chris03852 0 #1 August 9, 2009 Good news and bad news. As you can see I just started skydiving this summer, totally love and and I am always thinking about it. One of my favorite things I use to enjoy a great deal were amusement parks and roller coasters. Always on a quest to find a ride that would make my heart pump and scare the living hell out of me. Well skydiving did that. My 7 year old daughter finally grew tall enough to go on most of those "big rides", spent last week taking her to amusements parks. She absolutly LOVED the big coasters. I on the other hand realized they lost their appeal, no longer did they give me the thrill I once experienced. I even laughed to myself as I listened to other adults talk about how scary the ride was. Try falling 125mph from 14,000 feet I said to myself, now thats a rush! The good news is I did get to enjoy watching my daughter have the time of her life (so she says) as she walked around the park saying "I can't stop smiling", exactly what I said when I did my first skydive. Her quest for the ultimate thrill has begun. Is it normal once you start to skydive, other activities are no longer fun. Is that where the addiction to skydiving comes into play? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nataly 38 #2 August 9, 2009 Don't know about everyone else, but I don't consider myself a thrill-seeker.. Skydiving for me was always incredibly fun, but never a "thrill", or "adrenaline rush". I fell in love with the sport/people the moment I tried it, but I never lost interest in anything else as a result of skydiving. But that's just me "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
JoeQ.Public 0 #3 August 9, 2009 Skydiving will loose it's "thrill" also. And if you are not into it for some of the other reasons mentioned or maybe the challenge of competition you will turn into another one of those two season wonders. Here today,gone tomorrow.Very soon, an honest person will not be able to sing the last 2 lines of our National Anthem:::Practice safe dining....use condiments Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SarahC07 0 #4 August 9, 2009 Nothing is "normal". Hope that helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #5 August 9, 2009 Quote I don't consider myself a thrill-seeker.. Skydiving for me was always incredibly fun, but never a "thrill", or "adrenaline rush". I fell in love with the sport/people the moment I tried it, but I never lost interest in anything else as a result of skydiving. This is true for me, as well. To the OP, I have learned one cannot judge what gives another an adrenaline rush. I never really got a "rush" from skydiving past my first couple jumps. Last year, however, my hunny and I went to Halloween Horror Nights. We zipped through all the haunted houses and then decided to hit all the rides that were open. I have not been to an amusement park in a long time (but I always loved roller coasters as a kid, too). We went on The Mummy not having a clue what it was all about or what to expect. And I felt that adrenaline rush. I came away from that ride so excited and surprised. I have more than 300 skydives and that roller coaster still gave me a rush. I have felt a rush kayaking before in big waves and barely making it over the crest of one and slamming down on the other side. I have felt a rush scuba-diving being approached out of nowhere by a large ray. I think it is normal to loose interest in things you once enjoyed, but do not think it is normal to find yourself only enjoying one thing. You are in the honeymoon stage of skydiving. It is normal & OK to be sky-happy and thinking of little else for a while. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
usedtajump 1 #6 August 9, 2009 I pretty much lost interest in everything but the skydiving lifestyle for many years, however, when it started getting stale I rediscovered many of the things I'd totally abandoned due to the call of the sky (guitars, motorcycles, running, skiing, travelling just for the sake of travel). Whatever you've lost to skydiving will still be there when the new wears off skydiving, excepting maybe your spouse, house, car, savings, mind, etc. The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #7 August 9, 2009 It's different for everyone. I personally still absolutely love roller coasters and thrill rides. My friends always laugh at me freaking out on the way up the first hill. They're response is, "You jump out of airplanes. How the hell can this scare you?" I can't explain it, and I know it doesn't make any sense, but that's how I am. I can sleep on the plane on the way to altitude, but still get the shakes on the way up the first hill. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #8 August 9, 2009 QuoteI can't explain it, and I know it doesn't make any sense, but that's how I am. It makes sense to me. I get a rush from anything I find myself smiling ear-to-ear for a period of time and then laughing uncontrollably afterward. It doesn't have to be anything particularly "scary" or "death-defying". It is simply exciting.Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #9 August 10, 2009 The good news is you have a 7 year old daughter to take places. That is its own special joy, way beyond any adrenaline rush. I jokingly tell many tandem passengers that the only downside to making that first jump is everything else wont' be as exciting as it used to be. I found many things I enjoyed didn't captivate me as much after my first jump. Oh well. do what you want in life, and don't worry about outgrowing some things. You don't still play with Tonka Toys, do you? Don't worry about roller coasters losing their appeal. Just enjoy the moments with your child. She'll grow up before you know it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #10 August 10, 2009 What you lose is the fear and the surprise. What you gain is awareness. Part of skydiving is the ability to intellectualize what is really going on. Other people are just overcome by the sensation overload. It's a mental skill that you can share with others. Tell your daughter what is about to happen on the rollercoaster. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chris03852 0 #11 August 10, 2009 Quote The good news is you have a 7 year old daughter to take places. That is its own special joy, way beyond any adrenaline rush. .... .... Just enjoy the moments with your child. She'll grow up before you know it. Thanks for all the input guys and gals. And I do enjoy every moment I have with my daughter (was single dad that has custody weekdays for 5 years) I picked up skiing last winter after being away from it for 7 years, brought my daughter twice and she has been asking all summer when we are going skiing again. I guess I should expect "the honeymoon stage "for a new activity as great as sky diving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #12 August 10, 2009 Quote It's a mental skill that you can share with others. 90% of skydiving is half mental. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #13 August 10, 2009 Quote One of my favorite things I use to enjoy a great deal were amusement parks and roller coasters. Always on a quest to find a ride that would make my heart pump and scare the living hell out of me. Roller coasters get pretty boring and cease to be worth the wait in line. Of course, with a little time skydiving stops scaring you and becomes more like 3d square dancing with goofier outfits and better music. When that happens and you want some excitement you'll have to find something more intense. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
