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Quote[My first AFF level, I ended up almost over the ocean, miles away from the drop zone and my radio didnt work. omg. that is my biggest fear!!! gotta work through that one before i jump, that's for sure. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

i, too, have a terrifying fear of heights, but had zero fear on my first (and only, so far) tandem jump because i had complete trust in the instructor i jumped with. also, before i jumped, i hung around the dz for a couple of hours, went on 2 ride alongs in the plane and watched other jumpers jump and then land safely. i knew very little about the sport, so this got me a little acclimated. i also read somewhere that fear of heights kicks in when you look down and can identify objects (like from a ladder, a ferris wheel, a building, etc.) but from 15,000 ft, the mind cannot compute distance in the same way, there are no "objects" to identify, so there is no fear of heights. that explanation worked for me, anyway. there are lots of great responses to your post here.... in the end, do what feels right for me, skydiving blasted all of the cobwebs out from between my ears! it woke me up big time, and i feel great and can't wait to start training to go solo! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

oh...relaxing makes things work better... so it seems like, it's more of a mental fitness, because in working through the fear, it's easier to relax. makes sense. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

I was wondering what DZ you are jumping at? i'm at hollister, ca where are you? Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

Quote Then hit the /quote button. i did it! great. thanks guys! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

*** Then hit the /quote button. Its the same button but it changes to /quote after you hit quote. another attempt....maybe this worked... Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

Or if you only want to quote some of the post. Hit the quote button, then copy and paste in what you want to quote. ok. let's see if this worked... Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

i'm not sure where to ask this question, and it's pretty remedial...i can't figure out how to quote a portion of another person's post in my reply. i know, really silly question- but as you can see, i am really low-tech when it comes to this sort of thing. can anyone help me?? thanks! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

you start aff tomorrow?! definitely let me know how it goes! have fun! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

yes, i completely agree, we CAN do anything we set our minds to, and embracing and overcoming the fear to learn to skydive solo must feel great. thanks for the wind tunnel idea. there's one near where i live, i'll think about that. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

that excelerated fear thing is exactly what is happening to me now. i've set my aff training dates, and my mind is flooded with fear. will i spin out of control in freefall? will i freeze up and not be able to move/pull? will i blah, blah blah.....and on and on it goes. BUT, i'm still going, because you're right about the feeling of empowerment and aliveness i know i'll have. like gravity pulling me to the ground, this sport is pulling me like crazy to have this experience again! i don't know of anything i have so constantly obsessed about. glad i found this forum- my friends and family are getting tired of listening to me! (except for my son, thanks to him that's how all of this got started...) 22 more days before i go out there again! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

Exactly the same as me. I couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Then when I booked my AFF the fear really set in. I would be awoken at night by waves of fear washing over me if I knew I was going to the DZ the next day. In the plane just as the door opens I get it again, every jump. I have learned to take a deep breath, shake myself down and just grin at everyone around me, to enjoy those feelings, that's why we all do this, bacause nothing else makes us feel this alive ! Enjoy it buddy. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

you guys are funny Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

thanks- Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

i'm 48 and my son took me skydiving for mother's day. i loved it , and want to take the aff training. i'm not super fit, never really have been all that into sports, but i don't have a sedentary lifestyle, i run around all day at my job working in a restaurant. should i start working out? should i do aything special to prepare myself physically for aff? thanks! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

thank you so much, to all of you who have responded. everything you've said is really helpful. i can't wait to go again! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

ok. good. that's a great idea. is it hard to steer the canopy? Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

i just did my first tandem jump last week, and have not been able to stop thinking about skydiving ever since. i'm going to do one more tandem in a few weeks, and then hopefully sign up for aff. 2 questions: first- i had zero fear going tandem because i had complete trust in the instructor, who basically did everything. but now, when i do my first aff jump, i'll be solo for the most part. i'm nervous.....does it go away after that first jump? and second- how hard is it to steer the canopy? i will definitely be on my own for that part. i'm hoping i'll be able to see where i'm supposed to land, and then get there. is that hard?? thanks! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

airtwardo and 377- thanks so much! an adrenaline roto-rooter to flush out the mediocrity of life...hmm- yea, i think i had alot to flush out! ok. a steady diet of continuous skydiving- good idea! and 377, wow, still exciting after so many years! that's great. and actually, the more i think about doing aff, the more i think, how can i NOT do it?! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

thanks skymama- either way, i am so looking forward to my next jump in june. when i go, i'll make the decision to do the aff training. i think about skydiving everyday....many times a day........... i'm totally obsessed with it!

wow, interesting- so you didn't really like until afterwards either?? are you going again?? i've decided to push through the nausea, and just get out there and jump again. now that i've seen what in the heck skydiving actually is, i'll know more what to expect and hopefully that will help. Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.

hi everyone, at 48, i just did my first tandem jump (it was a surprise gift from my son...), and it was unbelievable! i'm seriously considering taking the aff training. i am hoping to get your thoughts about a couple of things. first, i honestly did not enjoy the jump until afterwards, when it left me with a feeling of incredible exhilaration and a feeling of empowerment. i had never seen anyone skydive before, and had absolutely no idea what was happening after i jumped out of that plane. the wind was intense, and i got really nauseated after the parachute opened, and it didn't go away for almost an hour. i thought there was no way i'd ever do that again. but now here i am, fascinated with the experience, and i have a huge smile on my face everytime i think about it. i've watched my video over and over, told everyone i know, and feel compelled to go out there again. am i crazy?? so does anyone know if the nausea thing is common, and do you have any suggestions for me so i won't get it again? i'm doing one more tandem jump in a few weeks, then i think i'm signing up for aff. thanks! Jennifer don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go do that, because what the world needs is people that come alive.