Fear in Freefall

[gale 0]

Yes, yes, yes, apparently it's up to the female gender to insure higher altitudes. Bizarre ritual. The first time I try that will be quite a day! (For me and the pilot.)
Oh, and sitting with my back to the door on a cessna when the pilot wants to open it is a little disconcerting also. Hopefully that doesn't happen too often. (Have no disire to try a water landing - I have enough trouble with the land.)
Gale
Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

[Deuce 1]

There's another thread on fear going right now, and it's really got me thinking. I think if you dive your plan, and on a first solo it's usually to look around and pull on time, you weren't really that afraid. I guess I would rank "fear" as paralysis that would lock you up and prevent you from remembering and following your plan. You maintained altitude awareness and pulled on time, so GOOD JOB! I worked in emergency services for a long time, and I can tell you that lots, if not most, people will weep in the chemical hangover caused by an adrenaline overload. As you get used to the adrenaline hangover you will probably get to like it, even though at first it can be a little overwhelming.
Skydiving is as exciting as a shootout without the guns and violence.

[PhillyKev 0]

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Oh, and sitting with my back to the door on a cessna when the pilot wants to open it is a little disconcerting also.

Try this one....having the pilot jump out of his seat as your climbing through 5 grand to run back in the skyvan and start beating on someone.
cielos azules y cerveza fría
-Kevin

[freeflir29 0]

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Oh, and sitting with my back to the door on a cessna when the pilot wants to open it is a little disconcerting also

I'm still careful not too fall out. Kinda freaked me out as a student. I didn't want to go tumbling out the door with a S/L attached to me. "Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[f1freak 0]

It was the same for me. the first few times i jumped from 10,000 feet, the delay is such a big jump from the ones you had been making. you wont even notice it after a while.
If you’re into playin it close that’s cool, but we're talkin major malfunction here T Sparks

[Donna 0]

OK. After reading all these I had to go back and read my first solo jump stories and I had it a bit mixed up. I did 2 jumps that day. Potato chipped on the first and did the spinning on the second. Here's the link in case anyone is interested in reading it. HERE
Blue Skies,
D

[prepheckt 0]

Hey Gale,
Congrats on the FIRST Solo....I believe that's a case of beer....anyway, I have about 70+ jumps and I still can remember doing my first tandem for ASP at Eloy, my heart started beating in my chest, I thought everyone could here me, but once I jumped out, I thought it was the best feeling ever....
Blue ones

[freeflydeeva 0]

Gale,
Congratulations on your first Solo!!!!!
As far as fear, it can happen at any stage. One of the two times that I can remember being really scared was my 80th jump. I had just moved 800 miles and was jumping at a new dropzone. It was the first time I had been on a bigger plane (other than a cessna), it was my first new rig. I had been jumping student rigs until that point. My first main which was 30 square feet smaller and lightly eliptical.
You talk about freaking out. I started hyperventilating on the plane from being so scared. Talk about embarrassing. I had 80 jumps and one of the dz's instructors was asking if I wanted to ride the plane down. I made up my mind at that point. If I wanted to continue in this sport I had to get over the fear. I took several, and I mean several deep breaths and got out of the plane. I now am approaching 300 jumps and can't imagine what my life would be without skydiving in it.
I think a significant part of this sport is our ability to face our fears and do something that most humans would never do. We are living life. It can't get any better than that.
Take care and have fun on your next dive. Deanne
And yes guys, I paid all my beer for that jump.