Argh!

[Doasfu 0]

Why am I not at the dropzone? It's blue and sunny and warm outside, and I have enough money in my checking account to go jump. My last jump, two weeks ago, was one of my best, and very relaxing, and yet for some reason I'm just sitting here.
I don't have any idea why I'm not just driving down there now, but I can honestly say there's no way I'm going today and I don't know *why*! Argh!
Can anyone relate to a nervous student? :)

[mountainman 0]

Can't relate, but it sounds REALLY weird.
MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!!
http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

[PalmettoTiger 1]

I know where you're at, bro. It's a 75-minute drive to my DZ, so I'll start out all giddy and the top is down and the wind is roaring and I'm listening to my road music and I'm speeding (just a tad, I swear) and everything is right with the world. Then, after about 30 minutes, the road music no longer feels right so I'll switch to stuff that's less energetic, and I'll slow down, and I'll start going over emergency procedures. By the time I get to the DZ, I've nearly talked myself out of jumping.
I actually didn't jump last time I was there, but I don't think it's a huge deal because the only thing on the flight line was a Cessna. I'm spoiled and I've never jumped anything other than King/Queen Air and Super Otters. I took one look at that plane and said to myself "Hop and pop, maybe, but from that plane? No." It was late on a Sunday so I just sat back, waited for the beer light to come on, and talked gear with the other jumpers.
As soon as the used rig I'm buying arrives, though, I'm going to take it down there to get it inspected and have the Cypres installed, and I might be "forced" to make a jump or two while I'm there.
Bottom line, don't sweat the nervousness, if you don't feel like jumping then don't jump. But at the same time remember that everybody gets freaked out about jumping now and then, and don't let yourself go too long without getting back up there!
Blues, squares,
PTiger

[Donna 0]

I can relate Doasfu! Try reading some of my student jump stories and you will see I was nervous a lot! I'm told if you just hang in there a little longer it gets much easier. Most people say somewhere between 30 and 50 jumps you really come into your own and it just becomes fun and not nerve wracking! Donna
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/7810

[Keys 0]

I'm with MountainMan on this one. That sounds really odd. Uhhhh...... GO!

[lazerq3 0]

I'm kinda having a simular problem only in the opposite affect. Right now because I'm so new (11 jumps) I'm worried that I'm going to forget how to fly if I dont get to jump on a given weekdend. I know its stupid cause I here people say its like riding a bike... once you figure out the basics It all comes back ,, but still thats my concern.. O'well guess I better get jumpin!!!
jason
Doasfu,, Just go out to the DZ and hang out not expecting to jump and then maybe the urge will seak up on you and next thing you know your on the next load!

[freaksister 0]

I have always had problems with that kind of thing, dude. It is getting better, but I would be all nervous and think...ok so I have to drive 300 miles to do this...and there have been several times I just didn't go. I made up all kinds of excuses. One advantage to traveling that far though is that once I am actually *on the road* there is no turning back! I really struggled to overcome not only my fear but my feelings of frustration at my skill level. I still feel like I suck (and I really do, honest!) But I am learning that it's ok, we all have different skill levels...I just need to make lots of jumps in a short period of time to rebuild the skills that got really rusty over the winter. They weren't that hot to begin with, so a winter layoff really hurt me. Just keep it up, don't ever think that it has been too long. If you back out three weeks in a row...think about having to do recurrency training and that should help you go! It always worked for me before I got my license. If you back out even longer, its not the end of the world, just GO BACK OUT THERE!! Ask Jessica, she had a really hard time after her cutaways. She would just go to the dz to hang out. Then she got back in the air. You can do it!!!
Big blue sky white fluffy cloud hugs,
Sis
"What we're all really seeking is something where we can feel the rapture of being alive."J.Campbell

[skreamer 1]

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Doasfu,, Just go out to the DZ and hang out not expecting to jump and then maybe the urge will seak up on you and next thing you know your on the next load!

I think that is an excellent idea! Take some pressure of yourself, go out to the DZ, watch people landing, help catch some tandems, hang out and before you know it you will be feeling really positive and motivated. Being around other skydivers is good for your confidence and if nothing else, the parties in the evenings will remind you what a crazy bunch of happy people we all are!
Remember you are doing this for yourself and I remember reading about all the sacrifices you have had to make to get yourself out of the financial difficulties (you had gotten yourself into).
/s

[Kris 0]

Freaksis, I was the exact same way as you, but worse. It started after I got to my 30-second delays and I had real problems with spinning out of control. I learned how to get out of it but on every jump after that until about 10 jumps off of student status I didn't think I would make it.
I would hang around the DZ until someone else manifested me on a student jump or later, on a 2-way or 4-way.
It got to the point that during the plane-ride up I was convinced I was going to quit or sell my gear after this jump. Once I left the airplane, I was golden and was able to enjoy myself but the ride to altitude was murder on my soul.
Then one day I just showed up at the DZ, went and manifested for the next load and we were half-way to altitude before I realized what I had done and I just broke into a big grin for the rest of the climb.
To anyone else who has this problem, you can learn to overcome your fears, it just takes time. I still get a bit nervous on the first jump of the weekend but it's just the voice telling me to do a full gear check, know what I am doing, know what the winds are doing and to have fun.
You never really let go of the fear, and you shouldn't because that is dangerous. But you do learn how to make it work for you instead of against you.
Kriszilla

[Deleted 0]

Fear is a good thing! But, if it REALLY doesn't feel
right on a particular day ... don't do it! Trust your
instincts. It will feel right again another time!

[Jessica 0]

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Ask Jessica, she had a really hard time after her cutaways. She would just go to the dz to hang out. Then she got back in the air. You can do it!!!

True dat. I remember those days, looking out at a beautiful sky and not able to make my legs move to the car.
But I managed to do it, sometimes, by telling myself I didn't HAVE to jump once I got out there, and more than once I would just hang out and chat and get razzed for not jumping.

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[Emma 0]

I don't think this sounds all that weird, hon!
(Mountainman, I'm not being rude but jumping on your own is a lot different from doing a tandem, maybe you'll empathise a bit more when you've done your AFF?)
I am ALWAYS nervous on the plane. Sometimes it's really bad, sometimes it's not so bad (once, I was so tired from jumping all day that I fell asleep on the ride up...I reckoned that was some kind of skydiving virginity lost! He he). A bit of fear is a good thing, it keeps you alive, y'know!
I only have 150+ jumps and I'm less nervous now than I use to be...in fact, no-one really knows that I get nervous cos it doesn't show...but I still get a bit worked up!
I also get that feeling sometimes...'I don't HAVE to do this!'..But then a bigger voice comes out and says 'YES YOU DO!' It's weird, it's like, getting to the point where you jump can shit you up, but then NOT jumping is worse!
Get yo ass up the DZ boy! You'll be fine! Rememember, people that say they aren't even a little bit nervous are either lying. Or stoopid.
Ciao, lovers,
Em
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