May 2018
100th Jump
Getting to jump 100 is a huge accomplishment! Since I have started jumping I have heard about different tradtions that go along with jumping, One of which is called the "undie hundie"... jumping in your underwear on your 100th jump.
I was looking forward to jump 100 for weeks.. I was debating if I was going to actually do an undie hundie or chicken out ... but day of I decided I would just do it because I wanted to be able to say I did it!
I am so glad I did it! It was fun to plan the jump. We did a 9 way jump! Thanks to everyone that helped make my 100th jump so memorable! We jumped from 14,500 feet... the extra free fall time was awesome!
Randomness
I have been wanting to buy an audible altimeter for months now... I finally caved in and bought one! I bought the Solo II which has three free fall settings.
I bought an audible for a few reasons :
***Backup altimeter
***Recommended for free flying
*** Recommended for being a coach
Although its not something I want to become dependent on... I love having my audible! I have only done two jumps so far but its awesome! The first jump was a 3 way jump with Jonathon and George. We waived bye to each other at 5,500 feet so I started tracking away. I heard my audible go off at 5,000, so i kept tracking until i heard it go off again knowing that i am at 4,000 feet and it was time to pull. It is really nice for tracking because in a track position you can not see your altimeter on your arm.
My second jump was a 2 way with Tim. We were in a round and spun as fast as we could until we broke apart which was at around 7,000 feet. We waived off to each other keeping our distance. I practiced sit flying for a brief moment, Tim pulled and i heard my audible go off at the same time. I watched my analog until 4,000 feet, heard my audible, waived off and pulled. I am so glad i finally bought an audible and wish I would have bought one sooner. Annnnd....Congrats to Tim!!! That was his 100th Jump!!! I am glad I got to jump with him for his 100th jump!the world. Since then, we've grown into a community of passionate travelers who love to discover new destinations and cultures.
Jason and Riley started their tandem instructor course. Riley came down from Canada to do the tandem instructor course at Skydive Phoenix. When doing the course, the soon to be tandem instructors have to do 10 tandem jumps with a front rider with at least 100 jumps.
Since I just hit 100 jumps I happily volunteered! I went with Riley and Cassandra went with Jason. Their first tandems they did with each other, so we were just their second front riders. The first jump I was super nervous, not because I wasn't in control but I was more worried to do something wrong and mess up Riley... but we had an amazing exit, free fall and landing! We did another tandem right after, this time we were more confident and relaxed. It was so much fun! Jason and Riley are doing amazing in their course and will be awesome Tandem instructors! .strive to promote these values through our content and interactions with our audience.
Coach Course
I was not planning on doing the coach course so soon but when Greenlight Skydiving offered the coach course I decided to jump on it. My friend Jonathon and Tim also signed up for the course so it was exciting to be able to do it together.
There are a few requirements that have to be met before participating in the coach course which include at least 100 jumps, have a B license and assist in a first jump course (ground school class that jumpers take before they can do their first AFF jumps). We didnt have any issues with jump numbers or getting in the jump course but all 3 of us started to focus on getting our B licensees... we were all qualified (as in had enough jumps, participated in water training and the canopy course). All we needed to do was B license test. We took the B test just in time to get our B license before the course started. We are all super excited about our B license and then work on our coach rating!
The coach course took all weekend. We started Friday which was mostly lecture from the IRM (instructor rating manual) and SIM (Skydiver's Information Manual) and learning the correct coaching techniques. Saturday we did our two evaluation jumps and some more lecture and then Sunday we finished up with our ground evaluations.
The two jumps were what I was most worried about. We worked with our two instructors who were our "students" on a floating exit from a plane with a side door which we felt very confident in...well when we got to Skydve Az, it was faster for us to get on the sky van loads, so we quickly had to adjust our plan. The skyvan has the door in the back that opens up and you exit out of the back of the aircraft. While I love skyvan jumps, I have never done a floater exit from one and neither has Jonathon or Tim. We were all a little nervous to try something new for the first time on an evaluation jump but we all did awesome on both jumps!!!
I really enjoyed the course! I learned so much and I can not wait to apply what I have learned to helping new jumpers! and tour operators to create unique and authentic travel experiences for our audience.
Dropzone Hopping
My friend Jonathon is just as addicted to jumping as me and also loves to take spur of the moment trips to new dropzones! In January we went to Florida for a boogie and this month we on a whim decided to "dropzone hop" in SoCal. We planned to go to 4 new dropzone but due to cloudy weather only made it to 3 but had an amazing time.
We left for Cali Friday afternoon and made it to Skydive San Diego super late. We parked his truck in the dirt parking lot and decided the dirt parking lot would be just as hard to sleep on as the truck bed with some padding so we slept in the truck bed. We woke up super early due to excitement mixed with uncomfort ... but ready to jump. Unfortunately the weather had other plans. The clouds and even light rain rolled in... so we waited around all day until about 2:30 pm when the clouds broke up just enough to get one jump in. Our one jump in San Diego was gorgeous (and we go to jump from an otter)! It was our first time jumping in mountains, the view was amazing!!! I cant wait to go back to Skydive San Diego and get more jumps in!
After we packed up at SKydive San Diego, we drove to Skydive Elsinore to sleep there and jump the next day. When we go to Elsinore we were welcome by some amazing fun jumpers and Elsinore staff who were having a BBQ and graciously invited us to join them. We spend the night having a great time and again slept in the bed of the truck (making it a little more comfy this time).
We slept a little better, still woke up early, did our paperwork and got manifested for load 1 even though we were again waiting for the clouds to clear. Thankfully the clouds cleared earlier and we were able to jump all day!! We did a few two way jumps as well as a few groups jumps with new friends we had made! We spent most our jumps practicing free flying. I focused on sit flying and Jonathon focused on head down. Throughout one day, we managed to do 7 jumps including a high altitude jump from a skyvan... it was incredible. Skydive Elsinor is my new favorite DZ and can not wait to go back for random weekend trips to this super chill Dz that was turning loads all day and better yet they have a caravan, otter and a sky van!!!! We got to do a jump out of all 3 planes!
We slept again at Elsinore. We woke up, got ready, packed our stuff and drove to Skydive Perris which was super close to Elsinore. After we checked in and manifested, we were able to get on two loads before coming home. Our first jump we did a horny gorilla exit and actually nailed it! It was awesome. Once we broke out of that we practiced some more free flying. On our second jump we did a train exit and that actually worked as well ( we shock our selves sometimes when jumps go to plan lmao)!!! After jump two, we had to pack up and head back home to Az.
Overall, the trip was absolutely amazing!!! The new views were amazing and it was interesting and fun to jump at new places! I can not wait to go back to Cali to all 3 of these DZs plus other ones!