Hi there all.
DZ.Com is an awesome resource, and the people on here have so much knowledge it's great!
Im an AFF student in the UK, and have done 14 jumps so far. I started back in June 2004 when I did my training in the UK - the poor weather here meant I didn't jet my level 1 in until July 23 - what a wait it was. I had a non existent arch - didn't respond to signals, but had good alti awareness, and pulled at the right height so it wasn't all bad... Then I had line twists (boy were they hard to kick out on a 340' main!)
I then went to spain and did a level two August 3rd - I was on a much smaller canopy (260') and badly broke my ankle on landing - bummer hey! That put me out of the sport for a whole year...just looking at the sky and asking myself constantly if each day would be a good day to go jumping. Once you've tasted the rush - well I just can't express the exhileration of it all. I knew I had to take a leap of faith and jump again - it really gets intoyour blood, and under your skin!
Repeating my level two more or less a year to the day I broke my ankle I was incredibly nervous - but very confident at the same time! Here I am now, loving jumping, trying desperately hard to get my A license before winter really arrives!
Level 3 all ok, level 4 wow - what a mess, level 5 what a mess - repeated and ok, level 6, hmm?! level 7 - brilliant fun, level 8 (good the earth looks close!).
I guess my point to all this is to say accidents happen, you jut have to be positive, pick yourself up, and learn from your mistakes. Listen to your instructors, learn, repeat and most importantly ENJOY yoursleves!
Blue skies and one love to all
Out of 10,000 feet of fall, always remember that the last half inch hurts the most — Captain Charles W. Purcell, 1932
