Preparing for Another Jump
It’s been one of those days where all you can think about is the last greatest thing you did. Which for me, was my jump from a perfectly good plane yesterday. Gotta love skydiving. It’s only gonna be 12 days till my next jump, but like a kid near Christmas or birthday, the counting comes and believe you me, everyone will know most likely everyday how many days are left until my next jump. I’m just so excited that I can’t contain myself.
I bought my SIM (Skydiver’s Information Manual) today. It contains all the information I need to know to be a skydiver and become certified. I also went browsing (the internet) for goggles and gloves and helmets and jumpsuits and parachutes and an altimeter. But really I just need goggles and gloves. I have a pair of goggles in mind, the lenses can be changed for night diving, and then two for day diving, smoke for sunny days and amber for overcast days. As for the gloves, any gloves will work, but I have to be stylin’ so I haven’t decided on any yet. I also was looking at log books. I want a nice one, but realistically, anyone will do.
Speaking of log books, I’m going to ask my jump master’s if they mind if I put their names on my site, I want to do a log book online. Just so the world can see that I made another jump, what my stats were, what I did, and what my feelings about the jump were. I’ve even started working on a special layout just for those posts (sorry, I’m a geek).
I’ve been thinking about all the things that I want to do and I know that I’m not going to be able to do them on my first AFF jump, but I’m just so excited. I’d love to do a flip out of the plane, it’s like being a kid on the diving board at the pool, we always wanted to do flips. And then there’s holding a heading, I think it’s a delta move or something where your arms go behind you. There’s just so much, and I want to do it all. And I’m going to have to go jump in places where ground elevation is sea level, because hopefully I can get to jump from a higher elevation which means more freefall time, which means more time for fun and tricks.
I know that I just have to give this time and that I’ll eventually get to do everything I want, but I’m just so dang excited!
Courtney,
You have my permission to use my name. I’m glad you not only enjoyed your/ our jump, but seem to have found the satisfaction to your hunger for flight that all of us skydivers share.
You are correct, your first AFF jump will be pretty controlled. You will do nothing but stay stable while alternately checking your altitude and touching the handle to your ripcord. You WILL get to do the flips you crave, but that’s a handful of jumps in your future. You will hold a heading on your third jump, but all that takes is picking a spot on the horizon and keep pointing your body at it while your instructors fly next to you with no contact unless you need it. That’s called “hover control,” because you will be hovering in one spot relative to your instructors. Of course the three of you will be falling about 120 miles an hour toward Mother Earth, but you’ll all be doing it together.
I hope I can jump with you again soon. You did well.
About your equipment… As the weather gets cooler, more jumpers will use gloves. Take a look at the gloves they use. I’ve had great luck with football receiver gloves for grip, but they tend to fall apart pretty quickly. I also use bicycle gloves. More expensive and a little thicker, but much sturdier.
Also, take a look at helmets people wear. Try them on, see what works for you. As a student, you are required to wear a helmet on all of your jumps (plus jump a rig with an automatic activation device on your reserve as well as a reserve static line) so you may as well get one you like.
One item you’ll probably want soon is your own altimeter. You can get a decent wrist-mount for $150.00. Then engrave your name on the back. If you can afford it, look at the Alti- Track. It’s pricey, but it’s the most accurate one out there. Plus, it records all of your jumps.
Again, welcome to the sky. I’m looking forward to jumping with you again.
David