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ColdDuck

Hardest level of AFF

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in my opinion, the hardest level is whichever level you think will be the hardest. when I did my aff, I psyched myself out and what I thought would be the hardest level took my 5 times to pass. notice I did not tell you what level that was. I hope no one tells you what will be the hardest level, because then you might psych yourself out about it.
relax and have fun

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Grasshopper - I disagree!
Everybody knows that AFF level 1 is by FAR the hardest one to make. So, since ColdDuck obviously passed that to get to level 2, I would say that he/she has already met the greatest challenge and things can only get better from here on! :)/s
[drop till you party!]

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For me, level 3 was definitely the hardest (apart from just beating the fear to do level 1). As both instructors released me, I started turning due to asymmetry. Took me a few attempts to pass level 3, but then the rest seemed easy!
Geoff

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The hardest level for me was level one. It seemed that I got real used to having the JM attached to me during tandems, and the first jump without the "security" of the tandem harness and JM was tricky for me. Talk about sweating bullets!! I deployed with a line dump and ended up snapping three lines, I think I cracked a rib, felt like it anyway. I was wearing a radio for landing and the JM was waiting on the opposite side of the landing area, by the time he had me flare I was only about 3 feet off the ground and had a very hard landing, busted my lip and everything!! Its all good now, I did pass AFF without any repeats, and just got my A license last week (some inspiration for ya!) Stick with it!!!
Blue ones!!

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I don't know about you guys, but I did the 4 tandem progression and then straight into aff 4a... Anyway, the hardest one for me to get past was the 6 I think.( the first one with flips) It just bothered me a bit that after finally figuring out how to stay stable, they wanted me to make myself unstable and then fix it...However, I must say, as soon as I did it I was so pumped...! It turned out to be all in my head.
"pull high! It's lower than you think..."

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I think that AFF 1 is by far and away the hardest but not the whole jump just the time between then end of the FJC and when you exit the plane. I think that I psyked myself out more at that poin then at any time. I was way more stressed in the mock up before AFF1 than when I lost my goggles during my graduation dive. You will never know which level is the hardest util you have finished and then you won't worry about it. Relax, prepare, double check and then have fun.
Blue Skys and Safe Landings
Albatross

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You will never know which level is
the hardest util you have finished and then you won't worry about it. Relax, prepare, double check and then have fun.

That's really good advice! :)Some advice that was given to me as I was busily worrying myself into a neurotic mess about AFF4 was to dirt dive the upcoming jump at home/work/while exercising/whereever, practice your emergency procedures, practice your form on the living room floor, learn as much as you can by working with your JM's/reading/watching videos, then go out there have a great time and kick ass!!
Blue Skies,
Karen

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Hi
Just wanted to say that the levels are not hard and all can be done without repeating. Personally though I had the most trouble getting out of the plane low on my hop and pop. I just kept picturing myself unstable and having no altitude to fix the problem. In the end I was unstable but HAD time to fix it and pulled on 3rd count anyway.
Blue Skies:ph34r:
Skydivers Know Why Birds Are Singing

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WARNING-If you are an AFF student you may not want to read this!!!


I never tell students which ones are the hardest and indeed everyone seems to have trouble with at least one of them, but there are exeptions. It is primarily pyschological with them. The toughest ones psychologically are 3 and 4. Those are the ones that freak people out the most and which most people repeat. 1 (other than the fact that it may be your first jump) and 2 are easy, not much to do and you have 2 people holding onto you throughout your freefall. 3 is when students feel a bit more responsible to fly on their own and 4 is a bit more difficult because they think "you mean I have to turn and fly without any help???". 90% of students at level 3-4 have what I call the 1,000 mile stare. If you look at them straight in the eyes, you would swear that they dont see you, but then, then...you see the light bulb go off (sometimes on L4, but usually on L5) and awareness seems to happen (some quicker than others). Its an amazing thing to see and extremely gratifying...its what the job is all about!!!

Anyways, long winded answer to 3 and 4 are the most often repeated levels. But, Shhhh...dont tell any students that. :)

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I think the hardest was the waiting period after the AFF1 briefing and before the jump itself. After that and all through the course every plane ride to altitude was anxiety driven. I think all through my AFF I was more relaxed out of the door than inside it.

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[QUOTE]I think all through my AFF I was more relaxed out of the door than inside it.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree. The plane rides drive me nuts, but the second I've went through that door, it's all goodB|

---------------------------------------------
let my inspiration flow,
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm...

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The hardest level is sitting at ground level day after day waiting for the weather to cooperate with you. I did repeat a level but not because it was hard, but because I had a brain fart and just did it all wrong. I just went right back up on the next load and kicked it's ass.


--TB
Welcome my friends to the show that never ends.

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I didn't find any level particularly hard... The hard part for me though was the first few jumps...

I had to repeat level 2 because I freaked out and my JM's where throwing too many signs at me to alter my body position.. It just confused me I guess...

but after that everything when smooth... Just have a little faith in your gear and yourself and relax.. It works

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I found AFF pretty straight forward. Had 5 mins in the wind tunnel before i started so i had the body position ok and could do the turns. Id recomend doing that to anybody. I dont think its gonna be long before AFF level 2 or 3 gets dropped if youve bin in the tunnel + 1st jump was good.

Adi :S

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The toughest ones psychologically are 3 and 4.

As an AFF Student I totally agree. Level 3 was when I realised that I was becoming responsible for my own actions and stability. The thought of being 'on my own' after the JM released me hit me like a ton of bricks, even though I knew he was still right beside me to back me up. Once I'm confident in being able to fall with stability I'm sure that this feeling will go away and I will be able to progress.

Having said that, I haven't done the flips yet, so maybe they will become the most difficult.:P
Gerb

I stir feelings in others they themselves don't understand. KA'CHOW !

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Everyone that I know has their "breakthrough" jump at a different point. Some people are relaxed after a half dozen jumps; some it takes 20-some or more. Keep on trying!



our aff is designed around 15 jumps, so my numbers might be off, but i love the progression. i had my toughest jump on the release dive (4) when the JMs let me go. i have a BEAUTIFUL (unwanted) left turn! and what is this "beach ball" i seemingly have to balance on now? ;):P

BUT my breakthrough was just this weekend on jump 7 when i was dropping stable, doing my 360s like a top, and FALLING THROUGH rather than riding on or fighting the wind - something my JM's told me would eventually happen. Heck I was so relaxed to on pull time, i actually remembered haha and soaked in the final few moments of freefall before deployment. ;) not only that, i nailed the landing, flared on time, and needed 2 steps. i usually flare like i am landing on a house, 15 feet up;) - holy plf batman!

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WARNING-If you are an AFF student you may not want to read this!!!
...and 4 is a bit more difficult because they think "you mean I have to turn and fly without any help???". 90% of students at level 3-4 have what I call the 1,000 mile stare. If you look at them straight in the eyes, you would swear that they dont see you, but then, then...you see the light bulb go off (sometimes on L4, but usually on L5) and awareness seems to happen (some quicker than others).



this was me too - i knocked off 2 ok turns, saw i was at 8000, and zoned OUT. my JM said i didnt seem to be doing anything, but i swear i was trying my damndest to turn - for a while. i was alt aware, and had no trouble with recognising our hard-deck or pull time, but i just flailed all over trying to turn after i lost my wits...

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