SilentJ 0 #1 March 12, 2002 hi I am looking for a little advice on when a proplem student such as myself should give up on skydiving and pursue something else.....to give a brief history I made my first tandem in 96, Tried aff shortly there after but had proplems with currency and level 3(kept spinning went fetal once, another time got on my back but quickly flipped over and arched and pulled stable at pull time) Another time I was a packer and used my money from packing to pay for a SL course inwhich I made 2 jumps from the dope rope. I went away for about 3 years but never gave up thinking about skydiving........when I returned to sign up again I was greated by my name after 3 years...this is something that I have grown to love about skydiving...not the actual jump but the people who do skydive.my last stint was also SL paid for a first jump package got up to 15 sec delays before work and bad weather changed my plans but this time I am more relaxed in plane and the jumps go fine...I even hit the peas on several jumps with no radio help......I still have jump tkts left which I dont wanna waste and also I am planning to go to orlando to learn to fly myself in the tunnelSilentJ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #2 March 12, 2002 Well it doesnt sound like your really giving up !! I mean why do you think should give up. Sounds to me that the only problems your having are work and weather and hell we all have that problem.....The only reason I could see someone should quit is because they dont feel safe about jumping (being able to handle themselves ) or they just flat run out of $$$, and even then they dont have to quit....just save for a while!!! Took me a year to save up. You abviuosly love to jump or you wouldnt have spent the time and money coming back to the sport ......But in the end you gotta do what you gotta do....... jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #3 March 12, 2002 Get up in the air.....and welcome to the community....nothing wrong with failing if you learn from it and overcome it later....marcBSBD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZDale 0 #4 March 12, 2002 Hi SilentJFollow your heart man, I started skydiving in 1993 and since then have been in and out of the sport, due to many different reasons, however I have always regarded myself as a skydiver and have never allowed that passion to die, Now that skydiving has become much more affordable for me I have started again (about 10 weeks ago) after a long three year layoff. Ill never regret starting up again and I wont be having anymore layoffs as my goal is to get pro rating within the next three to four years. Keep your passion for skydiving fired up !Cheers Dale Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crazymel 0 #5 March 12, 2002 I will tell you what I tell myself when I'm sitting in the plane, scared shitless....anything worth having, won't just fall in your lap. The greatest achievements require hard work and risk. Hell, all the way up to altitude I wonder what the hell am I doing...but then the door opens and I jump.....no - it's not always easy - still struggle to keep a heading at times, but I love it, and I know it will come right...I just need to keep going. If we have to give up every time something doesn't go smooth or is difficult - we'll never achieve anything!!!! Just take small steps at a time...practise makes perfect!!! If you love it, if it's part of who you are - NEVER give up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #6 March 12, 2002 There are 3 major steps in skydiving..1.. Your first jump "definitely an accomplishment"2.. Getting through certification and becoming a certified skydiver "welcome to the club, how sweet it is!!"3.. Getting your own rig. Now it's cheap to jump and you don't have to rent gear!! You have arrived!! Don't give up on yourself... If you want to get certified then do it.. Quit onzie and twozieing it.. Study, learn and Just Do It!! If you believe you can damn anyone that tells you otherwise. Be careful.RhinoBlue Skies and Smooth Rides!! http://www.aahit.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jncoughlin 0 #7 March 12, 2002 Doesn't sound like you're giving up.I always wanted to skydive. When I was a kid I used to make parachutes and throw them from all kinds of high places; big ones, little ones, I'd experiement with weight loading, even made a crude ram air once. Anyway, work, money and kids eventually got in the way and my aspirations faded for years. I made a few tandems but that was about it.Now I'm 50, kids are grown (sort of) and I can afford to do it right. So I'm starting AFF as soon as the local DZ opens in May. Read the Skydivers Handbook and monitor the chatter on this website. Both are good educational tools. Knowledge is power. The more you understand the easier anything will be. Read all the emails here; study how people react to different situations. Read all the situation reports on the Skydiving Fatalities page; they will teach you. Study Study Study.None of this guarantees that we won't get unstable, lose altitude awareness and in other ways screw up but it'll help get you straight. Maybe we'll meet someday at a DZ, both looking like new kids on the first day of school! Good luck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rapper4mpi 0 #8 March 12, 2002 The only problem I see is what you alreay stated, currency. You need to stay with it, keep current, especially in those early learning jumps. Make it a part of your life, and you'll have no problem staying current. Good luck!-Rap Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #9 March 12, 2002 Sounds to me like you just are not willing to do what it takes to follow through on your desire. You sound like you really like to be around the sport and the people, but allow yourself to be sidetracked too often. The bottom line here is that currency is key. In my opinion, one really ought to set aside the money to get through the student program, or at least have enough money on hand to be able to make at least a couple of student jumps per weekend. If you drag it out you will, in my 21 years skydiving experience, have a much harder time getting graduated. Spending a bit of money in the wind tunnel will pay off greatly in the freefall stability department. Do that and then get out to the DZ and finish a program. Chuck My webpage HERE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkM 0 #10 March 12, 2002 I think the time to give up the sport is when the reasons for jumping are outweighed by the reasons not to jump.Everyone has their own reasons for jumping out of a plane. Figure out what your reasons are and then ask yourself if maybe you can fullfill those reasons better through some other hobby or sport. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #11 March 12, 2002 Morning, SilentJI have been there; I quit on level 5, quit after my down wind landing, I have not been passed to the next level several times, for several reasons...but I never really "quit"...For me, fear has been an intense battle, and so has my determination to get back out there and try again. This has been the single most intense thing I have ever done in my entire life - not physically (although it is that, too), but mentally and emotionally. And the rewards have been incredible. So my thought is I am very unclear as to why you are considering quitting. Is it because you are scared? Financially unable at the moment? Just really enjoy the atmosphere of a dz but not the actual jump? Pressure from family/friends to not do it?Until you can isolate and identify the reason you are considering quitting, all I can say is listen to your heart - not your mind, not your friends, not your wallet, but your heart - and make the determination based on that. If you quit, you are still welcome at the dz; if you quit, you will have a fatter wallet; if you quit, your family and friends will be 'happy". But will you be "happy"? And if the answer is a true - YES - then let it be. Stop jumping. But if you are unsure, or if the answer is - NO - then identify what is going on, and solve the puzzle, and then commit 120%, and complete the program you choose. Just my thoughts. Ciels and Pinks-MicheleIf you really want to, you can seize the day; if you really want to, you can fly away...~enya~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,090 #12 March 12, 2002 >hi I am looking for a little advice on when a proplem student such as myself should give up on skydiving and pursue something else.....When you don't want to jump any more.Skydiving is a dangerous sport, and the only reason that anyone should jump in the first place is that they want to. So first, you have to ask yourself if you really want to. If the answer is yes, then I'd recommend you really do it - commit the time and money it takes to get to 20 jumps, and get your A license. Then you can make a better choice as to whether it's really for you or not. You may get there and think "Hey, this was fun, but it's just not worth the risk, money or time," and that's fine - at least you know. On the other hand, you may get off student status and discover that skydiving is really a lot of fun once there's no one there telling you what to do on every jump.As you mentioned, the tunnel is a great way to learn what freefall is all about, and it's also a great way to solve spin problems.-bill von Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airdrew20012001 0 #13 March 12, 2002 Sounds like your only problem is staying current. Buck up, bust through and stick with it. My roomate had a flat spin problem but kept on a chuggin. She busted through AFF in two months and now has all her own gear and pushing 60 jumps in her first year, will probably get 100 by years end. Sure, she's way in debt but she is also becomming a very adept skydiver.Drewfus McDoofus Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kwmontreal 0 #14 March 12, 2002 Hi John,Why give up when you have won the major battle. Sounds like you would be an excellent addition to any DZ. Its a shame "WE" skydivers have to work for a living!! If we could only control the weather !! *** Take part in your DZ's safety day !! ***Blue skies & sofe landings! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilentJ 0 #15 March 13, 2002 To everyone:Thanks for all the advice.....I have come to the conclusion that I do want to jump it is just something a part of me I cant give up. I ve weighed the risks and I able to accept them....but my proplem come more out of frustration. I was introduced into the sport in 96 and now its is 02 still on student status. it frustrates me cause I could be helping jumper like me now try to get over that hurrdle and getting off student status......I ve found my fear is usually left on the ground or blown out when the door opens......the best advice anyone has said to me or anyone having proplems is relax...the second is Stop whining, get off ur ass and jump.I am going back to the DZ this weekend I will keep you guys informed on my progress to finally get off student status Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChromeBoy 0 #16 March 13, 2002 How many jumps do you have and what is the seperation in time in between? Student status sice '96. You are not jumping enough.Kachink,ChromeBoy-Mirage G3 Unisyn- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
