The Cusp

[FliegendeWolf 0]

Here's a discussion question for everyone. There has been some talk here lately about how it is typical for skydivers to not fear their first jump, but a later one, and it is this later jump that they fear that becomes a decision point: does this person, now knowing what they are involved in, want to continue in the sport? I'm interested in when this point occurred for people, and the circumstances surrounding it. In short, when did you first feel fear strong enough to make you question your future in skydiving, and was there anything in particular that caused this fear?

A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

[hobbes4star 0]

third dive i was so scared, when my tandem master went to hook me up i almost lost it. i was on the verg of tears; to this day i don't know how i got out of that air plane but i am so glad i did.

if fun were easy it wouldn't be worth having, right?

[swooper120 0]

The first time that I actually considered quitting skydiving was when I first saw a skydiving buddy hurt, from a hook turn..the whole situation really put into perspective how unpredictable and fast things can happen in this sport.

1700 jumps and still going, stay safe and blue skies

[Lindsey 0]

I was most frightened on jumps 2 and 7. My 7th was the first off the static line...lol....cracks me up now. I didn't question my future in skydiving then, but I have considered not jumping since my child was born. I've found that not jumping is not an option though.... Never really waxed philosophical on what caused that fear....seems kinda like a no-brainer to me....jumping out of an airplane is inherently life-threatening. If you're not a little scared when you start skydiving, you're in denial.

Peas~
Lindsey

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[Ian84 0]

My first jump was a tandem and I wasn't really afraid of it.....excited but not the type of fear that would cause you stop and ask to get off. It was pretty much the same for the 2 static line jumps I did after. The only time I really had to think hard abouy whether I should jump or not was on my 4th jump, it was my first pack job. Well it opened.....and that was a huge confidence boost. Since then I've only jumped once cause I've been on holidays since.......only two more weeks till im out of this dropzone forsaken hell hole that is the Cayman Islands.......Its a hard life.
Blue Skies
Ian.

[Zilla 0]

It was about jump #25 for me. I was sitting in the plane on jump run when I started hyperventilating.....all of a sudden it just hit me that what I was doing was serious and dangerous. That was ten+ years ago - I still get that weird feeling on jump run, but it was either succumb to the fear, or keep doing what I loved!

Zilla

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I haven't hit that fear plateau yet, but two situations come to mind which might come into play sometime in the future. One will be to have witnessed someone getting badly hurt or maybe even killed. The other scenario will be when I jump my first pack job.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[JanJ 0]

I only have 16 jumps logged, but my "moment of truth" came at my 8th jump last month. I was so scared I drove right past the DZ entrance fully intending to go back home. Fortunately, I changed my mind and turned back. The DZO took a lot of extra time that day to get me over the hump -- something for which I will be forever grateful!

What was I afraid of?? When it came down to it, I couldn't pin it on any one thing. Now, I get a little nervous, but it's a good feeling of anticipation.

What I'd like to know from you experienced jumpers is -- Do you go through occasional periods of high anxiety in your dives, or once you get over the fear, is it over?

[dmddave 0]

My 2nd and 3rd s/l jumps were very scary. I kept asking myself why I was really doing this but that feeling began to diminish after about 16-18 jumps. Strangely enough I had I a reserve ride on my 38th jump and that wasn't too scary at all, I just automatically went to my emergency procedures.
Night jumps are a different story though, I just did my first night jump 2 weeks ago and that was, how should I say, quite invigorating and now I'm sitting here on dz.com with a broken ankle from that last night jump.
I expect there will be a bit of nervousness on my next jump in 6-8 weeks.

[martinlaniel 0]

well, I'm soon to make my 200th and to be honest I still get quite anxious. My real moment of questionning came in september last year when I bounced on a downwind landing and compressed a vertebrae.

My first word to my wife when I saw her next to me was "that's it. Sell my rig. I'm done." Somehow though, over the winter, I started thinking about jumping again, and the friends I had made. I talked to alot of experienced skydivers in that time, and the general consensus was that I needed one more jump, just so my carreer didn't end on a low note.

So I did it in May, a hop 'n pop at 4 grand, and I thought it would be my last. I was ready to retire. Somehow though, I'm still jumping... It's different now, and I am much more aware of the dangers of the sport. I pick my days, and my conditions, and I'm a canopy pussy - I load my spectre 1.1:1 and I come in straight, with the occasional front riser ride...

Honestly, I think the day I truly stop being a little anxious when I get in that plane will be when I'll stop jumping for good.

I need a hug

• Quote

[Lindsey 0]

<--still gets scared

Peas!
Lindsey

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[Magistr8 0]

Actually this might sound kinda wierd but, the first time for me was just off student status when I was doing a Hop&Pop. I felt that I didn't have enough time to react to the "what might happen" situation.

I'm over that now though

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." Napoleon Bonaparte

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Yes you've now reminded me of a third freaky scenario which I have been thinking about lately. I am just coming off of student status and pretty soon (possibly this weekend) I will be doing my first hop & pop and I want to make sure my aircraft exits are pretty reliable before I do one. Of course, in the back of my mind is my insurance policy (the cypress installed on the rigs I use) and without that I'm not sure I'd even be jumping period.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Deuce 1]

Haven't had it yet. I'm at 240. Never did a tandem. My biggest fear is "f*cking up a skydive" for others.

I think I may have passed this point when I was in law enforcement. I participated in the funeral of a freind who was murdered. I knew it could have been me, and from that time on I committed to keeping my personal books balanced with people. Death is a very real and close thing.

Everybody knows they're going to die-someday. Skydivers know they might die on load *. Skydivers keep their personal books balanced more than regular folks.

I think that's the issue that makes people quit. "Is my life in order enough that I can cope with checking out". Again, most people only do that kind of "gut-check" when they've had a near miss with a car wreck or something. I think skydivers have to do that gut check every time they get on the plane, and it's too much for some people.

[drenaline 0]

My jump #2 I was very scared, it was my second S/L jump.

Jump #10 I think, when I was about to buy my first piece of equipment the container, I was thinking "will I continue in the sport? or will I chicken out, should I spend that amount of money buying a rig?"

I was only scared from monday to saturday midnight, when it was sunday (jumpday) I left all the fear on the house and was scareless on the DZ. Some people said it was anxiety and not fear, who knows.

HISPA 21
www.panamafreefall.com

[Scoby 0]

I thought the pack job was going to be it for me. One of the students ahead of me got his first cutaway when he packed a mal on his first try. Somehow, though, I felt like I "got it" when I packed my first, and it opened like a dream. I knew that it was going to open fine and it did.

I got twinges of fear on a few of the AFF levels when the door opened. However, it went away the second I went out the door. I don't like turbulence on the way up much. I did get a little freaked on my first 2-way, but it worked out well.