New to AFF

[LisaH 0]

Hi,
I'm new to this site and forum. It looks like a fun place.
It took 7 tandems for me to make the decision to go into the AFF program. I've completed AFF 2, but it took 4 jumps to get there. I have suddenly become afraid to continue.
Anyone out there have some advice or encouragement to get me back into the plane?
Thanks : )

[joyjoy 0]

I did an AFF jump back in Aug. I had a really bad jump, I even landed about 1 mile away from the drop zone. I cried the whole way back to dz and all the way home. I thought that I could never get back up in the air.

Then I thought well what does not kill you will only make me stronger. That was 19 jumps ago. I did switch drop zones. I was traveling 450 miles one-way to jump. It was well worth it. I found out that I needed new instructors. Evenyone teaches differently, you might need to find the instructor that is just right for you. That will make a world of difference.

Blue Skies

[LisaH 0]

Thank you for replying :)
I think the line twist and toggles flapping in the wind on my second solo did me in.
Kudos to you for being so brave. But I'm not yet convinced to continue...LOLOL

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[lowpole 1]

What excatly is your "fear"? something happen or is it a mind thing?

Darwin's Watching!

[joyjoy 0]

Yeah..that scared me on the AFF jump that I did. No-one ever told me that was going to happen. I kept on thinking that something was wrong and I was going to die, because I was to afraid to cut it way. (I had a long way down, I was under canopy for about 20 mins) After awhile you will not even notice it. What I found to help me with line twist is has soon has you pull the cord, grab the lines. That will also help with the "ladies" from getting hurt.

What kind of trouble are you having with the toggles?

[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

[LisaH 0]

Hi,
Thanks for the welcome :)
My biggest fear...malfunctions. On my second jump I had a line twist and my toggles were already out. I was able to kick myself out and grab the toggles. In one sense, I'm glad I've already experienced it, but now I fear worse.
I'm also far too hard on myself thinking I'm going to suck.

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[LisaH 0]

No trouble with the toggles generally, but when I had the line twist, they had already come out and were flapping around. Had to catch them.

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[LisaH 0]

It's a mind thing I'm sure. I fear malfunctions and not being able to fix them.

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[feralpig 0]

I'm still a newbie. I only have 70 jumps now. I had my 1st mal on jump 43. When it happened, the great ground training that I got just kicked in and there was no panic. It was surreal in fact. It was instant focus on the job at hand and I think that is survival instincts ingrained in all human beings. You should get back on the horse and trust yourself to do the job when it counts and have fun up there!

[LisaH 0]

Thanks for the encouraging words. It DOES help.
And you're right. The ground training just popped back into my head and I did what I needed to do.
I was up there whooohoooing and then when I landed, I burst into tears realizing what just happened...lol

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[feralpig 0]

Yeah, I had 3 more jumps the day of my mal and didn't think anything of it. I made sure I got on the next load available just to get back on the proverbial horse and was like you wooohoooing alll the way but when I had time, I had a bit of the "why am I doing this" thoughts later that evening but it didn't last and now I'm enjoying my jumps even more given the fact that I know I can do the right thing the next time it happens. trying to get 30 jumps done in the next 2 weeks so it won't be too cold for my undie hundie!

[LisaH 0]

Too cold for your what???? LOL
Where do you jump?

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[feralpig 0]

Undie hundie...it is tradition to jump in your underwear on your 100th jump. I jump in the south island of New Zealand in pudding hill. where do you jump Lisa?

[LisaH 0]

I jump at California City, CA USA
Underwear on the 100th huh? Fun!
I was at the Peckerhead Meat on the weekend of the 11th. The weather prevented the lingerie jump.
Although I did take my shirt off to become an official Peckerhead : )

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[feralpig 0]

awesome.....America is really cool to jump....hopefully I am thinking of doing a northern hemisphere/southern hemisphere year long summer season next year.

[LisaH 0]

Try Cal City when you get here :)

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[feralpig 0]

will do...sounds like a fun place......get back out there and have fun! I gotta go clean my truck now. Really nice chatting with you lets hook up again the next time we're online. see yous.

[LisaH 0]

My heart pounds just thinking about getting back into that plane. What a wuss I am.
Happy truck cleaning. Nice talking to you too.
~ Lisa

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[feralpig 0]

that's why we do it! you're not a wus.it's how awesome it is to be alive magnified when you're at the door and the pilot says "door! see you" awesome! truck all clean and only laundry left to do.

[LisaH 0]

I have door issues too...lol Can't watch anyone go out.
I know, I know, I just need to get my ass back up there and do it!

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[feralpig 0]

haha......what plane do you jump out off?

[LisaH 0]

Twin otter. I think I attached the pic correctly.

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[feralpig 0]

got it...haven't jumped that yet. so far have only jumped the fletcher, cessna 182 and 206. and a helicopter. you're lucky with the twin otter. I hear it climbs pretty quick.

[LisaH 0]

Not quick enough for me. That ride up sucks..lol
And the cessna..oh hell no. Too small. I did a couple tandems out of what the guys at that particular DZ call "the toaster" where you walk out of the back of it. Not sure what it's really called.
That was pretty cool.

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo