First solo done

[lawrocket 3]

A couple of weeks ago, I asked for some hints and advice re: my first solo, and suggestions on what to do. Wendy suggested a detailed account. So, here is a somewhat detailed account.

First, I congratulate Lolie for the winning idea. I got a cameraman to accompany me (a top bloke!). So I geeked to the camera, which had the ancillary effect of relaxing my petrified self. Testosterone forbids a man from looking nervous in front of a camera.

Initial feelings were stark terror for the last couple of days. More scared than my first jump, any jump. Just petrified. Chris (the cameraman) calmed me down, and made some valuable suggestions. I listened intently, and made decisions.

I did a sit exit, back looped, a couple 360's, another backloop, and an atrocious barrel roll. I regained stability, and drifted backwards. Locked on at 6,000, waived off at about 4,300 (screw it, I was the last one out!), and enjoyed the canopy ride.

Please note that this was not the dive flow I planned. Excrement happens, so dive flow became "get stable, check altitude, find camera, screw around, repeat." I later determined that this was also one of the safest way to do things, thus heeding the advice of all of you by not bouncing.

I entered the log book, and checked my recollection against the video. Lesson learned - when up there, recall is a bit different. Cement the recollection while it's hapening.

Another lesson learned - it's easy to go back to bad habits, such as leg position.

Having ice-skated at a public outdoor rink in downtown LA a couple of days ago, I realized the benefit it had in swivel-head training (try avoiding 8 year-old kids on ice skates in a crowded rink - that'll keep your head on a swivel). Under canopy I found nobody above me or to the side. I triple checked this at five second intervals. I followed in another canopy who set a good landing pattern (looked odd at first, because winds were zero). Lesson learned - if someone before you does it right, you do it right if you do what he did. I even stuck the landing.

It was, bar none, the best jump I ever had, especially considering the stark terror of before. I was absolutely giddy afterwards.

I think I'll video my 30th jump or something, go through the same dive flow, and see if I get any improvements. Another valuable training tool.

Thank you DZ.com for all of the information I get on here. And thank you aggiedave (I was safe and smiled-still smiling!!! ), michelle (I hungon with one hand), darkvapor (I went unstable), dropdeded (yes, it was a rush), Lolie (as a big geek, I think I may be better than most at geeking), Scoby (yes, it was a long fall - I pulled early because my body clock was saying "PULL, DAMMIT! for 10 seconds, and it was my highest exit, lowest pull), bobsoutar (I pulled higher, but because I couldn't resist), jumpy (I looked around, too, and it was swell), chief (I stayed altitude aware, and the video shows it, too), falxori (The only tracking I did was back-tracking, and I didn't mean to), Jessica (I felt like falling, after I felt like throwing up - the therapeutic effect of that last step is amazing), Ron (I didn't bounce, and I will look into a 182 DZ after my a-license), billvon (I'd have freaked, not geeked, given your solo method), wendy (It was easy and relaxing, basically my AFF-7, my favorite jump, only no tracking), kato33 (I'll try your exit next), skycop (I heeded your advice and did something I've already done), jimmytavino (I was hoping to fool around, but she wanted to jump again), masher (get a video! What a training tool!), and skymonkey (my exit was not off the wall, just off the plane. That made me nervous enough).

Jerry

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Snowbird 0]

Congrats! What a feeling, eh? Thanks for the play by play. Cool that you got it videod. Yes it's great for reference and learning, but what an awesome way to hold onto that moment.

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
-Robert A. Heinlein

[wmw999 2,452]

Quote

thus heeding the advice of all of you by not bouncing.

Sounds like a great jump. Not bouncing has always been one of my first criteria

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[dropdeded 0]

Right on,sounds like you had a blast.How about a similar post of your next solo,no camera,no instructor,just you and your training.

Looking forward to hearing about it.

dropdeded
pcss#26

------------------------------------------
The Dude Abides.
-

[Michele 1]

Rawk on! YAYAYAYAY for you...

Not to pick, but as more of an observation...

Quote

I followed in another canopy who set a good landing pattern (looked odd at first, because winds were zero). Lesson learned - if someone before you does it right, you do it right if you do what he did.

I followed someone in once. Once I realized he hadn't done it right, it was too late for me to change (I was too low to turn at that level), and I ended up with my 2nd most scary landing ever...

I guess what I mean is yes, follow the established pattern, but always make sure it's the right one. If it's NOT the right one, know your alternatives...what if the one you'd been following decided to hook or swoop it? And started it at the right alti, but way lower that you should be turning...what then? Where are you going to go?

I remember my first jump in the canopy class. Clint was going to be my side by side instructor. He told me after 1500 ft, I was on my own, and to stop following him...and I watched as he did a gorgeous swoop. I did "kinda" follow him, inasmuch as I landed about 20 feet away from him, but I didn't mean to - I missed my target by about 250 feet...

Just trying to make a point that while it worked this time, it may not work again. Better you land on your own, on your own pattern, off the grass or whatever, then be left with no outs, a downwind, or worse...

But hey - congratulations on your first solo. Next time, make it really solo! And tell us all about it! (And I'm really not trying to take the wind out of your sails...it's just that it concerned me.)

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[Chief 0]

Congrats to you! It will be very interesting to put all of your videos on one tape. Video about every 20th jump, then watch the whole thing in a year or two and laugh at yourself plus notice the awesome improvement. Thanks for sharing Good Job!!