Finishing up my IAD tomorrow - and a bit nervous

[jsmcfadden 0]

I've been lurking a bit over the past few weeks, reading everyone's posts and generally learning, laughing, and wasting work hours while dreaming of jumping again.

As today has worn on, though, I've become increasingly nervous about my jumps this weekend. I started with a tandem jump over Labor Day and have since completed 5 IAD jumps, two PRCPs. My last two jumps two weeks ago did not go so well, though, and I guess that's upped my anxiety a bit for this weekend. I just thought it'd be nice to post a message and see if anyone could encourage/cheer/calm me down a bit. I'm really excited, but I feel as nervous as I did before my first IAD exit.

[artistcalledian 0]

hi there, i'm new to this site and skyding too... i've only done 15 jumps

On my 12th jump (level 7 AFF) i span out of control and when my instructor came in to stop me, he dislocated his shoulder when he grabbed me... i managed to land safely but found out that he had broken his leg on landing too

all i can say is this... after my bad jump, the other instructors at the DZ said i should go back up that day and do a chill out jump to get me back in the air, i did and it went fine, i passed my level 7 the next jump after the chill out one.

Talk about your fears to your instructors as they deffinately know best, listen to what they say and do what ever they tell you to do, not easy sometimes but they wouldn't let you back in the air if they didn't believe you could do what they ask you to do

________________________________________
drive it like you stole it and f*ck the police

[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

[Mike111 0]

Good luck!

We are all nervous, so youre not the only one, we are all in the same boat.

as youve alreay done 5 IAD's shows you have a lot of skill, and so should be fine.

Good luck mate!

[jsmcfadden 0]

Thanks to all for the replies. It turns out that I didn't jump this weekend after all. My instructor was sick, so he didn't make it out this weekend. I could have gone with another instructor, but when drama broke out at the dz, I decided to just wait. I'm kind of kicking myself now, but it felt right at the time. It was fun just to hang out and watch the experienced jumpers do their fun jumps anyway. I definitely love this sport, and someday I hope to be able to swoop in on a sub-hundred like these guys! (That is the coolest sound and visual in the world!!)

I talked to a lot of the old timers at the dz while hanging out yesterday, and they made me feel a lot better. They still get nervous before jumps, so I guess it's alright. I'm not such a coward after all. Now I've caught the bug that was going around, though, so I may be grounded for a few more weeks. (It's a small dz and they basically shut down after Halloween. If I don't get back in before then, I think I'll just save up and go to a big dz for a week or two and get as many jumps in as possible. Then I could come back to this one more relaxed and have more fun.)

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you all for your replies. DZ.com is great, and I can't wait to have actual jump stories to post. :)

[ngawang01 0]

Do not be afraid to experience FEAR. Fear is what keeps you alive. People who said that experience "NO FEAR" had a short life span. Fear equal respect, respect brings knowledge, knowledge enhance your experience, and the more experience you have, the more fun you have.

"Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I". pf

[jsmcfadden 0]

You're absolutely right. I figured out last night what it was that spooked me so much, and now I'm ready to go again. See, on my first PRCP jump a few weeks ago, I fell off of the strut. It scared me to the point where I screamed like a little girl (NOT COOL!!) and didn't even think about the PRCP. I was just looking back up at my instructor to see if he was pissed/scared - had thrown the PC mainly. Then, the radio died on my landing, and I ended up doing my first solo landing. All in all, not a great jump. I made myself go back up that afternoon, and that jump and PRCP went fine, but I was still really shaken by the whole falling off the plane incident.

I realized last night that what was really spooking me was that feeling of being out of control. Every time that I've gone up, I've been nervous, but I always felt like I knew what to do and ultimately had control of my reactions. Slipping off of the strut made me doubt that, and I ended up spooking myself out of several jumps last weekend as a result. I suppose it's probably for the best, since I obviously needed some more time to deal.

I woke up this morning with images of climbing out and letting go once more. Can't wait to get back in the air and feel that utter calm again! I just hope the DZ is ready for me this weekend.

Anyone know what I mean by all of this?

[artistcalledian 0]

Quote

Anyone know what I mean by all of this?

yeah

________________________________________
drive it like you stole it and f*ck the police

[Broke 0]

No worries... talking about forgetting Practice touches... I forgot to do them on my level 2 AFF jump, but I still pulled without hunting for my hackie

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[jsmcfadden 0]

Well, it's kind of a glum Monday for me. No jumps this weekend. I had plans to go up yesterday, but the weather kept me grounded. I did hang out over the weekend, though, and the pilot took me up for a quick ride Saturday morning. That was weird! I felt naked without a parachute on my back. I kept looking at the door and picturing an exit the entire trip.

My hat is off to all of you AFF students, by the way. I'm not sure I would have the nerve to go out that high that quickly. Part of me thinks it would be a better way to get accustomed to the sport - more time in freefall and all of that - but I could just see myself spinning out of control and having absolutely NO altitude awareness...ugh! At least with the IAD, I know I should deploy immediately.

I'm hoping I can get back up there this weekend, but with the weather changing like it has, I'm trying to resign myself to a long, boring winter. Good thing I have my SIM and DZ.com to keep myself occupied. Ooooo...and maybe I'll save up for Cancun or somewhere warm and jump there. That could be my Christmas gift to myself.

Anyone up for a trip this winter??

[StevePhelps 0]

I was the opposite of you. Even though I had over 100 military static lines the IAD method was hard for me. After 3 10 second delays (two were bad -- dearched) I switched to AFF and the extra altitude helped me relax. Just goes to show different methods work for different people. If Arkansas is anything like OK or TX, you'll be able to jump over the winter although you may have weather delays. Keep going out to the DZ like you did. Hang out and talk with the regulars. But keep your instructors information foremost in your mind. You'll do well. I'd suggest learning about packing while you wait for weather to clear.

[jsmcfadden 0]

They keep threatening to teach me to pack, but I haven't done much more than watch yet. That's on my winter list of things to do, though, definitely.

Out of curiosity, how did you exit on your IAD jumps? The one thing I seem to do consistently is get into a stable arch, and I'm guessing that is at least in part due to hanging off the strut for my exit. Granted, that's the part that scares me the most right now, too, but... My instructor (one of them anyway) offered to teach me a different exit, but I worry that I may lose my arch if I change at this point. I know that I will have to learn alternate exits in order to get licensed, but since it's so early in my training, I'm somewhat leery of messing up the one thing I seem to do well. My instructor was not insisting at all, though, and he did agree that this exit helps promote good arch position.

sigh...I really want to jump. One of the guys at the dz just called and invited me out this afternoon for a few jumps. The weather is gorgeous today, and I've been moping all week because it's been so long since I was in the air. I was all ready to go, putting in my vacation time for the rest of the day, when I remembered that my son has a dentist appointment this afternoon. Now, I'm so bummed that I can hardly stand it. Not to whine, but man!!!


Update: Woo hoo!! The guys are all going to come out to the DZ tomorrow so I can jump. How great is that?! I'll even get to take my kid for the first time so he can see me jump. I am more excited today than I was before any of my other jumps. I think the people at work think I'm insane at this point, though. heh! I really don't care. I'm practically bouncing off the walls here. Just wanted to share with people who get it.

[StevePhelps 0]

On my IAD training, I hung of the strut of a Cessna 182. I arched "okay" I believe my issue was too tense (causing potato chipping) and dearching at pull time as I reached to pull.

For me, getting to air it out in a stable arch for 45 seconds boosted my confidence. Here's to jumping in the middle of the week! Hardly gets better than that!

[MissyOutTheBox 0]

I did my first 2 SL which I think is about the same as IAD I tink? Trying to do them in 2's as I go along, the second one was a bit easier (less scared). But I came down on the first jump to the NOAA weather channel..lol.. Must have bumped the channel button on exiting and landed next door to the DZ in a wide open field.. Please..Don't let me fall off the strut. That would totally throw me for a loop until I heard that slider pop over my head.. That is such a comforting sound mind you to hear it then look up and see it right where its supposed to be..

Have always wanted to be a social butterfly but now I have the wind beneath my feet.

[jsmcfadden 0]

You know, it's funny. I look back on my last two jumps and the solo landing scared me less than the slipping off the strut. I also learned A LOT from that landing.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to jump again - either weather, money, or holidays have prevented me each time. I have, however, learned to pack, which is good. I'm also reading and watching as much as I can about skydiving to regain some of my comfort. I expect my next jump to be terrifying, to be honest, but then it should get a bit easier each time. I keep trying to visualize good exits to reinforce my belief in myself, too.

One thing I know - I will conquer this fear of the door. It's not even an option at this point. I haven't even considered giving up, which is kind of cool. I've even been thinking that in five years - assuming all goes well with skydiving in those years - I may try to do a BASE jump. (I'm thinking Bridge Day 2010 would be a great first jump.) So, between now and then, I have lots to learn.

It's a great sport, isn't it??

[Hayfield 0]

I can empathize with your fear of the door. I took the easy way out: go jump with your girlfriend and younger brother, once they've jumped you're honor bound to go to! And, like you, I'm waiting- till March for it to warm up a bit, then it's time to finish those AFF jumps.
Have you annoyed your friends and family with your new hobby yet? I've annoyed some, and converted others (like a Franciscan monk among the pagan indian tribes).
Blue Skies and Soft Landings

"Remember the First Commandment: Don't Fuck Up!"
-Crusty Old Pete

[jsmcfadden 0]

LOL - My non-skydiving friends now get this pained look whenever they see me looking up at the sky. I try to keep somewhat quiet about it now, but they can tell on those days that I'm really jonesin' for a jump. My family doesn't want to hear about it much. My brother and my son are the only ones who talk to me about it - my brother started on the same day that I did, so we both get pumped up.

I must not be a very good missionary - only one convert, and she hasn't started yet, so no points.

Good luck with your AFF, and with the long days between now and March. DZ.com is keeping me somewhat sane, I think.

[Mike111 0]

hang in there mate... weather will be improve.

Im sure youll find a day even in these shitty weaqther months to jump.