My alti really did break

[Iflyme 0]

Gurl, I just LOVE reading your posts! You are a great writer! Anyway, altimiters can fail, so you must "eyeball" you altitude... you'll get the hang of it as you get more jumps in your log book. Same with the fear - more jumps will do wonders! And I agree with the others who suggested knocking off more than one jump each time you get out to the DZ... that will make a big difference in your confidence and skills...
Keep flyin'! Frank

[sinister69 0]

Michele, you will get your confidence. I was scared shitless on my first solo. You will like it and start getting used to your body position and the airflow and all that. don't try to do anything to crazy and just enjoy the ride. Try different exits also, try a diving exit, or a side exit like when you started AFF. but if you are going to do the floating exits again, just remember to let go with both hands at the same time!!!!! haha!!
I love ya hon and will see you on Sunday. I got an alti 3 for you. brand new
Blue Skies!
Sinister69
http://home.pacbell.net/n1elson1

[MarkM 0]

Quote

Sis, I figured out why I have been concerned about hop n pops. It has to do with getting stable immediately. This is not something I am really good at, and has been a concern everytime I get on the plane.

Eh, you don't HAVE to be stable to get a good chute out, it just helps.
But then as a static line student I have a lot of experience doing cartwheels out the plane door with a chute deploying off my back.
My first jump ever was at 3000 feet. I don't get how some people find hop and pops scary. To me half the sport is about the fun of a quick hop and pop.

[DZBone 0]

Quote

It is just as easy to get stable out of any type of plane(except the 727)

Actually, the 727 is pretty easy to get stable out of, given you are near terminal at exit.

[chronistin 0]

This is the best thing I've ever read about a first solo jump. Including my own writing. Made me remember every second of my own first. Thankyou!
Greetings
Andrea

*************************************
http://www.wortwerkstatt.at/skydiving

[Donna 0]

Hey Michelle,
I know you posted this story a while ago but I haven't been online much lately and had a lot of catching up to do. I just wanted to thank you for writing your stories. I'm still having some fear factors at 27 jumps... though I did have an 8 month break between 20 and 21. I also read your next jump story where you weren't scared so you give me hope. Please keep letting us know how your jumps go. I love reading about them.
http://www.geocities.com/tysca66
Skies,
D

[Vman 0]

Hi Michele
Good to see your pushing on with the jumps.
I found once I had 20-30 jumps I started using an audible altimeter in addition to a wrist meter. This made me feel more comfortable and conscioius of what Iam doing each of the three alarms.Although it is not a substitue for visual reference and a standard wrist altimeter it helps and is just that much more support as a back up.
I completed 125 jumps in three months and currently on a ten month break so far.
I will have to forward my experiences as you have when I get back into it courtesy of work commitments.
One can never find new oceans if one does not lose sight of the shore!
Vman