MarkAtwood

Last weekend, my first AFF jump of the day, I had a total panic attack meltdown at the door, but my instructor got my confidence, and I went out anyway, and then a few hours later went right back up again. Going up again was pretty critical to breaking the fear and embarrassment. Of course, breaking your foot kinda precluded doing that, I guess... Don't feel back about screwing up. If we (students) didn't screw up so often, we wouldn't need instructors, they could just instead haul us up to altitude and pitch us out the door right off. Hope your foot heals ok, and that you keep right on trying.

It was an accident. I never intended to jump in the first place... A few weeks ago my little sister went to SkydiveOgden to do a tandem for her 30th birthday. Her friend and I came just to give moral support. But while she was signing in, her friend and I kinda dared each other to go as well. A short while later, when they unfastened me from my tandem guy, and stood me back up on my feet (we landed on my ass), my first words were "I have GOT to do that AGAIN!". So, when I got back home to Seattle, I looked up the USPA web site, and called up Kapowsin Air Sports, and made the reservation for the AFF class. It was cloudy the day of the class, so no altitude for me, so they gave me a Static Line suppliment, and then I went up in a lil Cessna and was the first one out the door. That was #2. The following Saturday, I was back, and attempted my AFF1 jump, but screwed up my PRCPs (I kept slapping my own ass, instead of finding the handle), and finally my lead instructor pulled it for me at 5500. Crap. But it was still fun. That was #3. And then the next Saturday, 2 days ago, I was back. And I was ready, I thought. After practicing a few dozen PRCPs on a creeper with the REAL rig on my back, to make sure my hand knew where the damn handle was, we went up in the Otter, and I had a complete and total anxiety meltdown at 14000. But my instructor broke me out of it, got my trust, and out we went. Great exit, great PRCPs, pulled it myself, and landed decently. That was #4, and my instructor got a great big bear hug and a heartfelt thanks from me for helping me jump. Did turn training, then went up again to do it for real. Did the jump, with almost no anxiety at all, I guess I burned it all out earlier. The big mistake this time was I didn't have the student harness as tight as I should have, and I pulled my back a bit at opening. But that was #5. So I'm RICEing (rest, ice, compression, elevation) the strain, and I'll be back the Saturday after next. (They're closed next Saturday because Farringtons will be at some event.) But I'll be back the next Saturday!