birdshit 0 #1 July 28, 2007 Question 1 - I was a no pull on AFF level 1. (thanks Phil, I owe you a big beer) By the time I figured out that I had lost my cool, froze up like a deer in headlights and totally screwed my 1st jump ever, I realized I had about 8 line twists (instructor said I was tracking when my chute deployed) Survival instinct kicked in immediately and after doing a few kicks I got out of it, did my pattern and landed uneventfully in the DZ right on target. Wow. What a shitty first jump. (some may say that I walked away, so it couldn't have been that bad). Later that afternoon after some serious soul searching I got my nerve back and redid the Jump. (even pulled this time, instructor said it was picture perfect). So for those of you that are considering doing AFF Level 1, just remember that that most important thing you will do is, uh, pull. On every jump I have made, I found the sensation of freefall to be so overwhelming that I had a hard time keeping on task on not admiring the scenery. It really is very pretty the way the ground rushes up at you. My question is this: Has anybody ever jumped on 'Amphetamines' or any other stimulant? I take a fairly high dose for ADHD and I wonder if I am simply overamping my nervous system? I did one jump without them and it seems like I was much more stable and not ready to soil my jumpsuit the whole time... I am getting back into it. Not because I want to. Not because I can afford it. Not because I like driving 50 miles for 50 seconds of pleasure. Not because I relish the idea of doing something that can leave my family with no dad and no insurance money. Because I can't stop thinking about it and there have been lots of wind free days with deep blue skies lately and if I spend much more time looking up my neck will snap. ;) I did 10 minutes in the tunnel at Eloy, Tandem, AFF L1, AFF L1, and AFF L2. I guess I will have to start from scratch huh? Question 2 - Do yall think I will have to do the 8 hour class again? I still know my EPs, Types of Mals, Decision Altitude, Counts, Hand Signals, etc. The class isn't cheap... Thanks, and hope to see yall soon.. P.S. Attached is a picture I took of my T.V. Playing my Video from my 1st jump. Gotta say that Dimitri is a great guy. He lets me do a couple of 360s while we were on the drogue and he even let me drive for a few minutes under canopy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #2 July 28, 2007 how can you be tracxking away on an AFF1?You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
birdshit 0 #3 July 28, 2007 Quotehow can you be tracxking away on an AFF1? OHHH.... So thats what he meant when he gave me the two finger signal. 'bring your legs in'... My legs were almost all the way out and I was dragging both of them with me. I don't know, thats just what he said... I was also probably not totally arched and unstable.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peanutgallery 0 #4 July 28, 2007 Did you go to the wind tunnel before or after that first jump??? If it was after, your next jump should be a whole new experience. Be careful with those meds!I used to have a handle on life, but it broke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johan420 0 #5 July 28, 2007 Quote So for those of you that are considering doing AFF Level 1, just remember that that most important thing you will do is, uh, pull. i think thats important for every jumps... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beerlight 0 #6 July 28, 2007 Quote My question is this: Has anybody ever jumped on 'Amphetamines' or any other stimulant? I take a fairly high dose for ADHD and I wonder if I am simply overamping my nervous system? wow, you just told the whole world you were amp'd on a jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
somethinelse 0 #7 July 28, 2007 I hear where yer coming from! I had problems with sensory overload in freefall when I first started out. I asked a million and one questions about wind directions/freefall speeds and angles of descent, etc. etc. all so I could plan and think thru all that I would experience... ...The staff at that first DZ didn't quite know what to think of me... And I gave it all up for about a year and a half until I found another dz where I planned out my training with the instructors, and discussed "issues" with my training before. I don't know what would be best for YOU, but I did another tandem just to refamiliarize myself with freefall sensations and to see where my 'head was at' with skydiving/freefall etc... Ya know? ...and I loved it! BUT RATHER THAN GO WITH TRAINING WITH INSTRUCTORS IN FREEFALL, I DID A STATIC COURSE, and THEN COACH JUMPS TO GET MY "A". and that proved to best boost my confidence, and to know that I CAN NOT ONLY DEAL WITH IT, BUT REALLY LOVE IT NOW. Hope that helps... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 0 #8 July 28, 2007 I've got a pretty good case of ADHD myself. Anyone who knows me in person can vouch for that. (As well as a couple people on here) I don't take any meds for it because I like being who I am. I quit taking the meds back in elementary school because the prescription required me to see a head doc and one day, I walked out in the middle of it. If you want the whole story, PM me and I'll spill the beans. Good story... I laugh about it every time I tell it.) since then, I've learned to control my ADHD for the mostpart. I still wander away from myself unattended on occasion, but I've learned to keep it to a minimum. I find it a lot easier when participating in activities that I'm infatuated with such as skydiving, hockey, and other activities. Even during the AFF classes, I can't recall wandering once because I was so engulfed by the idea that I'd be jumping out of an airplane. To make a long story endless, I think most meds are unnecessary. I can function fine without the ADHD meds, I rarely take the pain meds given to me by the Navy docs when I bust my ass doing something stupid and I don't get novicane when having stitches done. My personal thoughts are that todays meds cause a lot more issues than they cure. (Read the pamphlet on the drug you're prescribed... that's what keeps me from taking it.) If I were you, I'd drop the meds. It'll definately take some time to learn to cope without it making you pay attention, but over time, you'll get used to it and make yourself do it. No, I don't jump on any form of stimulant (except caffine from energy drinks, but I've been staying away from those recently as well.) and I don't jump on any form of depressant. No, I don't think you'll need to retake the 8 hour class, but it also depends on how long it's been since your last jump. If it's been a year or more, it's probably a good idea, just for the refresher. It's always better to reestablish the safetys in your mind than to "be sure" you remember them before you jump and then realize you've forgotten something important once you're in the air. If they don't make you retake the class, tell your instructor you'd like to overview the information. Especially the hand signals.Sorry for the essay... I'm in article writing mode right now.Just remember to be safe, and most importantly, HAVE FUN!!! 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
birdshit 0 #9 July 28, 2007 Quote Sorry for the essay... I'm in article writing mode right now.Just remember to be safe, and most importantly, HAVE FUN!!! Nonsense! This was very reassuring and I feel a lot better now... Thank you so much everybody... Beerlite -- yes I was amped. I could see my heart beating through a sweatshirt and a jumpsuit and a chest strap. ;) It's prescription tho, and as a total wuffo I put zero thought to it before hand... :) I was fine on my tandem, because the other guy was doing all the worrying... When it came time for me to have to look around, push buttons, read dials and pull knobs I kinda locked up.. I Imagine my adrenal glands were operating at about 270% capacity... 3 hours later I did another jump and nailed it perfectly. I guess adrenal glands can only put out so much juice in a 24 hr period... lol Hey Phil at Skydive AZ, I still owe you a case of beer, a couple lapdances from my 300lb sister, whatever you want man... Just ask. Thanks.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 0 #10 July 28, 2007 My only question is this... You say you were on stimulants for your ADHD. Most of the drugs that exist that I'm aware of for ADHD are depressants to some degree. They calm you down. Parents went nuts over Ritalin because it got their kids to sit down and shut up with a lot less effort. Is there some drug out there I'm not aware of or something?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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crotalus01 0 #11 July 29, 2007 My nephew has pretty severe ADHD. It's caused by a chemical imbalance. Most people with ADHD have the reverse reaction to stimulants/depressants, that is speed will slow them down to normal and depressants will amp them up. My nephew takes an amphetamine because it slows him down to normal. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
