In the winter, there are less loads and less people. The advantage:  People you never thought you'd jump with ask you to jump!

On my first jump of the day, I was planning to do a solo jump. When I got on the plane, one of our local freefly guys (Bobby Page) asked me if I wanted him to come along.  I was surprised that he was even speaking to me.  I mean - he is after all - BOBBY PAGE.  That would be Bobby Page of SYZYGY - 2004 National Skydiving Championships 3rd Place Intermediate Freefly team.  He was also shooting video at Orange and was one of the cool kids.  How could I say no?

Jump 56: It was my 8th freefly jump (so basically I still sucked).  I was so happy that he offered to go with me, but I immediately got tense. When I left the plane, I ended up on my back and started spinning.  I was so embarrassed.  My landing was a little better - I was only 25 feet away from my target.

Jump 57: On the second jump, I did a three way belly jump with my old AFF classmates - Chad and Staci.  I ended up landing on 20 feet from the peas this time.  I was closing in!

Jump 58: When I got on the plane for my third jump of the day, Tres did video for slot - sitfly jump 9 on video!  After completely fumbling my exit with Bobby, I figured it couldn't be worse this time. Tres was silly and made me laugh.  When we excited the plane, I held my sit, and Tres docked on me!  It was AWESOME!  

This time, I landed only 15 feet from the peas - IN THE MUD!  Oh no!  My container, my canopy, my lines and my toggles  - everything -  was covered with mud (including me). 

Once I got cleaned up, we watched Tres' video. It was so exciting to see myself actually holding the sit and Tres docking on me. Afterward, Bobby said, "Why couldn't you do that with me?"  That jump made me realize how much of the sport is "in your head". Relax!  It really is the key to success! (BTW...it took me 2 1/2 hours to clean my container!  JUST MY CONTAINER!

(In 2006, I made a skydiving video called Golf Is For Wimps and included the sitfly jump with Tres!)