Hoping to complete AFF training Sunday - A little anxious

[Mad_Jasper 1]

Ok. I loved my tandem jump subsequently leading to begging AFF. I loved AFF1 and 2 and couldn't wait to get out of the airplane. I was anxious on 3 and 4. It wasn't so much for my safety as it was passing the damn jumps. I did without any problems.

I have since found a DZ much closer and I'm scheduled to jump Sunday... hopefully 5, 6 and 7.

However, I am nervous as hell about failing. I don't know why, but it's just nagging me to the point where I'm almost dreading going. I'll be glad when I can finally jump for me and not for someone else.

[jsreznor 0]

Dude. AFF IS for you. If you can't complete the basic skills required of AFF, then you shouldn't be in the sky, period. If you think AFF is getting in the way, you really need to talk to some people about what falling out of a plane is about.

Stop focusing on failing. If you read the diveplans, you know what you have to do to pass. Focus on those skills. Focus on how you would turn. Focus on how you'd get off your back.

STOP WHINING.

[jakee 1,601]

Quote

However, I am nervous as hell about failing. I don't know why, but it's just nagging me to the point where I'm almost dreading going.

There's nothing wrong with failing an AFF jump. Loads of people, probably most people, have to retake at least one level. It's not any kind of judgement on your aptitude for the sport, it just means you didn't quite get it yet, learn from it, go do it again.

Passing all the levels first time is nice, but it's really not important. Relax

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[wmw999 2,595]

The thing to consider about AFF is that it's not like passing a class -- it's just a confirmation that you have mastered all of the skills. The important thing is to master the skills, not to do it in the minimum number of jumps.

Relax and enjoy your jumps -- if they're making you anxious, they won't be as much fun, and you're paying money for the fun. Learn the material, and allow yourself to be human. Ask questions of your instructors, and if you want to practice something some more before jumping, just do it. The more comfortable you are with the stuff on the ground, the easier it is to remember to do it in the air.

So enjoy!

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Mad_Jasper 1]

Dude, you're missing my point... or maybe I wasn't clear about what I was trying to say.

I have no problem with the AFF program not do I have a problem with the need to demonstrate basic skills before jumping. I've also haven't had any problems with stability, arching, etc.

What I'm concerned with is making some stupid little mistake that would require a retake. Case in point. As I went through NPQ training about 10 years ago, one of the drills required setting up a ladder, ascending the latter, and cutting a ventilation hole in a simulated roof. I had no problem demonstrating those skills, but when it was completed, the instructor reminded me that I had failed to put my gloves on.... something that I would never forget in a real fire.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[wmw999 2,595]

The biggest difference between passing an AFF level and passing a work test is that it is absolutely no reflection on you if you fail an AFF level (once you fail 20 or 30 that might change...)

You can re-take almost immediately, and everyone wants you to succeed. Most people repeat at least one level, either because of a problem, or just because they let enough time go between jumps that they had to. BFD.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Keep in mind that there is some leeway in "passing" a level. One silly little mistake shouldn't cause a repeat. If you miss an altitude check, yet still pull on time, will that fail you?
But failing to check altitude at all or forgetting to pull on time will.

As was said above, you just have to show the instructor that you know what you're doing, and can be safe.

Your example falls just a little short, because the jumps aren't simulations.

Relax and have fun. It isn't a competition, although I realize there are financial reasons to want to be done.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[Mad_Jasper 1]

After AFF4, I was thinking to myself that I didn't pass. When I debriefed with my instructor, he told me that everything was great, other than being a little stiff at times and that I had one leg extended slightly farther than the other. I guess it boils down to a lack of self confidence, something that I normally do not lack. Looking over my log book, I see less than 4 minutes of free fall time and I'm expected to do back flips in two more jumps?!?

AFF2 was awesome. I was complete relaxed and it was a great skydive. My instructors had bragged to other jumpers on the ground who in turned complimented me when I landed. I don't necessarily care whether I'm complimented or not, but that's the feeling that I want every time I jump. That's why I wanted to do this in the first place.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement.

[InfiniteSky 0]

I felt a bit the same when I was doing my AFF. But it's really not that hard. And to tell you the truth during AFF the flips are more about getting you unstable and seeing you recover your stability than they are about seeing you do a perfect back flip. My AFF backflip sucked (was more half flip half barrel roll), but I got stable right away and passed the level without a problem. You'll have plenty of jumps till your A license check dive to practice getting flips down right and on heading.

Just relax, tell yourself you can do it, and have fun. From what you say AFF has been going well for you, so just enjoy the last few jumps and don't put pressure on yourself. And if you repeat, it's not a big deal. I usually learn more from my mistakes (and I've made plenty) than I do from doing everything perfectly.

[Mad_Jasper 1]

Feeling much better about it today. The wife really reamed last night about it. She reminded me why I wanted to do this to start with. I'm going to concentrate on enjoying the fall and not worry about anything else. Thanks!

[timmyfitz 0]

Quote

Dude. AFF IS for you. If you can't complete the basic skills required of AFF, then you shouldn't be in the sky, period. If you think AFF is getting in the way, you really need to talk to some people about what falling out of a plane is about.

[Mad_Jasper 1]

AFF5 and AFF6 jumps today. Had a little trouble with a flat spin on 5, but nothing major. On level 6, I had no problems with gaining stability on exit and on my backflip, but when I tried to adjust my heading for forward tracking, got into another flat spin again. No tumbling, just could quite maintain my heading. Got to 6K feet before I quit spinning and decided to perform a delta. I did and pulled at 4500 ft. Instructor was not too happy with the late maneuver. I don't have to repeat 6, but I do have to do a solo exit practice jump practicing heading maintenance.

I was worried about the flip and 360s and lost it on a 90 degree turn.

Nailed my landings though. While disappointed that I didn't move on to 7 just yet, I feel it was a productive day. The things I thought difficult were quite easy and I had a hell of a lot of fun. My confidence is soaring at the moment. And most importantly, I walked away.

[The_Don 0]

Cool! You know what you owe after completing level # 7..

I am NOT being loud.
I'm being enthusiastic!

[timmyfitz 0]

Quote

My confidence is soaring at the moment. And most importantly, I walked away.

Give it a minute. Someone will probably make a smart ass post soon to critique your post about your last two jumps and explain all the mistakes you made.

Good job on completing 5 and 6. As you said the things you thought would be difficult were quite easy. Keep this in mind when you do level 7 and you'll be fine.

[Mad_Jasper 1]

I probably deserve it. After reflecting on it last night, I realized that I not only put myself in danger, I put my instructor in a position where he might not have been able to get to me had I lost stability. There's been more than one instructor that died trying to save students. I have to be smarter than that.

I'm physically paying the price today. I had a hard opening, probably because I didn't give myself enough time to slow before pulling. I feel like I had the hell beat out of me yesterday.

[fasted3 0]

Good lesson here. Plan the dive, then dive the plan. It's not unusual for newbs to suddenly think of something cool to do during a jump. Better to resist and stick to the plan.
A great saying I read on here went something like this:
I may not know everything the people I skydive with are going to do on a jump, but I DO know what they are NOT going to do.
Thanks for that one, (twardo?) Pretty good lesson there.
Good work on thinking this out, MJ.

But what do I know?

[vortexr1 0]

I felt the same way man. I was just trying to remember to much stuff. Just have fun,relax and do what they ask. Dont analyze everything.Once you get off AFF your gonna love it, Just read lots of stuff on skydiving and ask tons of questions..Then take what you need from it and practice different things in the air..Youll get it, good luck. Remember if your not having fun, then why jump?

[tasmanianjumper 0]

STAY SAFE, never be content with making a safety mistake and as they say plan your dive and dive the plan but... if things didn't go according to plan... like me missing my accuracy jumps... didn't complete the performance objectives but chalked it up as a win... remember your mistakes and that you SKYDIVED... I am at Jump #23 and am going to be over 25 Jumps when I get my A License... Oh Well... I still enjoyed what I did... and no Troll "Sky God" can take that away from me. Okay, so I still wear the retarded student suit... and my chute doesn't look as cool as others... I am still able to chill in the thrill and live and hope to meet those performance objectives next jump... The point is to go for the objectives but if things go south then stay positive and..... RELAX :P bro... your SkYdiving and it's fun... that's why everyone is here!!!

Taz