Going for my 1st AFF jump

[leafyanna 0]

Hello everyone, I should have introduced myself earlier. Have been lurking around here for a couple of months. I just did my 4th tandem yesterday, and I'm going to take my AFF 1st jump course in three weeks time.

I'm a very slow student. I didn't get the arch right until my 2nd tandem. And my 3rd tandem was the first time I managed to keep my eyes open at exit. It seems like I just can't get over the fear before the jump; but what I get from the moment of exit until hours after landing always keep me coming back for more. Just one jump on the weekend is enough to keep my spirit high for a whole week. I don't know if that fear is ever supposed to be gone, but I'd like to see myself getting better at controlling it, and one day be able to jump all on my own.

I've started to do some reading on skydiving (mainly Wikipedia, forum and the Skydiver's Handbook by Dan Poynter) since I booked in my 1st jump course two months ago. Then I realized that the more technical stuff I read the less confident I get; I assume it's not helpful doing it all in my head rather than actually getting any physical idea. So I took my 4th tandem, and my nice awesome TI took the pain to show me his altimeter all the way up and down, and also showed me a bit about canopy control; I ended up not looking at the camera much at all, but I've learnt a lot. Some of the concepts I've only read about now finally become tangible and sensible to me. I'm feeling better about myself, and more looking forward to my course.

I imagine the canopy control part would be much harder than freefall for my first jump, because no one will be there to help me out if I get myself into trouble. And I've no idea how or how much I can learn from one day worth of ground training. Everyone has to have a first solo landing before they become a solo jumper. Would really appreciate it if anyone could give some advice/share some experience on how to approach my learning and apply it safe and right in the air on my first jump?

It's nice to be here; I've found a new world I like, and I need to work hard to stay around.

[ouch 0]

"Then I realized that the more technical stuff I read the less confident I get; I assume it's not helpful doing it all in my head rather than actually getting any physical idea."

You'll see many people on here giving the same advice: Don't overthink it!

You will be taught how to recognise a good canopy and how to fly it. You will be taught how to recognise a malfunction and how to deal with it.

Instructors call it "Must know, should know, could know." You will be taught what you need to know, when you need to know it. The rest of it will come with time. And your natural curiosity will help fill the gaps.

Physically, it is no more difficult that driving a car. The judgement and finer skills will be developed with time and experience.

Psychologically, it'll do your head in if you go out seeking more and more things that could go wrong. You have enjoyed four tandems. You have asked for a little bit more involvement along the way and learnt a little more.

Now go out there and do it. Shut out the clutter of websites and books, open your mind, back yourself .. and do it!

[skymama 35]

Welcome to the forums!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Trafficdiver 8]

Yep. Your first jump course will teach you all the good stuff, information that will stick with you through out your skydiving career. Just go in, relax and listen, it's interesting as heck, to be honest with, and it will fill in all the gaps you have in your mind about your first jump.

As for the fear...it is totally normal. This may sound strange but enjoy it as best you can, even the drive to the DZ when you're brain is saying..."what the hell at you doing!" Feeling that and overcoming it is the most powerful thing I've ever don't. You've already done it 4 times now so I know you get it. One day, it goes away too, and you will miss it.

Good luck on your first jump, it's a blast!

[RA0 0]

Like most people have mentioned, and like most will in future, you will be fine! Speaking from personal experience, canopy control was the easy part. You will have a two way radio attached to your helmet and will receive directions. Just stick to the directions and what you were taught during your theory course, and you will be fine. Also speaking from personal experience, DON'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE TARGET ASSISTANT/LANDING ASSISTANT as you approach landing. I learnt that lesson the hard way.

Which dropzone in Victoria will you be doing your AFF in?

[leafyanna 0]

RA0

Like most people have mentioned, and like most will in future, you will be fine! Speaking from personal experience, canopy control was the easy part. You will have a two way radio attached to your helmet and will receive directions. Just stick to the directions and what you were taught during your theory course, and you will be fine. Also speaking from personal experience, DON'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE TARGET ASSISTANT/LANDING ASSISTANT as you approach landing. I learnt that lesson the hard way.

Which dropzone in Victoria will you be doing your AFF in?

Which one is the best?

I booked Nagambie. For me it'd be either them, or Barwon Heads. I did three tandems with STBB and I really like them, but I need to get my driver's license first before I can go down to Barwon Heads, I am still learning driving at the moment - not sure which one's more dangerous, the plane or the car?

Thanks for all the sharing and advice. I got told a lot by my friends that I overcook everything, sounds like that's the final diagnosis of me. Hopefully I won't be thinking too much in the air...

[leafyanna 0]

Passed Stage 1 today!! Very happy and utterly exhausted.

Probably asked way too many silly questions like my first post above, apparently the CI and all the JMs agree that I think too much. It did turn out that I over-imagined the difficulty and complexity of everything. Had 12 hours of training yesterday and this morning in the drill I kept forgetting one or two things over and over again, so I completely freaked out. I had no idea what it was that made me still proceed with the jump but it all turned out fine. My landing wasn't ideal, TA told me I flared a bit late. I glided into the grass and ended up in a roll. But didn't get a scratch anywhere so that was lucky. Also received some valuable feedback from my JMs so a few things to work on on my next jump. Overall my JMs have given me a better evaluation than what I'd give myself. Can't say how grateful I am for everyone there who looked out for me this weekend: CI, JMs, my TA, and all the friendly strangers at the DZ who made it so easy to fit in.

Now that I've done it I finally know what confidence is. Was a pity I couldn't do Stage 2 today because I signed in a bit late and they've run out of loads. But will definitely return for the rest of my AFF.

[FlyingRhenquest 1]

leafyanna

Passed Stage 1 today!! Very happy and utterly exhausted.

Probably asked way too many silly questions like my first post above, apparently the CI and all the JMs agree that I think too much. It did turn out that I over-imagined the difficulty and complexity of everything. Had 12 hours of training yesterday and this morning in the drill I kept forgetting one or two things over and over again, so I completely freaked out. I had no idea what it was that made me still proceed with the jump but it all turned out fine. My landing wasn't ideal, TA told me I flared a bit late. I glided into the grass and ended up in a roll. But didn't get a scratch anywhere so that was lucky. Also received some valuable feedback from my JMs so a few things to work on on my next jump. Overall my JMs have given me a better evaluation than what I'd give myself. Can't say how grateful I am for everyone there who looked out for me this weekend: CI, JMs, my TA, and all the friendly strangers at the DZ who made it so easy to fit in.

Now that I've done it I finally know what confidence is. Was a pity I couldn't do Stage 2 today because I signed in a bit late and they've run out of loads. But will definitely return for the rest of my AFF.

Yeah, it all looks more difficult on paper that it actually is in practice. The dive flow of the early AFF jumps may seem complicated right now, but you'll find once you become a licensed skydiver that they're really pretty easy and you could probably complete them on your own on a solo jump in the first 10 seconds or so of the jump. One of the really cool things about this sport is watching how quickly peoples' abilities progress in it.

I think every one of the AFF jumps, on the ground I thought "Oh my god, how am I going to do THAT?" and I did every one of them! And I was terrible at landing for a long time. I think I was in the mid 50s before I even stood one up. People tend to think their experience is unique, but we've all been there. Just stick with it and don't get discouraged!

I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here?