If you were my tandem instructor

[farmgurl 0]

YAY! I went back, got the same instructor, did my second tandem and pulled. They were WICKED busy, but he spent a lot of time talking to me, and seemed really happy to see me back. Sez he'll jump as many tandems with me as I want, and I'll learn something new every time. I didn't know it until after the fact, but he let me do a lot of the steering myself, and I'm pretty sure the landing was a lot me. I say that because we must have slid 60' on our butts, and he laughed and said, "That was a little fast". I had a SPECTACULAR grass stain
Anyway, thanks for encouraging me to go back and try again. I enjoyed the second one in a completely different way than the first, and I can't wait for the next!

[danielcroft 2]

Congrats! Glad you had fun!

[PeregrineFalcon 0]

Quote

YAY! I went back, got the same instructor, did my second tandem and pulled. They were WICKED busy, but he spent a lot of time talking to me, and seemed really happy to see me back. Sez he'll jump as many tandems with me as I want, and I'll learn something new every time. I didn't know it until after the fact, but he let me do a lot of the steering myself, and I'm pretty sure the landing was a lot me. I say that because we must have slid 60' on our butts, and he laughed and said, "That was a little fast". I had a SPECTACULAR grass stain
Anyway, thanks for encouraging me to go back and try again. I enjoyed the second one in a completely different way than the first, and I can't wait for the next!

Best post I've seen on this site.

[pfd32713 0]

age is not a consideration this is a sport u can do if u r remotely healthy at any age. the risk is nothing compared to everyday life. every year this is how people die compare to average of 29 skydiving deaths. 105 scuba diving 856 on bicycles, 7000 drowning, 1154 to bee stings, 4 playing basketball, 1063 boating, 13 hanggliding, 60 snowmobilng, 47 water skiing, 66 hit by lightning, 235 in airline accidents, and a whopping 50000 in car crashes. you take more of a risk walking out your front door everyday. so dont rule it out for the reasons u posted get out there and live.

[farmgurl 0]

PFD, I'm not ruling out anything. I'll continue to do tandems, and see where it takes me. On the second jump, I was a little better about remembering what I was supposed to do, but still need to build some confidence in my ability to both think and act, especially during freefall. I do know that if I learn to jump solo, I want to be able to have the time to go and spend at least a week at it. Family issues right now just make it the wrong time to do it. We'll see what happens next season.
I totally believe in get out there and live. I do not believe, however, that I am a two tandems and jump into AFF person. Lol, while I CAN walk and chew gum at the same time, some days it's a challenge
I had a lot of fun playing with video editing software on my second jump video. If you'd like to check it out, here's the link.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozpn-WeKVuQ]

[grannyinthesky 0]

Hi farmgurl,
Somehow I missed this thread. Skydiving has been the best thing that has happened to/for me in the last 30+ years. Last October, at 57, I did a tandem as an extra credit assignment for a physics class. I had never really thought about going skydiving, but........ As I was sitting on the ground after the tandem, I was thinking "I could do this again". About two hours later, I decided every year for my birthday would be good. But, about two hours after that, I was calling the dz to find out how to learn to do it myself. I did my first AFF jump Thanksgiving weekend and I haven't looked back. Sure there are times when I get frustrated with learning new skills, but then when I read other jumpers posts here, I realize there isn't anything I am having difficulty with that is new or unique. And I also realized that problems aren't specific to age or gender. Everyone has issues of some sort. We all struggle with different things. Sensory overload is something that some experience to a greater degree than others, but we all start there to some extent. I could have sworn my eyes were closed the first part of my tandem, but apparently they weren't. Just sensory overload Pat

"safety first... and What the hell.....
safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy

POPS #10490

[NotBond 0]

Quote

PFD, I'm not ruling out anything. I'll continue to do tandems, and see where it takes me. On the second jump, I was a little better about remembering what I was supposed to do, but still need to build some confidence in my ability to both think and act, especially during freefall. I do know that if I learn to jump solo, I want to be able to have the time to go and spend at least a week at it. Family issues right now just make it the wrong time to do it. We'll see what happens next season.
I totally believe in get out there and live. I do not believe, however, that I am a two tandems and jump into AFF person. Lol, while I CAN walk and chew gum at the same time, some days it's a challenge
I had a lot of fun playing with video editing software on my second jump video. If you'd like to check it out, here's the link.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozpn-WeKVuQ]

Farmgurl, I missed this thread somewhere. We are a lot alike - "seasoned" more than most, cargo on first tandem, drawn mysteriously to do a second one, and now planning AFF in the spring. I totally identify with your first post. I am so glad you did your second - you really start to get a taste of what can be yours if you reach out and take it. As for the "instructor dread" - I kinda wondered that myself, but my second TI gave me things to do in free fall - it was so cool!

Are we "skydivers" - yes, in the strict sense, because we jumped out of an airplane. Are we SKYDIVERS - not yet, WAAAY much to learn yet. Are we gonna have fun doing it - You Know It!

Stay in touch, it's nice to find another similar newbie here!

Blue Skies!

Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne