Back before Christmas, I was asked to be on a 4 way team. At the time, I had to turn down the offer because I thought I was going to have knee surgery. Long story short, I decided to delay my knee surgery until next winter. I posted this news on my Facebook page. Almost immediately, I was offered to be on the 4 way team. Just by happenstance a teammate suffered from a hip injury and had to ground herself. So I applied and was accepted!
Even though this is great news, it comes at a great price. And by a great price, I mean $$$$. Tunnel trips, new jumpsuits, team training oh my! But in the end, I'll be fulfilling a goal of mine- Nationals! I'm very excited and I'm looking forward to furthering my 4 ways skills. Go Dallas Storm!!
Black braided horizontal with black beads
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
It's a New Year!
Happy New Year!!!
It's a new year and I'm all about leaving last year in the dust. I'm recovered from my knee surgery and back jumping. I've done 9 jumps so far this year and I'm LOVING IT!!! I'm only two jumps away from 1100. Wahoo!
Because it's a new year, I'm setting my sights on what I want to focus on. I'm thinking free flying...and lots of it. I'm a decent sitflyer, but I know I can do more. It's gonna take a lot of persistence and no fear of failure.
Something else I want to focus on is really promoting 3 Ring Necklace. I've already started with an ad on Facebook. Now I have to place that ad in Parachutist...
It's a new year and I'm all about leaving last year in the dust. I'm recovered from my knee surgery and back jumping. I've done 9 jumps so far this year and I'm LOVING IT!!! I'm only two jumps away from 1100. Wahoo!
Because it's a new year, I'm setting my sights on what I want to focus on. I'm thinking free flying...and lots of it. I'm a decent sitflyer, but I know I can do more. It's gonna take a lot of persistence and no fear of failure.
Something else I want to focus on is really promoting 3 Ring Necklace. I've already started with an ad on Facebook. Now I have to place that ad in Parachutist...
Monday, August 29, 2011
dammit dammit dammit
If you object to my title because it's cursing...well...
...that's too fucking bad. :p
Earlier this year, my boyfriend and I planned a trip to Canada. Specifically, biking the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island in the province of Nova Scotia. All 180 miles of in three days. Now that I have made tremendous strides in recovering from my knee surgery, I was feeling slightly apprehensive and very pumped. I have been preparing equipment, doing research, and kicking it up a notch at the gym. Extra cardio, personal training sessions, spinning class and Body Pump. Who would have thought I would have tweaked my knee on the treadmill? The TREADMILL??? Are you kidding me? UGH!!
*angry face*
That was last Thursday, during an attempt to increase my cardiovascular endurance on the treadmill (I wasn't even running- I was WALKING), I felt a huge sharp pain in my knee. I've felt those at times before and it usually wasn't anything to worry about. But then it happened again. And again. AND AGAIN. I finally had to give up and go home. That night, I could hardly walk.
I'm supposed to start a 180 mile bike trip this coming Sunday! Argh- the timing of this could not be worse. Since then, I've been icing it like crazy and staying off of it as much as possible. No gym either (I feel the withdrawal kicking in).
On Saturday night, my knee had the sharp pain again. I just lost it emotionally. It was pretty ugly. My boyfriend thinks I'm overreacting because we can just do other stuff while we're there, right? Yes, but I want to bike it. I have been dreaming about biking it and I won't get a chance to do this ever again. I was going to be my "victory lap" after overcoming the injury that I got one year ago. And now this? Seriously?
I'm going to the doctor on Wednesday (I leave for Canada on Friday) and I'm hoping it's just a get-a-steriod/cortisone-shot-and-that-will-get-you-through sort of thing. If I need surgery, I'll deal with that when I get back. I need good vibes people and lots of them!!
...that's too fucking bad. :p
Earlier this year, my boyfriend and I planned a trip to Canada. Specifically, biking the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island in the province of Nova Scotia. All 180 miles of in three days. Now that I have made tremendous strides in recovering from my knee surgery, I was feeling slightly apprehensive and very pumped. I have been preparing equipment, doing research, and kicking it up a notch at the gym. Extra cardio, personal training sessions, spinning class and Body Pump. Who would have thought I would have tweaked my knee on the treadmill? The TREADMILL??? Are you kidding me? UGH!!
*angry face*
That was last Thursday, during an attempt to increase my cardiovascular endurance on the treadmill (I wasn't even running- I was WALKING), I felt a huge sharp pain in my knee. I've felt those at times before and it usually wasn't anything to worry about. But then it happened again. And again. AND AGAIN. I finally had to give up and go home. That night, I could hardly walk.
I'm supposed to start a 180 mile bike trip this coming Sunday! Argh- the timing of this could not be worse. Since then, I've been icing it like crazy and staying off of it as much as possible. No gym either (I feel the withdrawal kicking in).
On Saturday night, my knee had the sharp pain again. I just lost it emotionally. It was pretty ugly. My boyfriend thinks I'm overreacting because we can just do other stuff while we're there, right? Yes, but I want to bike it. I have been dreaming about biking it and I won't get a chance to do this ever again. I was going to be my "victory lap" after overcoming the injury that I got one year ago. And now this? Seriously?
I'm going to the doctor on Wednesday (I leave for Canada on Friday) and I'm hoping it's just a get-a-steriod/cortisone-shot-and-that-will-get-you-through sort of thing. If I need surgery, I'll deal with that when I get back. I need good vibes people and lots of them!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
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! :)
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! :)
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
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!!
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!!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
What to do?!?!?!
Now that I'm finally cleared to jump, being able to jump is now the problem. I have two containers: one nice Infinity that I love but is too small to fit a Pilot 150 (which I don't have yet but would like to get) and the other is a 1993 Javelin that is not very comfortable and has no main. I demoed a Pulse 150 but I had to send it back and now I have nothing! I filled out a demo form for PD and Aerodyne but nothing has become of it. I spoke to the local Aerodyne representative but he said he can't get one to me until August. I could try to buy one now, but buying a canopy before you even fly it is a HUGE gamble and it would take a while to get one. I'm not really sure what to do here and now that I can jump, the only thing keeping me on the ground is lack of gear! AGH!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
 |
Facebook Badge
I'm in the silver helmet and purple and blue jumpsuit
AFF Course with Jay Stokes