JustRelax

No I didnt mean 1,000 fett is my hard deck, that is 2,500. The 1,000 feet check is a reminder that if something stupid happens like a collision that I dont stupidly cut away but do my best to have as much canopy up to get to the ground. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

Yeah, I know some of these arent essential and Im dont go through it like an absolute checklist. My idea though is to refer to it every now again and remind myself if im missing bits out because I want to be safe allert and attitude prepared. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

Some good comments here. Someone has been trained by Dr John. My wife and I got his book, which I recommend - it has relaxation ideasand training strategies. It is Mental Training for Skydiving and Life by John J. DeRosalia. I tighten and loosen my mussles after 10,000 to feel in control. Sometimes I make afake smile before exit - I think it does help and I think training is the answer - in a pool, in the gymn, at home. To say out loud ARCH when your training helps so you can do it in the sky too - the training is about mussle memory - if you do enough of it your body will arch whatever you are feeling. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

I posted this on here before, picked up on the tips and ran it past my JM (Deno). So here is my refined "under canopy strategy" for anyone's interest. This is a suggestion for someone just finishing their AFF or equivalent training: Under canopy strategy 1. Count on open 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 (swing looking left), 5,000 (swing looking right). The swinging is to clear the air in case the pilot chute is on my back. 2. Is it there? Is it square? Is it flying straight? Are lines twisted? Is the slider down? Ok it’s open and looks okay. Fix any line twists. If I can’t land it go to emergency procedures by 2,500. 3. Think peripheral vision, as always – looking out for other parachutes so as to avoid. 4. Do my canopy check: Left turn, right turn, flare x2. 5. Turn to find DZ. 6. Turn into wind. 7. Unzip a bit and put pull cord into suit and zip up. 8. Look for funnel (This is funnel shape sloped from windward side - big opening on top going down to DZ. If I’m in funnel I can land, if not I cant get to DZ) 9. Fly into funnel. 10. Could take a moment to play a few turns. 11. Good to look out for anyone else (know as I do more jumps I will be doing that all the time, but still gasping the basics at this stage). 12. Look at DZ and figure out landing pattern (realise already thought it out before got in plane, but different from up top). 13. Do landing pattern, with some looking at ground when wind behind to feel speed. Also feeling crabbing on side angle to wind and feeling into wind state. 14. Go into funnel again if outside. About 2k now so starting to position for the real landing. 15. At 1k start down wind leg. I will have asked advice on ground as to where the 1k starting point might be. 16. Make note when I reach a "DO NOT CUT-A-WAY" altitude. In my case that's 1,000 feet. 17. When half way down down wind leg assess if feels too high or too low. 18. If too high turn a bit later. If too low turn earlier than expected checkpoint two. 19. After last turn into wind, can do some S movements to loose height. 20. NO HARD TURNS 21 Prepare for 12 foot height Keeping peripheral vision. 22. Flare steady. 23. Toggles up to half if don’t quite reach ground. 24. Land with little bend in knees to cushion and trot (unless stuffed it - in which case prepare PLF. 25. When land pull on one toggle to collapse parachute. 26. Trot around it if windy. 27. Look for other people landing. 28. Look for plane landing. 29. Unbuckle leg straps and rebuckle. 30. Sachet lines (closing with slider). 31. Hold at top of sachet and pick up where bag attaches to chute. Gather pilot chute and pilot chute line and put all over shoulder. 32. Take to packing shed. 33. Lay down rig ready for packer, leaving pull handle with rig. 34. Take helmet off 35. JUMP OVER ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

I posted this on here before, picked up on the tips and ran it past my JM (Deno). So here is my refined "Before the plane" and "In the plane" strategy for anyone's interest. This is a suggestion for someone just finishing their AFF or equivalent training: Before getting in plane 1. Work out wind direction and landing pattern. 2. Clothes check – shoe laces? Zipped up? 3. Complete gear check back and that Cypres is on. 4. Complete gear check front. 5. Accessories check. 6. Check gear of others before we get in. 7. Check exit order and pick up what other divers are planning to do. In plane strategy 1. Check altimeter is at zero 2. After getting seated check my handle (and after any other movement in the plane. 3. Plane takes off, I look out window and enjoy. 4. Then I think of my reserve and think if they kick me out under 2.5k I will pull it. 5. Then at 3k I take my helmet off. 6. Then I think through my dive in my head. 7. Then I look at the clouds and enjoy any conversation. 8. Then I go through my dive in my head again. 9.Then I look at the clouds and enjoy any conversation. 10. We're at about 6k now so my JM will get me to say the dive out loud - I do so. If they don’t ask I ask them to listen to me and confirm. This won’t happen after AFF training is over. 11. Then I look at the clouds and enjoy any conversation. Make a note of what altitude the clouds are. 12. I might look at the rig of the person opposite. Even though that may be my Jumpmaster I am looking at their strap, rings etc. Others do this (my last jump the guy told me I had my goggles round my neck upside down!) 13. I enjoy the conversation and the clouds. If I think about anything it’s just about the climb out. 14. As we get to 9K its helmets on and we get into position (It’s a small plane). Check handle once in position. 15. I start using my peripheral vision looking out at clouds, instruments other people etc and I might tighten and loosen muscles, so feel my control and might feel my breathing. 16. I keep looking out and about. 17. Might put finger under goggles, to stop them misting up. 18. Now watching for door to open. I want to see it, not get surprised by it. 19. Then it’s get ready and when its my turn just shuffle out the door to whatever exit position and step through what I've trained to do. THATS IT ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

Thanks for the tips. Yesterday I did my HopNPop and it went well - which by the way means i'm through my AFF training (beers for the DZ!) Before the NopNPop I did a solo and then went up in the next load for the HopNPop. I think that was a good way because I was able to have the drop of the cesna fresh in my mind. They told me to look at the JM who had his head out the door, as I exited, so as to increase the chnace for a good exit arch position. It was good to be expecting a slow openning and to know that I wasn't going to be at terminal velosity so I did have plenty of time. Thanks again. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

Finishing my AFF soon so these thoughts are familiar enough to me. Seems that there is a natural fear peak for people like us at around the 2nd, 3rd or 4th jump. During these jumps our mind is struggling to cope. This includes the thoughts f wanting to jump and not wanting to jump. So after this fear peak it levels out but doesnt ever completely go away...so its about managing your fear and training yourself so your body can handle the situation. The answer is to train - train - train. In the end the thing about the fear isnt the main issue. The main issue is about being safe, isn't it? So you just over train in the pool, in your mind you visualise every step until you can pretend easily...and yes you'll feel scared doing this on dry ground. The result is that if you have trained like that your body will bo it even though your only half aware. After saying that youve still got the most fantastic sport you can imagine and youve acheived something special. Keep it up :-) ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

Just finishing my AFF training myself. Pretty hard to get things right on these early jumps because your mind is still adjusting and its a bit much to get your body to do what you want. I say to myself Arch-Reach-Lookup-Pull as I do it. On the ground I say this sequence over and over during the week. Ive said this to myself thousands of times - its how I train. I also spent some time in a swimming pool, because of the weightless feeling. The other thing I do is say my 4 words out loud. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

Our DZ has an emergency rule that if we are ordered out of the plane below 2,000 that we pull the reserve. Maybe I get more choice after I get my A license, but that's there rule we're given. 2,500 is the legal hard deck in New Zealand (think that's right). I beleive this means I have to feel I can land my main by that hieight, or I have to make a decision to go for the reserve. This also makes sense that if I jump at 3500 get stable and pull that I should be under canopy by 2500. Making sense of the suggestions. Thanks ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "I never use the term "fear" in the aircraft. What you are managing is "energy." Remember I am a student...for me fear is fear...sure it provides energy and that explains adrenalyne. I figure, I look at it and manage it...that's how I approch it in life. My list is about managing myself to be good and ready for the dive in the way I set myself up. From other reading on this forum I agree that skydiving needs three things: Training, Safety and Attitude. On the matter of attitude, since the fear or "energy" as you prefer to call it increases as the plane approaches jump altitude I am managing myself by thinking through the steps. This makes me safer, I believe. Remember i'm a student. About the time I put the rig on the thought may occure "what the hell are you doing?". I counter this with "you can decide later whether you want to carry on in the sport, but today I am willing to do this dive". If I have a thought in the plane like "this is not for me", I counter it with a "you'll be okay, you have a reserve and a cypress" and "remember that Deno (my JM) has said accidents tend to happen on landing these days rather than under canopy" and "I am not going to do any hard turns before landing - no I'm not". Then I skip back to my routine as above...looking at the clouds and enjoying the conversation or whatever in the list. At the top end I may also say to mysel "Just do it as you have trained and be positive not hesitant". These things help me with my mind attitude. Thanks ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "you should be discussing and settle on a landing direction with everyone on your load before any of you step on to the plane". Yes we do that at our DZ Thanks ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "I am just concerned that if you get too focussed on them you will "tense up". My list is about where I am at at AFF8. I think you would be right if I was at AFF 3 or AFF5 because it would be too much to think about. My JM has been building suggestions and instructions for me at each stage. I think my list is good now. As I consolidate it it becomes more routine so its not like my mind is so full I tense up. In fact you will note that a number of my procedures are about relaxing and overcoming the danger of tensing up. Some of the techniques were also formulated after reading "Mental Training for Skydiving and Life, by John J. DeRosalia" This is how I explain your point. The problem is that without a system a result could also be a tense up situation. I am suggesting this as a routine perhaps suitable for someone at the end of AFF training. Once set I can continue to become familiar with the routine, be vigland, relaxed and ready to dive, insopite of the natural fear factor. This thinking I hope will make me a better skydiver, because I am laying down the foundations correctly. Thanks ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "During taxi/ takeoff I re-zero my visual alti". Yes we do that, I will include it in my list. Some of the other points are preflight...for another list. I am noting them. Thanks ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "Make a note of what altitude the clouds are". On my AFF8 (last jump, my JM said to do this, so I should add that to my list. Thanks ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "I always check handles as I am about to move into the door and my toggle/hackey sack". Yes if I included a before I get into the plane list...we check our gear before we get in. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "That way you'll know which way you will probably be landing". Yes if i included before I get on the plane in my list I would have included checking the windsocks and working out which way i plan to land. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "Just relax". That's what people say. The best i can do is follow my startegy and I hope the relaxing will come. I find it such a strange instruction I made a logo of the words with a lightning bolt, had it made into a patch and gave one each to the JMs at the DZ. I have one on a T-Shirt. See attached. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "protect your handles". Yes my JMs remind me when I move. I have been doing that. I do it after I am seated in the plane, probably another check and then again after we move to get ready to go out. I'll add it to my list. Thanks ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You said "You seem quite relaxed in the plane" I was sweating with fear on my first three jumps. My strategy in the plane is the "doing" that manages the fear. I also think it prepares the senses for the dive and that metters more than my fear. You said "I usually tell my students to stop thinking of the dive at about 6000ft, and to think only about the climbout and exit after that." That's what i'm trying to do - exactly. Thanks ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

You wrote "as I fly through 1,000 feet I note the altitude and mentally change my collision procedures". Hmm, haven't heard of that one before. Sounds right. If this idea stands up to scrutiny I'll build it into my programme. Thanks for the tip. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

2 Tandems, 8 AFF (HopnPo to go), 2 solos. Yes, whe're jumping out of a Cesna. Agree with tip on keeping helmet on. Both the JMs at the DZ have stories of being knocked out by landing jumpers. Watching out while in S turn. Seems a skills to develop through whole dive, agree to develop strategy to always look for other traffic (defensive driving) throughout the whole thing. Great tips, thanks ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

I'm just completing my AFF. Here's my under canopy stategy for anyone interested. Maybe comments will help me adjust and others who are thinking about the plane ride up. 1. Ok its open and looks ok. 2. Do my canopy check: Left turn, right turn, flare x2. 3. Turn to find DZ. 4. Turn into wind. 5. Unzip a bit and put pull cord into suit and zip up. 6. Look for funnel (This is funnel shape sloped from windward side - big openning on top going down to DZ. If im in funnel I can land, if not I cant get to DZ) 7. fly into funnel. 8. Could take a moment to play a few turns. 9. Good to look out for anyone else (know as I do more jumps I will be doing that all the time, but still gasping the basics at this stage). 10. look at dz and figure out landing pattern (realise already thought it out before got in plane, but diferent from up top). 11. do landing pattern, with some looking at ground when wind behind to feel speed. also feeling crabing on side angle to wind and feeling into wind state. 12. Go into funnel again if outside. About 2k now so starting to position for the real landing. 13. at 1k start down wind leg. 14. When half way down down wind leg assess if feels too high or too low. 15. If too high do some S turns to loose some height. If too low assess not to go much past target ie turn a little early. 16. Can do some S movements on side leg, but small movement only now. 17. NO HARD TURNS 18. last turn into wind, can make small adjustments if impressive landing in pit. 19. Prepare for 12 foot height. Keep periferal vision. 20. Flare steady. 21. toggles up to half if dont quite reach ground. 22. Land with little bend in knees to cushion and trot(unless stuffed it - in which case prepare PLF. 23. When land pull on one toggle to collapse parachute. 24. trot around it if windy. 25. Look for other people landing. 26. helmet and goggles off. 27. Shout with joy! 28. look for plane landing. 29. unbuckle leg straps. 30. Sachet lines (closing with slider). 31. hold at top of sachet and pick up where bag attaches to chute. 32. gather pilot chute and pilot chute line. 33. Put all over shoulder and take to packing ched. JUMP OVER That's it. What do you think? ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

I'm just completing my in the plane stategy for anyone interested. Maybe comments will help me adjust and others who are thinking about the plane ride up. 1. Plane takes off, I look out window and enjoy. 2. Then I think of my reserve and think if they kick me out under 2.5k I will pull it. 3. Then at 3k I take my helmet off 4. Then I think through my dive in my head. 5. Then I look at the clouds and enjoy any conversation. 6. Then I go through my dive in my head again. 7.Then I look at the clouds and enjoy any conversation. 8.we're at about 6k now so my Jm will get me to say the dive out loud - I do so. If they dont ask I ask them to listen to me and confirm. 9. Then I look at the clouds and enjoy any conversation. 10. I might look at the rig of the person opposite. Even though that may be my jumpmaseter I am looking at their strap, rings etc. Other do this (my last jump the guy told me I had my goggles round my neck the wrong way round) 11. I enjoy the coversation and the clouds. If i think about anything its just about the climb out. 12. As we get to 9K its helmets on and we get into position (Its a small plane). 13. I start using my periferal vision looking out at clouds, instruments other people etc and I might tighten and loosen mussles, so feel my control and might feel my breathing. 14. I keep looking out and about. 15. Might put finger under goggles, to stop mist. 16. Now watching for door to open. I want to see it, not get surprised by it. 17. Then its get ready and when its my turn just shuffle out the door to whatever exit position and step through what I've trained to do. That's it. What do you think? ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

Okay, revising my idea after reading below. Figure if jump at 3.5k count 5 and pull for slow openning, should be all okay under canopy by 2.5k rather than 1.5k. I was counting fall rate at terminal velosity speed by mistake. Naturally its a slower fall. My idea of adding 2 secs to the after pull count sounds right (1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 look left, 5,000 look right - allow another 2 seconds) - then think emergency if not out and flying. Yes ofcourse I will check with my JM. He said he'll tell all on the day. But I like to do my background thinking and plan ready...then I can handle a different instruction on a particular point on the day. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

Yeah, that's good. I can look up and see the plane now, so I will make sure I do that as I drop off and start counting. ________________________________________ Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.