Does anyone else get "The Fear" at sub 1000ft?

[Croc 0]

I jump an older Vector with the legstraps that have snap connectors, and whenever I'm spiralling down I think, "I wonder what would happen if one of them opened NOW?" But usually, I'm more nervous on the ride up, until 1000 ft.

"Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so."

Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

[Scrumpot 1]

Every now & then after breaking off from a formation & tracking, if I find myself right directly over some familiar landmark (like the packing hangar or what-have-you) the thought will enter my mind briefly that if I get absolutely nothing out, I will SMACK right in, RIGHT THERE.... X.

Hasn't happened yet though, knock wood!

Every now & then I'll think the strangest things at different intervals sometimes too. Like what if I were wearing women's underwear today, just for some sort of sick joke, and I pounded myself in? Hmmm....

But I digress...

No worries, your fleeting thoughts, unless you ever find yourself either freezing due to them, or fixating on them to the point you can't function, are otherwise perfectly normal. ...Relatively.

Blue Skies,
-Grant

coitus non circum - Moab Stone

[JohnMitchell 14]

I worry about someone hitting me and my canopy under 1000 feet. That's not really an irrational fear from what I've seen.

BTW, you can pull your reserve below 1000 feet, if you really, really have to.

[digitalamnesia 0]

yeah sometimes i think whoaaa if my canopy just fails somehow thats a bloody long way down, then i think 'i wonder how much effect a plf would have if the reserve didnt open' lol but its just a quick thought every so often and i fully trust my gear not to 'fail' once its opened

but sometimes i also think in freefall at about 4 or 5 grand - shit this is really fast - because thats when i can see the ground actually getting BIG

but i do think it is good to be aware of these things, like a reality check i suppose, although i do not think of these often its good to know i have still got some senses left

-------------------------------------------------------

if you wanna see the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain

[EvilLurker 2]

I have the most fear from the time the plane starts rolling until we hit 1200 feet, because you're really out of options if there's a major problem. Under canopy, I worry the most about someone getting in my "blind spot", either right behind me or right above me, because it's impossible to both land and check your 6 at the same time. For some oddball reason, once I'm under a good canopy, i don't really worry about an equipment failure. I figure if it just took 5 or 6 G's on opening, it ain't gonna break now. I made sure I bought a step-through though, I never did trust those legs snaps.
Fear is good, it's what keeps you checking your equipment before you take the big plunge.

[adamsr 0]

Quote

I check my yellow cables and handles. The yellow cables going through the white loops are at about eye level so it's a quick check. Then I feel my handles in the harness to make sure they're in place.

This is a good idea, and something that I dont do on a regular basis, but should.

**Makes mental note to check handles after opening from now on**

[Ron 7]

Quote

Every now & then I'll think the strangest things at different intervals sometimes too. Like what if I were wearing women's underwear today, just for some sort of sick joke, and I pounded myself in? Hmmm....

Uh.....Well.....OK

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Scrumpot 1]

I knew that someone would catch on to that.
Thank you Ron, I LOVE you too!
HA!
Blues,
-Grant

coitus non circum - Moab Stone

[EDYDO 0]

I started skydiving with the capewell cutaway system. I wouldn't say I have fear below 1000 feet, but occasionally I will glance at those little teeny pieces of 550 cord in the 3 ring system at low altitude and think; "You have got to be kidding!!! That's all that's holding me up here"!!!



Ed