Tips on first AFF jump....

[hawkflight 0]

Hi, I am doing my first AFF jump this Sunday...I did a tadem jump last week and am completley unable to think of anything else......Any tips or suggestions on what I can do to make this another awesome experience...i intend to listen to my instuctors but cannot wait till Sunday to start LEARNING....i'm sure you guys understand.Thanks in advance ....Tom.

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"Any fool can learn for his own mistakes, a wise man learns from anothers." Mark Twain

[AggieDave 6]

No matter what anyone says here, do what your instructor says! That's what is important.

Now, something that will help you...RELAX! Be sure to try to relax in the plane and take some nice slow deep breaths before you climb out to exit, that'll help you relax.

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

[Sheenster303 0]

I have yet to do my first AFF, but I heard that relaxing helps stabilizes you when you're in freefall. I'm trying to get tips for myself too when I go. You relax after you arch right?

I'm so funny I crack my head open!

P.M.S. #102

[AggieDave 6]

Relaxation helps on all levels.

Ever see a piece of ply-wood fall off a building? It tumbles, "potato-chips" and doesn't fall stable? Your body will do similar things in the air, if you tense up.

Thus, relex and you'll do better. Never mind that you'll be calmer and be able to think more clearly on the tasks that your instructors have set out for you.

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

[skybytch 273]

Go to Amazon.com. Buy "Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook" (Poynter/Turoff, Para Publishing) and/or "Jump! Skydiving made fun and easy" (Buchanan, McGraw-Hill). Have them ship 'em the fast way. Or, if you're close to a dz with a gear store, head out and buy them there.

Either of these books will give you a major head start on what you'll need to know to do all your student jumps. I can't recommend them enough - honestly I think they're the best money you can spend as a student skydiver.

For right now, have you checked out the Safety area of this website? Lots of good stuff there.

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[Sheenster303 0]

I think I might just go do that. Thanks!

I'm so funny I crack my head open!

P.M.S. #102

[hookitt 1]

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Ever see a piece of ply-wood fall off a building?

No.. have you?

Good analogy and and good suggestions Dave.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[riddler 0]

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You relax after you arch right?

Arch! But Relax! I have AFF students tell me all the time that it's a contradiction. And it is. That process must be learned. You learn to use a few muscles and relax all the others, the same way a rock climber uses a few muscles, and keeps the rest relaxed to save energy.

There's all sorts of good advice on this thread. My advice - go out and have fun! Your instructors will keep you safe while you learn to fly. And eventually you will learn, but don't expect miracles. That's why there's 7 levels (and usually more) in AFF. It takes time to learn to fly your body. Have fun and you will keep going. Keep going and you will graduate AFF.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[Nightingale 0]

breathe. relax. smile. listen to your JMs.

Pull.
Pull at the right altitude
Pull with stability
Land safely.

dat's it.

[EdC 0]

Listen to your instructor and don't stare at the ground.

Big Ed

[lawrocket 3]

Advice?

During your course.
1. Pay attention to everything said.

2. If you have questions, wait until the end of instruction for that topic. Most of your questions will be answered before you have a chance to ask them.

3. Ask questions only when relevant to that portion of instruction. Don't worry about asking, "What if the parachute doesn't open" when you are being taught about body position. They'll get to it. But, don't hesitate to ask for clarification of things you don't quite get.

4. Pay attention.

5. DOn't worry about hurrying. Don't worry if your class takes two days. This isn't a race, and you'll get into the air soon enough. When you hurry, bad things happen. Expect to get winded. Don't expect to jump on the day of your FJC. You might luck out, but don't expect it. If you do, you'll hurry. And then you may find yourself in a world of shit.

6. Pay attention.

The jump itself is the show. But, the important part is the course. Just like taking an exam in school - you won't do well if you don't pay attention and study beforehand.

What you learn in FJC is what you'll do every time you jump. Soak it up. And prepare to compare the jump to what you learned on debrief.

Do well, and let us know how it goes.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Brian425 0]

I have just finished AFF and I am working on my coach jumps right now. I will not give you any specific skydiving tips as I am not qualified. I will give you some tips on AFF and some of the things I learned while going through it.

Get a GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP!!! I cannot stress this enough. Also bring some food with you. I was very busy the first few jumps and I did not eat lunch. All this adrenaline burns up lots of fuel.

During your First Jump Class, pay attention. It's easy to lose focus and want to jump ahead. We are learning the basics of what we will use in every skydive. When things go bad in any sport, you always go back the basics. It's instinct. Spend the time to learn them well now. It will serve you well in the future.

Work on your arch with your instructor. While it seems very easy, it's new to us. A stable arch will serve you well in every jump through the AFF program.

Study your dives before you get to the dropzone. It's just one less thing to worry about on the days of your jump. Then when you get time with your instructor, you can spend time learning how to do the moves required in the dive.

Work on some things to help relax you. Slow deep breaths help me. Smile. It may seem fake; but, it helps. Every student is nervous. The key is how you deal with it. Learn to do your own gear checks and turn on your cypress. It helped me to know that I actually inspected my gear before going anywhere. After you check it, get your instructor to check your gear. (this check is the one that will save your life )

In the plane, talk with your instructor. Go over the dive, ask about their experiences, make some small talk. It makes the ride to altitude go quicker and keep the nerves at bay a little. I also try to do the dive in reverse on the way up. Note your pull altitude on the way up. Note the no more maneuvers altitude. It reinforces what you have gone over on the ground and helps keep your mind focused on what you do.

Try not to be afraid in the door. Your instructor will keep you safe and you have the training to keep yourself safe. They would not take you up if they did not think that they could take you out safely.

Once out, relax and arch. Follow your instructors instructions. You will be surprised how much help you instructor can give you with just hand signals. Make sure you are altitude aware and pull. The only advice I will give you is the most basic skydiving rule. Pull, Pull at the correct altitude, and Pull stable. If you cannot do any two of these, just make sure you pull.

As hard as it is, relax and try to enjoy it. Pay close attention to your debrief after you jump. This is where your instructor will give you the most instruction. After your debrief, start to work on the things that your instructor spoke to you about. Many things come down to repetition and muscle memory.

Good luck, have fun and buy beer for all of your firsts.

Brian

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

[Markj 0]

Hi there, I recently completed my AFF a few weeks ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!! I haven't got too much to add that other people haven't already said. But one thing that I found that helped was just to slow down... When you are in freefall going through your drills and tasks, do them slowly, avoid the temptation to race through them. It helps a lot to shout out everything, it helps to slow things down when you shout them out, don't try and hurry though them. The levels have been designed to give you enough time to complete what you are supposed to do.

Also another thing, which helped me hugely was to get a video. It was just a coincidence but I decided to get a video on one of my levels, level 5 I think and I failed that level, it was the only level I failed but when I watched the video I could see straight away why I failed. After looking at my Altimeter I was keeping my hand higher than my other hand which was causing me to start spinning. I didn't believe my instructor at first but when I watched the video It was blatant!! I retried the level after watching the video and did excelllent!!..

Also as mentioned by everyone else, relax, relax relax!! Also remember target fixation.. Which means, where you look is generally where you are going.. So if you are looking to your ight you are probably going to start turning slowly to your right etc etc.. That helped me a lot when doing my 360 deg turns etc..

Anyway hope it helps.


M.J

[Kramer 0]

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Go to Amazon.com. Buy "Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook" (Poynter/Turoff, Para Publishing)

Listen to her hawkflight.

I just finished reading this book last week. I made five SL jumps this summer, and am switching to AFF in the spring, the book really helps you realize everything that goes into skydiving, I was relaxed after reading it just at the thought of all the new stuff I know.

-Kramer

The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!!

[Surf 0]

One tip that helped me- In the plane before gearcheck, sit up straight and take a deep breath, let it out. then another deep breath and hold it. Push it into your belly, like you're imitating a beer gut, hold it there, then release. Visualize the skydive in your head.

Never knew why this works, but it always did for me.

Get comfortable with the instructors- They'll likely be saving your life at some point (Thanks Mike!)

"Nothing is written"- T.E. Lawrence

[ripper0289 0]

Relax, you have two jumpmasters there with you to help keep you safe. Don't worry about doing a bunch of stuff in freefall, that will come later. Breathe, maintain altitude awareness, and have a blast.

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

Relax and visualize your dive. Your instructors will do lots of dirtdiving with you, you'll do practice pulls on the ground, check your jms, alti checks, etc. While you're in the plane, close your eyes, relax, and go back over what you're supposed to accomplish. Envision yourself checking your alti, checking with jms for instruction, doing your practice pulls. Just do what the instructors tell you and pull at pull time and you'll be fine:)

Have fun!
Angela.