Skydiving Advise

[jessd 0]

I'm curious to know what kind of advise you have received from fellow skydivers. I'm talking about the kind of advise you got when you first started out or when you were learning something completely new. Was there any particular thing that someone said to you that really helped you either by calming your nerves or to make you feel more confident in the abilities that you have and what you have learned. Maybe passing on these words will help someone else.
I am posting this because I'm very new to the sport (3 tandems, 3 AFF jumps) and I recently rode the plane down because I was too nervous. I was frustrated with myself but plan to get out there and try it again. I have received much support and many words of encouragement that I think help tremendously. I pasted one example of what I received in a PM (you know who you are). I just really liked this and thought I would share.

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Hmm advice on calming nerves....yup I got just the thing for ya to try...
CONFIDENCE! You have it. youre just fighting it...let it flow! confidence it a scary thing at first.
you may feel like your faking it but youre not....if you feel a little uneasy its just the real you killing that inner whuffo! let her die already so you can enjoy your life with wings!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away..."

[jtval 0]

i was lucky enough to learn in daytona with some kick ass jumpers.

between billy weber, keith larrett, BZ, and a bunch of other locals!
I got some great advice.... but it was DZ.COM who got me pointed in the right direction.
all the originals. I think we were all BRAND new at the time! it was a fun egg to hatch!

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[Chivo 0]

Courage is not lack of fear, but having fear and doing it anyway.

For a long time I was always afraid to jump. I did 3 tandems and then AFF, and I was still afraid. It was a real struggle to drive to the DZ. I wanted to be a skydiver, but I felt that I wasn't. I felt that I was fooling myself. It was fear. I thought: What kind of skydiver is afraid to skydive? I kept going and jumping (every time that I had enough courage to do it). I don't know when it happend, but now I know... I AM A SKYDIVER. That's who I AM, and that's who I WANT TO BE.

Who are you? Who do you want to be?

~Chivo

[lazerq3 0]

My J/M always told me on jump run.."hey.. we're jsut up here to have fun..so lets go have some fun!!" and he alawya had a big O'l grin on his face from the time we exit the plane till I pulled!!! So just keep tellling yourself its all about haveing fun!!

jason

Freedom of speech includes volume

[Gawain 0]

Some of the simplest advice has paid great dividends for me. From some seasoned jumpers at Elsinore: "Do less" and "Body position" and "Tunnel".

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[kevin922 0]

"don't fuck up" and "don't kill yourself (us)" were some I recall.

:-)

[oldnewbie 0]

When i first started (not that long ago) I was also scared to death. My coach would notice that I wasn't smiling at all. He kept asking me if I was having fun. I of course would say "yes" (which i wasn't, i was too scared). He would keep telling me to *smile*. When he would see me not smiling, he would put a huge smile on his face. That would make me start laughing. When we would exit, he would be right there with that huge smile on his face. which would make me smile and laugh. As soon as i smiled/laughed, i would relax, and then it seemed like everything i did was very good. After 5 jumps with him *making* me smile, I now enjoy skydiving!!!

[payback462 0]

everybody is scared shitless at first. its normal
it wasnt until i had around 30 jumps that the fear went away, i still get nervous on every jump, but not scared.

what helped me is getting to know my gear, i know how it works, i know what can go wrong, and i know how to deal with it if something does go wrong.
ive become anal about gear checks,
i check it:
after i pack it
a few minutes before i put it on
right before i put it on
after its on in the loading area
and once again right before jump run

each time i practice my emergency procedures, and invision all different types of mal's on the ride up(in between farting)

so for me its,
know your gear
know your procedures
keep your shit together
relax, and have a fucking good time!

[dgskydive 0]

First of all I think you did the right thing by riding the plane down. If you are not confident then you will screw up. No let's build your confidence. You can do it! You can do it! You can do it! You can do it!

Dom

[QuickDraw 0]

Just look at it as though your going to die,
if your right, nothing is lost, if your wrong.....bonus.

Fear is what makes it a rush, i used to hate the ride up, too many things to think about, instructors bothering you
you do get used to it, and the fear does go.

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[racer42 0]

Let's face it AFF is pretty freakin scary. But that first jump by your self is unforgettable. Just USE your training, be aware and relax your toes.

Good Luck and Have FUN!!!!!!!!!

L.A.S.T. #24
Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team
Electric Toaster #3
Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor
Co-Founder Team Happy Sock

[quade 4]

Rode the plane down huh?

Have you ever read Jan Meyer's story about when she was too scared to jump?

Since then she's done a few things and I'm certain you can be just as powerful a skydiver. All it requires is the desire.

Uh, and a bucket of cash.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[skip 0]

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Let's face it AFF is pretty freakin scary. But that first jump by your self is unforgettable. Just USE your training, be aware and relax your toes.

Man that fisrt solo after AFF or whatever training is unfogettable. Freakign ground rush, what the hell am I dooing CRAZY FOOL... but woohoo this is so fun..

Skydiving is some scarry stuff. Even at 70ish jumps I still talk myself out of going off to the DZ regularly. Hmpff the sky will always be there, take you time and things will fall into place.

.:skip

[Danl 0]

The Student
by Dan'l Leviton
(to the tune of "The Gambler", performed by Kenny Rogers)

On a warm summer morning, he walked up without warning
And said, "That looks like fun and I would really like to learn."
I glanced up from my log book and gave the kid a hard look.
He hadn't asked me anything, so I stayed taciturn.

He cleared his throat and stuttered, "Excuse me, but I'm new here.
I understand there are two ways to learn how to skydive.
If you don't mind the question, please give me a suggestion.
Will static line or AFF be my best chance to thrive?"

I said, "Either one will thrill you. Either one could kill you.
Both will suck you in and take your time, your friends, your wealth.
Give either one a try, and then if you don't die
You can try the other and judge it for yourself."

Chorus:
You've got to know how to exit
Know how to flex it
Know where to pull what
And certainly know when
Always look around you
Don't screw up or we'll ground you
There'll be time for an accounting
At the skydive's end

Certain things you must know, you can only learn by doing
But listen to your teachers, they'll save you lots of pain.
My only advise is not to depend on devices
Think for yourself and stay out of the rain.

(Repeat chorus)

Every parachutist knows the secret of survival
Is mostly being ready for whatever comes your way
It helps to just be lucky, 'cause sometimes shit just happens
It's all part of the risk you take when you decide to play

(Repeat chorus ad nauseum)

[zonie 0]

These guys got me back in the plane when I had freaked out over one of those situations and couldnt deal with going up anymore. I saw there were other people who were once as paranoid as I was, so it wasnt just me.

Im new to the sport, skydiving is a pretty tough barrier to start out in, no doubt about it. This shit aint easy at all for a first timer, especially someone who is afraid of flying in the first place.

Funny thing, Ive already talked to two girls who had bungie jumped before, who said skydiving is way too scary and they would never do it. Id never bungie jump....too scary, dont know if I could deal with that "falling" rush.

[cindee 0]

Think about everything you have already done! You have already flown the canopy and landed on your own. That was probably a huge milestone. I can only imagine, because I have only done the 3 tandems and still have to go to ground school. I'm very, very nervous about that first AFF jump and sometimes wonder if I will ever do it. I remember reading about how you did 3 levels in one weekend! That's awesome and you have more courage than you realize!!!

__________________________________________________
"If happy little bluebirds fly above the rainbow, why oh why can't I?"

[jtval 0]

I look at it this way...( as I have for most of my life)
I've been in fights, been in riots, been shot at ,had knives pulled on me. been jumped(had my ass kick by a few guys at once)
been in many car accidents as a kid( my mother sucks at driving) and by the time i was 20 I lost dozens of my friends to suicide, murder, accidental death.

WTF can skydiving do to me that I havent already been threw....and WALKED away from!
MY ORIGINAL SIG LINE AND STILL A MOTTO WAS....

HAVE FUN, LIVE FREE, SKYDIVE....you have to keep it all in perspective or you will rot in a laz-e-boy chair until your heart gives out!
now go FUKN SKYDIVE

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[JohnnyD 0]

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Rode the plane down huh?

Have you ever read Jan Meyer's story about when she was too scared to jump?

Since then she's done a few things and I'm certain you can be just as powerful a skydiver. All it requires is the desire.

Uh, and a bucket of cash.

Thanks for posting that link. I had never read that story before.

[skygirlpc 0]

The one bit of advice that really stands out in my memories is when I was getting ready to do my first IAF. A camera guy at my dz had just gone in and I had a really hard time with it. Being so new to the sport it made me question wether or not I should continue jumping and I also dealt with a lot of fear for the first time in my life.
I got some great advice from the guy in charge of Christian Skydivers Assc. He told me that there is two types of fear, 1)Real fear-when you have something to really be afraid about. Like if you don't know what you are doing, have not been trained or just doing something stupid.
2)Imagined fear-this is when your mind starts to make things up.

He told me that I should decide which one I was dealing with on the ground while I could think it through. Once you are on the plane your adreniline starts to flow and your imagination can take over.
It helped me make it through that first IAF jump. Since that huge fear hurdle I've been fine, of corse at only 65 jumps I'm pretty sure I'll deal with it again!

Oh, when I did that jump I was crying so hard! I know my coach was probably pretty nervous. But, as soon as I hit the air it all clicked and the dive went great!

I really do agree with not jumping if you don't feel right about it! Even if you decide in the plane! Everyone is so different that you just have to find what works for you.

Stay strong girl, and remember to have fun!

Danielle

"Life is either a great adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller