skydive

Skydiving with Vladimir

Posted by Alex on March 18, 2015
Posted in: credentials, skydive. 2 Comments
Your instructor is ready

Rule #1. Smile and have fun!

All things considered the nightmare wasn’t as bad as I expected.

I’m in a cargo plane with Dan. My instructor is attaching my chute and harness, but instead of securing it properly he is fastening it to my shoelaces. Not surprisingly, this is met with some concern. When I inquire I’m quickly dismissed. This is how it’s done, you’ll be fine, stop worrying – the perilous platitudes one might expect from someone devising your demise.

In a daze I take slow steps forward like a prisoner on a chain gang after a day of hard labor. The cargo bay door opens, I inch forward unable to understand why my chute is affixed to my laces, and, more pressing, why I’m continuing to advance. I step off the platform and wake up right as I start to fall.

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Aspiring agent seeks inspiration

Posted by Alex on March 3, 2015
Posted in: skydive. Tagged: . 3 Comments

I’ll admit it. My training has grown stagnant.

Since my last post I’ve done little more than blow holes in paper targets. I’m clearly in need of a jump start. The hard part is choosing what to do next. I could embark on building out a new competency, but many of the items on ‘the list‘ require months and even years of training and won’t provide sufficient creative kindling. I need something bold – the kind of activity that makes Dan and my mother worry (or at least roll their eyes).

What’s an aspiring agent to do? I know…

Don't tell mom.

Don’t tell mom.