Shakey Level 1, Do i continue? Advice please

Hi All Skydiver in the Uk here

New to the forum and to the skydiving just wanted the opinion of a few experienced skydivers on this matter...

So I decided to uptake an AFF course, I had previously done a tandem jump, loved it and thought this was the natural progression as well as it being a good challenge for myself. I'm 28 years old, I play poker professionally and although that challenges me mentally I thought a hobby that challenged me physically was a great idea and this seemed perfect.

Last Thursday I did the ground training thought that although it was a lot to take in, in one day I felt I got to grips with it well enough. The next day was a bad weather and a “blow out” so I had the entire day to practice the routine of what we needed to do on level 1 to which by Saturday the day of my first jump I could do perfectly.

Saturday we didn't have great weather which mean jumping was very stop start all day, I was the last of my class to jump, the other three members had all landed by the time I was to go up in the plane. I was sat at the front of the plane with the door open thinking any moment now they're going to ask me if Im ready and then ill be going out the door, with the door open the instructors looked and decided that due to cloud jumping wouldn't be suitable and we flew back down. To be honest I thought if anything this eased my nerves, felt like I had gone past my nerves and now was just eager to get it done.

We arrived on the ground and after only 20 minutes of waiting around we was all ready to go up again. We arrived at 15,000 feet, the door opened, they asked if I was ready I replied yeah I positioned myself in the door and the three of us jumped out. At this point I effectively froze, I didn't check my altimeter once, instead finding it difficult to react and maintain correct form to the body position signals I was getting whilst being mesmerised by the beautiful views and was just enjoying the sensation of the dive. As I say I never checked my altimeter, I didn't do a single practice touch, I was however able to deploy the parachute relatively successfully myself (on the debrief later I was told my arch was none existent).

In the air with the canopy open I had some twists so that caught my attention and I corrected them, it was only around 30 seconds later I realized I completed forgot to do my checks, is it big, rectangular, damage free? In the air I only managed to land in the right place with radio help, I completely lost my bearings but managed to land sure enough in the PLA with a bit of a crash and roll (without injury as I bent knees and landed as I was had been taught in the ground school).

The debrief seemed a little scary for my instructor, I told her I completely froze, became mesmerized by the views and said “If I wouldn't have received the signal to deploy I would have just hit the ground” which I noted visibly shook her. I said I wasn't sure if I was going to go up again (I've already paid for the entire course but I wouldn't care if it wasn't refunded), she said with my honesty she doesn't know if she would okay me to go up again, but we agreed we'd sleep on it. Maybe I just said that about hitting the ground as I wanted a reaction as I was feeling sorry for myself about how bad I think the jump went I'm not sure.

So do I continue? Ive had a similar episode like this when I was learning to scuba dive, very different I know but I failed during a task we had to do on the ocean floor I panicked, aborted the dive and said I told the instructor I wouldn't be finishing the course. I slept on it, came back and got through that fine, securing a divers license so now Im thinking I can do the same here.

I really enjoy the sport, the community that they had up there at the dropzone, everyone was very friendly and likeable and I still feel it would be the perfect hobby. I am also kind of relishing the challenge, I picture myself going back and ace-ing the level 1 (or 2 as it may be that I have actually passed level 1 as some people say that level 1 is just about exposure to the jump) I just don't want to put me or anyone else in danger.

Id really love to hear the thoughts of some experienced divers,

Have People had a similar experience on level 1 and gone onto ace it in future?

Is there anything people would recommend doing before getting back up in the air?

Thanks for reading anyway and I hope it wasn't too long.

Many of the greatest champions had less than stellar first jumps. But I am not guaranteeing you a medal in the World Cup either....

You thought that this would be a physical challenge, you thought that the poker was a mental challenge... Skydiving said : Hold my beer....

If you can, get some tunnel time and give it another shot (or more). If you can't get tunnel time, well I suggest you relax a bit, you almost know what happened, and now you can get back to it. Seems like sensory overload.

You would be really surprised by quite how many people have a total sensory overload on the AFF1 it's actually to be expected and that is why, in the UK at least, you do not fail Level 1 if you do not deploy the canopy yourself. 

Go back do it again, make sure you get out the door and you will find it all comes together.

The only caveat I have to the keep on going pep talk is if you instructor advises you that you should take up bowling. They have seen it all before, if they believe in you so should you, if they have doubts you should take heed

By the way where are you doing your AFF?

Thanks for the comment Mick
 

I’m doing it at Hibaldstow. Seems to have a great set up. 

You landed safely, right?

You did manage to pull, right?

Don't forget that one of the things the instructors are there to do is pull for you if you don't. It's not terribly uncommon on a first jump. 

It sounds like you passed level one and are cleared to go on to level two.

Why wouldn't you go on?
 

There was a jumper a while back that shared her adventures from tandem, through AFF to licensed jumper in cartoon form as a duck.

The good, the bad, the funny, the triumphs and setbacks.
Worth a look.
http://tailotherat.blogspot.com/2011/08/sky-diving-duck-ii-chicken-of-sky.html
 

You aren’t the first or worst and won’t be the last. If you have the opportunity to visit a wind tunnel, I highly recommend it. You’ll be able to get the body flying part down and have confidence in your ability to do what needs to be done. The rest will be a mental game.

if you want to then yes :) 

You're getting some good advice and encouragement here. However...

6 hours ago, wolfriverjoe said:

Don't forget that one of the things the instructors are there to do is pull for you if you don't.

Actually, DO forget that. While it is true, you do not want that anywhere in your mind as something you would even remotely rely on.

Skydiving is a blatant act of self reliance.

(Sorry, Joe. I always enjoy the advice and encouragement you give newer jumpers, including the rest of that post, but that particular point, yeah, no. Right along with don't rely on the RSL or the AAD.)

You paid for the whole license course... so keep going, the jumps are paid for. Even if you never progressed enough to get ur licence, you still had fun making jumps. So go back and make another jump. The first 3 jumps for me i was pretty nervous. It got much better 4th jump on and also because i got 10min in the tunnel.

highly suggest driving to your nearest tunnel for 10 min of coaching in there.

Sensory overload on jump 1 is very common.  You may have done better than you think but just don't remember, a common byproduct of sensory overload.  You did pull by yourself which suggests you were more aware than you remember.  The overload thing should get better with each jump as you gain experience.   I bet you will find your next jump to be a very different experience.

Don

The whole point of AFF 1 is to get you over the sensory overload. You’re not expected to be perfect. You also wouldn’t have hit the ground if you’d not pulled as you instructor would have pulled and, failing that, you have an AAD.

Stop moping around and book in your level 2 jump.

I'm probably going to be the voice of decent.

But skydiving is not for everyone, when you leave the plane you put your life at risk. You can do everything right and still die doing this.

Many many people struggle through their AFF courses. most have a strong desire to keep pushing and get it right and done, because their passions for the sport drives them.

If you don't have that passion, that desire. Then your spending a shit ton of money and risking your life for what?

Figure out how bad you want it.  Go forward from there.

Skydiving is NOT for everyone, and that's ok. There's a shitload of other high risk sports and activities that are not for me :) 

1 hour ago, Squeak said:

I'm probably going to be the voice of decent...

That's some decent dissent on our mode of descent, Squeak.

Hehe

Yeah, I see the finger...

Hi All

Not sure if I've written this in the right place but hope everyone whose commented can see it.

Returned yesterday felt a lot more confident and got through levels 2 and 3 without any issue. Was nervous going into the level 2 jump but after leaving the plane and stabilizing started to really enjoy it. Was less nervous going into level 3 but obviously they were still there, again really enjoyed the jump. I understand these levels are pretty straight forward but getting through these was a pretty big step for me.

Thanks so much to everyone who commented and gave my the confidence to give it another go.

Well done. My reply to your enquiry was on the other safety/training group which has now been closed by admin due to duplication but, as others have pointed out, I reckoned that you were wasted (physically lol) by the end of the day when you did your Level 1 and that things should improve.  Keep up the good work and look forward to your updates. 

Don't worry... Less than optimal level 1 jumps are perfectly normal. Skydiving is a never ending learning curve and for a long time even after AFF that learning curve will be about controlling your nervousness and anxiety.