Skydivers of all levels were able to work on tracking skills
Sunday with a little help from Tyler Lawson and Nate Gilbert.
The tracking duo at Atlanta Skydiving Center organized and
coached the tracking dives. Tyler said the skill level greatly
increased throughout the day as the jumpers took advantage
of the free help and discounted $17 skydives from 14,500 feet.
Turner Drake was the bartender Saturday night at the ASC
After-Hours Bar. Free liquor was poured throughout the night
as Turner served 12 different cocktails after the free turkey
dinner from the Carbone Zone.
The beer fridge seems to have a never-ending supply as
four more students graduated the AFF program this week.
Congrats to Scott Messer, Shawn Thomas, Dylan Henson and
Joseph Henson for successfully completing all 7 levels at
ASC! Welcome to the world of skydiving! Our AFF instructors
were busy this weekend as ASC instructor Johan reported
making 25 AFF jumps over the weekend. The students kept
Jim, Carl, Stewart, Jesse and Kevin busy as well.
While the usual suspects jumped until dark at Alabama Skydiving
Center in Pell City and Atlanta Skydiving Center in Cedartown,
a small group of staff, fun jumpers and several 1st-time
skydivers kicked off the inaugural weekend at Adventure
Skydiving Center at the Pennridge Airport in Pekasie, Pennsylvania.
Mike Gruwell tried to beat Rob Morris' record of 19 tandems
in one day for the ASC group of drop zones, but came up
one short. Still, Mike introduced 18 people to jumping out
of planes with 18 back-to-back loads out of a Cessna 182
from noon to 8 p.m. Darren kept up with Mike for the first
half of the day, but quickly lost his voice and then had
a set back with a tandem reserve ride. Thanks and beer are
owed to FAA rigger Jon Frederickson for a perfect reserve
pack job in registering his first save as a Chuting Star
rigger.
"It was one of the best weekends of my skydiving career,"
Mike said. "The jumpers, staff and onlookers all had a blast.
I look forward to spending much more time up in Philly."
Many Kudos to Darren, Christian, Kenny, Aaron, Andre',
Mike and Mike for a great first weekend in Pennridge. Darren
and Laura will be managing the new location. Fulltime staff
members already include packer and food man Mike Stone as
well as rigger and tandem instructor Aaron Teel.
And finally, for those interested in becoming a USPA coach, there will be a Coach Course this weekend. The course will be April 30, May 1 and May 2 at the Atlanta Skydiving Center in Cedartown. Contact Mark Kalupa at 1-866-658-7125 or email Mark@Kalupa.com to register for the course. Materials should be ordered directly from the USPA. All candidates must have items 1 and 2 of their Coach Rating Course Proficiency Cards filled out, assisting in one complete Solo First Jump Course and teaching the general portions of two solo FJC's, prior to the start of the Coach Course. The Coach Course will start at 6 p.m. on Friday. The cost of the course is $100 plus lift tickets and pack jobs for the evaluators (minimum of 2 jumps).
The BCCP (Breakfast Club of Canopy Piloting) is on for
Thursday at 7:30 a.m.! Come jump with all the crazy locals
at 7:30 a.m. at ASC in Cedartown. Skip work baby!!!
See ya in the air over ASC later this week!
