maestrabella67 0 #1 May 5, 2008 According to my AFF instructors, almost everybody who jumps ran into some kind of hang up or difficulty they had to overcome somewhere along the line while learning... what was your "hang up" and how did you overcome it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chubba 0 #2 May 5, 2008 I got really bunged up ankles and knee's from various sports before skydiving, they have been broken/fractured/torn multiple times, surgery+surgery+surgery. I'm right with everything in skydiving till the last few feet where I have to flare/land. I got no shame in PLFing even on the most perfect landings., I don't even attempt to stand up at all now.. I told my CI/DZO that from now on I'm just going to roll it in 100% of the time, at least for a VERY LONG time. I cop a bit of shit about it, so that's my hang up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #3 May 5, 2008 landings, stand-ups and accuracy. took me until not so long. i'm alright now! “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #4 May 5, 2008 Quote... I'm just going to roll it in 100% of the time, at least for a VERY LONG time. I cop a bit of shit about it, so that's my hang up. Oh hell. This pisses me off no end. For the life of me, I cannot figure out WHY anyone would want to give anyone shit about doing PLFs. Fucking arrogant idiots. I hope you're not letting that crap get under your skin. Keep up the good work.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VTmotoMike08 0 #5 May 5, 2008 The door monster had a good grip on me for my first 20 or so jumps. I was also pretty nervous in the plane. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #6 May 5, 2008 Opening time. I'm still hung up on it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
countzero 7 #7 May 5, 2008 repeated level 4 twice due to relaxation and performance anxiety issues. my instructor worked with me on breathing exercises and stressing that having fun is the most important part.diamonds are a dawgs best friend Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #8 May 5, 2008 As a student - exit stability. Oh, and relaxing. I was a potato chipper! I was never really a turner or a spinner, but boy did I chip! Just learning to chill out fixed that problem. To this day - consistent stand-up landings. Taken a couple of canopy control courses, and I stay on a big docile canopy."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPAWNmaster 0 #9 May 5, 2008 when i was still a student I had problems with a persistent left turn. it took me a lot of ground practice and visualization (and the wise words of an instructor) before it finally clicked. right now im hung up on accuracy...i seem to always overshoot my target but im workin on that! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zarkon 0 #10 May 5, 2008 Went through AFF ok, didn't have to repeat any due to performance. During coach progression swoop & dock was my nemesis. Can't even tell you how many times I had to re-do that jump, though I think it was 5-6. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #11 May 5, 2008 I just did a Level 4-7 with a 21 YO, very tall, very athletic student this weekend. He flew through each level with just minor corrections and adjustments. Anything I taught him on the ground he put into practice on the very next jump. By his last jump he was tongue out, geeking me as he would start off on his tracks. He might have a few slow days, but I don't think he's going to get hung up on anything. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #12 May 5, 2008 Extending my legs enough. I have pretty long legs and was taught to flex the knees too much at first (tandem progression is what they did at the DZ I learned at). Taking your socks off and flying with just your shoes on your feet allows you to feel the breeze and helped me kick that poor habit. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyhawke 0 #13 May 5, 2008 I had a horrible spinning problem so I finally went to the wind tunnel to fix that. Then I had to overcome my unbearable fear of freefall. I just didn't like that feeling. It's hard to explain. What I found out was some of that anxiety went away when I got my full face helmet. I think it was the wind noise that bothered me. Also, I found taking deep breaths helps a lot. I still get nervous but it's not as bad as it was."It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities." - A. Dumbledore Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #14 May 5, 2008 funny, i think the wind is one of the best things in skydiving, altough the breathing was kind of a problem on the first two jumps for me. i'd want to go with no googles and no helmet! “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjsgrlsx3 0 #15 May 5, 2008 It began with the ride to the DZ, then the ride to Altitude, then my landings really sucked! No I am back to the ride to the DZ! I'm sure it will always be something! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chubba 0 #16 May 5, 2008 QuoteI hope you're not letting that crap get under your skin. Keep up the good work. Definitely not, I want to keep jumping so I'll keep flying those massive canopies and PLFing.Quotefunny, i think the wind is one of the best things in skydiving Yeah I love the wind, I did my first solo's yesterday, finally got to look straight down (instead of at the instructor(s)) and cop the entire freefall in the face... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stuntbabex 0 #17 May 5, 2008 Mine was altitude awareness. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hackish 8 #18 May 6, 2008 Never had any problems once the canopy was open but I couldn't arch for crap in freefall. Failed so many jumps for that. On my final checkout jump to get my solo cert I had to do an intentionally unstable exit. That one jump I think I finally "got it". Sometimes us technically minded people have to let go the over-think and just "feel" it. -Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toastie 0 #19 May 6, 2008 Quote Oh, and relaxing. I was a potato chipper! I was never really a turner or a spinner, but boy did I chip! Sorry for the lame question, what is a potato chipper? Is it too stiff?? no arch? I think I might be one of those! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yamtx73 0 #20 May 6, 2008 Quote Quote Oh, and relaxing. I was a potato chipper! I was never really a turner or a spinner, but boy did I chip! Sorry for the lame question, what is a potato chipper? Is it too stiff?? no arch? I think I might be one of those! Basically it's no arch.. where you rock back and forth.. kinda like a potato chip...The only naturals in this sport shit thru feathers... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aresye 0 #21 May 6, 2008 I was a little bit of a potato chipper at first. My biggest problem was my arch. I had such a problem keeping my pelvis down, and my legs up. I was always in some form of forward movement. Made the instructors have to work to stay with me. Once I graduated to solos, I finally got it, and now I think I have amazing freefall control.Skydiving: You either learn from other's mistakes, or they'll learn from yours. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #22 May 6, 2008 Quote Quote ... I'm just going to roll it in 100% of the time, at least for a VERY LONG time. I cop a bit of shit about it, so that's my hang up. Oh hell. This pisses me off no end. For the life of me, I cannot figure out WHY anyone would want to give anyone shit about doing PLFs. Fucking arrogant idiots. I hope you're not letting that crap get under your skin. Keep up the good work. Ditto. Zhills locals know Max. I have no idea how old he is, but he had all kinds of recognition over the years. Max had one leg a little shorter than the other and did a PLF on every jump. He probably did more jumps a year than I do. If someone is taking care of their self with a good PLF, then it is nobody else's f-in business. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pcnut 0 #23 May 6, 2008 Quote Opening time. I'm still hung up on it. I had alot of trouble relaxing and lots of fear the first 4 jumps, had to repeat Level 4 once, but thanks to Cesar at Elsinore and his awesome "dont let me stick this quater up your ass trick" something clicked on my 2nd attempt at level 4 and it was much easier for a while. Recently on jump 48 I had a hard pull, resulting in a somewhat low pull for my experience level (3k not really low, but considering what happened it was) I deployed in a somewhat fast spin, thinking it was only an unstowed brake, I attempted to release the left brake but could not, nor could I stop the spin, so I had to cutaway. It was a knotted brake line, but I realize now, I spent to long trying to fix the problem. It all turned out ok but since then I have had 2 hard openings (1 today) and I am starting to experience alot of anxiety just prior to pull time and lately have wanted to pull much earlier once in freefall than I had "planned" to, so far I have resisted the urge but its a cruddy feeling. Also my landings are not always stand-up, but with the exception of disliking the dirt and stickers, I will take an ugly PLF over a broken leg ANY DAY... PLFS ROCK! imo but yeah the opening anxiety is kicking my ass lately edit: btw I had real trouble with stable exits till about jump 35 or so.....I worked hard on exits and now its my favorite part of the jump lmao did you just want one example? cya, Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #24 May 6, 2008 Quote Quote Oh, and relaxing. I was a potato chipper! I was never really a turner or a spinner, but boy did I chip! Sorry for the lame question, what is a potato chipper? Is it too stiff?? no arch? I think I might be one of those! If you relax in a belly to earth position the wind will blow you into a stable (but not necessarily horizontally stationary) position. 190+ pounds of force on a 170 pound guy (or even 120 pounds on a 100 pound girl) is going to bend you in the right direction. Similarly, relaxing on your back will leave you in a stable (but not necessarily horizontally stationary) back-to-earth position. Just arching is probably easier to "do" than the "not doing" which gets you to relax. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #25 May 6, 2008 QuoteAccording to my AFF instructors, almost everybody who jumps ran into some kind of hang up or difficulty they had to overcome somewhere along the line while learning... what was your "hang up" and how did you overcome it? I don't really get head-down flying and it took me a few hours in the tunnel to manage back flying. Finishing AFF in 7 jumps and solid sit-flying skills did not help either orientation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
