2009-07-04 Emily's Tandem jump and other fun. (Jumps 85-89)

I had decided to go mountain biking at Hollenbeck Canyon with some friends on Friday because I knew I was going to be taking my friend Emily to do a tandem jump on the morning of the 4th. I packed up my tent and my air mattress and all the trappings of home, along with my bike and headed to Jamul. After a beautiful late afternoon ride with Bryan F an, and dinner with Gardner, I headed back to Skydive San Diego to set up my tent and go to sleep. As I was laying out my tent, Max came out of his room, and I offered to share a bottle of vodka with him if he helped me set up the tent. In short order, the tent was erected, the air mattress was inflated and everything was laid out for a good night's sleep. The bottle of Belvedere was opened, and the conversation was flowing. After about 8 shots, I was ready to lay down, so I bid a good night and headed to the tent. I awoke early, as usual, took down the tent and packed everything back into the car. I then headed off to Eastlake to get some coffee before Emily and Blaze would arrive. They got there just before 9am, and I sent Emily off to fill out the waiver while I performed the financial side of the bargain. Blaze was the nervous one. Emily told me that Blaze had come into her room to wake her up and was crying and gave her a little speech about how if she something happened to her that she was loved. While I was waiting for my CC to be processed, Blaze was mentioned how charged everyone seemed to be. I looked around, but really, the only one who was charged was her--it was kind of funny.

Jump 85
For this jump, I just played by myself. Flips and turns and the like. Got to wave to Emily before jumping. Great landing.

Jump 86
2-way with Dave. Linked exit. Belly 360 L, Dock, 360 R, Dock, Side-body, Track. Bumpy air. Soft landing. First jump on new suit.
Jump 87
2-way head down w/ Ausie Matt - 231mph!

Jump 88
Solo sit practice.

Jump 89

Solo sit practice.

2009-06-27 Formation Skydiving (Relative Work) Camp

The Formation Skydiving (or Relative Work) camp at Skydive San Diego was planned to get off to an early start. I arrived at the wee hour of 7:30am after a minimal amount of sleep, but it wasn't until around 8am that people started arriving. There were only 5 of us in the camp, three with several hundred jumps, myself with 79 at that point and Franz with 45 over the course of 2+ years. The camp was put on by Padu and Kai Wolf, both of whom have significant competitive experience in 4-way skydiving.

Kai started out giving us his history and telling us a little about 4-way, with Padu chiming in here and there. We were then separated into groups based on experience, with Franz and I paired together and the other three in the second group. Franz and I were to jump with Padu, so we got together to plan our first jump. We planned to go out the door linked, with Franz being point and I was at the tail. We practiced in the doorway and dirt-dived our maneuvers. We were going to go from a star to an acordion to a side-body and repeat.

Jump 79
3-way linked exit with Franz and Padu. Franz lost it, so Padu and I waited for him to redock. He never made it. Good landing, w/in 25 feet.

Jump 80
4-way with Katie C, Franz and Padu. I screwed up on the second point and broke the formation. I got back, but Franz couldn't redock. Good landing. 20 feet from target.

Jump 81
Katie C and Jan showed up, and we were also introduced to Mark Hewitt who had been a USA 4-way and 8-way champion some years back. Mark took over organizing and we planned to do a 5-way. Franz broke away again and couldn't get back while the rest of us waited, not doing anything but falling. Great landing, w/in 15 feet.

Jump 82
3-way with Mark and Franz. We got to the second point and then Franz lost it. I fell with Mark, waiting for Franz to redock which he never did. Incredible landing, 5 feet from target center.

Jump 83
3-way with Mark and Franz. I did a diving exit, but lost control and couldn't dock with them. Good landing within 25 feet from target.

Jump 84
3-way with Franz and Mark. Another diving exit, but thanks to Mark's coaching, I was able to maintain control and stability by steering my exit. I was able to dock. I was supposed to do a 360 and then redock, but I took my eyes off of Mark, and lost proximity and couldn't get back to the slot. Very long landing, about 50 feet from target.

All in all, it was a nice day of jumping and I truly enjoyed myself. I learned a lot of stuff that I'll be practicing every chance I get.