RaqBastos 0 #1 September 19, 2004 Hi! I started to skydive about 6 months ago ( did one tandem, and level 1,2,3 and 4 of AFF course).But 2 months ago I stopped jumping because I had to do a surgery, and the doctor recommended me not to skydive for a while. Now ( after 2 months), the doctor said I could return skydiving, but I can´t explain what I´m feeling...I want very much to skydive, but I´m a little bit afraid ...I know the equipment, I know how nice it is to skydive, but I´m nervous!!! Is it normal? I thought this would never happen to me ( being afraid of jumping). I would apprecciate some answers... tnks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #2 September 19, 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
nate_1979 9 #3 September 20, 2004 Quote Hi! I started to skydive about 6 months ago ( did one tandem, and level 1,2,3 and 4 of AFF course).But 2 months ago I stopped jumping because I had to do a surgery, and the doctor recommended me not to skydive for a while. Now ( after 2 months), the doctor said I could return skydiving, but I can´t explain what I´m feeling...I want very much to skydive, but I´m a little bit afraid ...I know the equipment, I know how nice it is to skydive, but I´m nervous!!! Is it normal? I thought this would never happen to me ( being afraid of jumping). I would apprecciate some answers... tnks! I recently made a post in here saying that jump number 20 for me was FINALLY the FIRST jump that I was not totally freaked out, I think it's perfectly normal to be scared of jumping out of a (not so) perfectly good airplane.. Know what you gotta do? Download some skydiving videos from skydivingmovies.com and watch them, then think "aww yea, that's awsome" and just smile alot... Then think of standing in the door, and smile and get excited about it... Fear is just another emotion, it is no greater or less than any other emotion you feel.. If you get excited and happy about it so much that your more excited than afraid, the excitement will ultimately win and fear will take the back seat. (atleast this is what I figured out, and along with some prayers it worked) Blue Skies FGF #??? I miss the sky... There are 10 types of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RaqBastos 0 #4 September 22, 2004 Hey Thanks skymama and Nate! Next sunday I will go to the dropzone , relax, watch, and then jump...My instructor gave me some dvds (good stuff, Icarus team...) that I watched many times and now I want so much to skydive!I think that this "returning jump" will be the most difficult thing, but after it, I´ll be able to continue my skydiving life...(I hope...)!! Sometimes, when I´m in the airplane I think "why am I doing this to myself''?But after the exit, I have no regrets about anything... Hugs to you all!!! Raquel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
windcatcher 0 #5 September 22, 2004 yeah, when I'm in the plane and watch the guys exit before me I always say: "you guys are freakin crazy!" But when I'm out the door I feel so much safer and relaxed than being in a little cessna that could take me to the ground... don't worry, it still takes guts to jump from an airplane, you'll jump again and again and love it, I'm sure. Let us know what happens! Mother to the cutest little thing in the world... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
willso 0 #6 September 23, 2004 I can definitely relate to the time between jumps and the nervousness that comes with this. I'm up to stage 6 of AFF, after repeating stage 5. Started over 3 months ago and it's taking way longer than I thought, mainly due to other commitments. I totally agree with the other posts, once you're at the DZ and see everyone else flying in with big smiles on their faces, there's nothing else to do but jump!! Good luck and enjoy yourself. Blue skies from OZ Willso Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
el_chester 4 #7 September 23, 2004 between my jumps 5-20 i was sooo afraid on the climb to altitude, thinking "what the hell am I doing on this airplane?!?!?!?" then enjoyment took over fear -- Be careful giving advice. Wise men don't need it, and fools won't heed it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zep 0 #8 September 24, 2004 Afraid, nervous I can tell you what afraid an nervous is. I did my AFF with Reddy Redfern Remember your drills an you'll be fine Love Ya Reddy Gone fishing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RaqBastos 0 #9 September 25, 2004 Hey, I´m very happy with all your answers! Today, Rob Harris was skysurfing in my tv...man, he was good! And everytime I see these people that were and are so awesome, I get inspired to jump and jump again... I agree with you, enjoyment take over fear...and skydiving is the best thing I´ve done...!!wooooww Thanks again, talking here is very helpfull...! Hugs to you all Raquel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dougiefresh 0 #10 September 27, 2004 All the way through AFP, every time I was riding to altitude, I'd think, "This is the LAST time I ever do this. It's just not worth going through the fear every time." Look at me now, three months later, I'm jumping whenever I can and have bought my own gear. Don't worry, it really does get better. If you're not afraid, you're insane. A big part of what I love about this sport is that you MUST conquer your fear, or you'll just stand there and watch everyone else have all the fun. Get in the air again, you'll remember why you jumped in the first place.Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nate_1979 9 #11 September 28, 2004 QuoteAll the way through AFP, every time I was riding to altitude, I'd think, "This is the LAST time I ever do this. It's just not worth going through the fear every time." Look at me now, three months later, I'm jumping whenever I can and have bought my own gear. Don't worry, it really does get better. If you're not afraid, you're insane. A big part of what I love about this sport is that you MUST conquer your fear, or you'll just stand there and watch everyone else have all the fun. Get in the air again, you'll remember why you jumped in the first place. That is SO TRUE! Every time I jump, I get less afraid.. Even on jump 19 I was the guy in the plane with shaking legs thinking "WHY do I do this to myself?", but once out the door, ohh yea. :) Soon the excitement just takes over the fear, and then it's just no big deal, all fun! FGF #??? I miss the sky... There are 10 types of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RaqBastos 0 #12 September 29, 2004 In Reply To All the way through AFP, every time I was riding to altitude, I'd think, "This is the LAST time I ever do this. It's just not worth going through the fear every time." I feel the same way...is it normal? Everyone in this sport thinks the same things, have the same fear, but all of them love it....isn´t it funny? When I read your post I remembered many things that happened on my way to 10.000 feet...so nice... The truth is:when you get out of the airplane, you want to come back to it, so you can get out of it again, and again.... tnks for the posts!! hugs to you all!! Sunday is comming...and jumps are too... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nataly 38 #13 September 30, 2004 I can *totally* relate.. Funny enough, I wasn't scared until jump #17. Sure, my heart was pumping, and I was excited, and I took my time climbing out on the Cessna's wingstrut.. But fear? Nope. More like anxiousness--until faithful #17. I came from a Cessna DZ, and didn't do AFF. I did 10 jumps over 2 years, with a grand total of like 12 seconds of Free Fall, then I went to Zephyrhills and did my AFF. Jump #17 was AFF level 7, where I had to dive out. The weather had been crap for about 5 days, and I was jumping with someone new, who totally freaked me out--plus, I had to do a dive out exit. There's great video of me standing in the door, petrified.. for about 40 seconds. That may not seem like a long time, but start counting and you'll see I was there *way* too long, listening to the AFF instructor yell at me to "GO!" What changed things is that at one point, he yelled so loud and insistantly, that I knew if I didn't jump he'd just kick me out. Then I thought, hey, I've done this before!! I just went for it, and the rest is history. It was a crap jump, but it's on video to remind me that the scary part is *not* going--once you're out the door, is a piece of pie!! Blus skies.. Just GO!!"There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robertmicp 0 #14 September 30, 2004 Its the climb out that I dont like. I could not get a handle on it to the point on my 9th jump (with a coach) I called it off and sat down. Road the plane down, walked into the head instructors office and said "thats it, Im done with jumping" We talked for about and hour (didnt really help) and I drove home. The further I got from the DZ, the more I wanted to jump again. A few days later, I went back, talked the the coach I was (didnt jump with) with that day. Like myself, he 40+, he got into the sport at 35 and thought he was going to die each time up to 50 jumps (his words). I think the ride up is what freaked me out, so, I bought my own helmet, made it less noisy. I was able to think about the jump. My time came, 12,500, I was first with 12 other jumpers, door open, checked for traffic and my spot, this was it.....out the door!!! I was free from that darn plane!!! Pulled at 4k, standup landing and ran to get another chute and to the plane. So, all I can say, Its a frame of mind, no pressure, its all about you. Hope this helps Clear skys!! "Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying who shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I, send me." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RaqBastos 0 #15 October 1, 2004 In reply to -- plus, I had to do a dive out exit. Well, I have one more jump to do , and at the next one I´ll have to do a dive out exit...wowowoww!!!! Your comments are helping a lot, everyone telling their skydiving history is so nice...´But it´s like my sister says : Different things, different days... Every jump is a unic experience that we have to enjoy the best we can!!! Hugs to you all! *blue skies* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crash700 0 #16 October 8, 2004 **this post may be a bit out of place, but I thought the story may be a bit relevant. I can relate. Forget returning from a little hiatus. Just wait untill you pack yourself a mal. I would bet that even the most experienced jumpers doubt themselves at least a little bit on the jump after their first mal. In my case, I had ~85 jumps and had a hard pull due to my own negligence. February @ crosskeys. 30 degrees on the ground. So I find myself at 2000 ft before I realize I'm gonna die if I dont do something. 1600 feet finds me under a (reserve) canopy I've never flown before, and a field about as big as a wrestling mat to land in. I PLF'd into the baby christmas trees after a rather impressive turn on to final approach (by accident). Silver handle in hand, I got a ride back from some jeff foxworthy type in an F150. Anyways, my point is I jumped again next weekend. I thought if I didnt jump, that I'd panic myself into a skydiving accident. So I got it over with, and lived to tell about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fab 0 #17 October 8, 2004 what was wrong with you're pack job? What did you do? _______________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RaqBastos 0 #18 October 8, 2004 Once I was driving to the DZ with a friend, and we saw the parachutes flying over the road. I noticed that something was wrong with one of them , it was going to a strange direction, it wasn´t following the DZ landing pattern. When I parked the car, I saw my instructor running in direction to a fence, and there was somebody lying there.After I saw the guy, that crashed at the fence and broke his leg. I was supposed to go in the next load (jump #2), but I didn´t want to, I was insecure.I told my instructor how I felt and he said :"I would´t say for you to go if it wasn´t safe".So I thought that if I didn´t jump that time, I would´t jump that day, and I would regret myself so much...So I went , it was awesome, everything was fine. I agree with you, we can´t let us panic ourselves into a skydiving accident...Accidents can happen everywhere, we have to get cautious and move on...the chance to happen an accident when we are driving to the DZ is so much bigger than the one in a skydive...but unfortunatelly non-skydiver people don´t realize that... But, what was your packing mistake?!I really want to know. tnks! blue skies 10/23 --->jump #5 !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZJ 0 #19 October 8, 2004 While I was doing AFF, I found that the ride to altitude never scared me as much as the few seconds between the first jumpers exiting and the last seconds shuffling towards the door. As soon as I started doing my hotel checks, though, I found I was fine - concentrating on my drill took the nerves away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crash700 0 #20 October 11, 2004 Quotewhat was wrong with you're pack job? What did you do? I packed it up just fine, but needed some slack in the bridle between the pin and the spandex pouch, to stuff underneath the flaps. So I did, and the pilot chute mushroomed inside the spandex, and wouldnt come out--easily. My rigger's response was, "no fuckin wonder, look at ths..." He thought that if I hadn't been wearing 2 layers of gloves that I probably avoided a reserve ride, but I'm alive to jump another day, so its all good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
