AFF/AFP Training and repeating levels

[MB38 0]

I went 8 for 8, but I truly believe that only happened because of my tunnel time. The confidence I felt in the air on level 4+ was not even close to present on level 3. I was bobbing all over the place when my JM freearmed me on 3.

So if there's a tunnel nearby...

I really don't know what I'm talking about.

[NWFlyer 2]

Quote

I love this sport and want to pursue this until I get it right. But the fact is I SUCK AT IT. Are there other people who are as bad as me? Am I the only one? I know all you guys have repeated levels, but here I am talking about 15jumps and still on Level3? Did any of you guys did so bad?

I did sort of a hybrid static line/AFF progression since I sucked SO BADLY on my first non-static line jumps (5 second delays). I could not figure out a stable exit!

It took me 37 jumps to get my A license. I met all my objectives and was safe in the sky, but I still sucked. It's taken me till almost 200 jumps to feel like I'm as competent as some people I jump with that have less than 100 jumps.

The thing to remember is that everyone progresses at their own pace. Being stubborn and really wanting it will take you far. You will have the support and energy of your instructors behind you. I talked with my instructors after I got my A license and said "I struggled so much early on ... why didn't anyone tell me to quit?" They said "We were close ... but you seemed to want it so badly."

I don't know what to tell you to help you get through it, but know that eventually, if you keep working hard, you will get through it. I'm sure you've heard it a million times but you have to figure out what will help you to RELAX. For me it was visualization - going through the dive flow 15 or 20 times in my head, imagining myself doing it perfectly.

If you haven't gotten video of your jumps yet, I would suggest that. It's a really powerful tool to see what's going on. An instructor can tell you "you're doing [whatever] with your body" but until you see it on video, it's hard to understand. And sometimes, stuff just "clicks" all of a sudden and you don't have to think about it anymore.

Hang in there. Keep asking questions and talking to your instructors. They are your best source of information. But know that there are a lot of people out there who struggled through their student days and turned into competent skydivers.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Mockingbird 0]

Quote

I'm sure you've heard it a million times but you have to figure out what will help you to RELAX. For me it was visualization - going through the dive flow 15 or 20 times in my head, imagining myself doing it perfectly.

I never would've understood how true this is unless I tried it myself. NWFlyer is right, though. Visualization almost works like magic. I follow a particular method in DeRosalia's book ("Mental Training for Skydiving...") in which I dim the lights, put on some quiet music, start with some deep breathing to relax myself and focus, and then i first of all, visualize the jump from the viewpoint of an observer (I "watch" myself do the jump); after that, I "get into" the jump and visualize myself doing it. I try to hear the noise of the wind and everything. I do it perfectly. Sometimes I visualize a slight mistake about to happen (like inadvertent turning or something), and I correct it before it gets out of hand, and then continue the dive.

It's great; takes 10 minutes... or as long as you want to continue. The cool thing is that (if you've really focused) when you finish, you actually feel like you have practiced a real skydive. It's awesome.

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[OSOK 0]

Jig, I know someone that it took him about 20 jumps, with all the instructors from the DZ, to figure out why he was spinning to the left. The only way they found it was when they saw a video that was able to catch his dropped elbow from an angle where they could see it. Make sure and ask what your problem is about the spin... get video if needed.

And keep jumping!

PS: about the "failing levels" thing... I stopped seeing it as "failing." Someone here told me to see it instead as "completeing the level." And think about this... when you graduate, you'll most likely be better than someone else that doesn't fail any because of the extra instruction you've had... (this is how I see it; I've failed IAF 4 once and IAF 5 twice).

[psipike02 0]

Jigs,

Everything everyone here has told you is sooo true and you know it. I've had private convo's with you about this. I'm just reinforcing what everyone else is saying, because no matter how many times its said, when you're a student, you always need to hear it again.

You're doing great bro. You DONT SUCK AT IT.....its not uncommom for students to take longer on some levels. Level 3 and 4 and two most common ones that students end up repeating. I repeated AFF4 3 times, went to a windtunnel, came back, did a heading dive, then combined my 4 and 5. I spun up on my 4 all those times and one time, my JM couldn't stop me and i was still spinning at pull time, but I still pulled on time, and with that, he was SO happy that I was still altitude aware.

You've made 15 jumps, which means you've landed 15 times. I'd say you dont suck at it. I also understand the instructor thing, but its ok if you feel that way, but I definately encourage you to jump with different instructors if yours isn't there, they will all have different things to teach you and contribute. By the time I graduated AFF on Aug. 20th, I bought 7 different instructors beer, because they had all jumped with me (some more than others) and I felt i needed to thank them all. All the instructors want to see you succeed and they're behind you every step of the way.

SO, in closing my rambling, just go out there, and during your dirt dives on the ground, close your eyes and go through your dive flow and imagine the "perfect skydive" as my instructors used to tell me. Go through the motions, since you've spun before it shouldnt be as shocking anymore, be aware of your body positions.
Just to show you, i'm very close to getting my 'A' License and on my last jump, i started to spin a little coming out of the plane, but i pointed my toes, arched, relaxed, focused on a heading and countered the spin and stopped it. You can do this man. Try this, on your next jump, ask your instructor, if when you jump and he lets go and if you're stable for a bit, if he can come around in front of you. My instructor did this and once he did, i was the most motionless person in the air, we fell in perfect sync. All it was was that it took my mind off of spinning and i stopped thinking about it. And honestly thats all it takes....it sounds easy because it is......your mind tries to take over and process a bajillion different things. Don't let it...and dont let that panic button go off. RELAX, arch, are your hands where they need to be? Are you pointing your toes, are your legs right? All that stuff helps. Talk to your instructor about it more, but this is my advice coming from one student to another.

So KEEP JUMPING dude, i wrote so much because i felt the same way you did when I was going through AFF, so I can DEFINATELY relate. Keep your head up, you're doing great man. Let us know how you're doing.....PM me if you wanna talk more.

Blue Skies...

Puttin' some stank on it.

----Hellfish #707----