i_like_ceviche

I don't work in the sport, and I love my job. But I am frequently afflicted by a nagging desire to be closer to it by working in it. Yes, I am aware that this may cause me to start hating it. For the sake of my question, let's assume this would not happen. Who can tell me about working in tunnels on the corporate side? My background is in management in technology, product, and communications. I'm comfortable leading teams and enjoy partnerships and BD. I have no idea how the tunnel industry works, other than managing tunnels and flight instruction. What does a corporate career in this industry look like? Room for growth? Is it profitable? Travel? Pay? Perks such as tunnel hours? Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.

Gah, the answers here are generating more questions! Love the comment about freestyle. That is most likely the discipline I will target, since that's what got me into this in the first place. But don't understand why SL is physically demanding? Because of PLFing rounds? That's just painful but doesn't sound like a workout? CRW: why don't you have packers? Do you have to pack the parachute a very specific way? Dozens of tandems: Is it the stress that deployment puts on the body with all that weight? Or steering the toggles? I've noticed on tandems that the toggles seem "heavier" when I try to steer than when I'm flying my own canopy. Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.

Why is static line physically demanding? Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.

Haha, no we definitely don't. But as long as we're calling it a sport, it just got me thinking about what are the most athletic aspects about it, if any. After my 2nd jump, I had all kinds of neck stiffness and minor whiplash. Could be from deployment shock and my musculature just not being accustomed to the G forces, or from being in a crap body position when I pulled, or from a rough landing on that second jump (1st flare all the way down at 3 meters, oops, unflare all the way back up again, 2nd flare all the way down at 1 meter, oops, this looks wrong, unflare!). Whatever the case, I took the entire next day off to sip margaritas and enjoy massage. I really couldn't lift my head unless I used my hands to assist my neck. So yeah, like in any sport, you can get hurt, but does any of it actually work the body? I'd imagine tunnel is also a bit of a workout? I remember from my first (and only, so far) 10-minute session, my arms were sort of feeling it the next day... Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.

New skydiver here. Since I'm new to the sport, I'm spending a lot of time thinking about where I might go with it and where it might take me. I'm wondering what's the most athletically-demanding discipline in skydiving? Is there anything that especially works certain muscle groups or is more of a workout than other things I might focus on. Didn't get into this to work out at all but just curious. Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.

Just found this. Really loved the writing -- composed from the soul. With a bit of editing, it's excellent content. Did you end up publishing it anywhere? Still jumping? Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.

I think it does go away, but as others noted, it's probably different for each person. I'm a completely new jumper (licensed 2 weeks ago), and I stopped being afraid of the door (in fact started craving getting out) around jump 9. However, I'm back home now and there's no DZ near me. I won't be able to jump until early October. As used to it as I got from jumping multiple times a day for 10 days straight during my AFF + A license progression, I am absolutely certain the fear will return when I jump again. I'll have not jumped for almost a month, and I'll be at a different dropzone where nobody knows me. Yep, door fear will rear its irrational head again. But I think this is good. Honestly I think fear keeps us from complacency and keeps you respecting the sport. It's a survival instinct, so it operates to keep you alert. If ever you get to a point where you can just walk through that door like it ain't no thang, cool! But, maybe that would be a good time to take a really hard course and uplevel your skydiving skills so that you remember how little you actually know and get a humility check. Just to make sure you're not forgetting any basics and getting too confident, which I can imagine starts to happen to most people when they get into the thousands of jumps. Fear's good, if you manage it well! Also, convince yourself to trust the equipment. It's really good! And, remember that the door is your magical gateway to the great outdoors 2 miles about the Earth. Try to see it that way, and maybe you'll embrace the door. Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.

This happened to a guy on my load when I was doing AFF a few weeks ago. Hey, is that your reserve or are you just happy to see me? GULP! Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.

YES! That last part about learning more from screwing up than doing it right? Couldn't have put it better. I had a rough jump 2 because of the line twist and early flare. I would NOT change anything, tho, even if I could. That line twist gave me the opportunity to think about cutting away and realize that actually, routine malfunctions are just that, routine, and I shouldn't worry. I can handle it. And the bum landing? Damn well taught me to flare right. Mistakes are important. But yeah that freaky jump two is here: https://wtaff.com/day-2-first-aff-jump-really-this-time-jump-3-656d29ade932 Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.

Registered 3 days ago and finally allowed to post. YAS. So I just finished AFF and got USPA-A through Skydive Diani in Kenya. When I was getting ready start AFF, I couldn't find much first-hand information on what the experience would be like. Parachutist talks to experienced Skydivers, Dropzone forums were enormously helpful but focused on specific issues, and Blue Skies was good lulz. Not a lot of primary sources about what the experience would be like. I read a lot of skydivers talking to skydivers and found the info a bit esoteric to parse if you're just starting out. So I documented my progression on What The AFF? (https://wtaff.com) and now I'm looking to connect with other aspiring skydivers and current students. What was your biggest fear/hurdle? Was the door an issue? Which freefall maneuvers were most difficult? Any close calls? Something you wish you knew before you started? Any of you out there who quit, or who are going back in AFF after a long delay? Esp if you wanna write it up, I'd love to hear from you. Joined the sport in September 2017 at Skydive Diani. Lives and work in Rwanda. Write about skydiving on https://wtaff.com.