Newbie Question

[dean1969 0]

OK, I'm new to this sport and I've accumulated 39 jumps so far. I seem to have a slight problem being able to relax in freefall. Some days I am totally relaxed, having the time of my life, and my jumps seem to go perfectly. However, other days I am very tense and a bit wobbly (but stable). Is this normal for someone with this many jumps? I know 39 jumps isn't many, but it seems as though I should be past this stage. Sometimes I feel as though I'm putting way too much thought into what I'm doing during freefall instead of just taking it easy and enjoying myself. Is this something that will fix itself with more experience or should I be concerned? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[skybytch 273]

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Is this normal for someone with this many jumps?

Yup.
What's going on in your life when you have the "bad" days? I've found that when things are weird or stressful in my "real" life I don't fly as well.

Currency is another thing that can affect how you fly; especially at your level jump as many times in a day and as many days a month as you can.

And don't forget to smile and breathe up there. If in the middle of a skydive you feel yourself getting tense and wobbly, take a deep breath and smile big. It sounds silly, but it works; guarenteed you'll relax and fly like you know you can.

[dean1969 0]

On my last trip to the drop zone I was fairly stressed out due to a rough week at work and I'm sure that didn't help the situation. Now that you mention it -- I do seem to have a better time skydiving when I show up at the dropzone stress free and well-rested. Thanks for the reply. I'm releived to know that my situation is "normal". I was beginning to get concerned that I wasn't progressing fast enough.

[MattyBoy 0]

I've only got about as many jumps as you, so this may be a stupid suggestion (check with someone experienced first!) but I found myself too tense in freefall and remedied the situation ny closing my eyes for few seconds and just feeling the freefall!
It really helped me lose all the tension in my legs and fall stable rather than the 'rocking' I was experiencing before.

I may be gullible but at least I have a magic fish

[mjosparky 4]

Quote

Quote

Is this normal for someone with this many jumps?

Yup.
What's going on in your life when you have the "bad" days? I've found that when things are weird or stressful in my "real" life I don't fly as well.

Currency is another thing that can affect how you fly; especially at your level jump as many times in a day and as many days a month as you can.

And don't forget to smile and breathe up there. If in the middle of a skydive you feel yourself getting tense and wobbly, take a deep breath and smile big. It sounds silly, but it works; guarenteed you'll relax and fly like you know you can.

I was taught this by a skygod in 1976 and it works just as well today. Good advise Lisa.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[racer42 0]

relax your toes, as strange as that sounds it helped me relax my lower body and fall better. Now if I could only fix that slow turn...probably a lazy toe

L.A.S.T. #24
Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team
Electric Toaster #3
Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor
Co-Founder Team Happy Sock

[tombuch 0]

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However, other days I am very tense and a bit wobbly (but stable). Is this normal for someone with this many jumps? I know 39 jumps isn't many, but it seems as though I should be past this stage.

If you are flying with other people you may also be having a problem with "performance anxiety." Many new jumpers stress-out when they are flying with more experienced skydivers because they feel they must perform to the other person's skill level. That's the time to just "chill" and fly the way you fly. Be honest about your experience and skill, and then relax...if the skydive doesn't go as planned the other people should understand.

I have made more than 4,500 jumps and just really like flying my body. I can do that solo or in groups...it doesn't matter. The folks I'm jumping with can be really great flyers or beginners...it doesn't matter. The only person that can screw-up my jump is me. So, if you are feeling stressed about measuring up to somebody elses standard, or messing up "their" skydive, relax and don't worry about it.

Here's another way to think about skydiving performance: The whole point of our sport is to have fun, so the very best skydiver is the one who is having THE MOST fun. That could be a superstar relative worker, or it could be a first time tandem jumper. It could be you. It doesn't matter if you score one point or a million, as long as you are having the most fun, you are the best recreational skydiver. So, challenge yourself to relax and just enjoy what you are doing. Don't worry about the other guy having fun...that's his job.

Tom Buchanan
Author, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Tom Buchanan
Instructor Emeritus
Comm Pilot MSEL,G
Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

[Genn 0]

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The whole point of our sport is to have fun, so the very best skydiver is the one who is having THE MOST fun.

Exactly!!

[squirrel 0]

you not alone...you just have to master the state of relaxation...live for the moment...be there now...not the past, not the future...now. when i first nailed my "sit" in freefly, it was a solo, and i was just there...by myself, in the moment. after all, you are falling towards earth very fast, with just a bunch of string and nylon attached to your back...does work, or your bad day, really matter at this time?

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[ixlr82 7]

Thanks to you, Tom, for an excellent reply. I printed it out and it will become my new mantra. When I think back on it, all my 'worst' skydives were when I was trying to perform to someone else's standards. (real or imagined). And my best skydives were when I just 'chilled' and flew the way I can. I am reminded of what Doug F. at Elsinore told me: Imagine you are a 4x8 sheet of plywood freefalling. Push on a corner and the whole board moves because it is stiff and nonpliable. Then imagine you are a bedsheet or something equally pliable. Push on one side and nothing happens with the rest of it. Same with our bodies. Relaxed, a mistake just ripples through us. Stiff, and we're all over the sky. Me, anyway!

__________________________________________

[Tonto 1]

Normal. Completely.
Skydiving is mini-life. You will have good days, and bad days. You'll probably have learned most techniques by the time you get your D licence (Adult!) but will only know which to apply and when, consistantly, when you have several thousand jumps, even on your bad days and still make it look good. (Old age!)

It's the year of the Pig.

[FallinWoman 1]

Good replies so far....I just have one piece of advice.

If you know you are a bit tense from outside sources, let the first jump of the weekend be a solo. Just go out and have fun. Do flips, do turns, do whatever makes you smile. I once just watched a distant cloud and it was beautiful.

Then, after you have your smile for the weekend, try RW or jumping with other people!

~Anne

I'm a Doll!!!!

[skymedic 0]

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Then, after you have your smile for the weekend, try RW or jumping with other people!

or freefly and there's no pressure or tension at all....
come to the dark side...it's always better..

Marc
otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman....

[HRHSkyPrincess 0]

Take a nice deep breath just as you step to the door, inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth. Ahhhhhhhhh...a very experienced freeflyer (Bryan Moffett) taught me to do that. Doesn't matter what type of jump-RW, Sit, CReW, or just plain SCReWing around, it will make the jump better.
Just breathe...

*****************
Attitude is everything!