Brain fart

[Steeler 0]

I made my first static line jump Labor Day, the whole ride to altitude I`m thinking "arch, count" over
and over in my head. So after exit, what do I do?
Nothing. Just fell like a rock kicking and swimming like an idiot. I completely forgot the arch, count, etc.
I didnt get my brain turned back on until the canopy was open and my line twists were cleared.
Is this normal or am I doomed from the start?
I am hoping that my next jump I can relax a little more and do what I need to do, but now
I`m afraid I might be more nervous for my second jump than I was on the first.

[sid 1]

nah! your next one will be perfect!

Pete Draper,

Just because my life plan is written on the back of a Hooter's Napkin, it's still a life plan.... right?

[drdive 0]

My instructor said I was a carpenters dream - stiff and straight as a board - for my first 6 or 7 jumps. I finally got it, even though it took me 35 jumps to get my A. Hang in there, listen to the instrucors, and RELAX.

Ed

"We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub"

"

[NWFlyer 2]

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Is this normal

Perfectly.

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or am I doomed from the start?

If you are, there are an awful lot of licensed skydivers out there who should have quit back then. But we pushed through.

Sensory overload on your first jump is very common. I was *much* more aware of what was going on during my 2nd static line than my first. There's a reason you do a bunch before you get to do freefall.

"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

[blithedj 0]

Hey man.

I just made my first solo IAD this Labor day as well. It's funny because my results are almost exactly the same.

I was totally focused on the ground. Going through my EP's in my head and running through the order to check your canopy and everything. Then on the ride to altitude, all I could do was watch my altimeter and focus on my deep breathing.

When it was 'go time', the door was opened and I climbed out onto the Cessna strut real fast, (My instructor laughed about my enthusiasm to get out of the plane.)

So, hanging from that strut, I looked over, and he gave me the, 'Arch!' But in truth I really didn't hear what he said. I let go, and totally forgot to think about the arch and everything.

I got to the ground and landed safetly - flying your own canopy is a blast! I thought my instructor was going to tell me I forgot to arch, but apparently I did it quite naturally! Next time though, I'm going to be a bit more conscious about it, I don't want to trust blind luck.

It's funny though - it really is total sensory overload. I forgot to think about my arch, and I honestly don't even remember unstowing my brakes at all. But somehow I got them in my hand and steered the parachute back. I'm excited to continue my jumping. I hear that the more you jump, the more your vision widens - you start to see smaller details and remember more specific things.

So I'm with you, don't worry about it, I'm sure this happens to students more often then not.

[darkwing 5]

There are world record holders who did worse than you when they were students.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[Steeler 0]

Well its great to hear that I`m not alone! I think it was just a case of "fear of the unknown". I didnt have any trouble
on the climbout, but when he said "GO", to be honest I didnt even want to let go. I was freaking terrified. I had to make my hands let go of the stut. Then it felt like I started going into a
backflip, but I dont think I really was. Wierdest damn feeling I`ve ever had in my life, and I want more.

[immanence 0]

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I think it was just a case of "fear of the unknown". I didnt have any trouble on the climbout, but when he said "GO", to be honest I didnt even want to let go. I was freaking terrified. I had to make my hands let go of the stut. Then it felt like I started going into a backflip

I did backloops through my static line when I was starting. Mind you, that was on rounds where stability wasn't so much of an issue

What you describe is totally normal. My eyebrows raise when people don't get wobbly in the early stages. It is good to have a healthy dose of "woah, WTF!"

Funny what some are saying on this thread, though. For me the first jump was almost copy book perfect. I felt almost no nerves at all, where all the other static liners looked like death. And I pushed off and arched with the best of them. Jump 2? Toilet time! I think it was something about knowing what was coming. The opposite of what one might expect (you know something, you lose your fear of it — it is no longer unknown). I think my 3rd was the worst: total mental meltdown. After then, partly because I was so mad at myself, things got better.

Give yourself a break, and a pat on the back. Like the saying goes, most sports take one ball, skydiving takes two (no inference, ladies).

You will be fine Laugh it up!

Blue skies,
ian

"where danger is appears also that which saves ..." Friedrich Holderlin, 'Patmos'

[Steeler 0]

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It is good to have a healthy dose of "woah, WTF!"

Yeah, thats it!! Except I think my words right out the door were "Holy f-ing sh*t, OH NO!" And I said it outloud.lol