extra money coming in from the Montgomery G.I. Bill. We've decided to forego putting $ in our savings account for the next couple months ;) He'll have his own jumpable gear in 3 weeks once the AAD comes in so our rigger can set it up, and I'll have mine in about 9 weeks (ordering a custom container this weekend because used rigs my size are just impossible to find if I don't make huge compromises in what I need). That will cut down on our costs by a huge amount! You can't carry money with you to the grave is our motto for the moment, and once we have gear we'll be back on track with our savings, so we're all set :) AFF 1: $320 AFF 6: $850 Beer: $36 Not having to wear the bright blue spandex student jumpsuit because it's the only one small enough to fit me: Priceless

Well I'm lying a little when I say I'm new here... I lurk here a lot. Figured I might as well get in on the action. I bought tandem skydives for my husband and me for his birthday. It's not something I wanted to do at all, but I figured it would be even nicer for him if we could share it, so I bit the bullet and signed my life (and sanity) away for a little piece of his happiness. We did our tandems July 11, the Saturday after his birthday. The following Saturday we were sitting through FJC, and hours later we were flinging ourselves out the door of an airplane. (Or in my case, being assisted out the door of an airplane. I later came to discover that my mainside instructor was new -- I was student #8 for him -- and his first one to freeze up in the door .) So now here I am, 22 jumps in and in the process of purchasing gear. I'm in this for the long-haul. Ultimate goals? Free-flying, camera flying, coaching, instruction, and general badassery. Can't wait to get to know everyone here! Erin AFF 1: $320 AFF 6: $850 Beer: $36 Not having to wear the bright blue spandex student jumpsuit because it's the only one small enough to fit me: Priceless