traumadiver

Thank you very much. Before I read your post I thought that maybe I was lagging a bit in the progression curve but I guess that idea is out the door, looks like I am where I should be...perfectionism sucks. I will try my best to relax, I guess I just need to get used to this. Again Thanx

Okay so I am currently on my second jump and my exits are botched up. I keep telling myself watch the plane fly away and arch my skinny ass off when I exit but as we get up to altitude and I am standing on the outside of the aircraft I start to think things like "I am at 13,500 standing on the outside of an airplane, this can not be safe" I also tend to anticipate that dropping feeling which I totally despise, I think it is called the "hill" So then I do my count, I hesitate for a couple of seconds, which btw pisses off my instructor and the let go of the plane. When I do that my mind focuses so much on the drop feeling that I forget to look at the plane, hell on my last jump my instructor said that I got into a half fetal position for the first 3-4 seconds. I didnt think I did but I totally believe him. After that I arched fine it is always the exit that screws me up. I feel that if you botch your exit the rest of the dive can go sour. I guess I have to try again, look for the message under the plane as I fall away.

Yeah I did tell all my friends at the fire station that I went skydiving. They all think I am crazy, as if running into a burning building isnt? Some have said they would like to go, others said that they are too scared. So now I give them a hard time. Macho firefighters...haa! I got one on them. Thank you to everyone for welcoming me to the group.

Hey everyone I am now officially a skydive student, not just a wannabe on the ground. After years of contemplating, toying with the idea and financial planning that never seemed to work I finally did it...I made my first AFF jump on 10-16-2005. I screwed the exit, screwed the arch at times but in the end I pulled the chute and landed in once piece, I guess that is the ultimate goal. I made my second jump today, still need to work on the exit and arching but it felt so much better than my first jump. I am jumping at Skyidive Suffolk in Virginia, they are some really cool people, my instructors have been awesome and I am quickly making new friends. I may have to tighten up my budget big time but it is well worth it. Cant wait till my next payday so I can jump again. Kevin