guineapiggie101

The cost could eventually be an issue. I just need to tone my performance anxiety down because that is the only thing that is blocking me from kicking butt in my skydives. I just get really dialed up as it gets closer to the jump. And then I get really amped up as the plane climbs. I've fixed my pulling on time (for a while there I was having issues with that). I even got over my landing fears, and now I can land with minimal radio assistance, and have no problems flaring the landing. My biggest obstacle is my anxiety. For a while breathing exercises helped, but not sure now. I don't know what else to do.

when you see other AFF students who started the program after you, get their "A" license, and you are still struggling with AFF? Don't take me wrong, I am happy for them and a bit sad for myself. It is nice to share in the struggles of the AFF program and solo stuff with people who are going through it with you. I can't wait till I get my license. It's been an uphill battle. Saw some light at the end of the tunnel last Thurs (when I had the best jump so far, stayed stable and even landed on my own with minimal radio assistance). Since then, I have backslid again. Did two AFF 5 dives this weekend and botched both of them up. Went into nasty spins. Couldn't get out of them and even went into panic mode and made it worse, and the AFFI had to redock to help. Only good thing was that I landed on my own. I know how to do everything. I have been taught well by the instructors at my DZ and I have learned well. The only thing left is something ONLY I can fix myself, my anxiety. My performance anxiety is SOOO bad that I will start amping up about 15 min BEFORE I even jump. Then as the plane climbs, I get even more anxious and I try to counter that with breathing and such. I know I can do it, since I was able to do one "picture perfect" AFF 4 jump. Light bulb came on then. Now to make that happen again. I have A LOT of tenacity and drive. I think that is what is keeping me going. Plus the fact that I want to share in this with my friends down the road. Is it good to be tenacious and stubborn when it comes to not giving up on jumping? I'm the type of person that if I falter, I get up, brush myself off, and keep going. I love my DZ and I have made many friends there. I can't wait till I get my license and can jump with them. This sport has brought a lot of joy into my life, something that was missing for a long time.

I'm not going to post the video on here. The more I think of it, and after reading the posts on here, it really is a BAD idea.

when you guys were students or are students, would you ever consider posting a video of one of your AFF jumps (that you got videoed), on here to give a point of reference to other posters who could be posting advice to threads you start? Just curious.

If nothing else, yes I am persistent. I did my AFF4 dive yesterday and will have to redo it again because my left leg kept dropping during the dive. I'm ok with it now. Ive come to realize each dive is a learning experience. There is no wasted dive. And I enjoy every aspect of it, the freefall and canopy ride. The only thing I do need to work on is decreasing my radio dependence on my instructors. It's all good.

Today was a GOOD day. It was my bday. Went and did tunnel time in the morning and did my AFF 3 jump in the afternoon and finally PASSSED the darn level. Now I am onto the next level. Still need to polish up on compensating for spins, but I am sooo stoked. Canopy control was great and the landing was pretty soft. I am enjoying myself and having a great time. Hopefully if everything goes well, gonna try and do my next level jump this weekend.

AFF is tough. Currently, I am going through my AFF courses. It's been an uphill battle and I am stuck on AFF 3. Have had to repeat that jump 10 times (yes TEN TIMES). I know how you feel about beating up on yourself about why you didn;t pass. One of my jumps, I did everything great, but didn;t pull, so no pass. I know what you mean about expensive. But look at it this way, the instructors are there to keep you safe, and I think every jump counts towards the 25 jumps you need for licensing.

Davelepka, you bring up some good ideas. Having a coach from my DZ work with me at the tunnel with the rig, could be something to consider. I would have to talk to my DZ about that. This is the only student rig there that fits me, and they had to modify it so I could pull a ripcord release (since my arms were too short for a BOC release). I have been told that when I get off student status and get my own rig, it will be a lot easier for me.

I am probably what you would consider to be a "little person". I do have a normal sized torso, with smaller arms and legs. The rig is a regular student rig, except that it has a ripcord pullout. Rig fits ok on me. I think. Rig pretty much covers my entire torso (from looking at my skydive pics). "facepalm" I should have gotten video. I didn't think about it today because I didn't think I would get into another spin. Someone suggested that I do some tunnel time to relax myself and just fly steady and that should deal with my other problems. I thought that if I flew well in the tunnel that the sky shouldn't be a problem, esp since I wasn't anxious today.

Still no pass. Today started out being a good day. Based on a friend's recommendation, I went and did some tunnel time. Was very relaxed and able to just float around and stay stable. Even did a few turns. I then went and did another AFF 3 dive. Dive went great. I was relaxed, had a great time. Good exit, Everything was cool. Except I got into a spin AGAIN!!!!. I tried using my hands to compensate for the spin to stop it (and I arched harder). Ended up spinning 2 times and instuctors came back quickly for the redock. I managed to pull on my own (yay) and had a great canopy flight and landing. From talking to my instructors, it seems that my body size (short arms and short legs) is playing a role in why I am going into spins. I might have to learn to fly even better than most beginners, because of the effort that will be necessary to compensate for my turns. I really want to be able to skydive. I have put all my energy and effort into this. I ask questions all the time and try to learn, and practice what I learn. Yet, it seems so impossible. I dunno what to do next (figuratively). I'm frustrated and exhausted.

I'm a newbie AFF student and a lot of times I post on here to vent or sometimes see if others have gone through the same issues I have. I know that with mechanical and technical issues and questions, I should direct those to my instructors. Is it wrong, as a newbie, to use DZ.com as a sounding board for my fears and concerns with skydiving? Just curious. I really do love the sport and my instructors have been excellent with helping me out. I don't know where else to talk about skydiving or my worries and concerns, when I am not at the DZ. I can't talk about it with my friends or family. Most of my friends think I am nuts for doing this.

PilFy, I don't think I will ever get comfortable with spinning. It was scary, esp when it started to pick up speed and when my mainside was trying to redock on me. I think I am still too new at this to have a sense of timing when I jump. Usually when I exit the plane, I am trying to remember everything I need to do and trying to will myself to get it right. I try not to be nervous (or else try to hide it) on the airplane ride up because, I've noticed that my nervousness can affect others. Must be positive. I know I can do this. Besides, it is fun, floating around up there.

I'm jumping a 240 right now.

I agree, I am beating myself up a lot. Esp after the 2nd dive when I was able to counter the turn, and stabilize a bit (and my instructors let go of me), I ended up forgetting to pull (facepalm). If I had pulled on that jump, I would have passed AFF 3. That is frustrating. DSE, I know I need more airtime and confidence. I am using skydiving to build up my confidence. I love being up in the air and I am planning jump again sometime this week and/or this weekend. I have a few questions about my dive but I will ask my instructors the next time I am at the DZ.

Thanks. Your post points out that I am making small improvements which is something I am very proud of. Baby steps. Gotta keep that in mind. I just get so frustrated at myself because when I talk to other AFF students, it seems everybody else seems to go through the program with none or very few repeats. Currency is king, I agree. Besides the cost , I don't plan on giving up yet. I need to find a way for things to "click" in my brain. Just don't know that "magic switch" to do so.

This is very true. I have to keep this in mind :)

My instructors are always telling me to lighten and up and relax. It's not easy. I usually try to psych myself out and tell myself it will all turn out ok and that I will do well. I was a lot more relaxed on my 2nd dive of the day, and had I pulled, my instructors would have passed me on my AFF 3 (I could kick myself for not pulling). I love the DZ I jump at, and the people there (instructors and funjumpers) have been very nice and supportive. I just feel like the "moron" for repeating AFF 3 so many times. Although I am learning stuff from each jump I do.

Yes, this was a bit of a vent post. Part of me is also afraid to completely bare all of my worries and anxious concerns, for fear that I might be told to give this up. I need to get over this hump and make this all "click". Just don't know what the magic "key" is to unlocking that puzzle. My next step is to try and do more than one dive every time I do jumps.

I go through the dive flow at least 2-3 times before I jump. We go through it once at the mockup, right before we board the plane. Then we usually go over it at least once while on the plane. My instructors also quiz me on the hand signals while we are going up. About 2 months ago, I sprained my foot while flaring (flared too early and rolled my foot). Now I am afraid when I land. I depend a lot on radio and always ask my instructors to give me a soft landing. As I come into my descent (aka below 100 ft), I start to panic a bit, worrying that I might roll my foot or something worse. I don't know how to get over that issue (jumping more would probably help). Also, today when I got into a nasty flat spin, that scared me a lot, and made me worry a bit when going up for my 2nd dive of the day.

this might be an idea. I dunno. I am spending a lot of money on this already, just to be at AFF 3. It is frustrating. I don't know how to make it all "click" in my brain and fit together like a puzzle. Once it clicks, it will be a piece of cake. Now to find that "click". Catfishhunter, I think I need to jump more (like more than one jump in a day), and this whole endeavor is killing my funds a lot quicker than I expected. But it is soo addicting. Just need to get over my fears.

I have done about 45 minutes of tunnel time with 2 of my AFF instructors coming to watch and helping me out. The last time I did tunnel was about 2 weeks ago. My last tunnel time was very good. Was able to stay stable and even do turns. I am not sure how to make everything "click" together in my head, and it is frustrating me.

Currently still stuck on AFF 3, after doing it 8 times (2 of which was done today). First jump of today, I got into a nasty spin which freaked me out and gave my instructors a bit of a worry. First time having a spin and I realized that spins are very scary and very disorienting. My mainside was able to redock on and stop my spin, but I was disoriented and they had to pull for me. Second jump, I did a lot better. Almost went into a spin but was able to compensate enough to stop it. Great arch and everything, but I forgot to pull and they had to pull for me. I'm angry at myself and frustrated to all hell. I am not sure what I need to do to make everything "click" in my head so I can remember everything. I have done about 45 minutes of tunnel with 2 excellent instructors. I have jumped with some of the best instructors there is at my DZ. I know I am more relaxed on my 2nd jump of the day, so I should do more than one jump in one day. I worry what will happen when I have to fly solo for my licensing dives (after AFF). I am still very dependent on my instructors to guide me in for landings because I hurt my foot about a month ago on a landing and now, when I land, I worry about hurting myself. Any ideas on how to get over this hump. I am stumped. I guess jumping more than one jump a day might help.

Hey, I understand exactly how you feel. I've been doing AFF for about 2 months now (although I had to take one month off due to a sprain). I have major issues relaxing and am tense when I jump. I am "intense" when it comes to this sport and wanting to succeed and finish AFF. I agree with the others, once you can relax, it will help you with your dive. I find that with the jumps I am relaxed in, I tend to do better and enjoy the jump vs. those that I am tense in. Smiling does help a lot with dispelling the anxiety and intensity that is within you.