One of those days...

[hawkbit 0]

How bad could it be... it's Friday and I get to go jump, the boss is even letting me go without taking time off. I have a slot at 11 a.m. and I get there about 5 till ... not the best timing... but the best I could do ( I may be new... but I know that DZ appt's are like Dr. appt's, show up early and leave late)... anyways, check in and find out that I won't get on till 2 loads later... fine by me. I chill and wait while going over the jump (AFF level 2) ... 40 minutes later I check with manifest and find that I've been pushed back 2 loads, oh well. Call the boss (I'm supposed to be done by now)... he's not really happy, but says to hang out and do the jump and don't worry about it (I took this as "take the rest of the day off" since I am off at 3 anyways). In the meantime I go over the dive with my JM (who taught my AFF class)... no memory lapses. Finally the time comes to gear up and go (damn forgot to get goggles... run to manifest and buy a pair). Run back and gear up... Plenty of time to do a few dirt dives with my JM's. On the initial run through I get ahead myself and totally forget the practice pulls (DOH!)... 2nd try... much better (getting tense though)... also this is going to be a Cessena Jump (Tandem and Level 1 were from a King Air), not too thrilled by this, especially when they say we won't get as much altitude on this jump as we would if the King Air was flying. Great! I really want every extra second I can get... but Ron and Julian (great guys!... you rock!) tell me that we will still have plenty of time. On to the Jump----
We just start down the runway and WHUMPH! ... the Pilot turns around and asks "What the fuck was that?" ... Guess he wanted to make sure we didn't deploy inside (who knows)... anyways, it was just a big gust of wind... we continue down the runway and into the sky. It was a great ride up and I found that I really liked the view from this smaller plane better than the other. We did 1 run and let everyone out about 10500 and make another pass for little ol' me (only student on the jump)... we come back around and actually make close to 11500 (now I feel better... but still shaving 10 secs off my ff time). Crawl to the door (pretty relaxed... hmm this isn't so bad), deep breath... arms out, up, down, fall out the door (you can't jump )...
I feel like shit about the whole dive at this point (actually I'm pretty stoked about remembering the exit this time). Poor Ron... I feel for him, as his student I represent him and I fucked it up (not bad, but bad by my reasoning). Not much talk on the ride back to the hanger ... I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that I'm going to do this jump again (damn... getting a jumped scheduled is a mutha. lotsa students around here). We go over the dive... good and bad points. I'm being pretty hard on myself, Ron never said a harsh word, but the look on his face said enough. Amazingly he is sending me onto level 3... with a condition JM is to redock at pull time and he wants to be on my jump if possible (cool by me). So while I didn't fail technically, I don't think I could feel worse about it if I had hosed the whole jump. I feel totally confused... I passed and feel like shit. Time to go home and relax and think about the next jump and how not to fuck it up. When I get to my truck, I check my cell phone... hmmm work called... called the boss to check in... he doesn't sound real happy "Where are you?", "In my car getting ready to leave", " So you're not coming back then", " Was it busy?, I can head that way if you want.", "No don't worry about it, I'll talk to you on Monday". WTF? He wasn't this way earlier... fuck it ... I'll deal with him Monday.
I decided to go get some food and groceries on the way home... get to the counter... can't find my check card... check all my pockets... not there... check the wallet for the 3rd time.. still not there... think... damn! Last place I remember having it was at the DZ when I was rushing to buy the goggles... damn, damn, damn. Pay with another CC and head to the car... unload the groceries and call the DZ... Yes! They have it... seems that I left it on the counter in my haste to get geared up.
Come home and drink a beer... and another... tomorrow has got to be a better day

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"You don't quit playing because you get old, you get old because you quit playing"

[skydiverbrian 0]

That doesn't sound like such a bad day to me. You got to jump (most of us were stuck at work). Even if it wasn't as great as you'd hoped, you're only on your AFF level 2 -- you're not supposed to be a skygod yet. You had the day off work, you got new goggles, and cold beer. What else could a man want?

In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Hey Patrick, it's Steve (one of your Mile-Hi Student peers)

Bummer about your luck (with the jump, your boss and your credit card), but hopefully we can all learn about our mistakes. I know I need to slow down my thinking process on my jumps. So when are scheduled next? I'll be there Sunday morning for my Level Three and I'm hoping to take one day off next week for the Level Four jump (I got suckered into having to work this weekend, but I'll still do my jump on Sunday, weather permitting of course).

Later dude ...

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

[hawkbit 0]

Hey Steve!
Actully I'm jumping Sunday too! I will probably see ya up there, got a 12 p.m slot... I definately learned from this one... ahhh well. I'm going to do this thing till I do it right . Hope we both have good jump... then to the treacherous level 4 (funny that was the one I was more worried about ). Ahhh the joys of learning ... God help us

Patrick

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"You don't quit playing because you get old, you get old because you quit playing"

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I may or may not see you there on Sunday what with my 8:00 am slot and your noon slot. I hate to say this, but with all of the weekend tandems you'll be lucky to jump anytime near your scheduled time. But you never know. You could get lucky.

The level three jump should be easy (pretty much a straight fall besides the JMs letting go of us). But things appear to get trickier starting on the level four jump. But I am looking forward to level four as we'll only require one JM (should be a whole lot easier to schedule).

Well I've got to run (signing off now). If I don't see you Sunday, have a good jump.

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

[pilotdave 0]

Doesn't sound to me like you should be too down about the jump. It all seems like so much to remember in the early stages of AFF, but by the end you'll get some of your training as ya walk to the plane and you won't have to think about every single time you're going to look at your altimeter and all that. I remember going over AFF 1, 2, and 3 in my head soooo many times before the jump, just getting more and more nervous that I'd forget a detail. By levels 6 and 7, it all starts becoming natural. Just relax and have fun. My (first) level 4 went pretty bad (spinning out of control, opened above the clouds and ended up landing in someone's front yard about a mile from the DZ), but it was still the funnest jump I had done to that point. Don't worry too much about failing levels or any of that. Just try to learn something new on each jump (it's impossible not to, really) and enjoy it! The good news is it only gets better.

Dave

[hawkbit 0]

Thanks Guys!
As the night wears on... it doesn't seem so bad. I just want to do it right the 1st time.
Funny thing was that last night I was talking to my parents and my Dad said he wanted to set up for my Mom to do a tandem the next time they were out visiting.
I didn't sleep too good that night between thinking about my jump and my Mom wanting to do it... totally messed with my mind. I'm surprised I slept at all. (guess I know how they felt when I told them I was doing this).
Now to relax and quit thinking about it so much... I need an on/off switch for my brain.

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"You don't quit playing because you get old, you get old because you quit playing"

[FliegendeWolf 0]

Hawkbit,
I did my AFF II last Saturday and can relate a bit. I guess I was happier with my first jump than my second. Maybe I expected too much. Here are the mistakes that I made:
Three fine PRCTs. When it came time to pull the ripcord, then, why couldn't I find it?!? Maybe I needed 4 PRCTs... Then, after I pulled the ripcord, I sat and fumbled with my jumpsuit zipper trying to stow the damn thing, and it didn't even occur to me to check my canopy! About twenty seconds later, I realized my mistake, and how badly that could have fucked me up if something had gone wrong. I suppose I would have felt it, though... My first jump used a throwout chute, so I didn't worry about the ripcord that jump. This time, I didn't know what to do with it! (I was afraid I was just going to throw it out, you know?) Hit the ground pretty hard, too. I hope to get the swing of landing soon.
All things considered, though, still psyched for level III!
Steve

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

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I'm surprised that you're using a rig with a rip cord. One would think that the use of a pilot chute would be somewhat standard in today's world (at least on a student's rig). I'm only a student, but it's my understanding that one of the first things we need to do after initiating the canopy opening sequence is to have our hands on the rear risers just in case we need to do a quick maneuver to avoid some other jumper. Then you go through your canopy control check, find the drop zone, pay attention to the winds, etc, etc, etc.

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

[FliegendeWolf 0]

Yes, the dropzone where I made my level I used a throwout pilot, but my new dropzone has decided not to. As I understand it, it's pretty new anyway to have students learn on throwouts. Isn't learning to use a throwout system part of level VIII training? And that you're not even supposed to do that until after you've hop and popped?
The reason that the new dropzone still uses ripcords is in the situation where the instructor would need to pull, the ripcord would come free. On the other hand, there is a possibility of a really bad horseshoe malfunction if the pilot chute gets caught on the jumpmaster.
But, as you inferred in your posting, you are supposed to check the canopy immediately, and having the ripcord in your hands kind of gets in the way. Especially if you didn't need to worry about it in your first jump.
Other than that, I'm very very happy with the new dz. I felt that safety and meticulousness were highly valued, whereas with my level I jump, manifest booked my jm, so that he would tell me a few things, then make a tandem jump, tell me a few more things, make another tandem jump. I think I'll take the ripcord for the sort of attention I got here.

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

[KATO33 0]

Quote

Yes, the dropzone where I made my level I used a throwout pilot, but my new dropzone has decided not to. As I understand it, it's pretty new anyway to have students learn on throwouts. Isn't learning to use a throwout system part of level VIII training? And that you're not even supposed to do that until after you've hop and popped?

I don't know about all the rules and regulations but I learned on a throw out system last year. I suppose it depends on the dz and the gear they have available.

Blue Skies Black Death

[jtval 0]

As the night wears on... it doesn't seem so bad. I just want to do it right the 1st time.

first off I agree whole heartedly with SkydiverBrian. go read his reply again so I dont have to retype it.


but It is good to know that you may not always do everything perfect, at an early stage. as long as you land softly, get on your next load, and dont hurt anyone else, you had a good jump! learn from each one and enjoy the next

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[CanuckInUSA 0]

Hey Patrick (aka hawkbit)

I don't know when you'll get this, but I'm back at work after my Level IV jump and I think I got lucky on passing this level (more on that later). But I hope you're Level III went well and that you got to jump in a reasonable time.

On my Level IV jump the weather was looking very iffy and I thought I might not get to jump due to the winds (also thinking that the rest off the AFF students wouldn't get to jump as well). But once again I got lucky as the winds calmed down by the time my load was on the jump run and it looks like the weather will cooperate for your jump. My free fall on the Level IV jump wasn't that long though as the airplaned only climbed to 10500 AGL thanks to a low cloud ceiling. But my AFF instructor told me that we were high and safe enough to execute the Level IV jump and like most of my other jumps to date, I was done with all of my manuevers by about 7000 AGL.

Now for my word of warning but at the same time my word of encouragement concerning the Level IV jump (for when it's your turn to do it). It doesn't take very much arm and shoulder movement to get the turns going. On my first left turn, I was too abrupt and I rotated way past the 90 degree turn I was supposed to execute (but the instructor said it wasn't a bad thing because I controlled it). The second turn wasn't as bad, but a similar situation happened with my forward movement skill and I was too abrupt again. So after I opened and I floated back to mother earth (hey I came within 15-20 yards of the pea pod on my landing), I was thinking, well you blew that jump and like many others, I'll likely have to repeat my Level IV. But I guess the skydiving gods like me today and the AFF instructors aren't looking for perfection. So Scott passed me despite my aggressive turn and forward motion (likely because I never really got out of control).

Anyway, weather permitting I'm hoping to pass my Level V (and if I get lucky my Level VI) this coming Friday and if all of the moons are aligned and I don't mess up, I'll be back at the DZ next Sunday for my Level VII graduation jump.

Late dude ...

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

[hawkbit 0]

Steve (and fellow zoners)!
Well... I did level 3... what a trip that was! I felt like a birdie in a badmitten game. After we jumped and were stable... they release... Ron pushed, Scott pushed, and on and on and on it went. At some point they quit pushing...ZOOM to the left. AAAAAAhhhhhh... Scott scooped in and docked and released. I stayed stable till the end of the dive. It was very interesting and very educational. I wasn't completely out of control or anything... Just felt like I was on a slip and slide. Great newsis I PASSED. They wanted a little more control on the spinning... and I knew were the problem was and I was rock solid at pull time.
Since the Skygods were smiling on me I decided to push on to level 4 figuring I was never going to have a better chance to get back in the saddle and tame the beast. So I manifested again and got the next load. Ian took me up this time. We went over the dive. No problems. The jump was great! I turned left and stopped (wooo whooo). Turned a little to far the second time, but stopped and got back... I didn't get any forward motion this time. I attempted but didn't really accomplish it. Again, I was rock solid this time at deployment time.
Time to push the luck again... not very many people around and I really want to get these turns knocked out. I'm feeling so much better about everything. Manifested again and found Ron (my poor teacher) and asked him to do level 5 with me. Hmmm time for a new exit... the climb out and leg swing thing... very interesting. So we jump... great exit and stable down and off the hill a little off heading from the plane (45 degrees). Ron released and got in front. Big smiles (he and I both) give the nod. Turn left (my apparent natural turn) and stopped straight on to Ron. Nod again and started forward... closer, closer, and I started to reach out towards him (natural reaction) and that slowed me, but a got an elbow down... nice sharp turn to the left 180 degrees... so I thought "he saw me go left so I just need to stop and turn back with a right turn"... and that was exactly what I did. Stopped right on with Ron and checked the alti... probably time for some more trys with turns or forward motion, but not a lot... so I gave the NO nod and locked on to the alti... pulled at 5 and had a good time under canopy. Saving grace to this dive (not that it was bad) was the fact I was THINKING the entire time and Ron was really happy with that during the debriefing ... he might have nailed me for not doing a 360 right turn, but was impressed with the reasoning for making a right turn back to him when I did the unexpected turn during my forward motion.
So... I had a great day! Started kinda rough, but I wanted to keep on till I got it right and I wanted to work with the momentum and the fresh experience in my mind. As another great side note. I stood up all 3 landings today!
Ahh what a feeling! I'm scheduled to go in early Saturday and if all goes well, I will be a fun jumper by noon .
I am sooooooo psyched !!!!!

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"You don't quit playing because you get old, you get old because you quit playing"

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Wow three successfull AFF jumps in one day. Good job.

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