Skystorm 0 #1 October 8, 2001 So last week I asked for a little encouragement. And some of your advice work. Like putting a big smile on my face and think positive thoughts. But I still flunked my packing licence. O well, I can always try again.But this past Saturday almost saw the end of my skydiving career. I was in a state of fear that I never experienced before. My first jump fear was nothing compared to what I felt this time around. I was completely paralysed. But I knew that if I didn't get in that plane I would never jumped again. So I banned all fear from my mind, thought positive thoughts and plastered a big smile on my face. The ride to altitude took some time, and this made me more relaxed. ALTITUDE, AND OUT YOU GO!!!!This was the first time I had other skydivers with me in the air and MAN WAS IT AWESOME!!! Another first was that i dumped on 3500ft, I usually never dump lower than 4000ft. I even almost had a standing landing.But Sunday was a total bummer. I had to do my 180's and I was so nervous because I didn't know what to expect.So obviously I F&*%$cked up. My arch was too tense, my first two turns went great but then I went into a spin I couldn't counter and had to dump. I had a minor line twist but nothing I couldn't handle. Then came the landing... My set up and approach was totally wrong, but please do not ask me what I did wrong, b/c honestly I don't know.I was heading towards some thorn bushes and was already far to low to turn away so into the bushes I go. Luckily the canopy landed on top of the bushes and wasn't hurt. But I must tell you the video we took of the landing and getting the canopy out of those bushes is really funny. Although I didn't think so at the time. I was so mad at myself, I've done 19 jumps of which I landed on my own about 13 times. Nothing wrong with my set up and approach. But this one I just had to F*&%$ck up. I still can't believe what I did. I had a scoulding from my JM you wouldn't believe, but at least afterwards he gave me some pointers on how to avoid something like this in the future.Now it's that waiting thing again. Our next skydiving weekend will be somewhere in November again. O well, time to go and do that packing thing...Hang onto Heaven, when hell is on your back Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallingMarc 0 #2 October 8, 2001 Hey, you got past the fear, got out the door, and lived to jump again... sounds like a productive weekend to me! Don't worry too much about screwing things up, at least in my experience, that's the fastest(and sometimes the only) way I learn...Marc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chopchop 0 #3 October 8, 2001 sometimes stuff just snowballs like that. you get frustated from spinning in your dive, you get a line twist - little adrenalin shot, hearts pumping, brain lock, screw up approach. No biggie, at least you got a couple more jumps in. That's the main thing. good luck in November.chopchopPD makes canopies all day long, you only have one life, when in doubt, cut away... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #4 October 8, 2001 QuoteOur next skydiving weekend will be somewhere in November again.Good job overcoming the fear and getting up there! If you can afford it, try hard to get back out to jump before November - a big part of the fear you felt may have been due to time passing since your last jump. Happens to nearly everybody but it's worse if you don't already have a bunch of jumps under your belt. pull and flare!"I feel so alive, for the very first time, and I think I can fly" - P.O.D. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heathmor 0 #5 October 9, 2001 I've found the less time in between jumps the more relaxed I am out the door and in the air. I jump every weekend now because I live really close to the DZ. I don't always have the cash to do more than one or two jumps, But I atleast try and get 1 a week. I don't always try manuevers on every jump sometimes just arch and relax to get back into it and focus. If your not living on the edge; Your taking up too much space!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skystorm 0 #6 October 9, 2001 The problem with jumping more regulary is that the only DZ which operates on a daily basis is more than 400 miles from my home DZ.We're a very small DZ, with less than 15 active skydivers, and rely on first jump students very heavely to pay our plane's ferry from Windhoek (Capital of Namibia, about 300 miles from my home DZ). KIK (our plane's name) makes more money there, flying tourist and bussinessmen. So we can only jump about once a month, when the students got paid. A first jump course is about U$60-00 which is a lot of money in Namibian Dollar.I'd give my front teeth to be able to jump at least once a week.Hang onto Heaven, when hell is on your back Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
