betzilla 56
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Just because this account makes me smile... ^bump^
AMDG
ya know.....i think i might know the julie you are talking about. extremely cool chick? jumps at perris, elsinore, and skydive san diego? i say hi to her every time i see her elsinore or if i'm down at skydive san diego......and i just noticed her wearing a deguello team suit about a week ago. really cool girl.....and from what i hear an awesome flyer.
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"Insert witty quote here."
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"Insert witty quote here."
I took to it pretty well but still had some issues as a student. After I gained some experience and took on something new, I would not take to it as fast as some of my peers.
What has served me well is some advice I got early on in my career: two of my instructors who I was (and still am) good friends with told me not to be in a hurry, rather to get really good at where I was first, then move on to advanced maneuvers or a smaller canopy. Those were magic words for me.
The result, so many years later, is that I have become a skydiver who is very good at very basic things. I am a "utility" skydiver who can adapt to many things and many disciplines. Also, I have never been hurt other than a sprained ankle or a bruised heel.
On the other hand, I have taught and have been around many "natural" skydivers, including a good friend of mine who has nailed every single thing he has learned from the git go. It used to frustrate me, but now I just learn from him and make myself better. He does the same from me and we kind of feed off each other.
What has served me well is some advice I got early on in my career: two of my instructors who I was (and still am) good friends with told me not to be in a hurry, rather to get really good at where I was first, then move on to advanced maneuvers or a smaller canopy. Those were magic words for me.
The result, so many years later, is that I have become a skydiver who is very good at very basic things. I am a "utility" skydiver who can adapt to many things and many disciplines. Also, I have never been hurt other than a sprained ankle or a bruised heel.
On the other hand, I have taught and have been around many "natural" skydivers, including a good friend of mine who has nailed every single thing he has learned from the git go. It used to frustrate me, but now I just learn from him and make myself better. He does the same from me and we kind of feed off each other.
Arrive Safely
John
John
First of all, thanks for the very entertaining AFF progression story. 
Second, I would not be disgraced by any of those tales. Look at how much fun you have recounting the experience.
I was terrified through most of my AFF. There were points of exhilaration and joy but mostly terror. I too remember getting a little "help" to be peeled off the outside of the otter on my Level 1.
Why I continued to go back was truly a mystery. Did I really enjoy the tortuous torment of walking to that door every time? I guess so.
I squeaked through every level of AFF but looking back my performance was far from all pretty. I did what I needed to do based on a fear/survival reaction. Basically primitive scared shitless form. It really took me about 20 jumps to relax.
But it was always GOOD
Second, I would not be disgraced by any of those tales. Look at how much fun you have recounting the experience.
I was terrified through most of my AFF. There were points of exhilaration and joy but mostly terror. I too remember getting a little "help" to be peeled off the outside of the otter on my Level 1.
Why I continued to go back was truly a mystery. Did I really enjoy the tortuous torment of walking to that door every time? I guess so.
I squeaked through every level of AFF but looking back my performance was far from all pretty. I did what I needed to do based on a fear/survival reaction. Basically primitive scared shitless form. It really took me about 20 jumps to relax.
But it was always GOOD
Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."
Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."
Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."
Shark 0
Quoteya know.....i think i might know the julie you are talking about. extremely cool chick? jumps at perris, elsinore, and skydive san diego? i say hi to her every time i see her elsinore or if i'm down at skydive san diego......and i just noticed her wearing a deguello team suit about a week ago. really cool girl.....and from what i hear an awesome flyer.
Dude,
Did I mention she is hot, too?!?!
She was jumping in the Wine Country Invitational this weekend. Hey Sonny, weren't you in that formation? Oh, wait... I think that was Chaz. That's okay, everybody thought Doug was freeflying today.
FoxHound 0
"Natural Skydiver" is what an AFFI will tell you to get you through the course. He doesn't mean it, theres no such thing.
Fox
Fox
oh ! boy ! you had to say that didn't you 
billvon 2,464
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>and i just noticed her wearing a deguello team suit about a week ago.
That would be Julie.
That would be Julie.
Bolas 5
If there is such a thing it's not me... 
35 jumps to get license
Only 1 stand up in the first 20 or so jumps (and that's when I forgot to pull)
Landed on runway with jump plane taxiing towards me.
Held onto pilot chute on deployment (started to go for my handles when I realized something was in my hand)
Landed off countless times (on good spots)
On my swoop and dock for my license I tracked in and hit my instructor (Somehow still got the license)
I think the only way I got through student status was the HAC (Hot Aussie Chick) method my instructor came up with. It consisted of:
Instructor: You see that chick?
Me: Yeah
I: Here name is Tania, You think she's hot?
M: Duh, hell Yeah!!
I: Okay before we exit breath and say "Ahh, Tania"
M: Okay
I: And I want to see you do it in the air too.
Damned if it didn't work. I had a muse!!! We told her about it on the ground afterwards and she was amused but also thought it was weird. He still uses her for students today.
When I start coaching/instructing (if it's true what they say that the worst students make the best teachers, I'm gonna be great at it) I think I'll use the same technique.
35 jumps to get license
Only 1 stand up in the first 20 or so jumps (and that's when I forgot to pull)
Landed on runway with jump plane taxiing towards me.
Held onto pilot chute on deployment (started to go for my handles when I realized something was in my hand)
Landed off countless times (on good spots)
On my swoop and dock for my license I tracked in and hit my instructor (Somehow still got the license)
I think the only way I got through student status was the HAC (Hot Aussie Chick) method my instructor came up with. It consisted of:
Instructor: You see that chick?
Me: Yeah
I: Here name is Tania, You think she's hot?
M: Duh, hell Yeah!!
I: Okay before we exit breath and say "Ahh, Tania"
M: Okay
I: And I want to see you do it in the air too.
Damned if it didn't work. I had a muse!!! We told her about it on the ground afterwards and she was amused but also thought it was weird. He still uses her for students today.
When I start coaching/instructing (if it's true what they say that the worst students make the best teachers, I'm gonna be great at it) I think I'll use the same technique.
Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.
WrongWay 0
I don't think there are any "naturals"! There could be some that catch on quicker than others, but never that just fly!!
Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.
Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.
These are some great stories of inspiration for one (me) who will hopefully be starting S/L shortly. Now I can see that I should just relax and enjoy my time learning. Not like it is a competition on how fast I can get certified right?
Jeff
Jeff
That's impressive. I remember on my level 1 S/L jump thinking, "okay, there's no way I'll be able toget back in there, so I might as well just let go of the strut..."
The rest is, as they say, history.
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