My "comeback" jump

[ScottTX 0]

Well, after getting a badly bruised tailbone on my last jump on Sept 30th, I made my first jump since then earlier today.

I described in an earlier post about the difficulty I had been having with flaring and judging my flaring altitude.

The bad news is that on exiting the aircraft today, I did not arch properly and we were very unstable for the first 20 seconds or so of the freefall.

The rest of the freefall and landing was good for the most part, and I was more relaxed than I have ever been on any of my previous jumps.

One of these days I am going to get my sh*t in gear and do a good jump from exit to landing.

I have no excuse, the instructor I had today is great and the staff at the dz have been very considerate and understanding of the difficulties I continue to have.

I am not giving up yet, but there has to be a point when I have to realize that maybe I am not cut out for this. What other reason can there be for someone who has now made 4 solo jumps and is STILL stuck on level 1?

[siddacious 0]

Don't be so hard on yourself man! From what you say, you're making progress which is what matters. And as far as "not being cut out for this", keep in mind that freefall is a pretty un-natural thing for humans to do. After botching level 4 twice I was thinking about saying "screw it" and going back to being a land lubber, but I decided to stick with it, and I did make it through AFF. If you have the balls to keep going after an injury and several failed attempts at level one, I'm sure you'll do just fine in the long run.

Keep with it!

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[ScottTX 0]

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Don't be so hard on yourself man! From what you say, you're making progress which is what matters. And as far as "not being cut out for this", keep in mind that freefall is a pretty un-natural thing for humans to do. After botching level 4 twice I was thinking about saying "screw it" and going back to being a land lubber, but I decided to stick with it, and I did make it through AFF. If you have the balls to keep going after an injury and several failed attempts at level one, I'm sure you'll do just fine in the long run.

Keep with it!

I do tend to be too self critical, right now I am just disgusted with myself.

I was really up for this jump after the long layoff during which the instructor I had today spent a lot of time with me working on the difficulties I have been experiencing and how to correct those. I just feel that I should have done better, esp after getting some of the best training and instruction you could ever want or hope to have.

I will NOT give this up until someone at the dz tells me that I am *BOB*, aka "Better off Bowling", and maybe not then

[siddacious 0]

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I do tend to be too self critical, right now I am just disgusted with myself.

A little disgust can be good thing, in the "not gonna take sh*t from myself" sorta way, ie: not being content with mediocracy. Just as long as you know where to draw the line.

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I was really up for this jump after the long layoff during which the instructor I had today spent a lot of time with me working on the difficulties I have been experiencing and how to correct those. I just feel that I should have done better, esp after getting some of the best training and instruction you could ever want or hope to have.

You can *always* do better. The important thing is that you're making progress

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I will NOT give this up until someone at the dz tells me that I am *BOB*, aka "Better off Bowling", and maybe not then

[Eule 0]

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One of these days I am going to get my sh*t in gear and do a good jump from exit to landing.

Hmm... ... Here it is. 29 August 2005. "I commented to the instructor [....] that one day I was going to manage a good freefall and a good canopy ride on the same skydive." In other words, you are me, at about this same time last year. I passed AFF 7 on my 46th jump, after starting at one DZ, jumping a while, going to a tunnel, jumping a while, going to a different DZ, going to a different tunnel, and returning to the first DZ. Nobody had "the" answer. The two tunnels and the two DZs provided pieces of the answer but I had to put it all together.

Before I started jumping I did some research. I read this site, other Internet sites, and read a book. After I had been jumping for a while, I decided that about 95% of the "skydiving for n00bs" stuff is pretty much true. The 5% or so that I disagree with is the explicit or implicit assumption that absolutely everybody gets their A license on their 25th jump. I know a couple of people that did that, but I also know many more that took 30 or 35 or more jumps. (Cue someone posting that they were born in freefall and/or in the tunnel and got their license in four jumps - never fails. :) )

My point is, don't buy bowling shoes or golf clubs just yet.

Eule

PLF does not stand for Please Land on Face.

[racer42 0]

Look at it this way. You only get 60 seconds of practice at a time. How good are supposed to be? You DO have to be stable and safe, but,
Don't be too rough on yourself. This is supposed to be fun!!

Relax, Breath, Focus

L.A.S.T. #24
Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team
Electric Toaster #3
Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor
Co-Founder Team Happy Sock

[Jumpah 0]

Yeah, that's frustrating. But think of it another way...you were 6 weeks since your last jump...that pretty much sets you back to the beginning in your skills. Its all pretty much new again.

At least you haven't heard the bowling speech =)

[ScottTX 0]

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Hmm... ... Here it is. 29 August 2005. "I commented to the instructor [....] that one day I was going to manage a good freefall and a good canopy ride on the same skydive." In other words, you are me, at about this same time last year. I passed AFF 7 on my 46th jump, after starting at one DZ, jumping a while, going to a tunnel, jumping a while, going to a different DZ, going to a different tunnel, and returning to the first DZ. Nobody had "the" answer. The two tunnels and the two DZs provided pieces of the answer but I had to put it all together.

My point is, don't buy bowling shoes or golf clubs just yet.

Eule

One thing for sure, your post dated Oct 7 2005, is a very accurate description of where I am at today.

The instructor who has been working with me is patient but he does not mince words, he is direct and to the point, and that is what I want, someone who tells me like it is, and I appreciate him for that.

He pointed out the things on this jump that I improved on over the last jump, but made it real clear that the problem with instablity on the first half of this freefall was a serious concern to him.

During the 7 weeks that I was not jumping the instructor gave me excersises to do that would help me in arching. I have been hanging out at the dz during the layoff, picking up whatever advice I could get from other instructors and experienced jumpers. In other words I feel that I have been doing everything that I should be doing to overcome being stuck at level 1 and overcoming the jump I was injured on.

He made it very clear after our jump (at least the way I interpeted it) that this next jump is "make or break", as far as jumping at this dz is concerned.

I wish there were a tunnel somewhere near here, maybe that might help.

I live about an hours drive from the dz and last night on the drive home I gave consideration to never going back again, but my damn pride wont let me do it. I have to get one good jump, from exit to landing in, and then I will see how I feel, but I know that I cannot give up, the skydiving bug has infected me and I am definetly addicted to this .

If I am told after the next jump that my status at this dz is *BOB* (better off bowling) than I will take some time off again, try to sort thru my feelings and emotions and see what I want to do.

Maybe trying another dz at that point?, its possible unless I am somehow blacklisted, there are several dz's within a few hours driving time of here, but In talking with other jumpers and having visited other dz's myself, the dz I am at now is one of the best around, built from the ground up as a skydiving center with instructors and staff that are the best anywhere.

I did not say it last night because it did not begin to hit me until the drive home , but right now, yes, I am being harsh on myself, I am totally disgusted and discouraged that so much time has been spent, both on my part and on the employees at the dz who have been encouraging me all along, and I still cant seem to go forward.

Once a few days have passed, and I stop being pi*sed off at myself, I am sure I will start to refocus my thoughts and energy into doing what I have to do to get in a good jump. I will overcome!

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[Taikoen 0]

As racer42 said, you don't get as much practice as you do with other sports. I'm very hard on myself as well and was advancing through my jumps well (of course with a few stupid mistakes) when my instructor put things into a better perspective for me. I played a lot of sports growing up, and sometimes I'd spend up to 20 hours a week practicing for just one sport. However, at the time I only had 18 minutes of skydive practice. After this realization, I didn't feel so critical towards myself about not getting my "upwards" movement perfect the first jump. I'm surviving, enjoying myself, and learning - That's all I need.

[kris2extreme 0]

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During the 7 weeks that I was not jumping the instructor gave me excersises to do that would help me in arching. I have been hanging out at the dz during the layoff, picking up whatever advice I could get from other instructors and experienced jumpers. In other words I feel that I have been doing everything that I should be doing to overcome being stuck at level 1 and overcoming the jump I was injured on.

He made it very clear after our jump (at least the way I interpeted it) that this next jump is "make or break", as far as jumping at this dz is concerned.

I'm a way-new jumper, and don't know all the details of your jump/history... but,

IMO, an instructor who tells a student on his first jump after coming back from an injury that the next jump is make-or-break is just crazy (especially instability on exit which seems to be a common problem with alot of students).

From watching some of the other students at my DZ progress, it has just taken practice and experience to make it all click together... i've seen some that scared the hell out of me and watched the instructors work with them weekend after weekend until it did all did finally click one day, and they are still progressing through the program now.

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If I am told after the next jump that my status at this dz is *BOB* (better off bowling) than I will take some time off again, try to sort thru my feelings and emotions and see what I want to do.

Maybe trying another dz at that point?, its possible unless I am somehow blacklisted, there are several dz's within a few hours driving time of here, but In talking with other jumpers and having visited other dz's myself, the dz I am at now is one of the best around, built from the ground up as a skydiving center with instructors and staff that are the best anywhere.

If the instructor is ready to give up on you already, i'd find another instructor or another dropzone if need be. Different teaching methods work for different people.

Your current DZ isn't the only game in town, there are others around who also have top-notch instruction, and i'm confident they'd be more than willing to work with you.

[ScottTX 0]

[Luminous 0]

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He has spent a lot of his own personal time working with me over the last few weeks, not getting paid for most of it.

That's the job description for skydiving instructor. Everyone knows that video is where the big bucks are.



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ! (dammit!)

Hope the jump went/goes well. Relax. Have Fun.

Cheers.
Larry

'In an insane society a sane person seems insane.' Mr. Spock