This morning morning didn't start like everyother Sunday morning. This one started on last night as I attended a pre-Beltane festival and ended up with some sort of food poisoning. The pain was unbearable and kept me from sleeping for more than about 3 hours.
So, when the alarm went off at 5am, I was nowhere near ready to get moving. I had to get my ass moving though because the canopy skills class was scheduled to begin at 8:30. I got my shit together and was out of the house by 7am. I stopped for some coffee, but otherwise, headed straight to the DZ. I pulled in to the parking lot a bit after 8am, and as was to be expected, the waiting began.
So, when the alarm went off at 5am, I was nowhere near ready to get moving. I had to get my ass moving though because the canopy skills class was scheduled to begin at 8:30. I got my shit together and was out of the house by 7am. I stopped for some coffee, but otherwise, headed straight to the DZ. I pulled in to the parking lot a bit after 8am, and as was to be expected, the waiting began.
I think it was around 10 by the time everyone showed up for the class and things got moving. The plan was to do five 5000' hop & pop jumps to practice landing skills and one full altitude (13,000') hop & pop to practice canopy flight skills.
We got ourselves manifested and geared and started our first run. There were eight of us, so we got organized into jump order based on wing loading. As a result, I was third out the door for the first four jumps. I was impressed as I watched the first jumper exit. He seemed to snap into the air and present himself perfectly. On the other hand, I seemed to be all over the place, so rather than try to fight it, I just went with it and enjoyed the brief freefall.
Our landings were being video taped, and after each one we gathered to review what we were doing right and what we were doing wrong. I seem to have new-diveritis. I flare too high which makes the landings a bit harder than they need to be.
My high-pull was a lot of fun, although it was VERY cold. About a quarter of the way into the canopy flight the communication system between Matt and I went dead, so, I couldn't figure out what to do. I was hoping Matt would lead by example, but he kept flying behind me. After a while, I think he understood that I couldn't hear him, so he moved in front of me and showed me what he wanted me to do. After practicing front and rear riser turns, front riser descents, stalls and glides, Matt maneuvered his canopy right next to mine to where the edges were touching. It was interesting to feel the burble and be flying so close to someone else.
By this point I was FREEZING. My hands weren't working very well, but the view was incredible. It was late in the afternnon, so the sun was turning orange and the ocean was glistening with the sun light. At 2500', the in-air communication system finally started working again, just in time to hear Matt say, "2500', I'm out of here." Unfortunately, by the time I got down the video review was already over and everyone was gearing up to head up again.
I had one more hop & pop after my high pull. After waiting for my rig to be packed, I got mysel f on a load. It was a bit of a disappointment after having so much fun flying for so long, but a jump is a jump and I'd do it all over again.
We got ourselves manifested and geared and started our first run. There were eight of us, so we got organized into jump order based on wing loading. As a result, I was third out the door for the first four jumps. I was impressed as I watched the first jumper exit. He seemed to snap into the air and present himself perfectly. On the other hand, I seemed to be all over the place, so rather than try to fight it, I just went with it and enjoyed the brief freefall.
Our landings were being video taped, and after each one we gathered to review what we were doing right and what we were doing wrong. I seem to have new-diveritis. I flare too high which makes the landings a bit harder than they need to be.
My high-pull was a lot of fun, although it was VERY cold. About a quarter of the way into the canopy flight the communication system between Matt and I went dead, so, I couldn't figure out what to do. I was hoping Matt would lead by example, but he kept flying behind me. After a while, I think he understood that I couldn't hear him, so he moved in front of me and showed me what he wanted me to do. After practicing front and rear riser turns, front riser descents, stalls and glides, Matt maneuvered his canopy right next to mine to where the edges were touching. It was interesting to feel the burble and be flying so close to someone else.
By this point I was FREEZING. My hands weren't working very well, but the view was incredible. It was late in the afternnon, so the sun was turning orange and the ocean was glistening with the sun light. At 2500', the in-air communication system finally started working again, just in time to hear Matt say, "2500', I'm out of here." Unfortunately, by the time I got down the video review was already over and everyone was gearing up to head up again.
I had one more hop & pop after my high pull. After waiting for my rig to be packed, I got mysel f on a load. It was a bit of a disappointment after having so much fun flying for so long, but a jump is a jump and I'd do it all over again.
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