Crazy?

[LearningTOfly 0]

Okay...here's that story...it may be lengthy, but I'd like some advice from a few experienced or pro jumpers...

I just turned 18, and since I've been like, three, I've had this urge to jump, suppose it was a movie I saw back then that got me atarted. Anyways, I got a job this summer at a local DZ as a packer, packing student, pro, and tandem gear, which I thought was totally awesome. In August, I got a 'teaser' I guess, when the head instructor at the school took me up on a tandem, two months before I turned 18. I went out the door with a smile on my face.

Obviously, two months have past and I can jump, but between August and now I did some research and have become older and less dumb. More specifically, I has developed a severe phobia of the thought or mention of a d-mal. Which I hear happen about twice a year. Unlikely, sure, but people win the lotto too, right? Are these thoughts, I suppose, normal, or have I had too much exposure too soon?

All responses are greatly appriciated!


Oh, and is it better to use a round or square reserve...I hear any bag can baglock?

[AggieDave 6]

There is risk in anything you do, there is risk in skydiving. If it is something that you truely you want to do, you'll learn how to be as safe as you can and work to prevent unsafe situations if you can.

You have to make the decision if you're willing to face that risk and enjoy jumping or if you aren't willing to or can't face that risk and walk away from this sport.

Only you can decide these things.

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

[skybytch 273]

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Oh, and is it better to use a round or square reserve...I hear any bag can baglock?

Round reserves aren't bagged. The majority use a "diaper" which wraps around the skirt of the canopy and is closed by a number of line stows. The balance of the lines are stowed in the container.

[BBKid 0]

It's completely normal. I know people with 1000's of jumps, who admit to having full-on nightmares about horseshoes, and I can't say I blame them.

I haven't jumped for a month, only 38 jumps total, but I just got a job so I can go tomorrow, and I'm really nervous - but excited!

Nick
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"I've pierced my foot on a spike!!!"

[riggerrob 643]

a d-mal. Which I hear happen about twice a year.

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What is a d-mal?

[Hooknswoop 19]

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What is a d-mal?

Guessing he means a double malfinction.

Derek

[LearningTOfly 0]

Guessing he means a double malfinction.

[rendezvous 0]

Your thoughts are absolutely normal. Skydiving is dangerous and people do die. It's been said a number of times in this forum that this sport is about managing your risk. Everything that you learn about your gear or about the sport adds to your ability to evaluate that risk. No exposure in this sport is too soon or too late. If you do choose to take up Skydiving you will continue to evaluate the risk you put yourself under against what is acceptable to you. The nervousness, the quziness, the jitters they are all here to stay. You are going to encounter them at various points in your Skydiving and under various circumstances. It's part of the sport. This is Skydiving after all. It's only as safe as you make it, beyound that it's still dangerous. Again. the thoughts that you have are normal, what you need to ask yourself is weather the risk is acceptable. Don't count on anyone trying to tell you it will not happen to you. Trust your instincts on weather you should take it up or not. It's a beautiful sport but there is nothing as beautiful as being alive either. It's not important what the statistics on d-mals are. There are plenty of other ways of finding yourself dead in Skydiving. Just keep in mind, your decision to Skydive or not to does not make you any more or less braver than you already are. Skydiving is purely a matter of how you assess risk, how much of it are you willing to take and what price are you willing to pay.

[CrazyDave 0]

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Your thoughts are absolutely normal. Skydiving is dangerous and people do die. It's been said a number of times in this forum that this sport is about managing your risk. Everything that you learn about your gear or about the sport adds to your ability to evaluate that risk. No exposure in this sport is too soon or too late. If you do choose to take up Skydiving you will continue to evaluate the risk you put yourself under against what is acceptable to you. The nervousness, the quziness, the jitters they are all here to stay. You are going to encounter them at various points in your Skydiving and under various circumstances. It's part of the sport. This is Skydiving after all. It's only as safe as you make it, beyound that it's still dangerous. Again. the thoughts that you have are normal, what you need to ask yourself is weather the risk is acceptable. Don't count on anyone trying to tell you it will not happen to you. Trust your instincts on weather you should take it up or not. It's a beautiful sport but there is nothing as beautiful as being alive either. It's not important what the statistics on d-mals are. There are plenty of other ways of finding yourself dead in Skydiving. Just keep in mind, your decision to Skydive or not to does not make you any more or less braver than you already are. Skydiving is purely a matter of how you assess risk, how much of it are you willing to take and what price are you willing to pay.

nicely put... i think that any sport is dangerous to an extent, everything has a risk factor, its just skydiving has a slightly higher one, as rendezvous said, it all depends on how much you are willing to take and what price are you willing to pay. think about this..... if it wasnt risky and wasnt an adrenaline rush would it be actually done?.

anyway isnt driving a car suposed to be more dangerous (i dont want to start one of those statistical car vs skydiving threads)