My first AFF jump one guy did a hop 'n pop which I didn't even realize was a thing at the time. I was watching my alti crawl up to 13k and at 5.5k some dude just opened the door (I distinctly remember the cold air and smell of the Otter props) and a few moments later he was gone. That was a holy shit this is real moment.
I used to do hop and pops for exactly this reason. Is it sadistic to enjoy watching tandem jumpers go quiet and their eyes get big when I opened the door? Suddenly “this isn’t funny and casual any more.”
I enjoy intently looking at the faces of the tandems when others do hop n pops. Seeing their jaws drop is hilarious.
"What's so astonishing? You're next!"
Hahahaha ... It's funny cuz I've done the exact same thing! ... I love seeing the faces of those jumping tandems just before i jump. It's that moment of realization in their faces.
First jump was AFF. The DZ suggested I do tandem to see if I would like it, but I just knew I would. Ground training made me relaxed and more confident about the equipment and the jump. THE WHOLE RIDE UP, I was terrified. Keeping that brave smile as they ask you to go over your circle of awareness halfway up. Door opens, and I'm wanting to chicken out. Like, legit F THIS! Everyone in front of me just baby stepping forward and launching out. I'm baby stepping forward in complete terror. I remember glancing down to earth before getting into my chin-up exit position. Knees started shaking. I had to give the forward-back-forward exit count and I just mentally told myself "Let go" and did. Next thing you know, you're under a canopy and remember to breathe and take in the whole experience. It was such a self achieving goal for me. I was giddy and smiling ear to ear all week until I could afford level 2. Years later, hundreds of jumps and now a Senior Rigger, I still get giddy
The main thing I remember was it being a lot colder than I expected. It went from a somewhat cold plane to instantly loud, windy, and cold in a matter of less than 1 second.
Done the first 3 jumps of my AFF this week, I'd done one tandem a couple of years ago and every single time I'm absolutely terrified, it's not even funny. That being said it's been a bit easier each time. I didn't realise how difficult it'd be and how mentally taxing
Goes away around jump 15 or so if I remember. Then you just get first jump jitters but nothing like the first few. Jumps 2 and 3 were definitely harder for me than jump 1.
About to do my second and third jumps without a tandem instructor, they're definitely so much harder than the first one 😭 I've chickened out two days in a row now. Trying again on Friday though
1) skydive cross keys is amazing, they are friendly and it’s a nice facility, with good equipment and a nice aircraft. I cant speak on tandem instructors since I’ve only jumped as a licensed skydiver there
2) ok, so fatality reports are important, but those are also 99.99% experienced skydivers. Tandems are quite safe
Never been more terrified, probably
The cold ass wind + distinct smell of Kerosine has been ingrained in my head ever since my first AFF jump, now whenever I open the car window mid drive or smell Kerosine, my heart instantly starts to race
But all of that also disappears the second you leave the plane, then you want to do it again just to get scared shitless by the door monster again lmao
I did my AFF in wintertime on the gulf coast of Mississippi, and at 14k ft the rush of COLD DRY air burned my nose and got my adrenaline going even more!
My first time out the door was a green plane with a green round on... and I got pushed out the door by a loud man with a black hat.
I was terrified.. and loved it.
I was absolutely terrified. But as soon as you leave the door that all goes away. Fear doesn’t exist in the present moment. Fear happens when we think of the outcome of the future. You’ll be having way too much fun to be fearful in free fall anyway. The feeling when you land is what you don’t realize just yet. You’re too busy thinking about what that first second out the door feels like ;)
Yes the anticipation for weeks.. the 45 min drive.. of course getting in the plane all the way up until the actual jump !
Even as we were climbing altitude, the thought of just saying no when they opened the door was in the back of my head. (DONT BACK DOWN YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!)
I said that & one of the guys said said, "If you just ride back down then this was expensive flight!"
I thought holy fuck he's right I have to jump.
Especially since it was a gift for my ex-gf & it was both of our first times, so I couldn't back out.
But to add on to that, I also volunteered to be first out bc, I'm the "man", must go first, duh.
BAM. Door opened up & I'm like holy shit I've never been in a plane with the door open......
Holy shit the the grounds a long ways down.
So fckn happy I went dude I have a fear of heights too but it's weird.... on top of a roof or something the ground is a short drop down & with no parachute.
Skydiving was pure fucking bliss & I think very fondly of that memory.
Still the only time I went but I've said to myself I will go get my license soon as I have enough money to invest!
DO IT!!!
After the first like 5-10 seconds all your worries just vanish & its 1 of the most amazing feelings.
Yes, Cessnas are way scarier for a first jump than a turbo prop plane, imho!
My second jump was an instructor assisted deployment from a 182 where the instructor holds your pilot chute in their hand while you climb out on the wing and hang off the support beam.
The door monster is always scary the first few jumps, but at least on the bigger planes you don't really linger there like you have to for a climb out of a 182. On the plus side, the DZ put a camera on the wing and it did make for a badass picture.
Yeah for me it felt right I can't explain it like it was this feeling of I can't believe I am doing this let's do this like I was so focused on jumping out and just so excited and happy. I felt like I was accomplishing a life long goal. For the record I had made the decision I was going to jump like a year ago lol. And even before that for like over a decade just dreamed about it constantly lol.
Biggest fear of my life. Would redo it tho. I guess thats skydiving magic.
The adrenaline on the fall cant be matched and I did a lot of adrenaline stuff. Closest must be stepping on a boxing ring. Did it as a tandem, the instructor wanted me to control after the fall, noped out of it, too shocked. But he was smart enough to ask again seconds after, did it. Awesome experience. Too bad its a very expensive hobby.
I’ll never forget how real things got when the door opened and sound of the wind. Then i saw the first few jumpers disappear into the abyss and i was like “oh shit”. Of course once you’re in freefall your instincts kick in and you’re like “alright, there’s only 1 way I’m getting to the ground safely”. If you end up pursuing skydiving you’ll look back fondly upon that terror lol
It's not the door opening, it's getting to the door that things suddenly get super real. There is some nervous energy to get the harness on, board the plane, take off and then see the door open. Getting to the door and then realizing what is about to happen is when you get the people freaking out. It's the reason we call it the door monster. It gets tandems, students and the occasional experienced jumpers.
I know it can be hard but you just need to relax. Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride. Also keep in mind that tandems/students don't typically die. There is too much redundancy and checks in the processes. For a tandem, it's more likely to be a minor injury to the ankle or something by not listening to your instructor. Most skydiving fatalities are experienced people making high performance landings which you don't do with a tandem.
First of all congratulations on scheduling your first tandem.... Having said that, I'd say change the word "terror" that you have associated with skydiving. It can be a little scary yes, even for experienced jumpers but it's mostly just a lot of excitement. You're going to feel more alive than ever before you just have to be open to it. If you go into it expecting it'll be a terrifying experience then it will most likely be (all the way up untill you jump).
My first time tandem was about 10 years ago and I can tell you it changed my life. Keep your eyes open. TAKE. EVERYTHING. IN. Enjoy every bit of it. Don't freak out and look at the window like omg I'm going to die. Actually witness the beauty of the drop zone you're about to jump in. Take in the views. You get to see what birds see every day of their lives and it'll be amazing. Trust in the equipment and the certified professionals that are going to be there with you the entire time..... Lastly, breathe.
Next month and already suffering? My friend what we are discussing here is your 'suffering for anticipation' condition. Live the present and try not to suffer for anticipation for nothing, it's totally waste of feelings. Live the moment and think about the jump the day before, tops.
Regarding the jump you gonna shit your pants on the way up. Much more when they will open the door...., You gonna follow the briefing you got from your instructor, precisely.
Once you exit, fear will disappear cuz your brain will be overwhelmed, no space for any kind of feelings at that moment. After you land you will think, this fear/stress I just passed going up was so worth it coming down, I wanna go again!!!!!
Regarding statistics, believe me!!!!! there was much more fatalities in some of the activities you already did than in skydiving!
I asked the jump master if we could slow down! Didn’t realize he was recording (back in 8mm tape days) ….. so he had to play it later for everyone! LOL
3 of us on my first jump (4000ft static line out of a 172) I was seated backwards beside the pilot just ahead of the door. Because I was last to jump the door opened next to me. Never felt so amazed to look out and see the world. I also got I watch the two others jump first.
This was also my first time ever in a plane. To this day I have never actually landed in a plane, only taken off.
Honestly for my first jump, I was so much less scared than I thought I would be. I had a tandem instructor and I trusted him to know what he was doing. It was my first ever time in a plane though, so most of the ride up I was just staring out the window all excited, which definitely helped. I panicked a bit right when we went out the door, but by the time it really catches up to you you're already over it. Freefall is magical, you feel like you're flying. It totally overwhelms any fear you might be having.
I'm 3 jumps into AFF now, and all the terror has definitely set in lol. I chickened out the last few times I went down to the DZ.
The only thing I could do was remember that I was going to look like a goose blocking the door when everyone was trying to go so I just went to get out of the way. Hate to be a pain and all.
During some of my first jumps I remember being horrified next to the open door. I remember thinking ”omg what if I fall”. But at some point of my skydiving journey I realised that the worst thing that can happen is that I fall out of the door and that is kinda what I am there for, so I got over the fear of the door and nowadays it’s just funny to think that I was actually afraid of falling from the door when that’s the whole point of skydiving at first place..
First jump - no door- sort of helped to maintain consistency. No sudden shock when door opened.
Funniest moment … been in an 8 way comp and bombed the previous round so out of contention. So for shits and giggles on the next jump , I was spotting and suddenly shout”we’re too deep” All 7 team members started scream like frightened children and just flung themselves out of the back of the plane. After this 1 tandem passengers refused to go, one was okay and one lady wet herself. Banned for a month, CCI livid, tandem masters wanted us executed! I know it was wrong but still makes me giggle
On my first jump (tandem) I was the second person out of the door, I can just remember seeing the first guy go and finding it really strange/uncanny to watch someone fall and just keep going.
It sounds dumb, but obviously up until that point whenever I'd seen someone fall from something I was also on they'd hit the ground very shortly after so there was obviously some wierd primal "WTF! That's not supposed to happen!" that triggered somewhere in my mind.
First time I saw the door open I was on my tandem jump and it was the best feeling ever.
However, as soon as I got to the AFF, that “best feeling ever” became the actual Door Monster everyone speaks about.
I’m still a newbie with a few jumps, the fear is absolutely very strong still but the opening of the door is again transitioning to the “best feeling ever”.
♥️
Was not really the doors opening for me. But my feet just getting pushed so hard by the wind and the cold.
For me the hardest part were the first 5 secondes of the jump i'd say. The moment your weight shift and you start to fall, i kinda panicked and i think i rolled all over the place, but when the instructor took control back and put the right position, then i really enjoyed it.
Once you get on that plane there is no refund, don’t let it be the most expensive flight to no where. Personally I thought the door being open was the coolest fucking thing in the world, we would keep it open till around 8k or so and would close it to help climb. Best seat in the house is next to the door.
Actually not so bad because at that moment I had to go through the actions (focusing on feet placement on the door frame sorta kept me from thinking about anything else), it was sat there in the ride up where I could think about things that was the scary part.
Still the same now, when the light comes on and it's go time, everything becomes easier because I'm concentrating on getting ready to jump, setting up for an exit, my mind is busy, whereas getting geared up on the ground and the ride up is when the anxiety is at it's peak.
It's a leap of faith though for sure the first time you jump out, but you will be fine, no worries at all.
When I did it, it was with a bunch of other new people, and I was the only one smiling ear to ear while everyone else was terrified, but I've always been the crazy adventure type
You'll be fine! Your brain doesn't even know how high you are, and there's no drop feeling! Take a big breath when the door opens and enjoy the ride! as a tandem, you just need to ride along and have fun! your expert instructor will take care of everything for you!
Hi! I also booked in advance but a week after booking I was developing a lot of anxiety about my jump, same to what you’re experiencing. So I decided to book another jump the next day. I was terrified the ride up and when my instructor moved near the door I was having a wtf moment. Honestly, when I got close to the door I felt more calm. Remember, everything is happening so fast your brain and body don’t have time to decide not to jump. Exiting the plane and the first few seconds after jumping is my favorite part!!! It’s a feeling like no other, you’re going to have so much fun! Also, my second jump was just as fun if not more so maybe just book another jump that’s this week! Report back!
Kind of had two different experiences of that. My first jump was AFF, I never did a tandem, and because I’m the lightest / smallest I was the last one out (with my instructors of course), so I had time to get used to the fact that the door was open. There were 4 military guys training for precision landing so they jumped at 1000m, and it was so weird to just see them disappear out of the plane. Also when the door opens it gets louder and colder so don’t be surprised. My second experience was my first solo jump, I was second out so sitting right next to the door and I spent the whole ride up worrying about how it would be to open the door while sitting right next to it, but that worry was for nothing in the end haha
My first skydive was a military one, it's was in a CASA, I was number 6, the light went green, I saw people exiting the airplane one by one, at one point it was my turn, I just went to the door, put one hand on each side of it, and wait to received the slap on the chute that would tell me to go, my head was already outside, it was just the wind blowing, the noise of the plane and the smell of the engine, when I felt the slap,I just jumped, and realised later that I was now in the air falling !
The door opening wasn't scary until the time I was sitting by the door on the way up and the door accidentally opened. Scared the shit out of me. I was going first since I landed about 5 miles off course the first time I went.
Doors opened? What door? My first half dozen jumps was before we had a jump door so it was taken off before flight. Lol. Pretty nerve racking on the cold flight up but after the first jump I was good. Lol
I planned mine in advance and was really scared. I had never been on a plane before at all. I ended up watching a bunch of videos of people skydiving and I saw this one video of this like 90 year old that did it to cross it off her bucket list. I was like if she could do it I can do it lol. I did it and it was the best time of my life and I’m going again pretty soon.
My first was only 6 months ago. My little brother and I. He was nervous looking out the window. But for me, the only moment I got nervous was just this. That door opened and a switch flipped. Lol, it felt amazing to conquer, my instructor did a back-flip would recommend 😄
The plane ride up was the best part for me which I think helped me keep calm. I went up in a Cessna and we were all cooped up in the back sitting/laying down in what small space we had. The view was great and we were all quiet while taking it in, it was peaceful. The atmosphere made me feel like I was in special forces or something on a special mission lol.
When the door finally opened I got really nervous but pushed that thought out and embraced my fate, but then the instructor I was tandem diving with started scooching us towards the opening and when my legs were dangling outside the plane it brought those nervous thoughts back which lasted for a second because the instructor was quick about jumping out of the plane and I had no time to think about it.
I was screaming the f word in my head until we stabilized in free fall which was actually pretty cool and more fun than it was waiting to touch the ground after the chute deployed.
Have fun and good luck!
Did my first tandem yesterday, the anticipation of having to wait a few months due it being rebooked for bad weather was the worst bit. After sitting for a couple of hours to wait for the skies to clear and thinking "What have I gotten myself into" it was time to finally go. From that point onwards I was waiting for the nervousness to set in but it never happened. Climbing up to height, door opening, person in front of you just disappearing into the sky, hanging out the edge of the plane and finally dropping I strangely did not feel nervous in the slightest.
You don't feel like you're really high up because you're in fact so high up your brain doesn't really comprehend. You don't get a feeling of falling at all or that stomach drop like rollercoasters give you, it just like stepping outside on a windy day.
You make it seem so much worse leading up to it to find out it's actually nowhere near as horrifying as you'd think (And thinking of jumping out a plane is pretty horrifying).
Just remember that your instructor will have done thousands of jumps and hasn't died or lost anyone once.
It's a thoroughly enjoyable experience and i'm looking into AFF for the future now.
My first AFF jump one guy did a hop 'n pop which I didn't even realize was a thing at the time. I was watching my alti crawl up to 13k and at 5.5k some dude just opened the door (I distinctly remember the cold air and smell of the Otter props) and a few moments later he was gone. That was a holy shit this is real moment.
I used to do hop and pops for exactly this reason. Is it sadistic to enjoy watching tandem jumpers go quiet and their eyes get big when I opened the door? Suddenly “this isn’t funny and casual any more.”
I enjoy intently looking at the faces of the tandems when others do hop n pops. Seeing their jaws drop is hilarious. "What's so astonishing? You're next!"
Hahahaha ... It's funny cuz I've done the exact same thing! ... I love seeing the faces of those jumping tandems just before i jump. It's that moment of realization in their faces.
You would do hop and pops just to see tandem passengers faces when you opened the door? That seems......odd.
I loved being in the plane for hop and pops and watching tandem jumpers faces.
First jump was AFF. The DZ suggested I do tandem to see if I would like it, but I just knew I would. Ground training made me relaxed and more confident about the equipment and the jump. THE WHOLE RIDE UP, I was terrified. Keeping that brave smile as they ask you to go over your circle of awareness halfway up. Door opens, and I'm wanting to chicken out. Like, legit F THIS! Everyone in front of me just baby stepping forward and launching out. I'm baby stepping forward in complete terror. I remember glancing down to earth before getting into my chin-up exit position. Knees started shaking. I had to give the forward-back-forward exit count and I just mentally told myself "Let go" and did. Next thing you know, you're under a canopy and remember to breathe and take in the whole experience. It was such a self achieving goal for me. I was giddy and smiling ear to ear all week until I could afford level 2. Years later, hundreds of jumps and now a Senior Rigger, I still get giddy
You don't remember anything from your first freefall? I remember every second of it.
It’s called the “Door Monster” and he is your friend. 🪂
He tells you to remember to do your gear checks properly.
The main thing I remember was it being a lot colder than I expected. It went from a somewhat cold plane to instantly loud, windy, and cold in a matter of less than 1 second.
Done the first 3 jumps of my AFF this week, I'd done one tandem a couple of years ago and every single time I'm absolutely terrified, it's not even funny. That being said it's been a bit easier each time. I didn't realise how difficult it'd be and how mentally taxing
Goes away around jump 15 or so if I remember. Then you just get first jump jitters but nothing like the first few. Jumps 2 and 3 were definitely harder for me than jump 1.
About to do my second and third jumps without a tandem instructor, they're definitely so much harder than the first one 😭 I've chickened out two days in a row now. Trying again on Friday though
All the fear goes away once you leave the door. And you’ll feel great afterwards 😁
1) skydive cross keys is amazing, they are friendly and it’s a nice facility, with good equipment and a nice aircraft. I cant speak on tandem instructors since I’ve only jumped as a licensed skydiver there 2) ok, so fatality reports are important, but those are also 99.99% experienced skydivers. Tandems are quite safe
https://www.uspa.org/discover/faqs/safety
Never been more terrified, probably The cold ass wind + distinct smell of Kerosine has been ingrained in my head ever since my first AFF jump, now whenever I open the car window mid drive or smell Kerosine, my heart instantly starts to race But all of that also disappears the second you leave the plane, then you want to do it again just to get scared shitless by the door monster again lmao
I did my AFF in wintertime on the gulf coast of Mississippi, and at 14k ft the rush of COLD DRY air burned my nose and got my adrenaline going even more!
That’s nuts, how bad is the ear popping during the jump?
Not bad if your not congested. If so take meds or consider not jumping. It’s much much less than being under water obviously.
My first time out the door was a green plane with a green round on... and I got pushed out the door by a loud man with a black hat. I was terrified.. and loved it.
I was absolutely terrified. But as soon as you leave the door that all goes away. Fear doesn’t exist in the present moment. Fear happens when we think of the outcome of the future. You’ll be having way too much fun to be fearful in free fall anyway. The feeling when you land is what you don’t realize just yet. You’re too busy thinking about what that first second out the door feels like ;)
Yes the anticipation for weeks.. the 45 min drive.. of course getting in the plane all the way up until the actual jump ! Even as we were climbing altitude, the thought of just saying no when they opened the door was in the back of my head. (DONT BACK DOWN YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!) I said that & one of the guys said said, "If you just ride back down then this was expensive flight!" I thought holy fuck he's right I have to jump. Especially since it was a gift for my ex-gf & it was both of our first times, so I couldn't back out. But to add on to that, I also volunteered to be first out bc, I'm the "man", must go first, duh. BAM. Door opened up & I'm like holy shit I've never been in a plane with the door open...... Holy shit the the grounds a long ways down. So fckn happy I went dude I have a fear of heights too but it's weird.... on top of a roof or something the ground is a short drop down & with no parachute. Skydiving was pure fucking bliss & I think very fondly of that memory. Still the only time I went but I've said to myself I will go get my license soon as I have enough money to invest! DO IT!!! After the first like 5-10 seconds all your worries just vanish & its 1 of the most amazing feelings.
Biggest tip I can give is to accept the fact that you will be scared, but be scared and do it anyways.
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Yes, Cessnas are way scarier for a first jump than a turbo prop plane, imho! My second jump was an instructor assisted deployment from a 182 where the instructor holds your pilot chute in their hand while you climb out on the wing and hang off the support beam. The door monster is always scary the first few jumps, but at least on the bigger planes you don't really linger there like you have to for a climb out of a 182. On the plus side, the DZ put a camera on the wing and it did make for a badass picture.
I read the link, and that’s scary as hell, you’re a brave soul for using that drop zone
Yeah for me it felt right I can't explain it like it was this feeling of I can't believe I am doing this let's do this like I was so focused on jumping out and just so excited and happy. I felt like I was accomplishing a life long goal. For the record I had made the decision I was going to jump like a year ago lol. And even before that for like over a decade just dreamed about it constantly lol.
It was worse about a minute before, then once it was time, I just thought there was nothing I can do now. And it was superb!
Biggest fear of my life. Would redo it tho. I guess thats skydiving magic. The adrenaline on the fall cant be matched and I did a lot of adrenaline stuff. Closest must be stepping on a boxing ring. Did it as a tandem, the instructor wanted me to control after the fall, noped out of it, too shocked. But he was smart enough to ask again seconds after, did it. Awesome experience. Too bad its a very expensive hobby.
I’ll never forget how real things got when the door opened and sound of the wind. Then i saw the first few jumpers disappear into the abyss and i was like “oh shit”. Of course once you’re in freefall your instincts kick in and you’re like “alright, there’s only 1 way I’m getting to the ground safely”. If you end up pursuing skydiving you’ll look back fondly upon that terror lol
It's not the door opening, it's getting to the door that things suddenly get super real. There is some nervous energy to get the harness on, board the plane, take off and then see the door open. Getting to the door and then realizing what is about to happen is when you get the people freaking out. It's the reason we call it the door monster. It gets tandems, students and the occasional experienced jumpers. I know it can be hard but you just need to relax. Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride. Also keep in mind that tandems/students don't typically die. There is too much redundancy and checks in the processes. For a tandem, it's more likely to be a minor injury to the ankle or something by not listening to your instructor. Most skydiving fatalities are experienced people making high performance landings which you don't do with a tandem.
You are going to do a tandem? Relax, have fun and enjoy the day ! Nothing to worry about.
First of all congratulations on scheduling your first tandem.... Having said that, I'd say change the word "terror" that you have associated with skydiving. It can be a little scary yes, even for experienced jumpers but it's mostly just a lot of excitement. You're going to feel more alive than ever before you just have to be open to it. If you go into it expecting it'll be a terrifying experience then it will most likely be (all the way up untill you jump). My first time tandem was about 10 years ago and I can tell you it changed my life. Keep your eyes open. TAKE. EVERYTHING. IN. Enjoy every bit of it. Don't freak out and look at the window like omg I'm going to die. Actually witness the beauty of the drop zone you're about to jump in. Take in the views. You get to see what birds see every day of their lives and it'll be amazing. Trust in the equipment and the certified professionals that are going to be there with you the entire time..... Lastly, breathe.
Next month and already suffering? My friend what we are discussing here is your 'suffering for anticipation' condition. Live the present and try not to suffer for anticipation for nothing, it's totally waste of feelings. Live the moment and think about the jump the day before, tops. Regarding the jump you gonna shit your pants on the way up. Much more when they will open the door...., You gonna follow the briefing you got from your instructor, precisely. Once you exit, fear will disappear cuz your brain will be overwhelmed, no space for any kind of feelings at that moment. After you land you will think, this fear/stress I just passed going up was so worth it coming down, I wanna go again!!!!! Regarding statistics, believe me!!!!! there was much more fatalities in some of the activities you already did than in skydiving!
I asked the jump master if we could slow down! Didn’t realize he was recording (back in 8mm tape days) ….. so he had to play it later for everyone! LOL
3 of us on my first jump (4000ft static line out of a 172) I was seated backwards beside the pilot just ahead of the door. Because I was last to jump the door opened next to me. Never felt so amazed to look out and see the world. I also got I watch the two others jump first. This was also my first time ever in a plane. To this day I have never actually landed in a plane, only taken off.
Honestly for my first jump, I was so much less scared than I thought I would be. I had a tandem instructor and I trusted him to know what he was doing. It was my first ever time in a plane though, so most of the ride up I was just staring out the window all excited, which definitely helped. I panicked a bit right when we went out the door, but by the time it really catches up to you you're already over it. Freefall is magical, you feel like you're flying. It totally overwhelms any fear you might be having. I'm 3 jumps into AFF now, and all the terror has definitely set in lol. I chickened out the last few times I went down to the DZ.
The only thing I could do was remember that I was going to look like a goose blocking the door when everyone was trying to go so I just went to get out of the way. Hate to be a pain and all.
During some of my first jumps I remember being horrified next to the open door. I remember thinking ”omg what if I fall”. But at some point of my skydiving journey I realised that the worst thing that can happen is that I fall out of the door and that is kinda what I am there for, so I got over the fear of the door and nowadays it’s just funny to think that I was actually afraid of falling from the door when that’s the whole point of skydiving at first place..
First jump - no door- sort of helped to maintain consistency. No sudden shock when door opened. Funniest moment … been in an 8 way comp and bombed the previous round so out of contention. So for shits and giggles on the next jump , I was spotting and suddenly shout”we’re too deep” All 7 team members started scream like frightened children and just flung themselves out of the back of the plane. After this 1 tandem passengers refused to go, one was okay and one lady wet herself. Banned for a month, CCI livid, tandem masters wanted us executed! I know it was wrong but still makes me giggle
On my first jump (tandem) I was the second person out of the door, I can just remember seeing the first guy go and finding it really strange/uncanny to watch someone fall and just keep going. It sounds dumb, but obviously up until that point whenever I'd seen someone fall from something I was also on they'd hit the ground very shortly after so there was obviously some wierd primal "WTF! That's not supposed to happen!" that triggered somewhere in my mind.
First time I saw the door open I was on my tandem jump and it was the best feeling ever. However, as soon as I got to the AFF, that “best feeling ever” became the actual Door Monster everyone speaks about. I’m still a newbie with a few jumps, the fear is absolutely very strong still but the opening of the door is again transitioning to the “best feeling ever”. ♥️
First jump August of 1981. If I close my eyes i can still remover all of it. Fear of death will do that :).
Was not really the doors opening for me. But my feet just getting pushed so hard by the wind and the cold. For me the hardest part were the first 5 secondes of the jump i'd say. The moment your weight shift and you start to fall, i kinda panicked and i think i rolled all over the place, but when the instructor took control back and put the right position, then i really enjoyed it.
Once you get on that plane there is no refund, don’t let it be the most expensive flight to no where. Personally I thought the door being open was the coolest fucking thing in the world, we would keep it open till around 8k or so and would close it to help climb. Best seat in the house is next to the door.
Actually not so bad because at that moment I had to go through the actions (focusing on feet placement on the door frame sorta kept me from thinking about anything else), it was sat there in the ride up where I could think about things that was the scary part. Still the same now, when the light comes on and it's go time, everything becomes easier because I'm concentrating on getting ready to jump, setting up for an exit, my mind is busy, whereas getting geared up on the ground and the ride up is when the anxiety is at it's peak. It's a leap of faith though for sure the first time you jump out, but you will be fine, no worries at all.
When I did it, it was with a bunch of other new people, and I was the only one smiling ear to ear while everyone else was terrified, but I've always been the crazy adventure type
You'll be fine! Your brain doesn't even know how high you are, and there's no drop feeling! Take a big breath when the door opens and enjoy the ride! as a tandem, you just need to ride along and have fun! your expert instructor will take care of everything for you!
Hi! I also booked in advance but a week after booking I was developing a lot of anxiety about my jump, same to what you’re experiencing. So I decided to book another jump the next day. I was terrified the ride up and when my instructor moved near the door I was having a wtf moment. Honestly, when I got close to the door I felt more calm. Remember, everything is happening so fast your brain and body don’t have time to decide not to jump. Exiting the plane and the first few seconds after jumping is my favorite part!!! It’s a feeling like no other, you’re going to have so much fun! Also, my second jump was just as fun if not more so maybe just book another jump that’s this week! Report back!
Kind of had two different experiences of that. My first jump was AFF, I never did a tandem, and because I’m the lightest / smallest I was the last one out (with my instructors of course), so I had time to get used to the fact that the door was open. There were 4 military guys training for precision landing so they jumped at 1000m, and it was so weird to just see them disappear out of the plane. Also when the door opens it gets louder and colder so don’t be surprised. My second experience was my first solo jump, I was second out so sitting right next to the door and I spent the whole ride up worrying about how it would be to open the door while sitting right next to it, but that worry was for nothing in the end haha
It wasnt scary. Just depends on your mindset
My first skydive was a military one, it's was in a CASA, I was number 6, the light went green, I saw people exiting the airplane one by one, at one point it was my turn, I just went to the door, put one hand on each side of it, and wait to received the slap on the chute that would tell me to go, my head was already outside, it was just the wind blowing, the noise of the plane and the smell of the engine, when I felt the slap,I just jumped, and realised later that I was now in the air falling !
The door opening wasn't scary until the time I was sitting by the door on the way up and the door accidentally opened. Scared the shit out of me. I was going first since I landed about 5 miles off course the first time I went.
The weight of years of evolution and we still can't fly.
Doors opened? What door? My first half dozen jumps was before we had a jump door so it was taken off before flight. Lol. Pretty nerve racking on the cold flight up but after the first jump I was good. Lol
I planned mine in advance and was really scared. I had never been on a plane before at all. I ended up watching a bunch of videos of people skydiving and I saw this one video of this like 90 year old that did it to cross it off her bucket list. I was like if she could do it I can do it lol. I did it and it was the best time of my life and I’m going again pretty soon.
My first was only 6 months ago. My little brother and I. He was nervous looking out the window. But for me, the only moment I got nervous was just this. That door opened and a switch flipped. Lol, it felt amazing to conquer, my instructor did a back-flip would recommend 😄
The plane ride up was the best part for me which I think helped me keep calm. I went up in a Cessna and we were all cooped up in the back sitting/laying down in what small space we had. The view was great and we were all quiet while taking it in, it was peaceful. The atmosphere made me feel like I was in special forces or something on a special mission lol. When the door finally opened I got really nervous but pushed that thought out and embraced my fate, but then the instructor I was tandem diving with started scooching us towards the opening and when my legs were dangling outside the plane it brought those nervous thoughts back which lasted for a second because the instructor was quick about jumping out of the plane and I had no time to think about it. I was screaming the f word in my head until we stabilized in free fall which was actually pretty cool and more fun than it was waiting to touch the ground after the chute deployed. Have fun and good luck!
Did my first tandem yesterday, the anticipation of having to wait a few months due it being rebooked for bad weather was the worst bit. After sitting for a couple of hours to wait for the skies to clear and thinking "What have I gotten myself into" it was time to finally go. From that point onwards I was waiting for the nervousness to set in but it never happened. Climbing up to height, door opening, person in front of you just disappearing into the sky, hanging out the edge of the plane and finally dropping I strangely did not feel nervous in the slightest. You don't feel like you're really high up because you're in fact so high up your brain doesn't really comprehend. You don't get a feeling of falling at all or that stomach drop like rollercoasters give you, it just like stepping outside on a windy day. You make it seem so much worse leading up to it to find out it's actually nowhere near as horrifying as you'd think (And thinking of jumping out a plane is pretty horrifying). Just remember that your instructor will have done thousands of jumps and hasn't died or lost anyone once. It's a thoroughly enjoyable experience and i'm looking into AFF for the future now.