Weekly Update for 5/30/09
Yet another weekend has come and gone and Fly Free Skydiving just
keeps having more and more fun! Really and truly there are some moments
where I just have to stop and remember to take it all in, everything
just seems to go so fast, and I just still can’t believe what a great
experience opening the drop zone has been! As we close out our 3rd
weekend of skydiving I’m excitedly waiting for the coming weeks to watch
as we grow and as the fun continues!
Saturday started off a wee bit on the windy side. The winds on the
ground seemed, well, not that bad really. The uppers however were built
for cross countries! After two loads we decided that regardless or
exiting the airplane ‘way out yonder’ in order to make it back to the DZ
we would go on a wind hold. So - hold we did! We enjoyed some nice
weather, hung out in the hanger, and waited patiently for the winds to
blow away. It was only a matter of time and the breeze was calming and
we were back at it. Three loads to close off the evening and we were
out for some good eats at the local Mexican joint!
Saturday faded away and Sunday meet us with bright PERFECT blue skies.
I mean the kind you dream about. It was hands down the prettiest day
of jumping we’ve had at FFS so far. And it’s a good thing - because we
were BUSY!
With a group of tandems from Saturday back out to make their jumps and 3
more tandems already scheduled for Sunday, Mark and I got a work out!!
We had a great group of locals that really seemed to understand what
the drop zone was all about. They didn’t just make their skydives, they
stayed the day, they enjoyed some after jumping festivities around the
hanger, and they are all coming back out this next weekend. These guys
were a blast!
Gene, better and infamously known as Sparky, was also out this weekend
and had two tandems in tow. After making Sparky fill out the super
extended version of our waiver (you never can be too sure!) we were
ready to get him in the air! Keep bringing out your gymnasts Sparky -
they arch like nobodies business and it makes falling with Mark on a
tandem so much easier! I think we almost hit 100MPH on that last one!
We didn’t just have tandems but a good crowd of fun jumpers as well.
Colleen brighten our skies with some back flying with Banks and Kerry,
Bill and Cindy finally got some much deserved air time with us! There
was no shortage of spectators at the DZ either! I don’t think we could
ever tell you all how much we love having you other there!
BIG HUGE thank you to Dave Saliz, our wonderful pilot, for really going
out of his way to help us this weekend! We’ve been spoiled the past few
weeks with packing by Cory and this weekend we found ourselves packing
between loads, something we hadn’t done in quiet some time! With Mark
doing all of the tandems and I doing all of the videos, Dave stepped up
to the plate and packed tandems for us! Is there anything he can’t do?
And Twiggy, you rock girl, thank you so much for meeting me in the
landing area to get my rig and laying it out all nice and ready to be
packed, you are such a doll!!!
Terrill and Ed also flew some loads for us this weekend - seeing as we
were busy keeping Dave on the packing mat! We are so lucky to be
located at such a wonderful airport with such kick butt pilots. Thanks
Ed and Terrill for loving to fly - we appreciate your rides to
altitude!!
Just a reminder - we are trying to nail down some candidates for the IAD
instructor course and the AFF instructor course. If you are interested
in either course please let me know ASAP. If you think you might be
interested or need more info, feel free and give me a call and we will
get you all squared away. The dates for the IAD course are Friday 7/10
through Sunday 7/12 and the AFF course will be Monday 7/13 through
Sunday 7/19. Another reminder - Foghat will be at the Airport on
Saturday June 27th rocking the place out! We will be closed for jumping
that day but will reopen Sunday morning. Come listen to some good music
and jump with us Sunday!
Until next weekend…
XOXO
Ashley Cook
