Pit76

I had a bit of the same for my first jumps. Actually for all my AFF jumps. The first seconds after exiting the plane overwelmed me. The wind hitting you, the speed of falling like a drop from a rollercoaster. It was over after a few seconds, I guess when I reached my terminal velocity and you don't feel the acceleration any more. But maybe it's not the same as what you mean. Now I really enjoy that feeling. Feeling that force that pulls me down right after the exit. Best moment of the jump.

ow Glad that we don't have that here in Belgium; or at least I think si. I should ask this at my DZ.

Splatterman

Nice explanation and some good tips for a newbie like myself. Good idea to be the last one in the air. I also like the canopy ride

Same here! Did you pass your Lv4 ans 5 without having to repeat? And did you use tunnels within AFF? I passed all my levels first time, however I wasn't the most elegant man in the air but I always managed to get back to a stable basic position. My vid of my AFF is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXAkuQEWAGs We're going to a wintunnel within 2 weeks to have some fun and practice the basic positions.

I'm far from an instructor and I only have 14 jumps so far, but why would you want to start backflying if you don't have a stable basic body position? We where only allowed to do other stuff, like back flying, flips etc if we mastered the basic position. We had one student in our group who was always spinning in basic position, so he couldn't even start his exercises. So they practised some more jumps just on his basic position. No shame in that.

Haha, I had that leg kicking syndrome till my 4th jump First 3 times I jumped I was always so overwhelmt by the feeling of the velocity that I kicked my legs. I think I even had it yesterday at jump 12, bit nervous for the first jump of the day, because I landed on my back after exit. Turned to basic position without any problem. Jump 2 and 3 that day where ok. Good exits. Tell your friend not to give up. I never failed any levels but I was scared shitless the first jumps. However I had a coach who could calm me down on the ground and in the plane, so a good connection with your coach will be helpfull to perform better.

Before getting my A license (or BOSS) here in Belgium you have to do at least 10 solo jumps before you can start with it. Two weeks ago I went with some friends to the DZ and we registered ourselves a slot. I was feeling sick of the nerves and stress but I wanted, needed to jump. Turned out that I first needed to do a refreshment jump with an instructor (below 25 jumps and more then a month between last jump). Gave me a little more confidence knowing that I wouldn't be alone out there. So I went up, was actually pretty relaxed, jumped out when it was my turn and had a great jump! After landing I took the canopy, asked to pack and went straight back up for a solo. Did three jumps last weekend and again three solo jumps yesterday. I still have some nerves and stress when going up, but that's ok. I feel a lot more relaxed during the freefall itself, much more aware. DZ closes a month or two in the winter, so I hope that fear will not come back and I have to start over. I must say that at this moment three jumps a day is good for me, then I'm tired, but happy. Now sitting at my desk after my pc at work, looking at the blue sky outside, longing to go up again. I really do love this.

I also did, just as you, my AFF in France in june/17. I only could stay a week there so I left with my AFF license and 1 solo jump due to a day of bad weather. For all my jumps during AFF I had the same fear as you, the plane ride up there. Once it was my time to go out the door I could change my mindset to it and do what I was trained, but untill seconds before I was scared as hell After going back to Belgium I knew I wanted to keep jumping so I went to a DZ and registered myself. Because I had only 7 jumps and didn't do my AFF there they wanted me to take a jump with instructor. No problem, calmed me down a bit knowing that I didn't have to go out alone. That day I wasn't able to jump due to the weather. A week or two later I went back to the DZ for the jump. Never happened, I chickened out after hanging around at the DZ. I couldn't push myself to talk to an instructor and register a slot in the plane, because I knew I had to jump then. So I drove back home, very frustrated. I felt like a loser. But I don't give up that easely so next week I drove back to the DZ, for almost wanted to do the exact samething. Except an instructor started talking to me and asked what I came to do. So I explained the situation and he told me it's very normal and made me feel at ease. He took my card, reserved us a slot, got me my gear and took me up. And we jumped. Everithing was fine, it was awesome. He didn't have to step in or help me during freefall. After landing I felt so good and wanted to do a solo. But then for some reason I chickened out again, no solo, and drove back home without even talking to someone. Again I was frustrated, angry at myself and felt like a big looser. I was almost going to give up. But then a guy which whom I did my AFF in France with contacted me and asked how everything went. So I told him and he proposed to go to the DZ together. So I did. He had been quite buzy and has now 85 jumps while I had only 8. Unfortunatly the weather was not great and the jump limit was 50, so I couldn't jump. Saved by the bell BUT, yesterday we went back to the DZ with some AFF friends. Because there was more then a month since my last jump I had to do a jump with instructor again. I didn't mind that for the obvios reason. The guy told me just jump and do what you want, I'll be around and monitor you . So I went out the door, relaxed and had fun. When I was falling I was thinking why the hell I'm so afraid, this is the greatest feeling ever. I landed, grapped the canopy, got it packed and went back up. The fear was gone, just some nerves when the door opens but that's a good thing I guess. :) I did 3 jumps yesterday and I felt great! Want to go jump as soon as possible. I guess I will have some fear again to go in the plane the first time, but I'll go with some friends. We're not allowed to jump together because I only have AFF, but I like the idea of a friendly face in the plane. It calmes me. I talked to some instructors and other jumpers yesterday and they all told me the same. For some the fear was 'gone' at 50 jumps, other at 70. There are some guys with +200 jumps that still stress out in the ride up. So you and I are not different then other jumpers. You just need to push trough. I did yesterday and really enjoyed it. So I curious to know where you did your AFF and with who? Maybe it's with the same DZ/company. If you're from BE or NL, maybe we can meet at a DZ. You can always pm me. I have my own fear topic in here as well http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4857713

Nice! I see some paramotors fly and land in a field not far from where I live and I said I want to do that once. But first let me get started by getting a good skydiver and get rid of the fear of getting in the plane. Also I think my wife would hit me in the head

I only have 8 jumps, 6 AFF with instructor, 1 solo jump and then at my home DZ 1 orientation jump with an instructor. This was needed because I didn't do my AFF there and they wanted to know I could do the basics needed. All went perfectly fine and I'm cleared to jump alone. But somehow I can't push myself to go to the manifest and register myself a spot on the plane. I don't think it's real fear, because once in the plane I'm happy that I'm there and looking forward to jump. I have no real fear when I need to jump out, only some stress when the door opens I know I can control myself in the air (basic arch position and some other basic moves), I know what to check for when the canopy opens, what to do in case of a problem and never had a bad landing (yet). So I have no reason to hold me back and jump alone. It frustrates me that when I think of going to the manifest and register a slot on the plane my stresslevel goes of the chart. Does anyone have this to? I did send an email to my AFF instructor and he says it's normal that I have these issues and I have got to go through them and build up airtime. I know he's right, but for that I need to get in the plane. When I land after a jump I ask myself "what the hell was I stressing about". I like the feeling and my inner self wants to jump. On good days I find myself looking at the sky and wishing I was up there. But again, I need to get in the plane. Ofcourse I am new to my home DZ and don't know anyone yet, except the instructor which who I did the orientation jump with. So I keep hanging around and look at other go in the plane, jump and land. I hope this makes any sense to someone..