Babi

No problem at altitude. But I do not get stable in just two seconds, that is for sure. I've been forgetting about my legs and this is what I need to concentrate on now. Hop & pop at my DZ is done from Cesna 172 where you are already in a correct position when you jump. Some experienced jumpers go head first, but I don't. Not enough time to get stable. I made one jump from C206 while still on static line and it was a complete disaster so I cannot advise you here. I've had a thread going here and people gave me a lot of advice. I never tried it again. I'd listen to Saskia's advice. What plane are you jumping from?

On a boogie I get passed on to a different instructor and the ways of my instructors differ. Lucky for me. I can try another way. My first instructor told me to throw myself at the wind and this did not work for me. The second one saw me struggling and told me to just drop from the plane and arch and I am fine now. I trust my instructor with my life, but sometimes I like to hear it from different people. I thought this was the point to this forum, to exchange opinions, to learn from each other. Of course the instructor is the first person to approach, but sometimes you keep on getting the same answer that you just don't get. I see from people posting here that I am not the only one this way. Your post to Freedom reminded me of something that I have already forgotten: feet on you but. After 68 jumps I thought I have this nailed, but I didn't.

I am pretty new to the sport. Unless it is a Cessna (altitude 1200 m) I, too, exit at the tail end of the door, facing towards the tail. Instructions to me were: don't push, just fall out, make sure the leg near the door exits last. And then straight into arch. It turns me around a bit, but I find it is fun. Still plenty of time to get stable, which I always do. Try to enjoy the four seconds - and ARCH!!! Babi

As expected, everybody has his/her own view on the fear. So let me disclose mine. At my DZ fear is not discussed, or has not been until I got there. I thought I was chicken because I was so scared on my first jump. So when I talk to the new jumpers I tell them so. I feel that by telling them that this is normal it will make it easier for them to accept the fear and concentrate on the important stuff, like "jump, arch..." I have over 60 jumps now and I am still scared. The first jump not so much, the second one (of the day) I usually think (going up in a plane), that it would be better if I didn't do that, on the third jump I remind myself that I wasn't going to do it again, and so on. I think we are all scared, especially in the plane. For me, as soon as I leave the plane, I am fine. No vertigo, no fear, just intense concentration. And of course, tremendous triumph when I land safely on the ground. Not so much because I did well during the flight, but because I conquered the fear once more. I did not let it stop me doing what I love doing. Flying under the canopy for me is the ultimate. I wish I did this earlier in my life. It made me realize that I am capable of a lot more than people around me would let me believe. Now that I jump no one dares tell me that something is to hard for me to do, like they used to. For me conquering the fear is the greatest achievement in skydiving.

I do roll the nose, especially since I was told that this slows down the opening and makes it softer. Tomorrow is a jumping day and I hope all goes well. I have a different rig this time, same type. I hope all goes well this time.

Can you explain what "metering a deployment" or "reefing" means.

Thank you for your replies. I have a rented Skymaster with rubber bands (stows??) to attach the lines to the bag. They are pretty difficult to handle, especially the first two. I tested them once on the ground by pulling the canopy out and they performed O.K. I think, reading the article, the reason for may hard opening was in how the canopy was bagged. I did a good job of folding the canopy (was inspected) but when packing it into the bag it got slightly disarranged. I still find bagging the canopy very difficult. But at least now I know what I did wrong. I have the rig home with me till Saturday when I go jumping again, so I can practice on it. I remember that it took quite a wile (longer than ususal) to feel the pull of the canopy and once I did feel it the canopy opened with a bang, almost as if it exploded. Thank you once again.

I am sure a lot was written about this subject. But, in short, can anyone tell why this happens and how to avoid it? I've had a couple really bad ones and I started to fear if it gets worse. I pack my own canopy, a 280 student canopy, Skymaster, which is pretty hard to get into the bag and into the rig. It is always inspected by someone skilled at the DZ. I seem to pack the same and the openings are different.

Auch!! I do that. When I see the ground rushing towards me I get scared and I lift my legs and slide on my bottom, just like the tandems. The grassy landing is uneven and I am subconsciously afraid that I will twist an ankle. Most times that I did try to run I ended on my face. My landings stink!! (and the rest is not that great either)

I just love this thread. Look for the right doctor!!. When I was 20 I was diagnosed with grand mall epilepsy here in Slovenia. Two years later I went to UK where a British specialist confirm the diagnosis. Several years later I returned to Slovenia and was again diagnosed the same. Three top specialists tried to prevent me from doing a lot of stuff in my life, gave me drugs that made me feel like I am in another world, looking into this one from a distance. 20 years after my diagnosis I started yoga which helped my blood pressure and I was beggining to feel good. In spite of the doctors advise I stopped the drugs and suffered no ill effects. Now, 20 years later we all agree that it was not epilepsy at all, only anxiety attacks. I am not saying to disreagard the doctor's opinion all together, but to go with your gut feeling.

Thank you for taking an interest. I have a clean bill of health. I was tested for all those that you mentioned, even the MG. I rather hoped that it is that because one tablet would solve the problem, but it was ruled out. My eyes are straight (not squinty) but my vision is cross and one eye sees higher than the other. It goes away when I close one eye and I am getting into a habit of closing or covering one eye when it gets to annoying. The eye drops have a mild antialergic and moisturising effect. They are non-prescription. My right eye feels different than the left one, like it is enveloped in something. Very irritating sometimes. But it is not inflamed. I have reading glasses and I was given distance glasses which sometimes help and sometimes don't. On a bad day they would help so I don't use them regularly. They are best for things about 3 m away, no good for driving or theatre. But, as I said before, all these symptoms disappear after a skydive.

No, but I made three rounds to a neurologist, ophtalmologist and rhinosurgent, they are passing me on as none of them has any idea. I also had extensive tests, all was negative. They gave me some eye drops to stop the irritation in my right eye. Then I gave up. Waste of time. It helps for a short time if I massage pressure points on my face (forehead and around the eyes). I visited a couple of other people that deal with alternative medicine (cannot remember how exactly they are called) and nothing helped - except for the skydiving.

I have double vision with some irritation and poorer vision in my right eye and the medicine can not give an answer or a remedy. But, each time after a skydive the situation improves. I first noticed this after 10 minutes in a tunnel. Any insight? Anybody???

For all of you who have taken care of your families via sufficient insurance and people to take care of your kids in case something happens - I admire you. But --- we all want the best for our kids and the best is the real mother and father, not grand parents or relatives or paid help or a large sum of insurance money. This was my issue, so I started so late in my life. In fact I needed to feel totally redundant as a parent (not nice). One of my kids is also a skydiver. I decided no to think of anything bad happening to him so I am good with this. But I still worry what would become of my dog and my cat if I have an accident. The bottom line: my hat down to all skydiving parents. You are doing something that I could not.

Thank you for the info on the cloudflyer strap. It looks good. Definitely a possibility for me. Babi

Mjosparky That is exactly what happened and I tightened the chin and goggles strap and solved that problem. My altimeter is being tested this weekend and I'll let you know of the outcome. Babi

Could be that I get to excited. No cure there, I suppose. What is a tunnel vision? I had some tunnel time and I don't remember anything being wrong with my vision there. Quite the opposite. After my tunnel time or a free fall my vision actually improves for a day or two. I was wondering if anybody else has experience improved vision after a free fall. I like the other comments. I did think of those possibilities and I did check. My goggles fit and are reasonably clean. LOL.

It is exactly like the one on the pictures. I wear a glove and I tightened the elastic so that it is still comfortable (on advice from a more experienced diver). I felt it was better on my next jumps, but the last few I was not sure my readings were correct. I also wear goggles. My eyesight is almost perfect, I see it clearly on the ground and on the plane. But in the air everything is different. I shall have someone take it up to altitude and see if the same happens to him. It is brand new and should still be under guarantee. Only I didn'b buy it from the shop but from someone who quit jumping. I was told it was never used. Thanks for the help. Am I to understand that vibrations in the air are not such to obstruct the reading??? And I should be able see it as clearly as on the ground??

I am new to free fall. I found that my gear handles differently than when was jumping from 1000m. I had my helmet and goggles pulled up once and I have difficulties reading my altimeter. I have a wrist mounted standard sapphire, black, altimeter. In free fall it shakes so much that most of the time I am only guessing my altitude. Because of this I had one late opening. I tried to tighten the straps and it only helps a little. I am at the stage when I try to do a salto and I am scared as I don't know how long this will take me and if I will have enough time. I know I do or I would not be asked to do it, but still I hesitate. Twice so far I went up to do the salto and I didn't. Any ideas??

This is exactly how I felt. I needed the extra half second to pull the ripcord and I JUST COULD NOT DO IT IN TIME. I started to shop around for an AFF course. After 10 simulations, some successful some less, but never 3 in a row, my instructor figured that I could do it and I finally did it on my jump 23 - 4 seconds. I always knew I could do it and could not understand what the fuss is all about. I am progressing nicely now, except for the landings, but with SL I get plenty of time to practice on. I fell a lot more confident without the cord and the exits don't scare me so much any more. I used to imagine a million things to go wrong if I do less than a perfect exit, attached to the line. Now I know that I WILL ARCH AND I WILL PULL THE CORD.

Left hand on the top, I think this just might work. Thanks.

I don't touch the wing at all, it is too far. Your way is like our C172. I used to complain about it, too, that it takes to long and I get scared, but in fact, now I see, it is a lot easier for a weak person. You just let go, with a sight push. I suppose it comes down to what I am used to. Any change upsets a beginner like me. I usually wear gloves, but for my 16, 17 and 18 jump I forgot to bring them with me and it interfered with my concentration.

I know of the glossary, thank you, and I have it printed out and keep it handy. But of course it is not complete. I think that a rig with all its parts has more components than a car!!! I've been looking into a possibility of buying one and was not able to make much sense of it. This is really nice of you to offer to help me with the terminology. I shall keep you very busy, I promise.

Thank you riggerrob for the input. The opening is so wide that when I touch both sides my arms are almost fully extended. If I try to turn my shoulders, I have to stretch my arms and then I have nothing push myself with. Arms to short. When I spoke to my instructor yesterday he told me that he is thinking of trying to arrange additional handle for me to hold. We are guests at this drop zone and I feel I am to much work for them all. But I shall keep in mind what you have told me. Thanks again.

Thank you for the advice. I could not hold myself in the wind, not even for a fraction of a second. This is what happened at my first attempt. As soon as some of my body was out, the wind pushed me back. Maybe more cut would really help. I discussed this with my instructor. All my training is done by my instructor watching me. I trust him. I know he is very conscientious person and takes his job very seriously and is aware of his responsibility.