Nervous?

[Chrisu 0]

Are you ppl. still nervous at the door. Does it ever go away.?
I have only 20 jumps behind me and im definitely a litle bit shaky in the plane...

[freeflir29 0]

Funny thing happened last time I jumped. This was #114. We started jump run....I got in position to launch a 3 way flower. The red light comes on. We open the door and we're waiting....and waiting.....and waiting for the green light. The DZO was facing forward so I was letting him pick our spot. Finally....we figured out the pilot was going around. (Not our normal pilot) So, we close the door and I sit back down on the bench. All of a sudden I realize that my heart is pounding. I hadn't noticed that before. I felt totally comfortable in the door and was just thinking about making a nice exit and keeping my legs up. It was quite a suprise to feel my heart racing when I sat back down. I don't think this will ever go away. It's just something you have to learn to deal with. Jumping out of an airplane is an unnatural act. You'll never be able to convince the more primative parts of your brain that it's normal. Breath deeply...and try to relax as much as possible. Visualize......and have a nice jump!!! "I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"
Clay

[mwthomsen 0]

I usually notice it a little more on the first jump of the day, but when I get to the door it goes away. I had a similar feeling when I was in the Army, but I was nervous when I wasn't able to see the ground. I don't consider nervous a bad thing.
Mike

[3fLiEr 0]

you just learn to control and to enjoy it.................
bsbd
"In a world where we are slaves to gravity I am pleased to be a freedom fighter"

[flyhi 24]

I knew I had turned a corner in skydiving when I was more nervous about funneling the exit, going low, corking, or some such nonsense than about anything catastrophic happening.
Keep jumping long enough and you'll eventually do that, too.
flyhi

[rmcvey 0]

My first 20-30 jumps I felt exactlly the same.
Whats difficult to see when you dont have that many is that it DOES get better.
Look back when you have 50 jumps and you'll understand.
It never goes away but youll gradually, jump by jump, feel more relaxed and comfortable in the plane, (no sweaty palms, or cold sweats!!)
I have 68 now and love the plane ride. Some it takes 30 jumps till their happy, others 200. It varies from one person to the next.
But stick with it, and breeeeeeeathe......
BSBD

[Slappie 9]

I'm still nervous at the door. Only for the fact I want the jump to go well. Also the first jump of the day is a big deal for me. I've never had a good first jump of the day. I always fudge something up. I'm only got 38 jumps and never felt super nervous except when I was a student. Most of that was wanting to make my jumps perfect. Just relax and breaaath on the way up and smile when you get to the door. You can't go wrong when your smiling!! My New Website with 24hr Chat

[dbattman 0]

I think I was at about 15 or so when the 'pucker factor' dropped off. Keep at it and you'll probably always be a little apprehensive and anxious before exit, but not 'puckered' thinking 'what the hell am I doing?'
Just remember one thing- don't get comfortable and sloppy. This sport demands respect, and if you stop giving it what it deserves it WILL give you the atomic bitch slap.

[kizzie92 0]

A certain amount of fear is a good thing. It keeps you from getting complacent and accidents happen when you get complacent.
There is also a saying that if you do 100 jumps you'll do a 1000. I went through this a couple of years ago and it was all I could do to get myself onto the aircraft. You'll get through it no problems if you stay current. One jump per weekend will not cut it.
Cheers
Tony
Sometimes I see a small speck in the sky, a human being that was given to fly - Pearl Jam! Yeah man!

[skymama 37]

Being nervous when I first started helped me lose a whole bunch of weight, so I saw it as a good thing. The feeling did go away eventually, and now mostly what I feel is the adrenaline pumping on the ride up. People tell me I look nervous, but I'm actually just thinking about the jump, emergency procedures, the landing pattern, etc., and by the time I get to the door I'm just pumped and ready to fly!
Andrea
The brave may not live forever, but the timid may not live at all.

[AggieDave 6]

I had that problem up till about 30 jumps or so. It doesn't neccissarily go away, but changes. Like what has been said, I'm more nervous about funneling the exit and stuff like that then the "oh shit I'm about to leave this aircraft" feeling.
Once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue
And into the black-NeilYoung

[Slowfaller 0]

People tell me that I'm stonefaced and look scared as hell but I'm really thinking about the jump. I'm not nervous about jumping out of an airplane as much as I'm nervous about screwing the jump up. (usually floating)
CHris

[Aviatrr 0]

It goes away eventually.. Some people take 20 jumps, some take 500.. I guess for me there is really nothing on my mind while at the door except for spotting and flying the exit right.. Remember - jumping out of an airplane is not a natural thing - it WILL take a while for your brain to let you do it without trying to make you think you're doing something wrong..
Mike

[Aviatrr 0]

Quote

People tell me I look nervous, but I'm actually just thinking about the jump, emergency procedures, the landing pattern, etc.

Hey, I saw part of your last jump in Titusville on video this past weekend......freaky looking shit..
Mike

[skymama 37]

Hey Mike- I've made almost 100 jumps since that ill fated jump with no problems, so hopefully I can say I've learned my lesson. I didn't know there was a video. I saw Jeremy at the dz party the other night and asked him if he remembered me. He thought for a minute and said, "oh yeah, the wrap! We just watched that the other day!" Shit, I'll never live that down with a video out there!
Andrea
The brave may not live forever, but the timid may not live at all.

[AggieDave 6]

I wanna see, could someone post a link or something? Once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue
And into the black-NeilYoung

[airann 1]

Quote

Also the first jump of the day is a big deal for me. I've never had a good first jump of the day.

This is true for me, always has been. I always do the first jump of the day by myself. I may have changed that once or twice and no biggie. But I do always have the butterflys.
For my student jumps 1-15, I had my fists clenched. Yep, I stood at the door in all of the videos with 2 fists. I flew with my arms. Finally Derek said shake your hands out first thing out he door before you start your dive plan..... I did that. And 10 seconds later I have fists again. I never thought about it. I also looked like I was about to cry or kill someone. On my docking one Chris did a kiss pass and we noticed that I did better. On that one I folded up and lost him on the track. I guess I always run from the boys. I was described as an intense student back then and I dont think I am any different now.
I think that all of us are serious about our jumps. So nervous feelings can be confused as excitement. We all hate to have a bad jumps. So I think the whole 'door experience' is totally natural for all of us.
http://www.AirAnn.com
Ugly Girl #6

[riggerrob 643]

Your nervousness will change, but it should never go away.
After 3700 jumps I am still nervous on jumprun. The difference is that i have learned to focus my nervous energy into positive things.
I focus my nervous energy into checking my gear, mentally reviewing the dive, a last-chance-check of handles and buckles, pre-spotting, spotting, etc. That way I am so busy with "safety stuff" that I don't have time to get scared.

[LittleJumper 0]

I have only 9 jumps and in fact, 12/31 was my first time back in the air since 10/21 due to a hard landing accident and then the weather. But funny thing is...i wasnt nervous at all when i got to the door. Maybe a little heart palpitating on the way up to altitude, but i was imagining a great skydive on the way up. My exit was nearly perfect! No tumbling and it was all good. The thing i do too is while i'm out running...i imagine a great skydive...shake out my hands and loosen up, telling myself to relax. Seems to help.
What you "think" you cannot do ...you CAN if you "think" about it

[LittleJumper 0]

"I focus my nervous energy into checking my gear, mentally reviewing the dive, a last-chance-check of handles and buckles, pre-spotting, spotting, etc. That way I am so busy with "safety stuff" that I don't have time to get scared."
That's a very good point. I tend to check & recheck my gear too...make sure i got all my handles...not thinking about being scared.
What you "think" you cannot do ...you CAN if you "think" about it

[lummy 4]

Of course she fails to mention that she passed AFF!!!!!
Way to Go Terri!!!!!

[MiataDRM 0]

Usually, the only time I feel nerous is when they first open the door & I'm sitting next to it on the ride up!
As for the go-around, you're body was most likely reacting & getting ready for the jump w/ the adrenaline, heart/respiration increase...which at times go less noticed in freefall...but when you sit down and try to relax...you're body is still sensing that natural "fight or flight" sensation (pun not intended).
**I'm a Pschydiver!
Majdi

[freeflir29 0]

"you're body was most likely reacting & getting ready for the jump w/ the adrenaline, heart/respiration increase"
No doubt! I can also really feel the difference when I make an effort to take deep breaths while head down during the dive. I can feel my whole body get a little more relaxed. I'm still working on the "last 10 Feet" I'm still a little uncomfortable when flying to docks or turning or whatever I'm doing in close proximity to someone else. I have a bad fear of zooming into someone hard. It gets better every jump though....and when it stops snowing Aufreefly and I are going to do some work!
"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"
Clay

[LittleJumper 0]

I suppose I am being just a little modest! WOOHOO!! I graduated from AFF! Maybe that's another reason why I wasnt so scared at the door....wanted to nail this one!
Thanks Gary! and THANKS for being there with me! We waited nearly all day for that jump and was the best one for me so far.
What you "think" you cannot do ...you CAN if you "think" about it

[harro 0]

After crushing a vertibrae on a jump, every jump after this I have been more nervous than I was in my AFF's.
Does this happen to everyone else
Freemind, freesky, freebeer, freefly, freesex