jaaska 0 #1 May 31, 2003 Hi you all! I've not been writing here for a while... Well anyway, I was stuck in the short delays for like 15 jumps or something (I'm doing S/L-progression). Did quite a many unstable openings with some really scary moments where the main chute came between my legs and did not inflate right a way etc... I did my first skydive last october and progressed to 3 sec delay in normally fashion in 8 jumps... Then the winter came and as I started to jump again, I just could not get pass the short delay part. Every now and then I did couple of PRC pulls which went really well, but when ever the umbilical cord (S/L) was removed, I felt real, pure horror that totally screwed up my jumps. Our clubs JMs were almost as miserable with my progression as I and they told me to get couple of AFF level jumps to get rid off that horrory feeling... I had like 3 student jump tickets left and I decided that I'd just use them up and do couple of AFF's in a different club (for a student that would of course make a quite a big hole in the budget). So last sunday, after two weeks break, I went to the club I signed for a 3" delay... One of the JM came to me and told me that we'd use all the time (there were like 4 loads before my turn) to hang from a freefall harness, just going through the jump over and over again. Also, for the first time I practiced the pull sequence w/o "looking" at the handle (my problem had been more or less heavy de-arching after perfectly good exit). She kept me repeating it over and over again... Our clubs plane is a turbo c206 and it takes 6 jumpers at a time. This time there were three other students doing S/l-jumps, a JM-student and supervisory JM (looking after the JM-stundent and us). I was the last student to exit and as the JM-student was behind me giving me the tap and go, the JM was siting in front of me so as I was looking at the pilot's neck I could see her face - she was pulling her face with her fingers etc... Off I went, jump no. 23, and it was beautiful... For the first time I felt like I was "on the top of the air" rather than being whipped all over by it... Tuesday I did my 5" and it was as beautiful. Wednesday I did 8", thursday 10" and 15". I had some extra altitude for my 15" so it closer to 20". I kept my heading really well and opening was pure honey... Soft and nice... I still feel pretty scared in the plane, but it's different. The hardest part for me is just before the exit. Once I'm out and especially after I reach the TV, I feel so good I just smile (probably looks really stupid in the freefall ), I just relax and enjoy the ride. Everybody kept telling me that once you get it, you cannot believe how could you think it was so hard or scary, something just "clicks"... SO, for those of you who have had/are having similar problems... I can only say this: People progress in different rates... A JM told me once that most of the people could become licensed skydivers if they just kept on trying. Some people progress through the training really fast, for others (like me) it may take 10, 20, 50 etc. extra jumps and a lot more time - this is the reason why only about 9% of all the students who sign for a skydiving course ever achieve C class (takes normally anywhere between 50-80 jumps here in Finland) which makes you "off student status". They just give up. Normally people quit after their first couple of jumps or at the same point I was struggling... I could have given up after 2 months and 15 jumps of horror and disappointments - BUT I CHOSE NOT TO! Don't compare you progression to others - you'll end up with an unhealthy "I have to make it because s/he made it"-attitude. Anyway, because of those extra jumps, I'm doing pretty well with the canopy control part... So what was funny about this story? Well, on thursday after two successful jumps I was training direct exit from a "simulator"... I "exited" and twisted my right ankle so that I have to use walking sticks for a while. People just could not stop laughing. Everybody has been really supportive, but the irony was just too thick. Even I laughed after I got some painkillers... Finally when I get it right and things are progressing fast (there would have been student camp on coming week, or rather there is, but because of my ankle I cannot participate), I twist my ankle dirt diving... NICE GOING! This summer is going to ROCK! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkySlut 0 #2 May 31, 2003 I would suggest at least going to the student camp next week...you may not be able to physically participate, but you can mentally participate...that is if you are off the painkillers. I have learned more on the ground watching and listening that I have in the air. Its a very valuable resource and it doesnt cost anything to listen. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMFin 0 #3 May 31, 2003 Quote .you may not be able to physically participate, but you can mentally participate.. Yeah... Drinkin beer BIG TIME !! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunyip 0 #5 June 3, 2003 Sometimes you will not 'click' with your instructor ... and you might just have found somebody who can get inside your head and identify the problem. Work with different people ... they can all teach you something different. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WayneRATS 0 #6 June 3, 2003 i've kind of found that already with one of the lads at my dz, call me suspisious but every jump i've made with him has gone very very well he dispatched me on my first ever jump and i dunno.... theres something makes me feel very relaxed when i'm up there.. where as other instructors i kind of feel different.. not saying that the other lads arn't good there incredible at there job but i someties just don't feel right .. and the jumps i've done with them havn't gone so well.... i've even waited a full day before i jumped just so i could get on the same lift .. thanks for those "kick up the ass" words jaaska ------------------------ Can You Ere Me Now? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
