Ruskin

Whilst I was pregnant with my first baby who is now 8 months old I could not decide whether I wanted to restart my skydiving training after the birth. I was involved in the sport for about 3 years but never actually qualified despite wind tunnels, static line and AFF. Due to financial reasons I had not jumped for a while before getting pregnant. Since having my beautiful baby girl my decision was easily made. At this present moment in time I do not want to take any extra risk with my life as I want a long and happy life with my Daughter and Partner. I think about skydiving every day and miss it so much, but it was unbelievable how my mind was made up once I fell in love with the best thing that has happened to me, my Daughter. I used to think Skydiving was the best thing in the world but now I know that Motherhood beats everything. I sometimes consider doing a tandem jump and also the possibility that I may restart my training once my Daughter is older but for the time been I do not want to jump. To cut a long reply short I would say that you will get a gut feeling about what you want to do. Everyone is different.

I recently posted in the Womens only forum about Skydiving after a baby. This has led me to post a few other questions here. My first question is - do men feel any differently than women about the subject of women skydiving after a baby? Do men feel that it is irresponsible of a woman to continue skydiving after a baby? Are there any men out there who decided not to skydive after becoming a parent? This also led on to the fact that if you take your children to a dropzone with you, they may start jumping eventually. I personally would not feel completely happy with any of my family skydiving even though I have done!! Does anyone else feel the same?

Thanks for the replies. On reading some posts on here there is mention to other forums which may be of interest to me - wreck.dot and rec.dot. Can anyone tell me the full website addresses for these. I've done a quick search but cant find anything.

Hi, I've posted previously detailing my struggle to quality either through RAPS or AFF. I have recently purchased an absolutely brilliant book called "Falling into Place" by Rita Ippolit". This book tells the story of a lady who struggled for 2 years then due to her determination finally qualified. There are so many similarities to my situation. I would love to make contact with her via email or through this forum and just wondered if anyone knows of her?

QuoteWith any DZ your best bet would be to go during mid week. I would call around and ask. If I were you, I would give UK Parachuting a call. Its in East Anglia near Attleborough. Give me a PM and Ill tell you more. I was just about to PM you but notice that none of your profile information is completed. I like to know who I am talking to on here (experience etc.), especially when sending PM's so maybe you wouldn't mind completing your profile. Thanks for your response to my post.

Message to the moderators - Would it be appropriate for me to post this in the Instructors forum? I know a lot of instructors will read the safety and training forum but to maximise responses from instructors I wondered whether i could post it there.

Has anyone out there ever failed to pull whilst training for whatever reason but successfully handled a malfunction since, and if so was it a high speed malfunction? The reason I ask is that on level 4 of my AFF training I went into a tumble, spinning on my back and lost awareness of everything including altitude. At 4,000ft my instructor caught up and pulled my main for me. This makes me doubt how I would react in an emergency situation on my own.

I will start this post with a copy of my previous posts to give you the background then add on details of what’s happened since together with my question. About 3 years ago I started my skydive training on RAPS and did 27 static line jumps but never got any further than dummy pulls. I started off confident but got less and less confident on each jump. I then went to Spain to start AFF. I did levels 1 - 3 perfectly but level 4 was a disaster. I was with one instructor and supposed to be doing turns left and right. My instructor let go of me and I felt wobberly so instinctively put my leg down and guess what, I began to tumble out of control. I went completely unstable, on my back spinning, lost altitude awareness (in fact all awareness of anything!). This continued down to 4,000 feet when my instructor caught up with me and pulled my main for me. I then went to the wind tunnel in Paris but I only spent one day there. I did 8 x 2 minute slots which were split into 2 x 4 slot sessions with a half hour break between the 2 sessions. I was with a French instructor who could speak English but not fluently so this caused a few difficulties. Also, I was extremely tired towards the end with doing so many slots close together in a short time. On my first 4 slots I was awful, just could not get stable. I kept dropping to the bottom and clinging on for dear life sometimes because I didn't want to get back up!! After my first 4 slots I thought I would never do it but then decided to really relax as that is what everyone keeps telling me. On my 5th slot I just flopped into the air flow and it worked. I was stable. I stayed stable for ages on one of my slots without moving forwards, backwards, up or down. I even did a few 90 degree turns. I did have a slight tendency to drop my legs at times though still, especially when I was tired. I did a couple of more slots and on these I was sometimes stable and sometimes not. I left the tunnel feeling that it was a fluke the time I did it as it was not consistent. I really needed more time in the tunnel but I went on a Sunday and they are closed on Monday and Tuesdays. It was then a few weeks before I was able to jump so I feel that I lost any benefit from the tunnel by that time. I then did two more jumps (on different days) but as confidence building jumps only where I told my instructor not to let me go. For my next jump I waited all day to jump but then when it was my turn I could not do it. I told my instructor on the ground that I could not go ahead with it before I even got kitted up. I had got too worked up whilst waiting all day. Earlier this year I booked a week off work, booked myself into a B&B and tried to continue my training at a different dropzone. I explained to the instructors before I booked my time there that I needed to be a one to one student so that I could get a few jumps a day in to build my confidence. I was told that this could be the case. Unfortunately, there were 2 and sometimes 3 other students using the same instructor as me and I got manifested last on day 1 and did not get to jump because the weather turned bad. On day 2 there was no secondary instructor there for me until late on in the day so I eventually did just one jump. The weather was then bad for a few days and by my last day there I decided it was pointless continuing as I was not going to get enough jumps in to get anywhere. So, my frustration is that I just cannot seem to get a decent amount of jumps in wherever I go. I understand that weather is always going to be a factor but I feel that this is not what is causing the majority of my delays. As soon as a dropzone find out that I’m struggling I just get manifested last as they all want to progress the other students first. Students who are progressing well then get extra jumps in to try and get them qualified leaving me without any jump or just the one. I feel that this is unfair and that in a group of students they should all take in turns no matter how they are progressing. As you can see my commitment and dedication is there, but I just don’t know what to do next. Is there anyone out there (preferably in the UK) who would take me on as a one to one student (and promise that), meaning that I could jump one after the other throughout a day (subject to other restrictions obviously) without having to take in turns with other students. I know this may make me sound selfish but I cannot progress any other way. My post is not intended as a criticism to any of my previous instructors/dropzones, I simply want to find somewhere that can help me progress.

[reply to]I guess this is specific to the person. For me, this site has been very therapeutic for my own anxieties. I have spent more hours reading threads here today than I care to admit, but I can honestly say that I'll be mentally ready for my next jump. (Oh, yeah, for some background, check out my post in this same category.) On the other hand, I can TOTALLY see how too much info can cause stress. I have actually found that although greatly informative, some of the info in some threads on the forums have added to my fears. Thats not to say that it should not be on here, its just that maybe I should not read it too much until later on. However, how can too much knowledge be a bad thing. It depends on the individual like you say. I am a born worrier so want to learn as much as I can but at the same time, finding out what can go wrong just makes my fears worse and has a negative effect on my jumps. I'll have to find a happy medium I guess.

[reply to]I found out that she has been going to DROPZONE.com alot. I think that is part of her problem, because she knows too much for her own good! Learn about all the crazy shit later. Concentrate on your jumps, you know what to do in most cicumstances, let it be at that for now. Alot of stuff you read on here are not likely to happen but can. Relax, relax, relax, relax, relax, and have fun! Hey funny you should say this cause I have thought this before. It worries me though that there are things that can happen (although unlikely) that we are not trained for but i suppose it would be impossible to cover every eventuality in the initial ground training. Only last night i saw the incident report about an instructor fatality due to a flat spin causing centrefugal forces so much so that the reserves could not be pulled. You're right, reading some of the things on here does just make my fears worse but also I hope to learn a lot from this forum. Let me know how your sister goes on.

My radio failed on my second static line jump. I say this not to try and worry students about the radio failing but just so that students know that it is a real possibility. If I had known this before I had jumped I would have been terrified but I just got my bearings as soon as I could, located the landing area and completely followed my training flight paths. It worked perfectly and I landed without any problems whatsoever. As you read often on these forums, just do what you are told by your instructor in your training. I have done 27 static line jumps and 6 AFF jumps and still use my radio. I worry about not having a radio even though I was without one on my second jump! I am glad that my radio failed now because I know that if it happens again I know what to do on my own!

Just out of curiosity I'm wondering which dropzone you were at who told you this. Not sure about the rules/legalities etc of this but I do believe that some dropzone are more supportive to students than others. I had some right trouble after refusing to jump on my 27th static line jump (in the UK). My home dropzone at the time would have let me jump again but for various reasons I did not want to jump there so I went to another dropzone (where I had jumped before) and they would not let me jump there until I had done another jump at my home DZ where i had refused. Anyway, i had had enough of static line and went to spain a few months later to do AFF. I am now level 3 AFF but not jumping again until next year.

How did you get on today?

My God do I know how you're feeling. I have posted on the safety and training forum before. Basically I started out on Raps doing about 26 jumps but got no further than dummy pulls. I then did AFF and passed level 1 - 3. On my level 4 jump I went completely unstable, on my back spinning, i lost altitude awareness (in fact all awareness of anything!) and my instructor caught up with me and pulled for me at about 4,000ft. This was March last year and all I have done since is 2 practice fun jumps only. The last time that I was at a dropzone I waited all day to jump then when it was time to get kitted up I just could not do it. I haven't jumped since. I like you will never, ever give up. I enjoyed jumps before and know that I can enjoy it again. I have let my fears get totally out of control and irrational. I am going to go abroad next year and use a windtunnel and hopefully finish my training. You are not alone in your worries. It's amazing really cause when you are at a dropzone it seems like no one else is scared at all but when you read these forums you find that there are so many people (even very experienced people) who are very nervous also. I just can't wait to qualify (i've been trying for 2 and a half years. When I do it will just mean so much because it has been such a struggle. This is how it will be for you also. Hope you manage to get through your fears. I'll keep reading your posts to see how you're doing.

I understand where everyone is coming from now. I think you are referring to him as a Dumbass more in relation to what he said and how he reacted AFTER the jump rather than during it. This was not clear from your original post though. Perhaps you could update your profile anyway so those of us don't know you know your experience etc.

[In reply to]Before you take an AFF course you gotta ask yourself honestly "Am I a complete dumbass?". If the answer is yes then you shoud probably take up lawn croquett or something similar. As you have not entered any details about yourself I don't know what your experience etc. is but as a struggling student I find the above comment quite insensitive. I am sure the student did not intend any of what happened to happen. My level 4 AFF jump went totally out of control as I went unstable and lost all awareness. My instructor caught up with me and pulled for me and the rest was fine. However, surely you can appreciate that students (particularly a first time jumper) can just lose any awareness of anything and just completely panic. This does not mean they are a dumbass. I really don't mean to get into conflict here but I don't think comments like that do much for any students who may read them. The one thing I do agree on is that he should not really be suing anyone.

[in reply to]I sometimes told myself that the sport wasnt for me, but something kept me coming back.. I was usually so freaked out that for my first 10 solo's I didnt even do a single back flip or anything, suddenly it just clicked, I relaxed, and now I do all kinds of stupid crap and have a blast.. I'm glad I didnt listen to myself or anyone else who may have said "sport not for me". I'd really be missing out now Yeah thats how I am, really scared at the moment but just can't bear the thought of life without skydiving. It's nice to hear that other people have struggled and then made great skydivers cause it gives me hope. You read so much on this forum about great skydivers been rubbish students so I think the main thing a student should have is dedication and determination to fulfil their dream.

Good luck mate, do not listen to everyone who is saying if you do not enjoy it don't do it because it is obvious you are doing this for a reason, it might take you a couple more jumps to find your place in the sky but don't give up until you know it is not for you. Regarding your above comment - Thank Goodness I've finally seen someone say this. I have posted in the training forum recently as I'm struggling on AFF. I did 27 static line jumps previous to AFF then have done 6 AFF jumps but only passed levels 1,2 & 3. I have been in the sport for 2 and a half years so it really annoys me when people say that the sport may not be for me. Just cause I'm scared shitless at the moment does not mean that the sport is not for me. As you say, people must be doing this for a reason! The reason is that i loved it once but have just got frightened due to a bad jump but one day i know I can love it again. Your comment was well said! Obviously the sport is not for everyone but people usually know after only a few jumps if it isnt. When I've been training for 2 and a half years it annoys me when people think its not for me. I will never give up!

Yeah I know - I must try to remember that this is supposed to be fun. The thing is I started off at the beginning of my static line training full of confidence (I can even remember a new student saying to me once that they thought I was experienced as I seemed so confident!!) and enjoying it. As I've learnt more about the dangers and had a really bad jump I have just worked myself up so much. I know if I can just get over this I can enjoy it again. That's why I'm carrying on, cause I know it can be fun!

Hi, I think I'm posting this at the end of your reply instead of at the top this time! Anyway, it seems that it may be worth chancing the weather in November then. The date is 15-29th November and my instructor is going there and I will be able to use the wind tunnel which is something I want to do again. I think it will be beneficial to be able to use the tunnel and jump the same day. I don't have the option of going to Eloy or Arizona as I have to go where my instructor is going as my course is all paid for up front. Thanks for you reply.

Wow, your reply amazed me. I tell you why. In any of my posts I have not mentioned my static line instructor/s whatsoever, but you are quite right, there was a problem and my confidence was ruined. In fact, an instructor basically told me on more than one occassion that I should give up trying to skydive as I will never do it! My problems are all in my mind as I work myself up so much about the dangers but still want to do it. My static line instructor told me that AFF would not help me and even hinted that I probably wouldn't dare jump from 13,000 feet. However, i have jumped from 13,000 6 times and ok, i haven't qualifed yet, but I am so determined that I will never give up. Your reply just suprised me that you have picked up on what has contributed to my low confidence without me even saying so. I see you have been in the sport for many years so obviously you can instinctively see the problem maybe. Anyway, I'm going to enquire about some price flights and decide whether to go to California or not. I do not have the choice of going to Arizona as my AFF instructor (who is not the same person as my static line instructor by the way) is going to California. I just hope that one day this year I can post a message on this forum that I've finally done it! Thanks for your support.

Further to my previous post on here to which I am really grateful to all the replies and support offered. I now have the chance to go to California for 2 weeks in November to carry on my AFF training (or maybe start again completely. I am not sure whether to go due to the weather in USA at the moment. I know the hurricanes have been in Florida which is miles away from California but just wondered if anyone has been to California in November and what the weather tends to be like. I cannot bear to go all the way there and end up with bad weather (although I know the weather cannot be guaranteed anywhere at any time). I also cannot afford to go all the way to California and come back unqualified. Maybe this will be good inspiration to get it done this time! By the way, I'm not too good at using this forum yet so I hope this message has attached my previous one to it also so you know what I'm on about!

I only spent one day at the windtunnel in Paris. I did 8 x 2 minute slots which were split into 2 x 4 slot sessions with a half hour break between the 2 sessions. I was with a french instructor who could speak English but not fluently so this caused a few difficulties. Also, I was extremely tired towards the end with doing so many slots close together in a short time. On my first 4 slots I was awful, just could not get stable. I kept dropping to the bottom and clinging on for deal life sometimes because I didn't want to get back up!! After my first 4 slots I thought I would never do it but then decided to really relax as that is what everyone keeps saying. On my 5th slot I just flopped into the air and it worked. I was stable. I stayed stable for ages without moving forwards, backwards, up or down on one of my slots. I even did a few 90 degree turns. I did have a slight tendency to drop my legs at times though still, especially when I was tired. I did a couple of more slots and on these I was sometimes stable and sometimes not. I left the tunnel feeling that it was a fluke the time I did it as it was not consistent. I really needed more time in the tunnel but I went on a Sunday and they are closed on Monday and Tuesdays.

Thanks so much for your reply. I guessed that I can't be the only one with such experiences. One thing for sure is that I am never going to give up, I want to skydive so much. I too am worried that my instructor will give up on me but he says that he won't unless I become too dangerous. At the moment it all just seems impossible but I keep thinking that one day surely it will just click and that will be that. I hope to look back at this one day and laugh about what I found so hard. I am so emotional about this at the moment that I could just burst into tears every time I think about it. The trouble is that my problems are all in my mind rather than being a practical problem. Anyway, I hope one day to be able to report on this forum that I've finally done it. Thanks again.

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