Stumpy 284 #1 December 23, 2003 Was just thinking about this - when have you been most scared during your skydiving career? I have two occasions (and I am still at low jump numbers) 1. Got to jump 7 or 8 AFF and was so scared I didn't want to get on the plane. By then the initial "waaaaaa I'm flying !!!!" had worn off and comprehension of what I was doing was dawning!! I nearly bottled but I asked my JM (4000 jumps ish) if he ever got scared and he said "yep - every time" That made me realise it was ok and actually made the fear the best part of it! 2. A recurrency jump after 18 months off - was so scared I was nearly physically sick in the plane. The next three were fantastic though. Its a shame I have to go through that first plane ride again in about a month or so though.... Just interested to hear people's take on this!! Blue skies DaveNever try to eat more than you can lift Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanglesOZQld 0 #2 December 23, 2003 1) Doing a really bad low hook turn heading straight towards the ground knowing I was going to hit VERY hard. My f..k up - no life flashing before my eyes just the thought "well you have really done it now!!." Hit the ground hard enough to bounce back up in the air at least 10 feet. Thought for sure that at least both legs were broken but after 15-20 mins walked away. Still can't believe I got away with that sort of stuff up. (Certainly learned from it!!!) 2) The hanging incident with a Tandem Skydive. We were under the plane for a good four minutes and I honestly thought we were dead. We had two options and I felt totally helpless at the time trying to convey to the pilot what to do. I do remember thinking clearly that if I did not die then I wanted it to be quick when the time comes. It was a feeling I will never forget!!! BSBD -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #3 December 23, 2003 I think there is always something new that resets the bar for 'scary stuff'. I've had the post AFF jitters where you realize how dangerous skydiving could be. The first jump after winter break of a few months has left me feeling sick under canopy. The newest thing is watching students, just off the radio, put themselves in a position where you just KNOW they are about to make a really low turn onto final. I usually look away... That's scary. Ken"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #4 December 23, 2003 scared? who? me? ROFL!!! You wanna read about scared, check out my online logbook. http://nightingale.qlogger.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WrongWay 0 #5 December 23, 2003 I had one similar to Dangles there. I turned really low, knew I was gonna hit, (swear I saw my own body hit), thought "OH SHIT IT'S OVER" and WHAMMO!!! It was a nasty hit, my right side of my body was black, but I got up (a few minutes later) and walked it off. Even jumped again later that day!! Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TribalTalon 0 #6 December 23, 2003 hmmm.. well i was probably the most scared after my botched level 3 where me and my instructors were pretty much completely out of control (i think every dz in texas has heard this story by now lol) so when i went to level 4, i was pretty worried about the instructors banging into me again and losing control again. i ended up having to repeat that level because i didnt get any forward motion, so i was pretty worried again on my repeat of level 4, i REALLY didnt want to have to repeat the level, AGAIN. ever since then i passed level 4, i've felt ALOT better about skydives. now its just that nervousness at the door, but thats normal, and part of the fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
panzwami 0 #7 December 23, 2003 Definitely the few seconds between the time I realized I had hooked way too low, and the time I actually hit the ground. Everything was in slow motion, so I had a good second or so really to think about what I had done and how much it was going to hurt. I would bet a number of people here have stories about low hook turns... Matt ----- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elfanie 0 #8 December 23, 2003 I'm still an infant in the sport as well...but... I think my scariest moment thus far would have to be... I was just cleared for self supervision. My exit weight is around 165, and I had been jumping a manta 288. (I'd pull the toggle to turn, and could probably count 2 full seconds before the canopy responded, it was so lightly loaded) So now I'm about to jump a Nav 220. HUGE difference! Still a big canopy for me...but it was so flippin' different from the 288. Jump went fine...pulled....played with the new canopy in altitude. Found that it felt like the left toggle was a little "sticky"...took much more force to pull it down than the right. (enough that I thought "do I chop? No..I can fly it, I can turn it, I can flare it...it's just very very difficult to do.") I practice flaring at altitude, and couldn't get both toggles to flare evenly because the force required was so different between the two. So...please bear in mind that I'm an idiot student cleared for self-supervision and this is my first solo jump. So I'm busy watching my husband below me land...and go so distracted that I ended up not turning for cross and ended up WAY WAY downwind. (I turned upwind and my first thought was, "Oh no! I am NOT making it back to the DZ!") I'm all but blowing into my canopy to get it to fly further. The 288 would have brought me back, but I wasn't used to the 220 and was sinking faster than I'd expected to. So now I'm coming in...in the desert...praying I get over that fence...lifting my feet just in case....looking for a spot to land...there it is...get ready and...FLARE.. As I flared, I got to about half brakes and felt that left stick. I gave it everything I had, and my RIGHT toggle went down, my left didn't budge. My canopy dove to the right, making me just about horizontal to the ground. In that moment, in just a flash, I remember thinking, "This is going to hurt." My body turned sideways as my canopy went sideways and we both crashed into the ground at the same time hard enough that I bounced back up into the air a little and barrel rolled through the desert a ways. I scared my DZO...as well as my JM's who were watching from the landing area. Immediately, as soon as I stopped rolling in the desert and realized that I wasn't broken, I put a hand up and waved. In the space of time that it took me to wave (about 1 second), one of my JMs had thrown off his gear and was beginning to sprint out to me. The DZO stopped him, saying, "Wait..she waved..." I still had a radio on (I wanted to wear it, and told everyone not to tell me what to do unless I was totally messing up) and the DZO said into the radio, "If you're ok, give us another wave...." I stood up and waved... I tore the jumpsuit on the hip/thigh from about my waist down to the knee...but didn't break anything. I think that moment when my canopy and I were only about 10 feet off the ground and almost horizontal was the scariest thus far. (hook turns? What are those. I have NO desire to do that, thank you!! I'm doing absolutely everything I can to make this as safe as I can....I don't need to introduce anything to make it scarier at this stage of the game. heh.) I know that this isn't going to compare to 95% of the stories that will be posted...but it's the best I've got. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stumpy 284 #9 December 23, 2003 Wow - glad you are OK, sounds a bit of a painful one! Did you find out what was wrong witth the canopy? Hope it hasn't put you off at allNever try to eat more than you can lift Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elfanie 0 #10 December 23, 2003 QuoteWow - glad you are OK, sounds a bit of a painful one! Did you find out what was wrong witth the canopy? Hope it hasn't put you off at all Oh no no no...hasn't put me off at all. In fact, just got my "A" this past weekend and I have 33 jumps now. =) did I find out what was wrong with the canopy? No idea. None. Couldn't see any lines twisted (thought maybe that would be the case), never saw anything wrong with it. I thought about what went wrong, what I would do differently... Next time I jumped that canopy...no problem. both toggles were the same. Next time..no problem. Next time...you're kidding me!!! The left is sticky again??? Same exact feeling/problem. I took extra care to look and didn't see what could be causing the problem. This time when I flared, I brought it to half brakes, grabbed my hands together like I was praying, and pushed both together. I figured I'd either land in half brakes (which would be ok) or I"d flare evenly (which would be ideal)...but I was NOT going to bury one toggle without the other again! Got it to flare and landed beautifully. Jumped it a few more times...and the last time I jumped it and had a problem with that left toggle I YANK-YANK-YANK-YANK-YANKed the toggle several times, also shook it while in a turn...and it loosened up. *shrug* the speculation is that maybe it's getting some sort of tension knot above the grommet or something? I have no idea...but it looks just fine on the ground... *shrug* At least now I know what to do if one side doesn't want to flare well. *wink* And, more importantly, it was a lesson learned without major injury...YEAH!! I'm all for those lessons!! -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stumpy 284 #11 December 23, 2003 Still sounds a bit sketchy.... be careful - don't want you getting hurt!!! I'd get the local rigger to look at it - especially if it is rental kit?? Congrats on the A though - if only england wasn't so miserable in winter I could get jumping sooner!!Never try to eat more than you can lift Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vonSanta 0 #12 December 23, 2003 Had borrowed my sisters Pro-track. Didn't know how it worked or anything and on the way up in the plane I remembered that I hadn't turned it on. So I turned it on, expecting it to work as it usually does. Got the first warning 500 meter too high. Looked at altimeter and ground and thought "hm, that can't be right". Second warning was also 500 meter too high. Same thought, except I see a canopy deploying in the distance, about same alt as me. Am beginning to think the altimeter might have malfunctioned, but the ground doesn't *look* that close. Wasn't that worried. The flatline warning scared the *shit* outta me - especially as I could see that canopy getting higher and higher above me. That sinus-curve-esque sound, together with seeing another canopy deploying made me go into "oh-shit-dump-something-now" mode. I remember breathing heavily after the canopy came out. I really wasn't that concerned until the flatline sound came on. Dunno what it is about it, but it sure catches my attention. Later it turned out the high canopy was just someone opening, well, high. I had turned the Pro-track on at around 500 meter, so my guess is that it took that altitude for being ground level. Pro-track showed me deployed at 1000 meter. As far as being scared before actually jumping, my first 15 jumps were pretty bad, to the point where I wasn't totally sure I'd continue to skydive. The next 15 were a little better, but still apprehension big time. Nowadays I might get some butterflies in my stomach, but they're caused as much by excitement as anything else. Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bshl 0 #13 December 23, 2003 That would be the time I got turned around when tracking and tracked over someone. After I landed and got to replaying the way I went barrelling by them, I had the jitters for days. My lineover cutaway on my first solo was no problem. This one, though, really messed with my mind. Still jumping, though, and I learned a *lot* from that one. Blue skies and happy landings! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lopullterri 0 #14 December 23, 2003 Light winds but the direction kept changing up to 180 degrees. Coming in and just as I began to plane out , a downdraft hit the top of my canopy. I was actually picking up a little speed and my canopy was diving in front of me. Kept flying it, leaning back as hard as I could (felt like I was going to be pulled onto my face). All I could think when I saw that canopy dive in front of me was "This is going to hurt so bad!" Was able to finish off by sliding in on my knees. Whew!!! I was done with jumping in funky winds...at least for that day!~"I am not afraid. I was born to do this"~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallygator 0 #15 December 23, 2003 first jump under a license, 5-way horny guerilla attempt that funneled twice and i was at 1000' in a delta when i realised how low i was. Reason; loss of altitude awareness conclusion: i fucked up be aware be safe exit altitude was 10,000k, breakoff was 4000k thought for sure i was going to die, don't even remeber tossing the PC, just reaching up to milk the rear risers of my main(cruislite210) -------------------------------------------------- who Jah bless Let no man curse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
froglady 0 #16 December 23, 2003 1st - watching a friends canopy fold up and go in to severe line twists at less then 100ft, nothing he could do, hit the taxi way. I knew before we reach him there was know way he could survive. 2nd - a week later another friend was fly over some buildings, he hit some turbulence, canopy spun up. Luckily he was able to keep it flying and hit hard in the grass but survived. I was unable to go near him until I was told he was going to be ok. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyyhi 0 #17 December 23, 2003 Level II AFF. . . Yeah, not a big deal. . .I am sure I will have plenty of other experiences to be scared, but right now this one sticks in my mind as the most scary so far. . .Level I AFF was scary, but it was the "just get out of the damn plane" type scary. . .once I realized that I was stable when arched, everything was fine and I enjoyed it. . . Level II was entirely different. . .I had so much anxiety on the plane about actually getting out again that I was physically ill and thought I was going to throw up. . .I was shaking and it was the only time so far that I wasn't smiling while on the plane. They had to nearly DRAG me to the door. . .but once set in the door. . .I did my count and out I went. . .once in freefall, everything was fine, but that nervousness and ill feeling was aweful. . .I did Level III that day a couple hours later, and had ABSOLUTELY NO ill feeling and anxiety. . .the jump also went very well. . .________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jen1129 0 #18 December 23, 2003 QuoteLevel II AFF. . . Maybe it's something about the 2nd jump! My first jump was a tandem and scary, but by far my scariest jump was my Level 1 AFF (2nd jump.) I was told I scared the whole plane with my constant rambling about "I'm so scared I'm so scared OMG I'm scared." Oh yeah, and my hands were shaking so badly I couldn't put my own gloves on. I don't actually remember this, but it's what I was told. My brain is going "no way no way no way"... jumpmaster goes "Are you ready to skydive?" "YES!" Brain goes HUH? Jump went just fine though. Since then, the scariest jump was around #20 when one toggle came unstowed and my canopy was spinning rapidly. I did get the other toggle and corrected it, but I was looking at my handles... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #19 December 23, 2003 heck, I rode the plane down on my level 2 aff because I was so freaked! LOL. I did a tandem that same day to get over the nerves. John, the TM, told me that for some reason lots of people freak on level 2 that didn't freak on level 1. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jen1129 0 #20 December 23, 2003 Yeah I seriously considered doing a 2nd tandem instead of my AFF 1. It was sheer stubbornness that got me on the plane and to the door. Glad to hear I'm not the only one though! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyyhi 0 #21 December 23, 2003 QuoteMaybe it's something about the 2nd jump! Yeah, I think so. . .based on Kris's comments and yours and mine. . .I would say that the first jump we just don't know better and the second jump is like. . OMG. . .I can't do this. . .oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. . .lol________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #22 December 23, 2003 QuoteYeah I seriously considered doing a 2nd tandem instead of my AFF 1. It was sheer stubbornness that got me on the plane and to the door. Hell, I did 4! And I swear to you, the most scared I have ever been was when I did my first AFF jump (did tandem progression, so all of those tandems weren't wasted. ) I think I was hypoxic simply because I WASN'T BREATHING. Nothing to do with altitude, just in a state of panic. I still don't know what made me do it, but I'm glad I did! Kelly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
towerrat 0 #23 December 23, 2003 ***i was at 1000' in a delta so I take it you don't have a cypress?Play stupid games, win stupid prizes! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #24 December 23, 2003 hehe - have to agree. Although I haven't start AFF yet, I've done 3 tandems The second one (which could be called my 2nd jump) was the worst. I was so scared I had my eyes closed for most of it. Alot of it had to do with the fact that it was my first time in a 182 and I was getting super clostraphobic. My third was by far my favorite! Oh well, live and learn. JenniferArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jsaxton 0 #25 December 23, 2003 My two-out was pretty scary for a second. Also the time that someone carved in their track and dumped right below me was interesting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
