willso

When I get a few more jumps under my belt, wouldn't mind trying a balloon jump. Like to ehar from anyone out there who has done them. How was it? Would you do it again and what should I expect?

Just thought I'd let you guys who replied to my post, I jumped last week and it was awesome A mate of mine TA'd me and I had a great stand up landing. I'm back and couldn't be happier. Now to convert to my rig and jump for $40 instead of $100?!?!

.............. I was flying a pattern to land, realised I was going to land a fair distance from the intermediate pit, did a late turn, now travelling down wind (alot faster than I was used to) apparently flared too high and lifted my legs?!? This was the account of someone watching. I have purchased a 210PD and want to jump it soon. First I will jump a student rig with a much larger main and get a TA to help.

Just over a year ago I had a hard landing on my arse, which compressed my vertebrea and my lower back has never been the same since (sore/aching). I haven't jumped since, but in the meantime purchased my own rig, intending to get back into it. I am keen to get up there and just do it, but 'something' is holding me back? I don't feel overly scared at all of the prospect of straping on the rig, flying to height and getting out. The landing has got me worried, BIG TIME. I have been offered a TA and feel greatful for that. And before the accident I thoroughly enjoyed it . It's probably pointless asking, but any advice on how to overcome my tentativeness and just do it?!? I think if it was my arm or leg I wouldn't be as concerned, but you only get one back and I have been told my the doc that if I happened to land like this again, I could end up in a wheelchair?!?! Willso

In March this year I had an extremely hard landing on my arse (downwind). I compressed my vertebrea and had bad bruising. I haven't jumped since and my back has been sore ever since?!? I am nervous about jumping but love this sport and would evenutually like to do camera or tandems. Any advice about building my confidence in relation to landing? I was thinking of asking for assistance with landing at my DZ (TA) but feel silly and don't know if that would be possible even though I only have 40 jumps?

What about currency? You seem to go straight from AFF where you have radio contact being guided in for landing, to B rels where you're on your own?!? I'm not making any excuses, I know I messed up. I think the thought of a landing freaks me out. Now I can see why so many people get hurt or worse on landings

Yeah it was. I hadn't jumped for quite some time. I had one before this and landed on my feet. I had my flight plan in my head to land up wind, but followed another jumper down wind and paid the price!!

On this landing I was heading down wind, and to tell you the truth I don't know if I did?? flare that is. I know that's an integral part of landing, but I was coming in very quickly and may have panicked. A friend of mine reckons that a smaller canopy may not be as 'difficult' a proposition as I think , you?? I weigh 92kg and thought smaller = harder landing. He has 1500 + jumps and says that you have more control with a sports canopy as opposed to a student rig??

I have been skydiving for 18 months and only have 40 jumps. This alone would suggest that I am not quite 'current'. My finances don't allow me to jump anywhere near as much as I'd like to and I still hire my gear at my DZ, which works out to be $80 a pop!! Anyway, because of my lack of 'currency' pardon the pun , I have recently had a very hard landing on my arse. I could barely move and thought I had busted my back, but after several hours in hospital and plenty of pain killers I am recovering SLOWLY . My question is, apart from my lack of currency is there any other reason that I have difficulty landing? I have had some good one's but then again there's been some other hard, but not as hard landings in the past. This has really put me off jumping . This is all on a 270 main, I can just imagine my arse if I was on something much smaller. Any opinions? Advice? Words of encouragement? I don't want to quit, I love the free fall, it's just the last little bit that seems to scare me the most . Willso

Thank you for the advice did not get to read these until after I nailed my 3000 and 4000ft hop and pops today. Ended up being my legs were not bent up my arse as they should have been and was not looking at the horizon which caused me to flip. After receiving advise off other jumpers at the my DZ I had two as what was described as perfect dive exits and clean pulls. Bring on B Rels!!! Blue Skies Willso

Need some advice and/or experiences from anyone out there who has had problems with flipping on ur dive exits!!! I've only done 5 and every time I flipped over, which I don't mind so much, but I'd like to nail one. My main concern is I'm doing stage 9 of AFF (hop n pops) which is from 5000, 4000 and 3000 here (Australia). Flipped, recovered but passed the one at 5', flipped and took waaaaay too long at 4' and have to repeat that before doing the one at 3'!!!! I have had plenty of advice from legs up ur bum, to arms more out, to arch harder, to keep ur head up etc etc etc!! I ended up flailing around a bit and on my back (which I have never done before)?? on the 4' hop n pop, but recovered and pulled at a reasonable height. I am a bit concerned about the LAST TWO jumps of AFF and it is costing $$$$$ with every fail. I feel fine at the skyvan door and have no hesitation actually getting out?? Any advice out there?? Willso

I too experienced problems with my right ear on my first AFF jump. Extreme pain more than any sensation. Doctor said everything was clear, although says that it was probably due to a slight cold/flum, but I felt fine!! Anyway, had to wait a month before I could jump again. I took Bisolvin which breaks down any mucas between your nasal passage to inner ear, which isn't detectable. No serious issues since, but need to equalise once under canopy. I think time will be your best friend here??

I can definitely relate to the time between jumps and the nervousness that comes with this. I'm up to stage 6 of AFF, after repeating stage 5. Started over 3 months ago and it's taking way longer than I thought, mainly due to other commitments. I totally agree with the other posts, once you're at the DZ and see everyone else flying in with big smiles on their faces, there's nothing else to do but jump!! Good luck and enjoy yourself. Blue skies from OZ Willso

Excuse my ignorance but why is freeflying referred to as the 'dark side'? And welcome to the forums. I'm still very green at this sport, but when I finish my AFF and get more jumps under my belt I plan on pursuing Freeflying. Blue Skies from OZ

From one newbie to another. I've only done 4 jumps of the AFF course and yes I think 'fear' is not far from us at any given stage. I've had to push past moments already where I've thought this is frightening. I was apprehensive more than scared on my 4th jump, because of the fact that you only have 1 JM with you as opposed to 2. I think it's a good feeling to know there's safety in numbers, but I suprised myself, jumped and apparently was a 'very good stage fourer!!' My next hurdle is a dive exit which a few on the forums know only too well about. But, as you said we wouldn't keep doing it if we stumbled at every hurdle. My very green advice it to do it, because it's fantastic, right down to the peaceful canopy ride, this time at your control!! Good luck and Blue Skies from OZ

On my first jump I felt serious pain in both my ears under canopy only. I didn't 'blow em' but my left ear drum had 'trauma' and traces of blood on it. I didn't do my second jump unitl one month later, and that was after taking antibiotics and sinus tablets. The funny thing I didn't have a cold before juming? but the doc says I may have had some crap between my nasal passages to my eardrum. Anyway, have had a few problems since but am slowly working through it. I think the key is to let it heal before the next one. Good luck with it all. Blue Skies from OZ

I've only just done my stage 3, about a week ago anyway. I don't know if the course is the same here (Australia) as the US, but it sounds like it is. On stage 3 I did a height awareness check ASAP after exit, practice pull, then JM1 releases grip and flies to the front of you. You must keep heading with him and if all is going well JM2 also releases grip. My JM's both released me at 9000ft, which I was aware of due to my body 'rocking' a bit. A word which I've had drummed into my head over and over by one my JM's (he's from the US and has 6000 + jumps) entered my head, the word 'relax'. I did and the 'rocking' subsided (not completely though). I did a solo pull and everything was sweet. I may have passed this level, but somewhere in the back of my head tells me stage 4 will be a bit more intense, one JM who releases ASAP after exit and I must keep heading with him!! I'm nervous but I will always remember to 'relax'. I don't have the muscle stiffness you mention, but my ears have played up big time and I've had to wait lenghty periods between jumps, which makes it even harder to retain the confidence you have just after landing. Good luck with it all, would enjoy hearing how it turns out for you. Blue Skies from OZ

I really don't know what plane I will be jumping from, either the Otter or Skyvan. My bet is the Skyvan, that's the only one I've jumped from so far, but sometimes they use the Otter if they need to do some work on the Skyvan. I must admit, I'm still a bit apprehensive, but I'm not the type of person who gets so close to doing something and bails out at the last second!! I know that when I'm standing at the door looking out and there's a plane load waiting to go behind me, I will dive Thanks for the encouragement everyone Blue Skies and Happy Days

Just started skydiving (3 jumps) AFF and love it!! Just want a straight answer to a simple question. How did you guys/gals find dive exits. I've posted this question on the intro forum, but need some type of feed back. Absolutely no dramas with jumping backside first, feels great and seeing the plane disappear is awesome. Just apprehensive at taking the leap headfirst!! Does it feel any different? My JM says that instead of seeing the plane disappear, you see the earth appearing instead, and that the 'feeling' as I put it is no different? After only 3 AFF jumps I feel quite relaxed on the plane ride and as we set up for the jump. A very positive JM helps with this I'm sure, but in the end I'm the one who has to get past this thorn in my side. Any advice would be greatful as I have the money for the entire course, B rels and A licence put away. Blue Skies to you all

Sounds like you are at the same stage I am here in Australia. I'm jealous though, my wife won't do the AFF course with me!! You've got a true partner for life there mate, she's a keeper!! Good luck, It will be interesting to compare notes so too speak. Blue Skies and happy days

Brodes, did you attempt to send it to my forum site or my personal email address? Send a reply to my personal address which you get by clicking on willso in my message on the forum. You probably already know this, but I'm new to this computer business!! Hear from you soon. Willso

Just a quick question, when you guys are talking about exits, are you talking about jumping backwards or forwards out the door?? I'm in Australia and don't dive exit until the 7th jump in the AFF course. Is it any different in the USA. How many jumps is there to attain your A licence? Blue Skies.

Hi from Australia, don't know what c2 and c3 are relative to our training. Were these exits backwards or forwards? The first 6 jumps here in the AFF course are backwards, then diving exits. I've only done three, but find that relaxing is definitely the way too go. My first jump the JM's turned me sideways on exit. I found this quite abrupt compared to just stepping out the door and seeing the plane disappear above you, what an awesome sight!! How did you feel getting out of control and was it easy to rectify? On my 3rd jump both JM's let me go at 9000ft, all the way to pull time. I did notice it, because I was kinda rocking around a little. My 4th is with one JM and he let's go soon after exit. Looking forward to it, but wouldn't mind repeating 3rd stage to feel what it was like flying alone. Anyway, have a good time and stay safe. Blue Skies.

Can't offer any advice, but wanted to ask you a question or two. I've just started the AFF course in Picton, NSW. Upon being qualified, do you still need to stay current, or can you take time off without having to repeat any training? Also, would you recommend buying my own gear once I'm qualified, or rent, which would be cheaper?

Thanks for your reply, I think the thought, as with many things, is worse than the reality!! My wife has done a tandem and absolutely loved it. I did the training for my first AFF jump and was pleasantly suprised at how easy it was to actually take the leap, so too speak!! The training for the first AFF jump was eight solid hours, so this also helps with confidence. My advice, although somewhat limited, is to do it, because you won't want to stop, it's an unbelievable experience which cannot be compared to anything else. Good luck & Blue Skies.