Two weeks later I made my Level 5b jump. You may have noticed a pattern forming: I jumped about every two weeks; yes, I get paid every two weeks. Treeboy was again my instructor. The 5b is almost exactly like the 5a, except the jumpmaster releases you (if you’re stable) and comes around in front of you. This jump was relativley uneventful. I had a nice exit, good stability, at one point I started turning away from Treeboy for some reason, but I corrected the turn to face him again. Going through some of the hand signals on the ground, Treeboy asked what I would do if he stuck his tongue out at me, having heard this before, I replied "Stick my legs out" (when the jumpmaster gets in front, he grips with both hands, so it’s hard to give hand signals!) then he asked what I would do if he kissed me! I replied "I’d probably slap you!" He said "Ok, but wait ‘till we get to the ground! But really, it means relax! Have fun! If you don’t look like you’re having fun, you’re worrying about the skydive too much, and I’m gonna kiss you! It has a great affect of relaxing people". Treeboy has done it before. When I put the pictures from my video up here, you’ll see me grinning ear to ear and sticking my tongue out at Treeboy! The grinning part was involuntary, the tongue was just for added effect, to make sure he didn’t feel the need to kiss me… I think maybe it was the rod through his tongue that worried me… hehehehe.

The jump went great, had a little bit of a rough landing, but not too bad. Cleared for Level 6!

Here’s some pictures of Jon’s Level 6 (?), and Balki’s 3^rd (?) tandem.

Jon (left) and Balki/Gary (right) under canopy

Follow me through my student progression