emmiwy

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Everything posted by emmiwy

  1. emmiwy
    Yep saw it on another thread :) Good of the instructors to deal with these kinds of the students, especially the screaming ones!
  2. emmiwy
    It should read "you know you are a newbie skydiver if..... I thought it was implied , assuming you look at my profile :) So that means you don't dream about it anymore? Hopefully it's not just a job for you...
  3. emmiwy
    Going in dreams?
  4. emmiwy
    1. You have dreams about it 2. You start to make skydiving related references in regular conversation with non-skydivers (e.g. I'm going to cut away the knot in this bag because I can't undo it) 3. You practice AFF diveflow in random, everyday places (e.g. practicing AFF exit in the opening of an elevator door 4. Scour the internet for and watch skydiving videos on Youtube 5. Look forward to Sundays not for church but for skydiving. It's my religion. 6. Not liking the rain/cloudy days when you once loved it before I miss my DZ during the week :(
  5. emmiwy
    Yeah I think you're right. I did 15 min of tunnel in the morning and just one jump yesterday, but practiced a lot of the positioning on the ground. My instructor was incredibly insistent and conscientious I get the body positioning right before I go up. I've had several different instructors, she's been for lack of better term the only "hard ass" so far. But a VERY GOOD instructor [which is probably why she's an instructor/examiner] and has gained respect for her reputation at our DZ. :)
  6. emmiwy
    Certainly. I'll look forward to going smaller but for now I'll work on flaring on a 240 right now. If I can do flare for a canopy this size it'll make the smaller ones feel like a walk in the park. Thanks, it helps to have input from a fellow smaller-sized female jumper. :)
  7. emmiwy
    Yep, in front, close to the body. Elbows upwards that's a good way to describe it. I'm trying to isolate where the soreness is right now...it really feels like my entire arm from shoulder to elbow [but that may be more from practicing the positioning in tunnel and arching]. It almost feels like soreness across the chest too. Thanks!
  8. emmiwy
    Yep thanks for the tisp--I wanted to ask here just because I have a week before I talk to my instructor again when I head back to the DZ. :) I can do the full flare it's just very resistant, I certainly have to put muscle into it. I suppose ideally I'd like to do it without any effort at all. I like what you said though, hesitance and lack of confidence are two things that don't really help you skydive better. Trust is a big thing I'm only starting to learn to have in myself.
  9. emmiwy
    Hey everyone, I just passed my AFF level 3 yesterday, and am finally starting to feel more comfortable with relaxing while flying, and pulling on time :) So my lvl 3 instructor gave me tips on how to perform the two-stage flare, specifically because we are both women who don't have the upper body strength. I'd like to be able to flare better to improve my landings. She showed me a method of pulling down in front that was easier but it still gets me sore the next day. Anyone have tips on how to do the full flare more readily? I've seen more experienced divers flare behind them [I assume only because they are more experienced]. And I've been going to the weight room to build upper body strength but it seems not to be working adequately enough; perhaps I'm working the wrong muscles? Thanks!
  10. emmiwy
    Awesome another skydiver from Elsinore ! That place is my second home officially. :) I'm going to be doing my level 5 next weekend [hopefully if the weather holds] otherwise I think I'm going to do tunnel. See you around!
  11. emmiwy
    How about the really scared students? Anyone have one who was scared sh**less and wouldn't jump? I heard about one today at my DZ. I guess they're not really memorable, just sad that they missed an awesome opportunity.
  12. emmiwy
    Oh yeah I definitely agree. Nothing like a busy DZ to keep everyone on their toes and energetic! I was at the tunnel this morning @ Perris. AMAZING experience, I dare say liked it better than the real thing once I got used to it [only because you don't have to worry about all the other stuff when going through the AFF]. I think I'm now more leaning towards learning how to become a better belly flier.
  13. emmiwy
    All I have to say is watching this video and reading this thread makes me really appreciative of my DZ and where I did my first tandem. I'd rather have a safe, successful ride than have a TM who wanted to show me a super thrilling ride.
  14. emmiwy
    I used to love the rain and cloudy days and have been wanting to live in the East Coast for that reason...until after my first tandem jump. Now I can't stop looking up at the sky when it's nice outside. :)
  15. emmiwy
    First one of 2010 was a week after my first [tandem] jump, New Years Eve, 2009. My TI made it so easy for me and so fun I had to go back, but this time for the AFF level 1. Best New Years I've ever had.
  16. emmiwy
    Do you feel like you're flying when you're high on percodan?
  17. emmiwy
    Haha well Harmless I certainly think you can afford to be completely self-reliant when you have a C license, 300+ jumps, know how to pack your own canopy, know how to check your own gear. :)
  18. emmiwy
    Yeah it seemed like a silly question...I was initially hesitant to ask because I felt all the instructors I've had so far have been incredibly attentive and conscientious [well, the exception of my first I think he was a little out of it after having gone to a strip club the previous night for a friend's birthday or something.]
  19. emmiwy
    +1 I really liked your description. And it's good to know that at some point the exit becomes less nerve-racking; I think I get scared that the wind will blow me away if I don't hang onto the door tightly enough. Skydiving has become a philosophy for me: becoming aware of the inherent risks to this sport, but still trusting your fellow divers, trusting the guy who packed your rig, trusting your instructor, jumpmasters, most importantly trusting yourself to pull. Once you let go of all those inhibitions skydiving is what I think of as an activity where you become very self-reliant, liberated, and empowered. And I have to add I feel so privileged to be a part of this community. It is one of the few things I look forward to every weekend.
  20. emmiwy
    Point well taken skybytch--thanks to you, students like me hopefully will benefit from instructors who truly care about how their students learn how to skydive. A question that a friend posed to me yesterday: do you think an instructor would intentionally offer "sub-par" instruction, so a student fails his AFF and have to pay for a repeat course? Of course the quality of instruction varies by person, some students do well with certain instructors as opposed to others, etc.
  21. emmiwy
    Thanks DesertDevil. :) It's a long ways away but the dream is certainly there. Speaking of scary moments, I have been watching YouTube videos documenting some "oops" moments in AFF jumps. Scary to think about it if it were to actually happen to me, but better to be aware and prepared than naive and unprepared.
  22. emmiwy
    And the full face helmet. Mmmm yeah won't disagree with that, it's pretty hot :)
  23. emmiwy
    I was telling my instructors after having to repeat level 2 twice, that they're awesome guys and I love them for coaching and hanging on to me, but was certainly not failing on purpose; apparently a middle aged woman at our DZ who was proficient at her jumps, intentionally tanked levels just so she could continue the coached jumps. One of the benefits of the AFF instructor rating, students grow attached to you no? :)
  24. emmiwy
    Would a case of beer for each AFF level change your mind ? I definitely owe that much to my instructors :)
  25. emmiwy
    I wonder how many "instructors" believe this hyperbole. Tandem is dangerous and when not treated that way instructors drop passengers, hook in it, pull handles out of order, gear failure etc etc Aff is dangerous and when mistakes are made students and/or instructors die etc etc Lots of instructors out there do not have a healthy respect for this. Thanks for reinforcing this Bob. Never hurts to be thinking about safety, no matter how experienced you are. A friend of mine today said "Emily, how can you not pull your parachute? That just sound so stupid" [in re: me knowing I was supposed to pull, reached for it @ right altitude but just couldn't find the main handle]. As a student it really needs to be drilled in our brains that the canopy IS going to save your life, that handle is everything.