DSE 5 #1 June 11, 2007 ...that "look" from someone experiencing a major "click" in the air? Had a student today that has been through a few problems with fall rate, spinning, and general stability (or so I'd been told and his logbook reflected). Went out with a slightly jumbled exit and got him to relax, after which I released him, backed off, and got him to fly to me, and dock just before our breakoff. The look on his face was priceless, I could hear him yelling as he docked on my wrists. The grin on his face stayed long into the afternoon as we waited for winds to die in hopes for a second jump (didn't happen). I know...coaching probably isn't a big deal to a lot of people, but seeing the look on this guy's face made all the $$ spent in the effort to become a coach worth it (for me). I assume AFF is even better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #2 June 11, 2007 That is the exact reason I got my rating. I remember just how good I felt after finally achieving something with my coach. He had a bigger smile on his face than me. I get that same rush now with my students.50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #3 June 11, 2007 ...that "look" from someone experiencing a major "click" in the air? Quote I always wondered if we 'evolved' from birds...and that 'click' is when a student forgets all the leg bullshit...and just remembers ~HOW TO FLY! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #4 June 11, 2007 QuoteI assume AFF is even better. Yes, because when the student does something crazy, the facial expression of the instructor on the other side is even better. We had a level 2 yesterday where the guy had such powerful forward motion we were pulled like waterskiers behind a boat. The other instructor looked over with huge eyes and said, "oh my god." Actually - I have seen the look in AFF and in Coaching... I think the look is on the ground in AFF, and in the sky in Coaching - just because of acquired comfort levels... However I did a level 6 once with a heads up girl and her brother (an AFFI, but not at the DZ in question) asked if he could come along and shoot video. I of course let him because I knew he could fly very well. After the student did the entire dive flow in milliseconds she turned to her brother and blew a kiss his way. But it is rare you see stuff like that in AFF, most of the time the stress is too high... I had another student who was confident enough on a release AFF jump to look over at me at pull time and say "time to pull, you go first" in sign language. Then he gave that "ok, I will pull if you insist look". And timed it all so he still pulled on time. Anyway - so for me it is the "comfortable in freefall" moments that make me happy in AFF, and the "looks of accomplishments" in freefall for coach students. (Hence the reason why I jump a crap load with students covering my own slot as fun jumps - because they can be more fun to jump with than experienced guys." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #5 June 11, 2007 Agreed! Nothing I have done in years thrills me as much as watching a student master a new skill. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freekflyguy 0 #6 June 20, 2007 Gotta agree with you too guys. I had a student who started jumping a little over three years ago, who I took all the way through the SL system, through RW coaching to what we call FS1. She is now CSBI and will be completeing her BI's later in the year. She is the first student I have ever had progreass that far and I must admit I feel a little pride when I see her teaching.It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites