My Quest to Become a Skydiver...

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

I began my journey almost a year. I did a three tandems and knew that I wanted to try AFF. Had my first AFF jump on 7/10. On my 4th AFF jump (Lucky Jump #7), I broke my right ankle and sprained my left.

It took forever to heal - it was my fourth broken ankle. I wonder how often this happens to people?

I went back to jump on December 4th - had a nice soft PLF landing. I've been to our drop zone several times since then, but due to weather issues I've been unable to jump.

I'm headed to FL on 3/18 and plan to jump a Z-hills. Wish me luck!

If you'd like to know more about me and my quest, check out my blog. Sarah's Jump Lust:

http://x.mcintyres.net/jumpblog/?sectionid=12

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...

[Peej 0]

That really sucks Sarah! I broke mine in October last year, although mine was completely my fault. Be carfeul out there and welcome to the forums!

Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

My broken ankle was also "completely" my fault. I flared way to early.

I wonder how many skydivers have broken their ankles jumping. Just a couple of weeks before I broke mine, another student (who was self-supervised) ran into a fence and broke his. His was far worse than mine and required surgery, pins, etc.

I am now wearing ankle braces when I jump. Hopefully, I will be able to jump without them once I have more confidence in my landing ability.

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

Thanks Skymama.

I have 1/2 an hour booked at the tunnel. If all else fails, at least I have that to carry me through!

Where do you jump?

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...

[skymama 37]

I jump mostly at Deland. If you click on people's screen names, you can view their profiles and find out that kind of info, assuming they have filled them out.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Feeblemind 1]

Sarah I can semi-feel your pain. I was going through AFF and took leave of my senses while on final for landing. I kept looking at a burm in a field I didn't want to land on. Like a moron I kept looking at it and flew right to it!!! Oh yea and the other half to the story was I forgot to flare and hit very hard. I have had 4 previous knee surgeries and the ol' flipper did not appreciate what I had just done to it and instantly doubled in size.

Well, the next day was my graduation jump...what to do what to do?? Well off to the hospital I went to have almost 16 ounces of fluid pulled out of my knee. I took a mouth full of motrin and off to the DZ I went.

I wrapped my knees, manifested with my instructor and got on the 3rd load after I arrived. Grad dive was kickass and I cleared AFF to student status. Knee has been sore for about 2 weeks now, but it's a friendly reminder of my new addiction.

I wish you luck with your AFF and don't make the mistake I did "FLARE"


Good Luck and let us know how you did.

Phil

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

I've had eight jumps (three of those were tandems). On jump 4 (my first AFF), I had radio assistance and they told me when to flare. I landed on my butt.

Jump 5 - the radio guy was distracted and forgot about me until the last minute - I flared too early and landed on my butt.

Jump 6 - the radio guy told me when to flare - I had a perfect stand up landing.

Jump 7 - the radio guy said, "You're looking good, you're on your own." We hadn't discussed the "me being on my own" in advance. There were two stakes in the landing area - I panicked - Flared at 25 feet and did a PLF.

Jump 8 - the radio guy told me when to flare - I had the softest PLF on earth. I could have stood it up, but decided to PLF as a precaution

I've been told I'm getting no radio on my next jump. Am I ready to be on my own without it?

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...

[Dougiefresh 0]

Quote

Am I ready to be on my own without it?

you tell us.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

I'm ready.

There...I said it...it must be true - it's on the internet.

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...

[Feeblemind 1]

Sarah,

You'll be fine, just don't fly your legs into the ground like I did, remeber your flare. I hope all goes well.

Blue Skys,

PZ

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

Thanks PZ.

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...

[Jeth 0]

Hi Sarah,

I'm a student also. I have done 8 AFF jumps, but I have never stood up a landing. I have, however, had pretty soft butt-slide landings. All except my last one - oh, that wasn't pretty! I didn't know how to PLF properly and I was coming in really fast, downwind. I basically did a face plant with the splits. It ripped my MCL and that took me out for the season. I didn't flare right and I didn't PLF.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell ya that I have trouble picking the flare height, too. I think the reason most of mine are pretty soft still is because I don't let up. My instructors all told me if I start my flare too early, to just hold the 1 position and still do the 2-3 at the right time. One thing that really was great for me was just hearing my instructor on the radio saying "not yet!". (instead of telling me when, she just kept saying not yet till it was time.) When I am coming down and feel the urge to pull down, I say that to myself over and over. My last jump was still on radio but I know they're gonna be weaning me off very soon. (My program is 20 jumps) I am going to try to get my timing down, and most importantly, practice my PLF for when I need it!

One thing I saw the other day sounded like it might be helpful -- someone suggested standing on an escalator as its going down. The angle should be perfect and even tho it goes slow it should still be a good way to visualize the right flare height. Anyway, good luck! I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually.

"At 13,000 feet nothing else matters."
PFRX!!!!!
Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109
My Jump Site

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

Thanks Jeth. I'll have to go to the mall and ride the escalator!

I am fortunate that I did at least follow the directions about holding the toggles down. They told me that I would have broken both my legs (or worse) if I hadn't held on. I flared fast and hard at 25 feet.

Learning the hard way

Good luck to you!

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...

[Fireflyer 0]

WOW. I thought the only luck I had was BAD luck! You too?!? How did Z-hills go? All good? DO tell!!

• Quote

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

Z-hills was awesome. I had a relatively new AFF instructor. Her name was Laura. I believe that I was one of her first students. I'm not sure which, but probably less than 10. She was excellent.

The DZ has a great landing area. One the way to the plane, we realized that my suit didn't have grips and I also realized that I didn't have on ankle braces...whoops..

Everything went well. I had an excellent time. I landing safely with absolutely no pain.

Then I went to the tunnel time. No pain....no gain.

My friend and I spent 30 minutes each in the tunnel. OMG...it was so much fun. I'm getting ready to add to my on line journal about the experience. It was incredible. Out tunnel coach was great.

Thanks for asking about how it went!!! How close are you to MD?

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...

[bigorangemd 0]

I sympathize with you. On my level 2 AFF jump ZI flared too early and landed on my southend. Fractured my coccyx! It really was a pain in the butt! I did however jump the next day and had a great landing. I'll finish my AFF next weekend. I don't have a problem with the jumps, but the plane ride up is NOT comfortable.

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

It seems like there are alot of injuries early on. I keep telling my friends that I've gotten my broken bone out of the way. From here on out, it's soft landings and no injuries.

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...