guineapiggie101

Naw Apple is great. Me love my iPad, MacBook and iMac.

I've never really understood what the "beer rules" are. Is this common for most DZs especially when it comes to going through AFF and other such milestones?

PiLFy, yes Elsinore is a GREAT DZ. The instructors there, as well as most of the other jumpers there are great. I am not trying to second guess my instructors and I am sorry if I am giving off that impression. I guess I post because I don't know where else to talk about my frustrations and stuff when I am NOT at the DZ. I am hoping the sprain will go away quickly and I can jump again soon ( like maybe this weekend ). I really enjoy being out there. Sometimes I do feel like it's been an uphill struggle for me, since the beginning. But that's a great motivator too. And yes, I am a "little person" and things are more challenging for me.

Im not a camera person, just a lowly AFF student doing an uphill climb. I fixed my profile. That's what I get for posting with an iPad.

DSE, I went to Urgent Care yesterday evening and got my foot looked at. They did x-rays and it is just a bad sprain. I have no criticisms about the debrief. It was good and through. I know what was missing in my skydives.

I know, I probably should be asking my instructors these questions. A lot of times, I am soo overloaded and exhausted after my jump that I kind of get dazed and don't know what to ask. Then I usually remember, like later that night, or the next day. So, I post on here. My instructors all have been cool and great to work with. It is because of them that I have gotten this far. Scrumpot, I'm glad my rocky journey is an inspiration to you. Hopefully my ankle/foot will feel better by this weekend. I want to go jumping again

Yes, I am persistent. I like being up in the air and playing around up there. It is a lot of fun. Hopefully I can continue this upcoming weekend. With each dive, even each repeat dive, I am learning a lot and feeling more comfortable with jumping out there and flying. It is quite an adrenalin rush. I have done 5 dives for AFF 3. Next will be my 6th dive. I wish I wasn't so much a "problem child" with my levels. I am trying so hard to do this. I need to relax. I am having fun, but I do worry that people will give up on me and say "enough is enough and this isn't for me, esp since I seem to need so much "hand-holding". All of my landings have been great, with the exception of my last one. Usually I end up landing by sliding in on my butt

Yes, I am still on radio. My question really has to do with, how do I AVOID getting hurt, if I should flare too early. When I did my flare (full), I realized that I was still a bit off the ground and I was hoping to just come into a sliding stop on my butt. I tried doing PLF, but ended up rolling on my right ankle and hurting it.

Yesterday I did two AFF 3 skydives (still stuck on that level). On 2nd skydive, I flared too early. Once I flared, I knew it was too early, but I did a full flare (so knew NOT to let it up). I kept my knees together and tried doing a PLF. Ended up tumbling on my right foot and tumbling over. I ended up spraining my foot/ankle whatever. I'm frustrated that I hurt my foot and want to know how to AVOID that in the future. I did the flare and when I realized I flared too early, I knew to try and roll the landing, but I still hurt myself a bit. I am also frustrated that I am still on level 3, although the 2 instructors who jumped with me twice yesterday were really good and they both said I am showing improvement. I might not be able to do more dives next weekend, if my foot is still hurting like this. Overall, I still love this and will continue, despite it all.

Yesterday I went and did my AFF 3 jump for the 3rd time. Due to me having issues with heading and compensating (turns), I have to do AFF 3 again, as well as do some more tunnel time. My instructors were great and DSE took a lot of time to help me nail the dive flow and my positioning (arch and leg positions). As a result, this was one of the best jumps I had. Leg positions and arch was great. Still had a little problem with stabilizing, but wasn't able to pass because I didn't make corrections when I was starting to get unstable and turn (so instructors had to grab on again). I did get video done of my dive, and we all went through it thoroughly. It was discovered that some of the issues I struggle with, really has to do with my unique size and stature. So we are going to have to come up with ways to deal with that, which is great. I have to go and do some more tunnel time, which is ok. Overall, I am very thankful to DSE and the people at Elsinore, because they are helping me to achieve something I never thought I would be able to do. I am glad I chose Elsinore as the DZ to do my AFF at.

I have to go back to the local wind tunnel to work on turns (starting and stopping them). Last time I worked in the tunnel, I had to work on my arch and leg positioning. How much time do you guys think would be adequate to schedule for? I forgot to ask that when I did my jump yesterday. I talked to the tunnel people yesterday evening and they said 5 minutes should be enough. The last time I did wind tunnel, I did 15 minutes. But, at that time, I had WAY more issues than I do now.

Hey guys, thanks for all the advice. I am just going to take it easy when I do my jump and let whatever happens, happens. Relaxing and having fun is the name of the game. I'll be fine. Thanks all of you, for your advice and support.

Hey, thanks for all the input. I will put it to good use. That thread that one poster linked was a good read. I am glad to see that others struggle with some of the stuff I struggle with. And that logbook was a good read. I was relaxed when I first jumped out of the plane. My instructor told me that I had a great arch and leg/arm positions, in the beginning. I then kind of panicked a bit and lost my leg position (when they gave me some hand signals TO correct my leg position). That was frustrating, because I know the hand signals by heart but when I am up there, I forget or get it confused (and precious freefall time ticks by). I do have one question, I know the rig (since it is so big on me) messes a bit with my arch (aka I arch hard but since the rig sits low on me, my arch doesn't show). I have been told that I need to compensate for that by having good leg and arm position. As I continue progressing, will I be jumping smaller chutes so this doesn't become a major problem for me? I look forward to working with DSE on this. I think that will help me out. I will also practice the dive flow and my arch position (hands and legs), at home. I will beat this on Monday. Positive thoughts.

Sure, I'll come out early on Monday. Not sure if "dive flow" is what I have a problem with (I know it by heart), but working on that might help. And I'll bring my "rapier" along

I've already done about 15 min of tunnel time. It helped me tighten up my arch a lot (which is great). And it got me used to feeling what it is like when you jump out. Tunnel time isn't cheap (IIRC, it cost me more than a jump). Not sure. Will try again on Monday and hopefully keep my anxiety down.

thanks! I know I am altitude aware and NOT doing anything unsafe. I am having a great (albeit expensive) time. Just have to keep my anxiety under control. Sometime, I guess my need to "pass or succeed" causes me to become overwhelmed. I am like that with work too. I worry a lot and become very self-critical and anxious when my work gets criticized or corrections have to be made. I'll do ok. I know I will.

Skydivesg, I go through the dive flow at least 4-5 times (with my instructors), before I jump. We even go through it on the plane ride up. I know the dive flow by heart. It is my anxiety. This time it crept in after I jumped and did the COA and the handle touch. I was checking my altimeter, trying to keep on heading, paying attention to hand signals, etc., then, as they let go of me, I panicked a bit since I started to wobble (and I forgot to compensate), then I forgot about my legs, and thus my mainside jumpmaster couldn't fully let me go. NWFlyer, thanks for your story. Glad to see that it worked out for you. I know it will work out for me. I am not giving up. I am going on with this. I just wonder if me constantly fowling up, is messing with my confidence and leading to a vicious cycle of unsuccessful jumps, and thus I should just maybe do 1-2 jumps a month. I agree, Elsinore is a great place to jump with great people and great instructors. I enjoy jumping there a lot. I pulled great and landed the canopy great. I also jumped out of the plane with a good arch and in a calm fashion.

Thrillstalker, thanks for providing that link. It seems that poster had similar problems to me. I am not posting to get advice, really. I know the best way to learn is to ask my instructors and they have been great at giving me advice and teaching me. I think part of why I am struggling so much is that i am an extreme anxiety-prone person. I worry A LOT about everything and trying to make everything right (aka, doing the dive correctly, making sure that I remember everything, etc). All that worry causes me to be overwhelmed and then I forget key things. I have a hard time relaxing and I think it shows in my dives. I will get myself up on the plane again either this weekend (depending on weather), or on Monday. I HAVE to pass level 3. I will do it.

Not really asking for advice, just venting my frustrations. My instructors have been very helpful with advice and help, and the people at the DZ have been very supportive and cheer me on. I really enjoy where I jump at. This is all my fault and I own it. I can't seem to pass AFF 3. This will be the 3rd time I do it again (bombed the dive today). I know what I did wrong from the last time (leg position and heading issues), yet the minute I jump outta that plane, it seems everything overwhelms me and I remember to do some things (COA, touch handle, arm position), then I forget to do something else (getting leg position right, compensating for turns), etc. and everything goes to shit, and the instructors can't fully let me go. My chute deployment and landing is great. I love jumping. I really do. Controlling a parachute is fun. I wonder if I am pressuring myself to do too much too soon. I originally was planning to do like 1-2 jumps a month. Since I started, I've been doing like 2 jumps a week. I've hit somewhat of a "brick wall" and it irks me. Gonna try again next week.

How small is this person? I recently started my AFF (am on level 3 now) and I am only 4'5" tall. I worked it out with my DZ and they altered some student gear for me where I am jumping with a ripcord deployment (since I couldn't reach the BOC handle). I don't have issues with reaching the toggles, so I don't think they did anything with that. As for the emergency handles, I use one hand on each one. I know some DZ suggest you use both hands for each one. I have trouble with that since I have a short reach. Eventually I will switch back to a BOC, I think, when I am off student status. As a small skydiver, she might have problems staying stable and arching (I know I have issues with that), so she might need to do some tunnel time at a wind tunnel. I know that helps a lot, since after doing 15 min at the local wind tunnel, my arch is a lot better and I am staying stable easier.

Sounds really hard to learn to pack, esp with such enormous parachutes

Thanks! I'm having the time of my life. And I am jumping with modified student gear so it's all good.

ha ha! thanks! Can we put this thread to rest now. I'm kinda embarrassed about my thread. It's all good. I am such a freaking newbie, I guess it is written all over me. "quietly slinking away"

Actually I'm 4'5". That would be cool to meet others who are also into SCA stuff and skydiving Here's an older pic of me in full ren garb (I had a seamstress make me that whole garb from scratch) http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o177/guineapiggie/332b.jpg (sorry for posting non skydiving pics)

yeah, it is