Questions

[kootmando1979 0]

I have been on two tandems in the past two weeks. I cant believe how amazing it is. I have tried to explain to people, but they just dont get it. Its the best feeling in the world.

I know I want to do the AFF course, but I have some worries. I know from reading this forum that the skydiving community is extremely friendly, but I still worry that I wont make friends with people. I dont know anyone who skydives. I worry that I am too chunky to do this. I have recently lost 90 lbs and am 15 away from being at a healthy weight. But it seems that everyone at the DZ is extremely fit. The last thing and my TM told me that after the training I will feel comfortable, but I am scared to do it by myself. Going tandem my fear is manageable, but solo...I have no faith in myself.

[keka 0]

you will be fine!
just give yourself a chance!
I bet you will make a lot of friends at the drop zone you jump.

just talk to the instructors.... people are always trying to motivate you when you're down!

blue skies

Keka

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
PMS#551
I love my life :)

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!

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But it seems that everyone at the DZ is extremely fit.

LOL, where did you do your tandems at? That's not how it is at the dropzones I go to!

It's normal to be afraid of going solo. Remember that you won't be totally alone though. You'll jump with 2 instructors and then they talk you down with a radio to help you land during training.

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

[JumpinJules 0]

two words: stop worrying!

This sport as you know already is amazing, and the people who do it just so happen to be the same way. No one will be looking at your size... I promise! Besides... 15 lbs away from a healthy weight is HARDLY anything you should be concerned about.... you should be excited about how much work you've done to get to that point!!!

I started my static line training w/a friend who was all pumped up about it. Turns out, I think she was a little more excited about talking about it, rather than actually jumping. Needless to say, she hasn't been back since. I've been going up there all by myself on Wednesdays and Sundays, and I have to say... I'm secretly kinda happy it worked out that way. This way, everyone has gotten to know me as an individual, and not just as "one of the two new girls" If your home dropzone is anything like mine, #1) you're a girl, so you will not be running into any shortage of new friends, and #2) Anyone and everyone around you will be just as excited about you starting, and they'll be more than willing to help w/any questions or concerns you've got.

I would put money down on the fact that once you do your first solo jump, and land all by yourself you'll find out that you're wayyyy more of a badass than you thought haha j/k.... I meant to say, you'll find out that doing it on your own blows a tandem out of the water. It's a whole nother can of worms when you find out you can do this all on your own!

It's only natural to be a little scared about hurling yourself out of a plane two miles above ground.... but then again... isn't that a little of the reason why it's so attractive? My guess is, if you've done two tandems in the last two weeks... you're a little of a thrill seeker..... just a guess

Okay, this is getting really long, I'm sorry... but stop worrying!!! You're going to be fine, and making friends at the dropzone is a piece of cake... there will more than likely be other newbies there too, and you'll have plenty to talk about! So relax, and enjoy the ride!!!

Into the great wide open/ under them skies of blue/ out in the great wide open/ a rebel w/out a clue.....

[kootmando1979 0]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your words of encouragement.

I was going to wait until June to go again. It is my best friends birthday and she really wants to go and I want to share in her excitement...I wish that I had someone to share in it with me. But I dont think there is anyway that I could wait a whole month to go again....and cost wise I couldnt afford to pay for another tandem while trying to save money for AFF.

Jules...did you know anyone before you started? Or are they all new friends?

The other thing that I would like some input on is the landing. The first tandem I went on...while I was in the air a lady had problems with her chute. My family saw her fall from about 50 feet. I know that there is radio communication while landing, but is it really that helpful? Or am I just kind of on my own?

[skymama 37]

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My family saw her fall from about 50 feet. I know that there is radio communication while landing, but is it really that helpful? Or am I just kind of on my own?

Well, what do you mean she fell from 50'? Was she a student on radio? Was she swooping? Did she have a canopy malfunction? When you are on the radio, your instructor will talk you all the way down, including telling you when to flare. As long as you listen to him or her, you shouldn't have a problem. But, don't depend on an electronic device. Understand what you are supposed to do before you go up alone, just in case the batteries die or something. You always need to have confidence in your training to be able to save yourself. If you don't understand, ask questions. There are no stupid questions.

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

[JumpinJules 0]

To answer your question:

No, I knew no one from the dropzone before I started.... I have to admit though, I had a bit of a head start b/c of this website, I started talking w/one of the girls who jumps there regularly over here... So that was very nice, and I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll be able to find someone on here that jumps at your home dz. Just post something in the bonfire forum, and you're bound to get a bite! For the most part though, I met everyone when I went up there to jump... and it's true what someone else said... stick around after your jump, and chill out w/everyone. I think that was probably the best decision I made socially at the dz. I got to know (and still am getting to know) so many people... I stayed over night... they had a bonfire, and it was such a blast! People there will have so much more respect for you if you show them you're really interested in the sport by sticking around after everyone else leaves.

About the lady who fell... I don't know if you're talking about the fact that she may have flared wayyy too early, then realized what happened, and let up her brakes completely, which would have made her pretty much drop from that height.... ? In any event, what was said already is true... as long as you listen on the radio, you will be juuuussstttt fine! I've only had 2 landings so far that I didn't land on my feet.... obviously the radios help a lot with that! And after probably 7 or 8 jumps I was off radio completely *toot toot* haha There are risks to skydiving... (surprised?) But it's all a matter of educating yourself. The more educated you are, the more prepared you'll be, and the better you will be able to handle things that arise. Just take a deep breath, and get ready to start a life changing chapter in your life..... !

Into the great wide open/ under them skies of blue/ out in the great wide open/ a rebel w/out a clue.....

[AnKaLi 0]

I definitely suggest hanging out after hours, thats what me and my boyfriend did, and our DZ has welcomed us with open arms. Thats what I love about this sport, people are willing to help the newbies! If you're really scared about doing a solo (I was the same way) I suggest reading Brian Germain's book "Transcending Fear" it has really helped me stay focused on what I need to do. Also, don't be afraid to step away if you're too nervous, or to speak up if something does not feel right. I know what you mean too, about feeling a little bit chunky around all those fit people, but use it to your advantage and use it as motivation! Good luck!

[kootmando1979 0]

The gal who got hurt, her parachute collapsed. I am not sure why, but my family who saw it said that she past the landing area and tried to make a hard turn and then the chute just collapsed. The positive thing is she came back to the DZ the next weekend. She seems to be doing fairly well. She had broken her femur, some ribs and punctured a lung.

I think I will go out to the DZ this weekend just to watch. I think it will help make me more comfortable with the landings. And hopefully I will get to meet some people. I haven't ever stayed too long afterwards. I get such an adrenaline rush and when that wears off I am out for the night. From what I have read it would be a good idea to bring out beer, right?

[JumpinJules 0]

And we have a winner.....!!! haha YES! Beer will always be a good idea!!

Into the great wide open/ under them skies of blue/ out in the great wide open/ a rebel w/out a clue.....

[skymama 37]

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I am not sure why, but my family who saw it said that she past the landing area and tried to make a hard turn and then the chute just collapsed.

You'll learn more about this if you go through training, but it doesn't sound like her canopy collapsed all on its own. You can do a hard turn like that at such a low altitude and not suffer consequences like that. I did something similar on my 11th jump and hurt myself pretty well. I'm glad she's ok too. When she comes back to jumping, I bet she won't do that again.

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

[popsjumper 2]

Skymama is very much correct when she said:
"But, don't depend on an electronic device. Understand what you are supposed to do before you go up alone, just in case the batteries die or something. You always need to have confidence in your training to be able to save yourself. If you don't understand, ask questions. There are no stupid questions. "

I think most of your fears will be washed away in the training process.

Your instructor will fully train you on doing EVERYTHING completely on your own. You will be taught and drilled on how to fly and land your parachute all by yourself. The radio will be used to assist you if it's working well.

However, radio communications do fail sometimes. Some things that could happen are:
- batteries die
- transmission is garbled
- your ears are plugged up
- too much noise from the slider

This is why you will know what you need to know before you jump and your instructor will ensure that you know and understand it beforehand. Ask the questions.

Students handle no-radio landings all the time.

Take the AFF training. You can always decline to jump if, after training, you do not feel confident enough in what you were taught and/or learned.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[gonzalesna 1]

It sounds like one of your biggest concerns is getting to know people and being invited to jump. I jump in Perris, and if you're too shy to introduce yourself to people, you're worried about people not wanting to skydive with you, or you just don't know anyone, you can go to manifest and ask for a load organizer. There's usually a couple there each day that put groups together based on everyone's jump experience. That's how I got started doing group jumps. Now that I know more people there, I make it a point to talk to as many people I don't know and as many students/people new to the DZ as I can.
Don't worry. You'll make friends a plenty.

Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie.