Posted: 5/4/2008 9:04:02 AM EDT
| I am leaving in a few minutes for my first tandem jump and wondered if anyone wants to share some last minute advice or suggestions? |
Saw lots of vids of people puking right before they jumped. Just relax and enjoy it! if you are going to puke, turn your head. I jumped 4 times static line, and it was a blast every time. By the way the 1st time and 3rd time my parachute had trouble deploying fully which sent me into a hard spin almost causing my reserve to blow at 2500 ft, Hope you know who packed your parachute. |
That is similar to my experience. I think I got 6 static line jumps in. I could never get my exit right and was always doing a back flip over top of my chute. The last jump I did some of the lines were wrapped around the top of the chute. I was falling, the chute was opening fully due to the wrapped lines, and I started looking at the cut away handle. Before it got to the point where I had to pull it the lines untwisted and the chute popped open. It's a blast...but I think I have had enough. |
Ditto, but the transition was almost instantaneous for me. The second of weightlessness it was like, OK, nothing I can do about it now, might as well enjoy the ride. LOVED IT. I was scared shitless on the way up and the jumpmaster had to wrestle me out, but it was all good from there. 
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I had no problem actually jumping out. The prospect of facing the ridicule of me chickening out was far greater then the fear of jumping.
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I am back and all I can say is, OMFG why did I wait 31 years to experience that? Pics will be up in a little bit, but I have to say that was truly a peak experience. A time when you are living completely in the moment and I was only aware of the moment with none of the distractions of everyday life. The people at Skydiving Deland were great and I am already planning my next trip back to the area to start AFF sometime within the year! |
I’m glad I did it but I never will again. I did AFF (Accelerated free fall) for my first jump I had to do 6 hrs of class and lots of practice. We jump with an instructor on both sides and you go threw all the steps then you pull the shoot and it’s up to you to find your way down.  
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ETA: It was so un-busy at my DZ I went autocrossing with the Porsche club on the closed runway. As far as looking good, I wear a camera helmet that squishes my face so it can't flap.  WTF???? You jumped at Deland???? Do you know how far that is from my DZ?? 
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Sorry, but Deland was recommended to me by a local and since I was staying in Ormond it was closer. I will hit you up when I come back to the state for AFF. ETA: When I told the lady where your DZ was the comment I received is, "That's BFE where all they do is jump and bottle water." At least, you have one of the cottage industries. |
You want to be naked, strapped to another guy and have pictures on the internet?
