Is this normal?

[animal 0]

Hullo everyone!
I did my first (tandem) jump last week and ever since I've thought about little else but jumping. I've been to a wind tunnel and booked my AFF course. Now I'm alternating between feeling totally hyped about the whole thing, and being scared stupid. Is this normal?

I can resist everything except temptation.

[wildfan75 1]

Yep

[azdav 0]

Welcome and embrace your new addiction

You'll forget why you're scared the next time your in the wind.

Be prepared to kiss your money goodbye!!!!

Noooobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!!! M.P.F.C.

[pfloyd 0]

Its normal, and as azdav mentioned you will have to spend a lot of money to feed this addiction. But hey, at least its not CRACK!

My drinking team has a skydiving problem

[skymama 37]

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

[jbanning 0]

absolutley normal dude!!!!

[animal 0]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone! As for the money....the new kitchen I've spent 3 years saving for just aint gonna happen. But do I care? Nope. Won't be able to afford the food to cook in it anyway, right?
Seriously though, I'm really looking forward to getting started on my AFF, and am just cursing the stupid British weather. I've been trying to get as prepared as possible by going to a wind tunnel, and that is managing to keep me from going too stir crazy. And sad as it must sound to all you guys, I was pretty chuffed when I managed to turn in both directions and move backwards and forwards without crashing. Small steps, I know, but it's a start eh?
Any advice about anything at all greatly appreciated.

I can resist everything except temptation.

[BIGUN 1,317]

Quote

Now I'm alternating between feeling totally hyped about the whole thing, and being scared stupid. Is this normal?

It's not normal.
We think it's above average.
That's why those who don't skydive are called "the normals" by us.

Welcome.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[voltage 0]

Here comes more reassurance:

Good thing to do the wind tunnel. Now you can start your AFF and know that you can fly a bit already and therefore look more relaxed toward it and in turn perform better from the start. That is how it worked for me.

It isn't that hard to deploy the parachute and the rest will come with time, too
ah you can watch some skydiving movies to kill time until your training? The waiting is the worst part

Andi

[skymama 37]

You should check into doing AFF in the states. Because the exchange rate is so much in your favor, a lot of people find that it is cheaper to come here to train, even when you add in the flight and hotel expenses.

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

[countzero 7]

careful i've heard wind tunnels can be quite addictive too.

diamonds are a dawgs best friend

[ladydyver 0]

yep-pretty typical....I would be worried about you if you didn't have that kind of rxn.

DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

[kneepuff 0]

I was the same way! Did my first tandem on November 24th, second jump on New Year's Eve and just completed the AFF training 2 days ago.

Addicted? Yeah, most likely.

I really want to get some wind tunnel action in. If you have done that already you will be ahead of the game, IMHO, when you do your AFF training. Plus, that is the real fun stuff!

Good luck to you!

Kneepuff
Girls just wanna have fuh hun!

[animal 0]

***I was the same way! Did my first tandem on November 24th, second jump on New Year's Eve and just completed the AFF training 2 days ago.



Congratulations! My instructor tells me I can start next Friday! I'm stoked, but am thinking a whole week is ages - maybe I should do another tandem in the meantime....or another 5mins in the tunnel....or both

[Mikhail 0]

That is actually excellent advice, Skymama. A classmate of mine just got back from London and basically told me that it was way too expensive to do AFF/PFF there (e.g. the "same price, but in pounds" deal)... And we're in Canada (it is cheaper in the States, IIRC)...

Have fun!

[animal 0]

You are absolutely right - even with flights and accomodation included it works out about the same as training in England. I'd love to jump on a plane to the states, but as I am the lone parent of two stunningly beautiful girls (Biased? me?) I'm afraid the child care issue has me stumped. My family/friends are great about having them for a few hours here and there, but I couldn't expect anyone to take them for a week or more. They both think it's pretty cool that mum wants to fly though.

I can resist everything except temptation.

[kneepuff 0]

Quote

***I was the same way! Did my first tandem on November 24th, second jump on New Year's Eve and just completed the AFF training 2 days ago.



Congratulations! My instructor tells me I can start next Friday! I'm stoked, but am thinking a whole week is ages - maybe I should do another tandem in the meantime....or another 5mins in the tunnel....or both

[squarecanopy 0]

Deb,
You are going down the same road we all have-scared witless but not able to stop yourself from jumping- the fear subsides into a healthy respect for the challenges, and the joy just grows. It will burn a great deal of your time, money, focus, and energy and WORTH EVERY BIT OF IT!! A cool side benefit is that you will be teaching your daughters to be bold and to pursue the extreme things in life if they are of a mind to, rather than whuffo through life and miss all of this!!

Just burning a hole in the sky.....

[animal 0]

Cheers Bill, especially for what you said about the girls. I have been feeling just a tad guilty about the risks I'm exposing myself to, especially as they are so young (5 and 8). But what you said makes so much sense - I want them to grow up and follow their dreams, and maybe watching me follow mine will show them the way....
I did another tandem this week cos I just couldn't wait to get up there again and this one was even better.
I'm off to get a good nights sleep now - first day of AFF tomorrow. I feel like a kid on xmas eve, I want to get to sleep so that tomorrow comes quick!
Thanks again, to you and to everyone who has taken the time to make me feel welcomeDeb

I can resist everything except temptation.

[freakflyer62 0]

As a new jumper just off student status all I can say is GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!.... blue skies !

[freakflyer62 0]

no kiddin on the waitin part LOL...on my level 1 I sat around till flippin sunset....but got to make the sunset load ON MY FIRST JUMP ! how cool is that !!