frogerina

I've not only got a case of winter (several inches of snow forecast for tonight) but also a wicked pneumonia...and I "expire" on 11/13 (my 30 days out of currency....bye, bye). Not exactly what I was envisioning as the end of my season... Part of me wants to chase to warmer climates (after finding a whole lot of quarters in the couch cushions...), but part of me is thinking this winter of a.) getting over the stinkin' pneumonia b.) catching up on the busload of work growing as my doc keeps me stuck on this couch yet another week... c.) doing some yoga and strength training d.) cuddling up with the SIM and my student manual and good YouTube videos and reading here so that e.) I arrive at my home DZ next spring stronger and a more aware student, ready to finalize my "A" and go forward into a happy jumping season.... Thinking positively here...thinking positively here....especially about component a.) Sigh...

Try not to psych yourself out about having to pass every skill on the first try, and the cash involved. I know...I get it. I made it through my AFF jumps without a repeat, but have had to redo some coach jumps. (Luckily, they are a little...repeat a LITTLE less expensive than an AFF jump.) I realized I was freaking myself out about "flunking," and losing some of the fun of this learning process. So now it's the end of the season for me, and I alllllmost made it to license. So I'll have some relearning to do in the spring...but that gives me time to save up some cash, spend some quality time with the SIM and come back next season ready to learn more. Every jump is a chance to learn.

I'm a small sample (i.e. I'm one person ) but I did an AFF 1 jump and was so overwhelmed. I did remain altitude aware and pulled at the proper time, but it kind of spooked me. Went and did an hour of tunnel (knowing that I am a slow learner of things physical), and my AFF Cat B jump was a thing of beauty. I think the tunnel definitely helped with a lot of "where is my body" awareness and learning control, which allowed me to concentrate on other aspects of the skydives.

As a student, with Vigil AAD, I've ridden the plane down twice for winds. First time was my very first jump. Both of us AFF kiddos had our AADs switched off by the instructors. A second time, as winds were sending me back down, I asked my instructor about turning off the AAD. He told me that the pilot has control of the angle/speed of descent of the plane, but if there was an aircraft emergency, this instructor (the head AFFI) wanted us to have every tool available if we needed them. Wonder if Vigil is a slightly different protocol than Cypres, or if it was instructor choice.

I am also just a student, and have been using the clear goggles my DZ provides (after a good wipedown ). My instructors and coaches have had me not put them on until getting reasonably close to altitude, and also told me that, should they fog up, just a quick lift to allow air in will resolve that (and it does, quickly). Once out of the plane, I've had no problems with them being clear, or my contact lenses staying happily seated (I wear those goggles tight -- and wear the goggle-dent "smiles" on my face the rest of the day).

I need to frame this...

I am nowhere near 100 jumps....and expect to be a learner forever (of the slow type...). But swoop and dock is my current biggest nemesis...I think I may get the Guinness World Record for Number of Cat H (yup...swoop and dock) coach jumps repeated. Fortunately, I have patient coaches. Unfortunately, I'm running out of jumpable weather...argh.

I'll have to remember that for my first zero G jump . That is, if I ever get off student status (she says, watching the October winds kick up and up...)

which is quite a flick...I found myself trying really hard not to scream "ARCH!!" at Sandra Bullock as she is tumbling through space after being knocked around by debris. And then I wondered....would body position make any difference with no atmosphere to work with?? Also...all space re-entry vehicles that have parachutes for landing assistance should have a user-reachable cutaway system from inside the capsule. Hello, spaceship makers?

So I am almost to my A License...and it's snowing, with non-student-legal winds forecast for the weekend (I know weather can change...I'm doing my warm sunshine dance!). Weather and life may conspire to end my skydiving season... I have the final coach jumps, check dive, some parachute maintenance stuff and the exam between me and being a licensed skydiver. So I know the SIM lists the procedures for an A licensed skydiver to regain currency (do a jump w/USPA Instructor supervision if more than 10 weeks inactive, do a Cat D jump w/Instructor if more than 4 months)...but what about an almost finished student? If I end up unable to jump again until spring (way more than 30 days, at least...), will I need to start this whole thing over again? (Or at least sit through a FJC, then move on to whatever Cat jump my instructor thinks is right?) I'm really not a fan of the cold...but would love to know what I'm looking at for next spring if I'm unable to get this work done in the next few weeks.

Having a real, personal reason to lose the weight is so important. I wanted to be able to climb to the Statue of Liberty's crown (over 350 steps, most in a teeeny spiral staircase) with my daughter. Got from 235 to 130 pounds. Have an amazing photo of the two of us at the Crown, with the harbor visible out the window, smiling like crazy. That was 5 years ago. I have worked to keep the weight off, and have ended up seeing a lot more options open for me at a healthy weight. One was my tandem skydive the end of June...which let me to AFF training and the pursuit of my license. I'm stuck with the end of season (and gallons of rain falling this weekend)...so it may be spring before I reach my goal...but this is something I never imagined I'd be doing. It won't be the easiest thing to do, getting that weight off. It took time to get it on, and it will take time to get it off...but keep your goal and your dream in mind...it's worth it.

I sort of wish I'd had a little rest/think time...I did FJC most of a day on a Saturday (after getting up at the CRACK of dawn to get there in time and, let's face it, not having the most...complete and restful night's sleep the night before). Was manifested onto a load that afternoon, got up to altitude, then the instructors decided to bring me back down due to wind gusts. (I am very glad they didn't let me jump out into those high-end of legal winds.) I stayed fully suited up, and waited another hour or so to be sent up again (this time, winds were a go). I did not have the most elegant first jump ever. And I think a part of it was exhaustion -- long day, added to a long time fully outfitted and waiting, plus information overload. My instructors did a fantastic job with me that day, and in the jumps since. I still appreciate their decision to do a no go on the winds. I don't know if a night's sleep would have made for a better (or a more nervous) jump the next day...but it is interesting to consider.

As a current student, I've been brought down in the plane due to winds gusting twice. The first time, they were still technically legal...but it was also my AFF First Jump, and the decision was made by my instructors to come back down and wait out the winds. Several jumps later, also a round-trip plane ride due to winds, and this past Sunday, it was iffy due to clouds -- the plane circled a while at about 9000 feet waiting for the cloud cover to push through (I doubt the tandems aboard had any idea that it usually isn't that long of a plane ride...). We were able to make that jump, but my coach (who is also the head AFFI) had warned me it might be yet another round trip. Since we students don't make that call, we don't lose the money...are just remanifested for later. I was having some serious conversations with myself on this cloudy ascent on whether I might make the choice myself to ride back down. Not sure then if I'd have been able to let my lift ticket and/or coaching fees ride...but also feel that I'm a bit too new at this to throw in extra variables...

Today was a better day for jumping. Sun was shining, winds light and variable -- in other words, none of my excuses to myself could hold any water (and I'm unable to jump this weekend, as I have to go out of town). So I headed up to the DZ and got a couple jumps in. Cat H is still not my friend (just call me the perpetual student...). Got some small improvements in my tracking, and the beginning feel of a swoop. The head AFFI noticed my frustration, and suggested taking me on a no stress Cat G jump, really processing body position etc. Had a fine, stable exit, and got some work done in the sky today. Also improved my fall rate! Still not a thing of beauty (then again, this is the girl who flunked 7th grade gym...and not from lack of trying). Being able to slow it down was very helpful...and, although I didn't make tons of progress on my freefall skills acquisition today, I did get to remember the feeling that draws me back there again and again, to keep trying. I just have to remember this is not a race. Instead, I can concentrate on what it feels like when I go "down the hill" stable, on learning how to fly my body (with an occasional case of "your OTHER left!") and the joy I find every time under canopy. The coaches are encouraging, promising me that one day it will just click. I am waiting for that day! In the meantime, may they keep their patience as saints.

We were told at my school that the radio was simply for backup, but not to rely on it AT ALL. (In fact, radio was not mentioned in the FJC classroom session at all, but my instructors explained its use and limitations to me as they strapped it on me.) I did enjoy hearing my instructor's voice (the times it worked), but have been fine continuing on without it after the first few jumps. My instructors took the radio away pretty quickly.

So I guess I get some more "thinking time." Waited hours for skies to clear yesterday after a huge soaking rain. Made it onto the plane with my coach...and the post-storm winds gusted to 25 MPH...so students rode back down. (My second round trip plane ride...first was on my Cat A jump...also for winds.) It was too late to get on another load yesterday. My coach was bummed we didn't get to jump. Me...I was okay to ride down. What's with that? (Did spend some quality time observing what 3500 feet AGL looks like, as I still need to to the low hop and pop...) Drove up there again this morning. Again, winds were a little flaky, with some interesting gusts on the AWOS...and I realized that I really wasn't in a great place to jump today -- as I pondered in the parking lot, watching a couple off (but safe) landings, I realized I just need to take a break -- I've been so focused on MUST-get-A-license-before-end-of-season, that I'm just sort of plowing through...better to go a little slower and remember the fun aspects, to not try to cram more jumps in just in the name of getting it done, rather than thinking and learning. Also not sure how I feel about the potential for another round trip flight...as the gusts were interesting...not to mention hoping not to have to perfect shopping for an "out" if the winds were playful. So I turned around. Not because I was scared, but because I wasn't ready to skydive. Not today. I think I need to go back up on a less busy day and maybe do a jump just focusing on the fundamentals and fun without trying to figure out all this new material and rush to pass another level. (Still need to get to my 25 jumps anyway...). I did work with a great rigger this week on packing, and he was a sweetie and lent me one of his parachutes to practice on at home. I went from total confused mess to a pretty decent (well, at least understood and in the D-bag) pack job over a few days. So I count that as a win in my skydiving education. I know a lot of folks just push through if they are feeling waffle-y about jumping. I think I needed to step back and take a deep breath. I hope I made the right decision today.

So I am working my way through AFF, with hopes of getting to A license before it gets too cold this season. Just gave Cat H (swooping/docking/tracking) a first try last weekend...and am soooo frustrated. I fall super super slow (a planeful of instructors offered to hypnotize me to think I was an anvil! -- worth a try) and my tracking speed is not great, either. I'm a tall skinny girl. Found the smallest of the student jumpsuits, and I swear that "arch!" is becoming a new 4-letter word in my world. Add to that that I've managed to exit the plane in a variety of exit positions taught -- and done each exit type both stable...and unstable. If I tumble, I correct it quickly, but that burns altitude, and is so frustrating -- still analyzing with my coaches why sometimes the exit is gorgeous, and sometimes it's a mess. And so now that mess is messing with my head a bit -- people who've said that skydiving is more mental than physical weren't kidding. I'll be back up at the DZ again this weekend...but I fear the coaches are going to start running away when they see my name on the board. They are amazingly skilled, incredibly patient and positive people...but I'm starting to feel like the class dunce. Anybody willing to share some stories from your training time? Not sure where I fall in the continuum of student here....(the guys are still willing to get in a plane with me...so that's something!) And I need to shut up the devil on my shoulder who's telling me I can't do this...maybe I should throw those naysaying thoughts out as soon as the door opens...but wow...

You know I'm a student, too. Did one tandem, and then in my Cat A first jump, I pretty much swooned out the door, went into a tumble, threw off an instructor (oops...) and felt my main instructor working like a beast to get me flipped and stable again. He did, then the second instructor flew back and got my other side. The rest of freefall, they flew wide and held on tight (no arms released for this girl!). After a less than graceful (but noninjured) landing, I remember asking my instructor if I had ANY chance at this, or if it was time to take up bowling (and I'm a terrible bowler...). He suggested tunnel, and I did find that to be wonderfully confidence-boosting. When I came back, Cat B was textbook perfection in freefall. Since then, I've had a couple of unstable tumble exits...but I've gotten stable again. I've had a few line twists and one case of of crud -- where's the airport!!?!? That was on my first hop and pop, where I'm not sure if it was my beginning spotting "skills,", my semi-slow climbout, rocky exit or a combination of the above...but it was a looooong spot from where I'd hoped to be. I've also had a fantastic time exploring turning and tracking, ridden with an arm in the wind as my instructor guided and explained how that wind pressure worked, learned a diving exit, how to "step out" and to fly my body as I count for a front floater exit. I've watched other canopies soar under mine as my student canopy (my FJC instructor called it a bus!) floats slowly toward the ground, explored turns and playing under canopy, and am getting good at daisy chaining those lines. I've shared high fives and fist bumps with the "big kid" skydivers (i.e. the folks who actually know what they're doing!) and have been looked at with some measure of "wow" by the tandem students (while the TIs are busy making faces at me....). There are learning opportunities (i.e. stuff that didn't go exactly...or even close to what I'd hoped) and celebrations, and through it all, my instructors and now coaches have been there to celebrate and to help me keep learning. As I schedule my next jumps, part of me is saying "whee -- can't wait until I can get back there to do that again..." and on the drive up to the DZ, part of me is saying "you know, there's a really nice library in that town...how about you just go read a book?" For now, I've got a firm goal of trying to get my A license before the end of the season (which I fear is coming sooner than I'd like). And it's been interesting watching that goal emerge. I had the option to pay for the full course up front or pay jump by jump. I chose the second. Even though it's gonna cost a little more, I liked the idea that I was just going to do a jump..and see what I felt like after that. It was just a jump. And each jump is an opportunity to learn something. Glad you got to the tunnel. It really helped my body know what it's supposed to do (well...most of the time...if I don't overthink). Scary? I prefer to think of the sensation as "attention-getting." Then I tell my butterflies that they are just feelings of excitement -- because this is a choice I make, to play and learn in the sky. It's been some of the most overwhelming education I've ever done (nothing like curling up with the SIM, huh?)...but what a classroom!

We had talked for 20+ years of marriage about the living will (and heck, even simple wills) we should write. I remember working on them in the 2 weeks between my tandem and my FJC...kind of otherworldly, but also something that we should have done a long time ago...so if an urge to skydive gets that "I should do this" off your to-do list, so be it. Counting the days until you begin? It becomes a beast of its own, this training...says the woman with 14 jumps to her name, and an obsession to try to get to A license before it gets too cold (with that annoying full-time day job that keeps getting in the way!)

So I guess I'm one of your 4%...someone given a tandem as a gift, who expected it to be a one-day event, who found herself two weeks later in a first jump course. If your sons and their clipboards had found me, clutching my video of my tandem in the parking lot, I probably would have given the standard "It was great! I'd love to do that again! Naw...I could never learn to do that all by myself." But I got home, watched that video, researched the DZ's website, where I learned that AFF existed (I did my first tandem on a sleepy weekday afternoon, so there were not AFF students about.) I remembered absolutely loving watching a demo into a football game, and the experience of the tandem. Since then my instructors and I have shared the plane with tandems. I usually end up back on the ground waiting for my instructor for a debrief or to see if I can get on another load while the recent tandem students are waiting for their shiny videos. Because I'm still trying to figure out exactly how I fell down this particular rabbit hole, I often ask them what they thought, if they're coming back, etc. Everybody I've talked to (in my very unscientific and small sample ) has loved their tandem experience. One or two have said they might consider coming back and learning (after all, if this middle-aged lady can hop out of a plane w/her own parachute, it must be a learnable skill). A couple of people have asked to see my progression card. Since the DZ offers AFF classes daily, I don't know if these folks are indeed coming out, as there are a lot of teaching slots. My daughter recently did a tandem, partly, I think, to see what the fuss was about. She had a great instructor and an excellent experience. As a baby bird skydiver, I did a tandem as well, as my 9th jump (so you know this lady really doesn't know much of what she's talking about...). I had different instructors each time. My first tandem instructor gave me the knowledge I needed to be safe and aware on our skydive, but I was definitely a passenger (and really wanted to be so, on that first visit to the sky!). This most recent tandem, I got to be a lot more involved and active, and was thrilled to get some excellent canopy piloting training. I asked dear daughter if she was hooked after that jump. She said it was a blast, and she would definitely do another tandem "in a year or so" but has no interest in continuing on in learning progression. Then again, she's a college kid -- she has enough homework and no money! But questions that come to mind, from the perspective of a tandem-turned-student and a tandem-that-was-fun-but-done... 1. So...what made you come up to XYZ DZ today? 2. Did you enjoy your tandem skydive? 3. What was the coolest part? 4. What's the best thing you learned? 5. Did you know that you can learn to skydive on your own? (Insert mini explanation of training here...) 6. Is that something you'd consider? Why or why not? 7. What do you think of when you hear the word "skydiver?" ...Etc. Or, you could do some Likert scale questions (those are the "on a scale of 1-5, how likely are you to____________", with 1 being "never," 5 being "definitely," 3 "neutral... Again, take the ramblings of a beginner student for what they're worth...but it is a fascinating question for me as well. Have you considered checking w/the DZ in question to see if they'd be willing to do some post-tandem marketing -- including a "gee, thanks for coming for a tandem...did you know we offer Skydiver School...this is what it is..." along with your survey. Returning the survey (or following a survey money link?) could enter them in a drawing for either another tandem or $X off a first jump course...could increase your return rate.) Might serve several purposes -- you get survey data, the former tandem students learn that ongoing training is an option, and the DZ potentially gains more students (and all their money...).

True...I did the weight gain (and loss) thing before I discovered them purty parachutes...but yeah -- the comments you're hearing to eat less/move more -- that's it. No food is inherently evil...but too much of even a good thing is not helpful. It took a while to do this safely...but I lost 100 pounds in a little less than 2 years. And I've maintained that loss for 3+ years now. I got really, really sick last winter, and basically sat in a heap for 4 months....so my issue, as a scrawny old lady student skydiver is building muscle mass and strength...so you get yourself skinny; I'll get myself stronger! Meanwhile, eat less, move more, and start recording every morsel that crosses your lips (there are some cool apps that make it less of a pain). Figure out what you're going to choose before you go out to a restaurant (online nutrition info and menus are helpful).

Rain kept us on the ground yesterday, but an early-morning break in the clouds let us up at crack of dawn this morning. Deisel, I appreciate your wanting to be able to give a customer an excellent experience with extra time, but being stuck with the realities (and I am so impressed with the TIs, camera fliers, AFF and coach skydivers who can keep getting on that next, and next, and next load, working with so many people!). Kiddo did get to experience much of what I ended up writing to her -- watching a load of fun jumpers exit, and experiencing "extra breeze" (as she said) when the pilot did a second go around to get us into that one good hole in the clouds. Her TI did a great job with my only child, and she had a fantastic, well-prepared time. That smile on her face... Uh, oh. She and her TI did end up seeing one of the fun jumpers from the load land off the DZ. Her TI explained that, since he knew I would be landing near her, he would be heading in to make sure that they had a plan for the guy who landed off. She liked the way he let her know -- "It's not that I didn't have fun on our skydive -- I did -- but I need to make sure the other guy is safe." Since she knows this is where I am working through AFF, she was beyond impressed with the fact (and the reason) that he headed in...and she, I and my TI were able to walk in together and talk and laugh back to the hangar. My TI did a fantastic !! job of letting my tandem be a learning jump. Got to practice some turns in freefall, got great canopy instruction... All good stuff.

Yeah...this boogie kept the AFF folks out of the air for all those reasons...and I think it led to a happier event for everyone. I did end up going...and it was a blast. Took kiddo with me Saturday, but got rained out of any possibility of jumping. Still, we did have a great time trying to stay dry, talking to folks, listening to stories. Since it was a funky weather lull (everybody pretty much checked in, Manifest getting a chance to catch their breath, jumpers chilling), didn't really get a chance to show off my excellent volunteer skills...but we were impressed by the way this place handles a large, multi-day event. So we headed up for the crack-of-dawn load today, and were able to get on the one plane that squeezed up through a hole in the early clouds. Kiddo was fascinated by the change in vibe between Saturday afternoon/evening, and early Sunday. And her tandem? She absolutely adored that. I also loved my chill-out tandem, and my TI did a great job turning it into a great learning jump...nice to reset my head, as I plan to be back to working through the rest of my AFF, hopefully this week. It was a good weekend. Got to talk to some folks. Got to learn some stuff. And my kid got to jump out of an airplane with me!

Daughter and hubby were "ground support" for my first tandem skydive this summer. That "once and done" (yeah, right) experience led me to signing up for AFF...I'm now working on my Category E jumps. My tandem was a birthday present...and she, after watching mine, and hearing (more than she wants to, I'm sure...) about skydiving has asked for a tandem to celebrate turning 20. She (who takes after her mother) does better if she has some understanding of the details of an upcoming situation. I have NO intention of speaking to her about any of the instructor's part of her tandem -- but she has been excitedly asking lots of questions about the experience, how the day will go, etc. I'm planning to email her the attached (we are a verbose couple of girls...think we will probably have written the word count of War and Peace to each other in text and email by the time she finishes college...) as sort of a "Get Ready to Learn from your TI." Keep in mind I'm all of 8 (yes...8) jumps into this world -- my 1 tandem, and my AFF work...and I definitely respect the "parachute school" aspect is what she'll get from her TI, but wanted to give her some idea of the sensory experience and just the nuts and bolts of the day. The way she is wired, having this information will help her be able to concentrate more on the training she'll receive from her tandem instructor while she's there. I'll be doing a tandem with her as well (ah, the sacrifices we long-suffering parents make ) to keep her company. So...am I stepping on any TI toes with the attached?

AHEM. Pic? Yeah...not! Remember...momma bear is going to be velcroed to her the whole time she is on the DZ ... Beware Momma Bear!