PLFXpert

I hate to quote Nike, but "Just Do It" Focus. Relax (as much as possible). And know that you've taken all the proper precautions---you've been coached, you've been through your steps, you've gone though them before the jump, you know you are a success to whatever you want to put your mind to. Once under canopy continue to focus just on what you're doing/your goal, and nothing else. And if you believe in God, pray I've prayed on the ride to altitude on every jump I've ever made. After I've said my prayer, I'm reminded that not only am I being watched over, but I'm capable. I've always practiced cognitive behavior---training your brain to react a certain way---even if it's different than how you would have naturally reacted previously (sometimes our natural reactions are not the best/safest). You do this by constant repetitive thinking/practice. A lot of great skydivers will agree that some of their best practice is the kind they do in their minds before the jump---going through it in their head. That in itself, will greatly help your confidence. Hope that helps.

Honu = sea turtle. Got it---You'd think I'd have known that, but I didn't My point is the same though. On a personal note it was a Hawaiian jewelry artist, Denny Wong, that designed and made my sea turtle necklace Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I drink a big glass every day Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Ooooooo, I LOVE salsa. Mostly b/c I like saying "Sal-sa" (Did you get that one?) It's an ABBA song, boys. The next line, if I MUST say so myself is: You are a dancing queen. Young and sweet. Only seventeen And I love that song Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I think every little girl (including me) with a pool went through that stage---especially since for me it was the 80s and I'd seen JAWS, like, 1000 times Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I take it you don't like sea turtles much, either, huh? You don't have to be a cold, hard killer to survive the times. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

That was fabulous! I really appreciate the depth to which you pondered my question. But, I tell you this---while I'm naturally VERY antiviolent and I rarely kill even the smallest bug---any gator that took my cat would have its head mounted on my wall Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

While I haven't taken a course, I've had my own personal freeflyer/swooper on nearly every jump (my hunny) and he's very detail-oriented when talking about skydiving (though doesn't seem to be in much anything else). He never made me feel silly for not being a natural at canopy flying. I can't say I even fully understand the aerodynamics of a canopy, but everything you pointed out is right on the mark---having that knowledge really helped me to fly better and feel more comfortable with it.

Why would that irk you? A lot of the great swoopers/canopy flyers/skydivers teach and they teach a lot of different skydivers Though Rosa and I have been known to take each other wrong, I didn't take it as a name-dropping thing--more of a pertinent information thing. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

OK, this is as far as I could get w/out posting a reply But, I'm glad I waited this long b/c Karen said it for me I would DEFINITELY trust your coach, over my two cents--but I will add it anyways When I started jumping I didn't care much for being under canopy--It didn't scare me so much as I never felt much in control of it. I paid close attention to all the advice, etc. practiced up high doing this and that. FINALLY when I downsized my problems were solved---I'm only at a 1:1 ratio, mind you, but before my canopy was HUGE. My smaller size was much easier for me to control & really fly. I felt 100% better about flying my canopy and I felt so much more in control of it. I even FINALLY started landing in the peas and standing up my landings---this was at about 70 jumps

Ehhhhhhh. Wrong answer. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Here's the funny thing---I think people are confusing alligators with crocodiles. B/c up until these recent attacks, there have been a REALLY low incidence of alligators attacking humans. Crocodiles, on the other hand, have been proven to be aggressive toward humans, etc. I thought for sure most people would pick an alligator over a shark. I still don't know which I'd choose. If you'd asked me before the recent attacks, I'd have said alligator hands down as I've swam in plenty-o-lakes infested with them Of course, I've swam in the ocean, too. Damn I can't choose. That is so unlike me Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Ooops--make that four---I think my hunny qualifies as a professional skydiver I love him, he's the best. And in the interest of keeping the thread on topic, he LOVES apples. Eats one everyday Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

and the lights are low. Looking out for the place to go. Where they play the right music. Getting in the swing. You come in to look for a king. Anybody could be that guy. Night is young and the music's high. With a bit of rock music, Everything is fine. You're in the mood for a dance. And when you get the chance... (Everybody else does it. Here is mine) Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I forgot about GFD--yes definitely. She's fabulous Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

What about the dolphin from that old sci-fi show SeaQuest??? Huh??? He was smarter Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

You got me. Bang. Dead. I'll get you my pretty...... Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

It's true. It's true. I've seen plenty-o-gators waterskiing/wakeboarding near where I'd fall Once, snorkeling in a spring over some seaweed I saw a tail---a BIG tail. I "Just keep swim-ming. Just keep swim-ming. Sing to self-in-heeeaaad. The gator won't eaaat me. Lord please pro-teeeect me. Just keep swimming." Seriously, that's what I was singing to myself in my head Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I LOVE snipe hunting. Never found one though Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Trust me when I say---yes there are some tall, beautiful girls---but I assure you the team looked NOTHING like Penthouse when we were through In fact, I think we all looked more like Michael Jackson's Thriller after the 4-hour trip (that we arrived back from at 4 a.m.!). I have pictures They're in a locked safe for no-one to ever see, EVER! Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I eat an avacado everyday. And now I'm hijacking my own thread.... Avacado's are SO yummy and SO great for radient, gorgeous skin. You're welcome Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Wait... Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

I went on a midnight canoe trip with my Varsity Volleyball team in highschool---our idiot coach planned it and not only was it not a full moon--but a really cloudy night and the river was surrounded by thick trees that sort of canopied over it. My point is that it was PITCH BLACK--you coudl not see the canoe in front of you w/out a flashlight. All we could see were these shiny eyes if we pointed our flashlights two feet away. And they make this honking sound. I won't go into the really mean (but so deserved) thing I did to the bitch I got stuck in a canoe with Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Which would scare you more? Previously, I would have said sharks. Alligator attacks/deaths were extremely rare---that is until recently in one week three women were attacked and killed. The coroner of one woman determined she HAD to have been attacked on land (on the jogging path where she was running) and dragged into the water. They later found her arms in its stomach I know----SICK! http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/15/alligator.attacks.ap/ I used to be the pioneer of telling people from other states alligators are NO BIG DEAL here in Florida. Now......? Oh, and Animal Planet did a thing where they set up a hypothetical fight between an alligator and a shark---it was a close-call. But, if I remember correctly the shark won. So, would you rather swim across a gator-infested lake or shark-infested waters. I'll get hypothetical on your bootay's today Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

Oh, P.S. Sharks are less likely to attack humans in clear water. I'm assuming if you saw the sting rays, the water was really clear (It's been increcibly blue-green and crystal clear lately). As far as we know 99% of shark-attacks happen when the shark has confused a human with some other food---typically happens when the waters are murky. Great whites HAVE been known to attack humans for food, however But a shark attack is hihgly unlikely overall Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.