scared to turn

[grlsgotalot2lrn 0]

I've done two tandems, have taken my ground school, and because of weather had to postpone my first aff jump until sat. i thought i was ready, until reading tom buch's post regarding flat turns and the incident post it is referring to. I've rehearsed my dive, read section 4 of my sims a few times, yet don't feel confident about my potential canopy ability. I plan on discussing this more with my jm on saturday, but any other advice on what I can do to be as prepared as possible? Even though i may only have 1 aff jump under my belt, should I participate in the classroom portion of the scott miller canopy course being offered at my dz?

[Dougiefresh 0]

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should I participate in the classroom portion of the scott miller canopy course being offered at my dz?

Yes.

And don't worry, you'll be fine. Just do what the radio says.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams

[bodypilot1 0]

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Just do what the radio says.

And what if the radio fails to work?



Ed

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[Fast 0]

If you act competently and follow the directions of your instructors most likely you will do fine. The odds are in your favor that there won't be radio problems but even if there are you have been taught on the ground how to fly the canopy and what you should and shouldn't do.

If canopy flight is making you nervous just follow your own thoughts and make sure to talk throughly with your instructor about the canopy protion of the jump before you go up.


Have fun and be safe.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[BIGUN 1,314]

http://www.skydiveaz.com/resources/book_canopy.htm

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[AggieDave 6]

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Even though i may only have 1 aff jump under my belt, should I participate in the classroom portion of the scott miller canopy course being offered at my dz?

EDIT: Ask your instructors first and talk to Scott Miller about it, but I don't see why you couldn't, they may have a reason, so its not up to me to say you can and should, but Scott Miller has one hell of a course (did two courses last weekend with him infact) and you can learn a lot. Once again, ask your instructors and talk to Scott about it first


Take it, hell, everything he teaches WILL help you!

You will learn about the things you are worried about, you will learn life saving skills and you'll learn more about prepairing to do your jump then you thought you should do (possibly).

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[grlsgotalot2lrn 0]

http://www.skydiveaz.com/resources/book_canopy.htm

read it, printed it, will read some more. . . thanks!!

• Quote

[BIGUN 1,314]

You're welcome. Much more to read in the "Safety" canopy section here on dz.com.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[kelpdiver 2]

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I've done two tandems, have taken my ground school, and because of weather had to postpone my first aff jump until sat. i thought i was ready, until reading tom buch's post regarding flat turns and the incident post it is referring to. I've rehearsed my dive, read section 4 of my sims a few times, yet don't feel confident about my potential canopy ability. I plan on discussing this more with my jm on saturday, but any other advice on what I can do to be as prepared as possible? Even though i may only have 1 aff jump under my belt, should I participate in the classroom portion of the scott miller canopy course being offered at my dz?

On the Scott Miller - definitely ask. I don't know if it would just be a lot of information that doesn't mean anything to you yet.

But as for the fear, have you watched the others coming in on their pattern? Wouldn't hurt to watch a few loads on the LZ - you were a bit distracted on your tandems, I'm sure. On my first jump, I was turning slower than a 747 - I don't think the toggles ever got lower than my ears. I kept hearing "no low turns" in my mind. And then they have me turning 90 degrees at 400ft! What they really meant was no radical - well over 90deg - moves near final.

[Ruskin 0]

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And what if the radio fails to work?

My radio failed on my second static line jump. I say this not to try and worry students about the radio failing but just so that students know that it is a real possibility. If I had known this before I had jumped I would have been terrified but I just got my bearings as soon as I could, located the landing area and completely followed my training flight paths. It worked perfectly and I landed without any problems whatsoever. As you read often on these forums, just do what you are told by your instructor in your training. I have done 27 static line jumps and 6 AFF jumps and still use my radio. I worry about not having a radio even though I was without one on my second jump! I am glad that my radio failed now because I know that if it happens again I know what to do on my own!

[algboy 0]

"Finally, there are a couple things to do that will improve your performance even if you already land OK. Cross train: mountain bike, run cross country, ski, kayak, drive - anything involving movement and coordination in a rapidly changing environment. Exercise does a lot more than make you stronger; it makes you mentally more agile. The people who land really well seem to be fairly athletic, so maybe there is a connection."

The best advice I found in that article. Although there was plenty of good stuff there, too. This quote seems to make a lot of sense. Being used to motion and changing conditions seems to be a great benefit. 3D Awareness, I guess.

“Keep your elbow up!"

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

Scott's course involves 5 jumps where you practice different maneuvers and discuss and get feedback. AFF is already a lot to keep in your head, I remember being worried i'd get out there and forget what to do. I'm glad I wasn't overloaded with performing for both the AFF instructors and Scott at the same time. Honestly, my unprofessional opinion is don't make any radical maneuvers, and listen to what they tell you on the radio. I am sure the instructors will be able to set you at ease, so just talk to them on Saturday. I bet you'll do fine, you have obvoiusly been reading up about it, and you are aware that burying a toggle for a 360+ degree turn can be a fatal mistake. That is why they have you do s turns and small turns, no 360 degree turns.

It's healthy to worry, but try not to stress too bad. You have enough to remember with just what to do on the AFF dive, it is an "accellerated" program in itself, they teach you how to land safely for the course, but you should definitely take Scott's course after AFF!

just my thoughts, i'm obviously not an instructor. But, I did go through AFF a little over a year ago. I also attended Scott's course early in my jumping and it is definitely a good one!

Angela

[Brian425 0]

Tom's post was not meant to scare you. It was to go over things that ALL skydivers and especially students should be taught. Tom is the S&TA at my DZ. He has forgotten more about skydiving than I will probably ever know. I believe he wanted to give us all something to think about. You might want to PM him. He's very helpful.

Also print out his post and bring it to your instructor. Talk it over with them. Also talk to them about your concerns. I was a student not too long ago. I'll let you in on a little secret, ALL students are nervous to some degree.

I took Scott Miller class this spring. It's a GREAT class. I hope to take it again spring 2005. Honeslty, it might be a little too much information with only 1 AFF jump. I would definitely recommend it once you are off student status and again in the next year or so.

The only time you should look down on someone is when you are offering them your hand.

[Travman 6]

I did my Stage 1 AFF a few days ago, the canopy ride was great. Came down for landing, did a PLF - and was fine.

[christoofar 0]

Quote

Quote

Just do what the radio says.

And what if the radio fails to work?



Ed

I had a jumpmaster accidentally pick out the wrong student (two of us were doing our first AFF jump and he thought I was the other student)... on my first AFF jump I had to land on my own. Because I could tell around 150 feet off the ground he got the wrong person. (Especially at 70 feet when I heard "FLARE!") Jumpmaster sure felt some humility after that! :-)

For the last 50 feet I did what I was told in ground school and landed in a clear and open area, but the flare could have been better. After that happened, my confidence level about landings was through the roof.
At AFF jump 3 I was standing up all my landings and really didn't need the radio anymore. So my jumpmaster allowed me to stop wearing it. If you go over in your mind what the procedure is while you are descending, it becomes a peice of cake.

____________________________________________________________
I'm RICK JAMES! Fo shizzle.

[skytash 0]

Note - I'm not an instructor.

My sense is that if you are worried about low turns, you are sufficiently aware about them and won't do them. Ask your instructors to explain how to do flat turns so that you know what Tom was talking about.

Stay aware of the dangers of low turns throughout your skydiving career and you are far less likely to make a mistake.

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe