Weekly Update for 10/25/09
Another great weekend at Fly Free Skydiving and a productive one at
that! The leaves are changing and it’s less then a week now before our
days get that much shorter and more and more people are breaking out the
gloves for their skydives. Regardless of the changing seasons the DZ is
staying busy with altitude seeking first timers as well as the
helplessly devoted fun jumpers trying their best to acclimate to the
times!
Friday night we hosted water training for some of the area’s finest up
and coming jumpers! Amanda, Blake, Pete, Mike, Blannie and Luke did a
fantastic job showing us exactly how to keep your cool and perform under
pressure when faced with an unwanted water landing. Mark did an equally
impressive job teaching this excited group of jumpers all of the
important things to do and not to do when faced with such circumstances.
Major props to not only the YMCA for letting us drop jumpers into their
pool, but to Shane, the lifeguard who spent 45 heart pounding minutes
watching us! I tell you what, Shane would be a great person to have
around in the event of a water landing – it was everything I could do to
keep him from jumping into the water after each of the B license
candidates!
Saturday morning was an absolutely beautiful day for skydiving and
skydive is exactly what we did! Mark took some well deserved time in his
video slot and Dave belted out the tandems. The temperature at altitude
seemed to just about match the temperature on the ground and the warm
sunshine bouncing off the golden leaves and the still bright green grass
illuminated the canopies dancing in the bright blue sky!
William and Paul came out the DZ just in time for William to make his
last practice pull followed by his first solo pull from 5000 feet!
William, who is progressing nicely through the IAD program, did a rockin
job on his practice pulls and it was no big surprise with he nailed his
first solo pull! Now the real fun starts William, congratulations!
Saturday our pilots received some special thanks from Arch Helicopter.
It seems our pilots have made a lasting impression with Arch Helicopter
who routinely flies into neighboring Jefferson County Regional Hospital
and who also frequently flies down highway 55 to get to St. Louis.
Saturday evening we received a phone call from a very gracious Arch
Helicopter pilot thanking the Drop Zone, in particular the pilots, for
being so professional, courteous, and easy to work with. Ed, Terrill and
Dave – we appreciate all that you do to get us to altitude safe and
sound - you guys are the best!
Sunday started out looking like the clouds and rain that had been
forecasted had given way to the sunny blue skies we had wished for.
Although the sky didn’t stay completely clear, we were able to jump for
the majority of the day which was awesome news for Kim, Karelia and
Mariana who had long anticipated there up coming skydives! There girls
were so much fun to skydive with and it was very neat to learn about
their backgrounds as there are all guests in the United States visiting
from Columbia, Brazil and Nicaragua!
It’s no big surprise that Kyle was back out this weekend working on
getting his AFF wrapped up! Kyle was rock steady on his release dive and
is going to make on heck of a skydiver. Kyle’s only draw back at this
time is it seems that no matter how many Krispy Kream Donuts we pump
into the guy he just won’t speed up!!! I had to steal Mark’s floaty
tandem jumpsuit so that I could let go of the guy and not lose him! With
our average speed on most skydives between 105MPH and 110MPH I still
haven’t figured out how I’m going to teach him fall rate control in any
other form but speeding up! Regardless, you impressed the daylights out
of me Kyle and I can’t wait until our next skydive! Oh – and did I
mention – 4th jump in a row with no radio and he landed right smack dab
in the middle of the target!
Kyle wasn’t the only one out with intentions of learning – Victor came
out to also get a piece of the action! Another release dive Lutz and
myself Victor is moving on to his one instructor skydives and should be
graduation AFF before all the leaves fall off the trees! Pete was also
out at the DZ exercising his A license and Mike was out crossing the
last of his requirements off before he sends in his A license card!
Blake took a break from the packing mat and broke in his new PD 190.
Just like pretty much all of Blake’s landings since he became a skydiver
he brought the 190 in and landed like he’d been jumping it all his life.
All cop jokes and new jumper trouble aside Blake, you are always
learning and your passion for the sport is something you couldn’t hide
if you tried. We are very lucky to have you as part of our family and
glad that you are enjoying your new gear!
Another great weekend is once again on our heels and this one in
particular is one you don’t want to miss. With the 1st annual Fly Free
Skydiving Halloween party starting Saturday immediately following sunset
it’s guaranteed to be a great time. The forecast is for sunshine and
mild temperatures and the costumes I’ve heard will be worn Saturday
night are reason alone to come join in the fun! Hope to see you there!
Until next week…
XOXO
Ashes
