EChen22

That still happens to me, 250+ jumps later. Long layovers make me anxious, and I feel those familiar inklings of fear all over again. Kinda what makes it so intense In all seriousness, reviewing your procedures and visualizing the safe and successful jump/landing over and over always seem to help me. Deep breaths in the plane, and nothing too crazy for the first jump back ... Usually just a simple two-way so I have someone to play with! Best of luck as you continue on! You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

I have two: 1) Dive-out exit, misjudged where the door ended and slammed my left shoulder into it so hard it flipped me over and I kicked the guy behind me in the face. (Did I mention the guy behind me was my boyfriend? Oops ...) Bruised arm, bruised ego, and a "WTF, babe?!" upon landing. 2) Awesome jump, great landing, normal walk back to hangar, jumping high five to celebrate ... broken thumb. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Who are students allowed to jump with after AFF, but prior to A license? Only someone coach-rated, or anyone with an instructor rating? Is that it? We have some new AFF graduates at our DZ and I'd love an opportunity to work with them, so I think I have to get the coach rating in order to be able to jump with them ... correct? I have no other instructional ratings. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Been a Tampa fan for more than 10 years. Great to see them in the finals, tough with all the injuries. The next few years look promising! Loved that Chicago's victory parade was delayed. By Lightning. Win. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

"Have fun, be safe!" You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Ugh, last night was BRUTUAL! The Bolts looked terrified to be there. Where was the team we saw Saturday? That now makes six straight periods shut out at the Joe ... Oh, and Stamkos? Time to step it up. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Would be interested to hear what exercises/stretches you do - always looking for new ones for both of those areas. (Would also potentially be interested in that Spectre if/when you get your new canopy - what size if it?) You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Thank you!

Is this fixable? Have an Alti-2 Altimaster Galaxy (purchased used) and have put about 200 jumps on it with no issues. Noticed the other day, on the ground thankfully, that the needle is just wiggling around loose. Took it up in the plane to see what it would do, and nothing. Has this happened to anyone and is it repairable? If so, is it worth the cost or would it be easier to just get a new one? Thanks in advance! You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

I have to disagree, from personal experience. My advice would actually be the exact opposite. Had two nasty openings in a row. After the first one, I tucked my chin (as someone told me to) on the second opening and ended up with three herniated discs. Tucking it put me in a more head-down type position, which caused the backward whip to be even worse. Since recovering from the injury and talking with several people, I now make sure my head is as far back as I can put it while pulling and through opening. This won't affect the actual opening in any way (though it is nice to see your opening), but in case it's hard, my head is already as far back as it can go - no whiplash. Just my opinion and personal experience ... perhaps the science behind it is the same and I'm just stronger holding my head back rather than forward. Best of luck to the OP healing quickly! You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

This intrigues me ... tell me more! How do you even get started in something like this? I feel like getting into RW is tough bc it seems everyone who does it has been doing it forever - not a whole lot of room for beginners (we mess up a lot!) You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

I file ASAP since it takes me all of about 37 seconds and I always get a refund. No kids, no house, same job, don't make a lot = easiest taxes imaginable. Another upside - file early so no one can file a falsified return under your name. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

My Tampa Boys are doing pleasantly well ... :-) Just had a solid defenseman (Gudas) sidelined with knee surgery, but if we can keep Bishop healthy and keep the mumps away, we look to be in good shape! *fingers crossed* You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Nailing an exit is such an awesome feeling, especially as a newer jumper! I get so excited, and the smile is HUGE, lol. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

I explain it to non-jumpers like throwing an apple core out of your car window and watching it arc first before falling. We, as jumpers, are the apple core. I got the stomach-drop feeling only once, on a peculiar tandem exit, but never again. To the OP, I'm surprised you're feeling that on every exit, but I wish you luck and hope you're able to overcome the fear. Roller coasters/drop towers would probably be the best way to simulate that feeling and try to get used to it, if that's what you're trying to do. Blue skies! You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

If not, I'm sure there are PLENTY of Florida DZs that would be happy to help! You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Hi there! Not sure what your financial situation is like, but if you have a wind tunnel near you (and some extra $ lying around), you could work on your freefall skills. Tunnel time helps get your body used to moving in freefall. Hope this helps, and welcome to the skies :-) You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Having not yet experienced a mal (Hope I never have to, *knocks on wood*) this is purely speculation, but I feel I would do better in a high-speed "I-have-no-nylon-over-my-head" type malfunction vs a slower one that I have to debate whether or not to chop. I'm scared I'll make the wrong decision, chopping something I didn't need to or attempting to land something I shouldn't. How do you get over that fear? I feel I've heard a lot of "I probably should've chopped, but landed it anyway" type stories. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

John, this is awesome advice ... I've recently really been spending time in the plane focusing on and visualizing every part of the jump going successfully - and it works. My exits have been better, docks have been faster, I have less anxiety on opening, and landings have been smoother. Professional athletes have been singing the praises of positive visualization for a long time ... now I understand why. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Congratulations!!!! Quite an accomplishment. My dad won't even come watch! You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Sorry!! Just making sure in the "nice, slow opening canopy" conversation, I wasn't being told incorrectly about the Spectre. Though this thread is making me lean toward a Pilot for sure ... time to demo! You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

Should the Spectre be considered anywhere in this conversation? In my asking around locally for soft openings, that's what's been recommended (as well as the Pilot). Just curious, have yet to fly any of the above-mentioned. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

I was actually going to post something similar this morning since my 200th is approaching as well (fingers crossed). I was thinking a three-person hybrid with two favorite people; something not too crazy and fairly manageable. Although ... BFR's are always awesome :-) You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

My S.O. and I have an understanding - he packs my rig, he gets a 20 min massage when we get home. :) You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.

We shoulder strapped rigs through a few different US airports last week with no issue. One security checkpoint wiped them down for residue, the other, not even that. I wonder if the fact that we had them completely out rather than in bags, coupled with the fact that there were two of us together made any difference? Crazy to hear how security procedures can differ so much. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation.