Bad skydiver?

[JSskygal 0]

I'm a fairly new jumper (80 jumps) and I'm curious as to how well I should be doing by now? There is another girl at the dz with the same amount of jumps, but she is doing much better than me. She is much better in the air, and under canopy. She's jumping a 150 and landing it great, I'm still on a 190. Last weekend she docked 9th on a 10 way, and she is like a goddess at our dz now (I'm lucky to dock on a 4 way). And she is getting ready to buy her own gear, and thinking about getting a 135. I over heard the S&TA telling her, "I never thought I'd be telling someone with less than 100 jumps to get a 135, but you are defintely ready for it." I admit I am jealous of her, I should be happy she is doing so well, but I can't. She has asked me a couple of times to do a 2 way, , but I don't want to , because I know she will do much better than me. Anyhow, my question is.....Is she a really fast learner, or am I a really slow learner?

[skygal3 0]

Whoa, another skygal....

Everybody learns at their own rate. It is important to not be distracted by what others are doing, or how others are learning, and to focus on your performance. If it is in your heart, you will get it--at your own rate.

[pds 0]

sorry kiddo, smells like troll.

namaste, motherfucker.

[wmw999 2,589]

Either or both could be true. Either way, who are you jumping to please? I hope it's yourself. If you're fun to jump with, and safe (you can be safe even if your freefall and canopy skills aren't so hot), then you can have fun jumping. If you're at a DZ where some things are admired above others, that can be hard.

It's a social sport for many people, so it can be hard to feel good about yourself if you don't get feedback. You could get a coach to work with, or just get a group that jumps together with some regularity. If you're not ready to downsize, good for you for not doing it.

You have to find something in yourself that makes it fun and worthwhile, because there will almost certainly ALWAYS be someone who is significantly better than you with less experience. There certainly is for me....

Wendy W.

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)

[lizzieb 0]

i've got about the same amount of skydives as you, so i can't say where you should be at skillwise...but as far as canopy size and all that, i say don't worry about it. fly what you are comfortable on and can land safely under. at this point, my definition of a successful skydive is one where i go up in the plane, get out, smile during freefall, and land safely. the skills will come as jump numbers increase. jump with that other girl. if she's better, maybe you can learn something from her. ask experienced jumpers at your DZ for advice, help etc...everyone has their own learning curve, some are just steeper than others.

for now, i say just concentrate on having fun out there and BE SAFE!!!

[wlie 0]

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I admit I am jealous of her, I should be happy she is doing so well, but I can't.

Why? Because she's got a smaller, nicer butt?(just kidding)

In the words of Mike Ortiz, you need to be SAFE, PROGRESS, and have FUN. For as long as you excercise these 3, there is no such thing as a bad skydiver (IMO).

My other ride is the relative wind.

[Gawain 0]

One thing I can definitely recommend is, RELAX. Performance anxiety has put me close to some pretty precarious situations in the air. Another thing to remember is the rate of jumping...80 jumps in 4 months versus 80 jumps in 8 months. That too can have an affect on skill sets.

I too, felt should have been taking the short bus to the DZ for a while. Looking back at my relatively few jumps, I realized that certain skills are clicking. A lot of my tunnel training was not apparent for a few weeks to me, or to others.

So, my advice is, relax, smile, and remember why we do this (fun!!). Then enjoy the ride.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[lewmonst 0]

From Desiderata: If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

I think it's important that you focus on you and what you can do to get better, not whether or not you are better than someone at your jump number. Jump numbers are starting to become less and less of a reference for flying ability with the quality of coaching available these days and training options like wind tunnels. I have 6 times as many jumps a good friend of mine, Brad, and Brad way outflies me on his head even though i've been working on it longer than he has.

I think if you jump with this other woman, not only could you learn something from her and improve your flying, but you can gain respect. That is, when you go into a situation to learn from it and make yourself a better person, people will respect that. If you have something to prove, you will gain nothing. Also, if you want to really improve your ability, improve the level and quality of your skydives, ask for tips, do coach jumps, challenge yourself rather than jumping with the group of friends and doing the same thing on every jump.

And remember why you skydive... Hopefully it's becuase you love it and it's fun. That's why i do anyway.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy

peace

http://www.exitshot.com

[Pammi 0]

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From Desiderata: If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Nice. I like that.

[Jessica 0]

Has she been jumping for a shorter time than you? If you make jumps quickly, you'll generally progress faster.

Have you been doing the same KIND of jumps as her? If she's doing 4+ ways and you're doing mostly solos and 2-ways, then she's going to learn much faster than you. Try pushing yourself. It's OK if you don't make it in; you'll learn something.

I had this same situation when I learned to jump -- a lot of us went through AFF together and became friends, and my really good girlfriend came out every weekend and made 10 jumps, and I could only make about 3 every other week. The difference in our skill was laughable, and it made me feel bad, so I know where you're coming from.

The important thing is not to let it matter. Do the 2-ways she offers! You can learn a lot from some simple drill dives, just using the other person as a reference in the air.

Skydiving is for cool people only

[kevin922 0]

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sorry kiddo, smells like troll.

hehe :)

[PLFXpert 0]

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From Desiderata: If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Ooo, I really like that quote, lewmonst!

JBS, everyone has pretty much said it well. To add just a couple things: There could be other factors playing in that you are unaware of, too; time in the tunnel, personal coaching, size, etc. I say size, b/c I went to a 135 at 80 jumps exactly but I'm 5'7, 120lbs w/out gear, so it's not above average for me to have downsized at that time.

Just a few things to think about....you never know, when you're comparing yourself the other factors that could be playing in.

I think I'll refer you back to Lewmonst's quote. I think that sums it up brilliantly

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[bigben 0]

How well you're doing on 80 jumps really depends on what you've done in those 80 jumps. In the UK it's a requirement to do some form of RW coaching before you can jump with others. I was still crap after that, but a better form of crap. Have you had any coaching? Formal or informal?

Cheers
Ben

[Sebazz1 2]

Is the other girl better looking than you? Cause that can have a serious affect on your progression...

Just kidding. People advance at their own pace. A pace that is comfortable for them. Some folks push themselves while others take their time. Nothing more, nothing less. You should never be ashamed of the fact that you can jump out of an airplane pull, and flare. People just do it differently with different colors, and different gear.

A bad skydiver is a jumper that doesn't buy beer, or doesn't pull, or puts others in danger...

Have fun!

[wlie 0]

I think ajumper who doesn't pull is called DEAD

My other ride is the relative wind.

[freeflyz 0]

Don't try to rush yourself,it will come in do time! I know people that rush in to the sport and end up getting hurt or hurting someone else! Don't be one of those people!

[Mindygirl 0]

It sounds like she is a good skydiver, but try not to be jealous of her. You know that she is a better skydiver, so why don't you want to jump with her?? Maybe you will learn some stuff from her....But if you can't get over the fact that you are not the "goddess" at your dropzone, then send her to my dz, I would love to have another female to jump with.

Wow!

[Viking 0]

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She has asked me a couple of times to do a 2 way, but I don't want to

NEVER pass up the chance to jump with someone who is better than you!!!! Get up in the air and learn from her sucess!!!

I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver
My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin

[Sebazz1 2]

You could hit her with a pipe in the knee just like that pro skater did to her competition...

What! It wass just an idea

[billvon 3,120]

>sorry kiddo, smells like troll.

Why? A friend of mine who has barely 300 jumps just set a world big-way record. I knew someone who was better than me at 4-way by 100 jumps. It's all in your skill set. Everyone progesses at a different rate.

[AggieDave 6]

Exactly Bill, I have 330 jumps and I'm THE master at funneling RW formations. No one can do it better.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[billvon 3,120]

>Anyhow, my question is.....Is she a really fast learner, or am I a
>really slow learner?

All it means is that she's learning RW faster than you are. Many skydivers are slow learners (I was.) You only have to be good enough to be safe in the air and to make yourself happy, and that's not too hard to do.

>She has asked me a couple of times to do a 2 way, , but I don't
>want to . . . .

Not sure I understand this; you improve really quickly when you jump with people better than you are and 'come up to their speed.' I look forward to jumping with people like Dan BC, Jack Jeffries etc because they _are_ much better than I am, and I learn a lot from them.

[Deuce 1]

Ben's posting!

Hey Buddy! I like the wig picture better, that tank you own is much too butch!

Always jump with better jumpers when you can. Keep your eyes and ears open, listen, ask questions, and don't make excuses for mistakes. Learn from them.