I am SOOO downhearted

[Darkzone 0]

Any of you who have read my previous posts will know that most of them concern my difficulty in overcoming involuntary turns during freefall. Well, today I did two jumps out of our Grand Caravan and far from getting better I seem to be going backwards (regressing that is, not backsliding). I have had more advice from my instructors than I care to think about but nothing I do seems to stop the problem. My last jump was a complete disaster as I ended up spinning like a top. I am seriously considering giving up but apart from the fact that I still have seven jump tickets left I really, really love this sport and know that I have found my 'thing' despite the setbacks I'm experiencing. The problem is that I simply can't afford to keep bollocking up my jumps. I've done 42 up to now and I'm still stuck on Cat 6.
I am a very unhappy bunny :-(
Whooooohooooo!!! Hahahaha!!!

[freeflir29 0]

Got wind tunnel? Don't give up.....you can do it!!!
"I have 145 jumps so I don't even know how to pull yet."-Clay

[Darkzone 0]

Hi Clay,
No wind tunnels in the UK yet but I hear one may be opening soon about 50 miles away. Fingers crossed.
Whooooohooooo!!! Hahahaha!!!

[ChromeBoy 0]

How much time lapses between jumps? The more you do it the quicker it is to get it. Once you get it it is like riding a bike.

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

Instead of the normal box position, try the mantis position - worked a treat for me. Used to spin like crazy until I did that.
I'm not crazy - I'm a Skydiver

[lummy 4]

Do you think you know WHY you are turning?
If not, video would be a good way to find out what's going on....
Grew up way to fast, now there's nothing to believe, and reruns all become a history....

[weid14 0]

the more worked up about it you get the more rigid you become, the more rigid, it will get worse, it's a downward spiral. Ask if you can just go out and jump with your JM - smile, breathe deep and enjoy it, then go back up and do the turns, you'll be much more relaxed and perform better.... worked for me anyway.

[lummy 4]

Yeah, good point Chromie....
Dark, how often do you jump? Do you do more than one a day?
Grew up way to fast, now there's nothing to believe, and reruns all become a history....

[diverdriver 7]

Darkzone, I'm sure your instructors told you that you need to relax. Hard concept jumping out of a plane. But, try this: Lay down on a small coffee table or saw horse or something that lets you lay down on your belly and arch. Tense up as hard as you can. Now, have a friend push on just one arm. See how easy it is to push your whole body? Now, tense up your chest and stomach but only hold your arms up. Don't tense them and when your friend pushes let your arm move with the force. You have not been pushed off your center. By relaxing your arms and legs you will help them center your body in a more aerodynamic body position. Give it a try. It can't hurt. It helped my friend who spun for 60 jumps. Yep, 60.
Chris

[QuickDraw 0]

It will come, i'm sure mate, you just got to keep plugging at it.
Where do yo jump by the way ? i know your just down the road, langar or hinton ?
I fekked up TWO level 2's by the way, and im on level four so you ain't by far the worst dude
..Billions of people living out their lives..Oblivious..

[airdrew20012001 0]

My roomate had the same problem and got over it after a few jumps. I recommend:
1) Video.
2) Relax.
3) Never give up, if you stick with it you will be mightily rewarded.
Drewfus McDoofus

[Darkzone 0]

Quote

How much time lapses between jumps? The more you do it the quicker it is to get it. Once you get it it is like riding a bike.

Due to crap weather and work committments there have been one or two long breaks between jumps. I know that at some point, if I stay current, it will just 'click' and I won't have any more problems. I just wish I knew when!
Whooooohooooo!!! Hahahaha!!!

[Darkzone 0]

Wow! I only posted this thread a few minutes ago and I already got a dozen replies offering support and advice. That's what I love about this sport! You guys are great, thanks.
Hey Quickdraw, I read your post about your AFF. Sorry it didn't go as well as you planned but I bet you still did better than I did. Man, I'm CRAP I jump at Langar. I don't know if you caught my last post before you went away but my GF lives in your neck of the woods. We'll have to get together and drown our sorrows one night! Whooooohooooo!!! Hahahaha!!!

[weid14 0]

the true mantis position is actaully fairly unbalanced (easier to "tip over") for some it may work, but be careful there.

[Darkzone 0]

Quote

...it's a downward spiral...

LOL You takin' the piss?
Whooooohooooo!!! Hahahaha!!!

[QuickDraw 0]

You buying ?
..Billions of people living out their lives..Oblivious..

[Darkzone 0]

Quote

You buying ?

I think I can stretch to a glass of lemonade and an arrowroot biscuit. Whooooohooooo!!! Hahahaha!!!

[Sebazz1 2]

Keep a positive attitude........
Good luck!!
SEBAZZ.......

[AndyMan 7]

People are going to tell you to relax. This means a few things.
First of all, chill out! This sport is fun. Even if you're spinning like a top, it's still fun! You just jumped out of a friggin airplane! SMILE, GODDAMIT!
Second, let your whole body relax. Think of standing in a boxman. Think of a friend pushing against your hand. Do you fall over? Or is your arm muscles loose enough that your muscles contract and your arm moves but your body doesn't?
Thirdly, the next time you're jumping and you start to spin, remember this sport is fun. Smile. Take a deep breath. Tap your toes, feel the air on your hands. Tap your knees. Feel the air on your feet. Allow your body to relax, let your mind relax as well as your muscles relax. You'll get it...
One thing to remember is that no matter what happens on the skydive, as long as you land safely - it's a good jump. If ANYBODY at your dropzone is even remotely suggesting you give up skydiving, you need to find another dropzone. It's clear they're not good enough teachers, and you need to find a dropzone with good ones.
_Am
ICQ: 5578907
MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com
AIM: andrewdmetcalfe
Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

[QuickDraw 0]

Jeez...looks like i'll have to crack that bottle of Tequila after all....
What do you think you are failing on BTW ? i got some great advice over in sebastian.
I would be more than happy to pass it on if it will help. (for a small consultation fee of course) ..Billions of people living out their lives..Oblivious..

[QuickDraw 0]

And don't worry about landing's either...i used every bit of the airfield in sebastian.
5cm dish f**k off
..Billions of people living out their lives..Oblivious..

[billvon 3,090]

When I have a student who has serious leg-awareness problems, after a jump or two of spins I teach him leg turns. My thinking is that if he's going to be waving his legs around anyway, he might as well be waving them the right way.
Practicing them is pretty easy. Get on a creeper, put your feet on a couch, and use them to turn you left and right on the creeper. Same motion works in the air (it works for a different reason, but the motion is the same.)
As always, talk to your instructor before you try anything new like this.
-bill von

[ChromeBoy 0]

Bill,
When I was off AFF and doing solo jumps if I started to spin I would find myself going into a track to get stable and then I would be fine on my belly again. Do you recommend this of it is a last resort to get stable or not?

[Sebazz1 2]

Chromey,
That is not the proper way to achieve your TLO's.
You must be able to fall stable in a stable position. With a tandem though that is a good way to get out of a spin.
SEBAZZ.......

[Darkzone 0]

Hey Chromey,
That's a coincidence 'cos my instructor said that if reverting to the student 'hard arch' didn't solve the problem he might try getting me to go into a 'delta' to stop the turns.
Whooooohooooo!!! Hahahaha!!!