mlv 0 #1 January 31, 2004 i will shortly be starting an AFF course, any last minute invaluable words of wisdom ? don't dream too long . . . the sun's almost up Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 January 31, 2004 Yup. Got a couple for you...SMILE! and RELAX! --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #3 January 31, 2004 Welcome to the forums! She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerryfuss 0 #4 January 31, 2004 Have you done any jumps yet? If you have AFF will blow IAD or S/L right out of the water. Have Fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LuvToFly 0 #5 January 31, 2004 Quotei will shortly be starting an AFF course, any last minute invaluable words of wisdom ? Yes Relax! Easy to say, but a little tougher to do. Have confidence in your instructor, confidence in your training, and confidence in your preparedness. If you have questions or don't understand something, ask. Knowledge is a really great aid to relaxation - you are informed and you are trained. The actual free-fall relax part is being emphasized because as a belly flyer, your arched position is really helped by relaxing in a sense. I know when I started I was going to "shape" by body in the perfect flying position - and that only made it harder. Once I just allowed my body to relax in a box-man position, everything was smooth and stable - "The helicopter approaches closer than any other to fulfillment of mankind's ancient dreams of a magic carpet" - Igor Sikorsky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peacefuljeffrey 0 #6 January 31, 2004 Everyone's already said "relax," so I don't need to. I'll add "BREATHE." You'll be going to about 13 or 14,000 ft. AGL. The air gets thin up there: take a lot of it. If you hung around long enough up there you'd get euphoric and then probably die or somethin', so don't be shy about breathing deep. My AFP instructor, Dave Cole, used to put his hand on top of mine, hold it and pick it up as we breathed in slowly, lowered it down as we exhaled slowly. We did this three times, then on the third exhalation he would make the hands spiral slowly down. It was a great relaxation aid, and I do it with others now. I think that people are happy when you remind them that they are not breathing normally -- and there's nothing like a skydive to make you forget to breathe normally, especially if you're a bit nervous. So breathe, breathe, breathe, slowly and deeply. It will help you stay relaxed. Also, when you go into your arch, don't turn rigid like a Pringle's potato chip because it will make you wobble instead of form to the airflow. (I did that on my first couple of jumps and it made me a bit nervous.) Have a great time! ---Jeffrey-Jeffrey "With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazyfrog 0 #7 January 31, 2004 BREATHE ENJOY ---------- Fumer tue, péter pue ------------- ourson #10, Mosquito Uno, CBT 579 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smit705 0 #8 January 31, 2004 Have Fun, Enjoy the Rush, and Welcome to the sport In Christ Dave Smith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damion75 0 #9 January 31, 2004 Quotei will shortly be starting an AFF course, any last minute invaluable words of wisdom ? Yep - when you have finished, DON'T stop there! don't ever stop!! crack straight on and get WARP done... then come and play!! Enjoy!!*************** Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
koz2000 1 #10 January 31, 2004 On top of everything that's been posted (breath, relax, smile, etc..) Pulling is also a pretty good thing to do..... Have fun and welcome to the sport______________________________________________ - Does this small canopy make my balls look big? - J. Hayes - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ripcords 0 #11 February 1, 2004 Everyone else already said smile, relax, pull -- have fun that is why you are doing this. From a physical standpoint, it wouldn't be a bad idea to do some stretches and back exercises, to have your muscles in shape for all of the arching that they are going to have you do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SlyFox 0 #12 February 1, 2004 Enjoy it and be prepared to be hooked. *****Why would anyone jump from a perfectly good airplane? Because it isn't much fun if it's broke.**** Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiven4fun 0 #13 February 1, 2004 AggieDave said it all.Still here after all these years Clayton Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raefordite 0 #14 February 1, 2004 If you haven't jumped before this, get ready for some serious sensory overload that you will most assuredly want to go back and get some more! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EdC 0 #15 February 4, 2004 Arch Look at your instructors Relax Breathe and Pull Big Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fallman 0 #16 February 7, 2004 Be afraid, be very afraid! naw, just kidding, your gonna love it and it only gets better! woa....that was cool.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstime 0 #17 February 8, 2004 its easy to say relax, but its not that easy when you begin. The second you get stable dont look down, just look left right, the terrain will take your mind off the "am I doing this right" look at your instructor because his is going to be right there in your face. Smile and give him a thumbs up. Once you feel that you can fly... Its a done deal... prepare for your life to change. Be Well, be Safe and Listen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarge 0 #18 February 8, 2004 So did you start yet? How did it go?... Did you remember to breathe?-- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swoosh 0 #19 February 8, 2004 BRING PLENTY "O BEER!! The Sky is NOT the Limit, the Dirt Is!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billymotox 0 #20 February 8, 2004 Welcome! Good luck with AFF. billy d------------------------- "Escape may be checked by water and land, but the air and the sky are free." (from the story of Daedalus and Icarus) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
outofit 0 #21 February 9, 2004 welcome and don't hold your breath! It is better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #22 February 9, 2004 HI! Everyone has basically everything you need to know, smile, relax, and have fun. ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
