I'm a winner!

My home dz is Skydive Dallas (if you've never been, I HIGHLY recommend it). They hosted the 20th Annual Stefan Banic 4-Way Speed Star competition. I participated last year, but as a videographer. I haven't started flying video since I returned to skydiving, so I decided to be a participant.

The way this competition works is a little different than your traditional speed star. There is a diagonal line in the door of the Otter and all of the jumpers have to remain behind that line. Once the count is given, all of the jumpers dive out and have 45 seconds to make a pre-determined formation. The dive was a total of three formations. For each point they form after that, 1 second is deducted from their time. As soon as the line is crossed, even if it's during the count, time starts! The fastest time wins.

The competition was originally four rounds, but then it was shortened to only having the first two rounds count. The winds were gusty throughout the day, and there were varying levels of experience. Some jumpers were even on rental gear, which made it tough. The team were chosen at random and teams stayed together throughout the competition.

I was made a captain of a team, which I was both surprised and flattered by! My team members included an older lady who had 2700 jumps, a Texas record holder, and a young jumper with 100 jumps. The older lady was on the winning team last year, so I took some of her advice on how to line up in the door and how to give the count. I made the young jumper the base. One first jump we got together quickly and cranked out a lot of points! Our total time: 3 seconds!! After that round, no one could touch us. We won!

It feels great to see that other jumpers have confidence in me. It was a big victory for me after going through knee surgery. Smiles all around! :)

It's all happens for a reason

What had happened was...

So I had to return the Pulse 150 demo to PD but then that would leave me without a main canopy. I placed an order for the same canopy through a not-to-be-named gear supplier. It turns out they only accept REQUESTS for orders, not actual orders.

Dumb, right? I know.

After not getting a confirmation, email or call back from the company and it's already a Tuesday afternoon (I want to get the canopy for this coming weekend), I tried calling them. No answer. So I call again. And again. And AGAIN. I finally get a hold of a person only to be told that I can't get the canopy for 2 weeks. WHAT?!?!? I was told from PD that since this canopy is IN STOCK that I would get mailed right away. Nope, it's in the pile of all the other orders, waiting to be placed. You'll get it when we get to it, I was told.

*shakes head*

What do skydivers do when the canopy doesn't work? We CUT AWAY! I called Square One and Jackie was awesome! She hooked me up with the canopy and had it dropped shipped to me so I will get it on Friday. SWA-EEET!

Here's the REALLY cool part: while giving her my contact info, she asked for my email address. "Sure, it's 3ringnecklace@gmail.com," I replied. "3 ring necklace? I knew your name looked familiar! I've been wanting to place an order from you!" she squealed in delight. I will be sending off 24 necklaces to Square One, both horizontal and vertical designs. If you're in Perris, stop by Square One and pick up a necklace! Blue skies!!

Jump for the Rose

It's funny how things happen sometimes!

I went to the American Revolution Boogie this past weekend at Skydive Dallas, ready to jump my PD Pulse 150 demo while braving the 100 degree heat. As I was walking through the hanger, I noticed a women putting on two leg braces when she was getting ready to make a jump. I got so excited when I saw this- I went up to her a said, "I thought I was the only one who wore two leg braces when they jump!" We got to talking and it turns out that she is involved with organizing Jump for the Rose. The Rose is a non-profit organization that benefits women who are in need of breast cancer services who cannot afford it on their own. A skydiver's life was saved by The Rose. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer and did not have health insurance, The Rose stepped in. Now she is giving back by raising money through the Texas Women's State Record.

Although I was invited last year, I was unable to participate due to knee surgery. This year is a different story, and I participated in a Jump for the Rose camp at Skydive Dallas yesterday.

So what does this have to do with 3 Ring Necklace you may ask? The woman who founded Jump for the Rose (the breast cancer survivor) wears a 3 Ring Necklace. She was telling me all about how much she loves the necklace and wishes more skydivers could get them since they are hard to find. I will be designing a vertical and a horizontal necklace for Jump for the Rose and 100% of the proceeds will benefit this great cause!! Pictures of designs will be coming soon!