Your License to FLY
Once you get your 'A' license
Congratulations on your new A license! No doubt you've put in countless hours studying, learning, practicing, packing and prepping-not to mention jumping. And when you finally got that big "A" stamped or signed off on your proficiency card, you surely felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. And you should! It's a huge achievement few people reach.
Earning your A license marks the start of a very exciting time in your skydiving career. The possibilities before you are limitless. You can get your own gear, travel to new drop zones, go to boogies and learn new disciplines. But it can also be a very intimidating time for a novice jumper. You're now officially responsible for your own safety and progression in the sport. You no longer have instructors guiding you every step of the way. If you're lucky, you have mentors at your drop zone who will help you along. But you still likely have more questions than answers at this point: What kind of gear should I get? What kind of skydives should I do? What do I need to know if I want to travel to other drop zones? The questions go on and on, and there's always more to learn, regardless of how many jumps you have.
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It's easy to get overwhelmed, but just take your time. You'll figure it all out with some patience, effort and a little help from your new skydiving friends.
What next
Top 10 things to do
10. Ask questions.
You know you have them. Lots and lots of them. Ask experienced jumpers about gear options, new things you can safely try in the sky, ways you can improve your skills, who they can recommend for you to jump with and anything else you want to know. One thing's for sure-skydivers love to talk about skydiving. You just have to get them started. So ask away!
9. Thank your instructors.
Whether you were a star student or a problem child, your instructors worked hard to help you every step of the way and are now watching their baby leave the nest. Let them know you appreciate all they've done to help you reach your goals. And the best thanks you can give them is to continue to grow into a safe and active skydiver.
8. Don't give up!
Just like during your student program, you're sure to encounter some hurdles as you progress through your skydiving career. Understand that it's not always smooth sailing, and keep persevering. Every challenge you overcome will bring you a great sense of accomplishment. Besides, it's not as much fun if it's always easy!
7. Travel.
Especially early in your skydiving career, it's easy to get settled into your comfort zone at your local drop zone. But you'll be missing out if you don't get out and experience the world of skydiving beyond your home DZ. At other drop zones, you can find more load organizers, different airplanes, diverse skydives and lots more to learn. Go explore!
6. Socialize.
Often, the skydiving family you can develop will mean just as much to you as the skydives themselves. Our sport is rich with diverse personalities and people who stand by each other through the best and worst of times. It might not happen overnight, but make an effort to foster friendships that will continue to grow and enrich your life.
5. Learn your ABCs.
With so many new things awaiting you, it's easy to get ahead of yourself. But if you work on your basic skills first, you'll be so glad later on that you did. Building a solid foundation will make you a more versatile skydiver in the long run. You don't want to be that 200-jump wonder who can sit-fly but who can't dock on a belly-flying 4-way.
4. Crash the party.
Don't be afraid to invite yourself on other people's skydives and ask others to jump with you. They won't always say yes, and not every jump is right for you. But if you're honest about your skill level, you'll find that more experienced jumpers are willing to help you along, and you can learn a lot and have more fun jumping with others.
3. Tunnel tunnel tunnel!
You may have heard even the most seasoned skydivers giggle like school girls giddy with excitement when they talk about the wind tunnel. Tunnel time is expensive, but if you can swing it-even if only a short amount of time-it will improve your skills immensely. And you won't be able to stop smiling with all the fun you'll have.
2. Don't be shy!
You might feel intimidated about approaching experienced jumpers with your questions or asking them to jump with you. But at this point in your skydiving career, your progression rests largely on your own shoulders. Giving in to shyness will only make you feel more excluded. Be brave and outgoing, and introduce yourself to other jumpers. They most likely won't bite.
1. Keep skydiving!
Don't let the challenges of your novice skydiving stage get the better of you! You've come this far for a reason! Don't ever forget that! Tackle each hurdle you encounter-whether it's money, time, frustration, whatever. Where there's a will, there's always a way. Keep skydiving as long as you keep loving it!