mellow

this is exactly what i'm thinking the full face will accomplish for me. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

thanks alot guys- i just read alot of the older threads about headgear, and i think i'd prefer the quiet and wind-resistent aspects of the full face. just wondering, as a student, why would i not be able to wear a full face? because it limits my ability to hear if i'm on radio? any other reasons? also, i saw 2 different models on paragear that looked interesting. there's a newer model, the FREEZR MK2 which has an airflow system and anti-fog coating but looks kinda big and weighs more than the other one i saw, the OXYGN- which looks a little more streamlined. are there big differences in the paricular features in different models, or is it just a matter of comfort as to which one feels the best on? Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

thanks! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

i'm way too new to actually start buying gear, but i want to start learning about it. i'm wondering if someone could explain the pros and cons of these different types of headgear. on my 2 jumps, the wind was so intense on my face, and sort of hurt my nose and ears a little. i'm thinking that the full face might make me more comfortable, and if so, that might be my first gear purchase when the time comes. i want to make myself as comfortable (and safe) as possible when i jump to get the most out of it. i'm not sure if there's a full face at my dz that i could wear to try out- if there is, i'll check it out and see how it feels. i was more interested in the safety factor, or other aspects of each type of headgear that i hadn't even considered. what is your preference and why?? Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

before starting aff, i decided to do a second tandem, which i did yesterday, and it was great! i went with my soon to be aff instructor, and he had me do the whole level 1 dive- from checking out at exit, circle of awareness, practice pulls, actual pull, and then he walked me throught the controllability check, let me steer the canopy, practice flaring, and then had me follow his hands as did the landing, which we did standing up. i am so glad i went ahead and did this awesome tandem. i've done alot to prepare ahead for aff, including reading, watching youtube videos of aff, etc, which helped. my instructor told me i did everything perfect- nice of him to say, and whether it was true or not, it really helped to further bolster my confidence and make me feel really ready to leave the tandem world and begin aff. my favorite part of the whole thing was actually jumping out of the plane! i loved it! i can't believe that i had no fear of that, i just let go and happily jumped out. i hope i still feel that way when my "best friend" isn't still strapped to my back. so thanks to everyone who replied to my last thread where i was seeking guidance from others about what i had been doing to prepare for aff. i really contemplated everyone's ideas, and it helped alot. the hardest advice to follow was to try and relax and not think so much about skydiving, which i had been (and still am) hopelessly obsessed about. just letting it let go and relaxing a little was exactly what i needed to do. i feel so super pepared now, and am so ready to start aff, which begins in 10 days! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

YOU are awesome! good job! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

great job! you landed safely!! isn't that the true indicator of a good skydive??? and as far as level 1 goes, it's not a fail, it's a "i need to master this before i go onto that..." sort of a thing. i bet next time you jump you'll pull no problem. i loved reading your post, and i can't wait to read chapter 2 when you go up again! definitely keep us posted. 2 1/2 weeks and i start aff. 5 more days for my next tandem.....i can't wait! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

wow! i'm so glad you did so well! hopefully after my first solos, i'll have a similar awesome tale to tell Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

thanks, john. yes, i'm definitely going to make this a working tandem. and fortunatley, the instructor i'll be going tandem with will be my aff instructor. i originally started this thread about 3 weeks ago, and have to say that i have worked out alot of my initial anxiety. i'm still plenty nervous, but hopefully it's the good kind of nervous (if that makes sense), that will keep me alert and focused (and alive!). my next tandem is in one week, and then in 2 more weeks, i start aff! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

hi lauren! so nice to here from another obsessed newbie! it's nice to know i'm not alone in my all-consuming, totally irrational, life-altering new found love of the sky... i can't wait to hear how aff goes for you! definitely post back and tell us. i have one more tandem next week, and then aff starts for me on the 26th. that's great you're planning ahead to jump with your daughter! only 13 more years to go..... i'm so lucky my son is 24 and we get to jump together now! how fun will that be!?!? good luck with aff, and tell us how it went! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

i have only done one tandem jump, and i'm definitely no expert, but i can tell you my experience- i can't say that i was depressed beforehand, but i know that i was just barely "half awake." my life was in a "boring, autopilot, no reason to get very excited or motivated" sort of a place. then my son bought me a surprise tandem jump, and afterwards, and ever since, i have felt so alive, and energized and empowered. it literally woke me up and completely changed every aspect of my life for the better. i love the feeling for life that i have now, and i can't wait to start aff in a few weeks. i also agree with the other posters who have suggested that your daughter agree with the idea first, and that she go tandem to try it out. good luck and i hope your daughter feels better soon! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

thanks so much to all of you who have responded. i appreciate all of your ideas and encouragement alot. johan- developing patience has been my lifelong challenge. now, since i have 4 weeks of waiting to start aff, i guess i'll really have to work on that one. adobelover- ah...someone else whose never seen skydiving before! tetra316- you bring up a good point about practicing plf's and pulls beforehand. you're right, i don't want to develop incorrect habits, so i'll let that go until i'm given direct instruction during the course. and yes, i realize that what i'm reading may not be appropriate at my level, and may differ from what i'll be taught. my main intention in doing all of the reading is to just get acclimated to the vocabulary and basic concepts, and help my brain start to make a space for all of this new information. i'm not really trying to memorize what i'm reading, and trust me, i'll be all ears when i start. years ago i used to be an instructor, so i know exaclty what you mean by a no-it-all-student. i definitely don't want to go there. novaTTT- physical training. yes. great idea. i just started a light exercise program, and i am so sore! i'm healthy, but my body can definitely use some toning and stregthening. in fact i've taken 3 days off because i was sore, and now, after reading your post, i think i'd better get back at it. thanks again, everyone! i am so excited, and this is going to be great. less than 2 weeks now until that next tandem! also, what makes this even more fun for me, is that my son works at the dz where i'll be training, and his friend (who is the owner) will be my instructor. i get to learn to fly in the sky with my son! how fun will that be?!! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

ok. i think i need to start letting all of what i've read start to settle a little in my brain. i'll try to relax about it, otherwise the next 4 weeks will be a painfully long wait. that is exactly my plan. i will be going on this next tandem jump with my soon to be aff instructor. i can only hope i do "killer well." thanks so much for your encouragement. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

hi katiebeth, i know what you mean about time passing so slowly.... i did my one tandem a few weeks ago, and i'm counting the days until i start aff, which is 4 more weeks for me! good luck! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

zarkon, thanks. i'll check out that link. sangi- i know, hard for me to believe, too, that i'd never seen anyone skydive...but yea, i had no idea what i was getting into until i actually rode up in that plane. and you're right, who cares if i'm obsessed with this. and, finally, jumping is all i have on my mind right now. i'm having a hard time shutting up about it, but i'll definitely be jumping just as soon as i can get down there. the dz is 2 1/2 hours away. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

i really don't, but wish i did. i work m-f and i'm squeezing in this tandem on a sunday morning on my way somewhere else. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

i've thought about that for sure, but here's how it is- i can't get the time off for aff 1 until 4 weeks from now. it's a bigger time commitment with the ground instruction and all fo that, and during the same weekend i want to be able to do 2 or 3 jumps also. so aff 1 is at the end of june, no changing that. between now and then, which is alot of time, about 4 weeks or so, i have the time and money for one more tandem, so i thought i'd do that. it will give me something tangible- i'll be in the air again- as opposed to just reading and jumping off of chairs. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

about 3 weeks ago i did my first tandem, and ever since then i've not been able to stop thinking about skydiving. i've decided to sign up for aff, which starts in 4 weeks. i'm 48, in good health but not all that athletic, and know next to nothing about the sport. in fact, before my tandem jump (which was a surprise gift from my son), i had never even seen anybody skydive before. watching my video was the first time i actually saw what it looked like. so, i feel like i have a relatively steep learning curve ahead of me, and want to do all that i can to get the most out of aff. since i find myself almost constantly thinking about skydiving, and those thoughts range from sheer joy and anticipation all the way to fear and anxiety, mixed with a little curiosity about my sanity, i thought i'd try and channel all of that enegy into something constructive. here's what i'm doing: i'm reading everything i can get my hands on. i bought a sim, and skydiver's handbook, i've read lots of safety articles online, and dozens and dozens of threads, old and new right here. i realize that there may be major inconsistencies with the information i'm getting from books and online vs. what i'll be taught in my aff course. the main reason i'm studying now is just to get acclimated, learn some basic vocabulary and basic concepts, and get a feel for the sport. i've watched tons of youtube skydiving videos, mostly ones that are aff instruction, and watched my own tandem video a bunch of times. i asked my son, who works at the dz i'll be training at, to send me the google earth map of the lz (which he did). i want to familiarize myself with that because i'll be flying the canopy alone, basically, and want to have some visual idea of where i'm headed. i've been jumping off of a chair trying to practice plf's and laying on the floor trying to get a feel for body position. i've even gone through the "look at the altimeter, practice pull" routine that is outined in the books. and if that's not enough, i'm visualizing my first dive, and how i'll be smiling, and enjoying it, and relaxing, and doing everything i'm taught to do, all the way from gearing up to landing softly in the right place. oh, and i've also scheduled one more tandem for 2 weeks from now. i've contemplated just going straight into aff, but i think for me, this will give me more confidence. i'm going to ask for a working tandem, and the instructor i'm going tandem with will be my aff instructor. yea. i'm over the deep end, completely over the top obsessed. do you think i'm a raging lunatic, or someone who's just committed to trying to be prepared to get the most out of the course?? if i were going to be your student, what you say to me right now? Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

great jump! i can't wait to do mine! a few more weeks to go.... Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

i've pretty much burned out all the people i know with my one and only jump story. even my husband asked me if i thought i'd ever stop talking about it... but let's see if he feels the same way in a few weeks when he goes. i'm buying him a tandem (and me, too) for our 10th anniversary. then that's it for me and the tandem stuff. i'm starting aff right afterwards. so i, too, am so grateful to have you guys to talk with! more people who love to talk about skydiving! my favorite topic these days! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

ok. i think i have it now... Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

oh no!.... bummer! hopefully you can go soon. hey i just watched the transcending fear video by brian germain on youtube. it helped alot with my nervousness. of course, i'm not starting aff for a few weeks, so, i would imagine your nerves are much more on edge than mine.

excellent videos, brian, and excellent message. once we understand and embrace the law of attraction, we are masters of our life. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

excellent video. i just watched it. really, really good stuff. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

that's funny. i'm glad to hear i'm not the only one whose so obsessed with this...and i haven't even done aff yet! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.