joshua.toenyes

Thanks skymama! Rock climbing definitely requires most physical fitness and climbing-specific muscles (back and forearms, etc.) Skydiving thus far, has been much more mentally difficult. You can climb an easy route and save yourself some psychological stress, but there's no easy version of jumping out of a plane!

Congrats on you A! I hope to get mine soon

I am an AFF student, just passed level 4 this morning. If I could do my A License in a week, I'd love to! But so far, there's no way I'd be mentally capable of absorbing the skydive, then getting right back on the plane for another jump. I am sure that some people are completely capable of jumping several times in one day during AFF and prior to their A license. However, I would hate to be pressured by a schedule into my next jump. Me personally, I am completely satisfied to do a jump then take a couple days to absorb and reflect, then go back for the next. If you haven't started AFF, just be prepared for your mind to handle the experience differently than you expected. You may have to wrestle with demons after a jump that didn't go as well as you hoped, I know that I have. Learning how to fly is difficult, but learning how to convince your mind that you CAN fly is more difficult.

Greetings Everyone! My name is Josh, and I'm brand new to the skydiving world. My first dive was my AFF Level 1 at Skydive San Diego a few weeks ago. I just passed my AFF Level 4 this morning, and I'm super excited to keep moving towards my A license! I've been reading posts on dropzone.com for a while, and they've been a huge boost. The most difficult part of skydiving for me is mastering my own mind and focusing my attention during each jump. Aside from skydiving, I love rock climbing. I started climbing about 4 years ago, and I find the mental challenges very similar, but much more intense during a skydive. Thank you all for the help so far and I hope to contribute in the future!

lol! Totally true! I did my level 4 this morning, and it was awesome! I definitely did a lot of mental training and prep for this one, and it helped tremendously. Also, your awesome depictions of fear helped me to keep him on the ground and out of the plane

I love your cartoons! Tomorrow is my AFF Level 4 and I find myself struggling with my frog brain . It's great to read stories that are so wonderfully illustrated that I can personally relate to. I love how you brought humor to the stressful process of learning to skydive! Thank you for sharing!