Flying through the fear

Fear is one of those things that we skydivers are facing each time we exit that airplane door. I don’t care how ballsy you are, this sport is still scary from time to time. If it’s not, you might want to do some internal searching as to why – have you become complacent? Do you think you’re that much of a badass that it just can’t happen to you?

Simple food for thought for all daredevils out there, not the point of this post.

Fear can be a good and a bad thing. Fear is good because it puts your senses on high alert – right where they need to be for a sport like skydiving. It keeps you focused on the goal. Fear also challenges you. Working through fear to get to a positive end result can help you grow as a person. You learn what you’re truly capable of – that’s good stuff.

But, fear can get so intense at times it’s crippling. How many times has fear gotten in the way of your goal in life? For me, I’m finding that fear is standing in my way of accomplishing my current wingsuiting goals. I want nothing more than to be right there with the flock, flying in to take a dock, but I’m fearful of a collision. What if I’m not precise and I take out my fellow wingsuiter? Of course, it’s not just for lack of self-confidence in my flocking skills (though, I do have a bit of that going on), flying at that speed is scary, especially when you’ve got a handful or more of other flyers at that speed to worry about.

So, how to get past that? Well, honestly, that’s what I’m trying to figure out. I’m a zen skydiver of sorts, having an extensive background in practicing yoga, so I’m giving meditation a shot. Really focusing on the fear and how to not let my mind get in the way during a skydive. This does tend to be difficult though, as the fear is only there moments before the jump. Maybe meditation on the plane ride to altitude is the ticket?

I do know that in order to progress I need to hurdle this fear, or maybe channel it in a productive way – use the fear to get to that next step?

This is definitely a question I’m posing to the group. How have you overcome your fear, in any aspect of life, in order to come out on the other side, more successful than you imagined?

Love and Blue Skies!

Ashley

Back to Birdman

This season has been a slow one for me in terms of frequency of skydiving. Between an early season injury and the ensuing rehab, along with starting a new job, traveling and enjoying the summer in Chicago, I haven’t been in the air nearly as much as past seasons.

Though, I can’t complain, I’ve got a lot of great stuff going on in my life!

Last weekend, things took a bit of a turn as I donned a wingsuit and headed up with some of the flock. More specifically, I took a first jump course that’s now offered at Skydive Chicago’s Flock-U branch. My training last season, though thorough, just wasn’t ‘official,’ and when it comes to skydiving and safety, I like to do things by the book as much as possible.

So, since it’d been nearly a year since my last flight I decided a refresher was in order! The course was quick, about an hour, then you get to slip into a Tonysuit Intro and head up with an instructor (shout out to Greg Drogaline, thanks buddy)!

So great to be back in flight mode! Let me tell you, it’s like riding a bike. Although with much newer equipment. My main concern in getting my wings back was that my slider has a tendency to get hung up at deployment, requiring me to reach up and give my risers a couple pumps to get everything in working order. With my old Birdman Classic 2 I wasn’t able to reach the risers without unzipping the wings, which concerned me.

‘What if?’

So when I realized I’d be able to reach my risers comfortably in the Tonysuit, it seemed like a good time to get back at it. After one flight I moved on to the T-bird and placed my rental order with Wicked Wingsuits so I have one to fly for the next month (or two).

Thanks Simon, for heading out on the second flight to get some fun pictures!

I’ve gotta say, it feels great to have my wings back. Can’t wait till I get a bit more proficient and feel comfortable heading out with the flock.

Blue Skies!

Ashley

Perspectives from a wingsuit

Lately I’ve engaged in a lot of conversations about wingsuiting. It’s something that, when people find out you’re a skydiver, gets asked. “Have you ever tried one of those squirrel suits?’

That and, “do you BASE jump too?”

Though it’s not a discipline where I’ve focused too much of my energy, I am thankful that I have enough of a wingsuit foundation to be able to speak to it.

The first thing I always tell people is that, at this point in time, it’s the closest that we as humans can get to being birds. You’re literally flying your body.

Sure, you’re also still falling a quite a clip (or not, if you’re proficient and flying with massive wings that keep you up in the air for minutes at a time), but the added forward motion gives you an entirely different perspective.

One of the things I tell fellow skydivers about wingsuit flying is that it’s completely different from a traditional skydive. In my opinion, it is, aside from the whole jumping out of an airplane thing – that’s the same.

What’s unique is that the tiniest movements make huge differences – with a wingsuit on you can bend your fingers and you’ll start turning. It’s pretty incredible. During my first couple flights I simply thought about where I wanted to go and that’s where I went. If you’re a skilled skydiver with “bird-like” instincts, you’ll likely be able to pick it up.

What are bird-like instincts you ask? Hell if I know. But I’ve heard that on more than one occasion from experienced wingsuiters, so make sure you jump with one on your first try…they’ll let you know if you possess them or not.

Having talked out this discipline so much in the recent past, it’s something that I can’t seem to get out of my head. As much as I’m jonesing for some airtime this winter, what I really can’t wait to do is fly my wingsuit again.

Below is part of a video that I put together where I talk a bit about myself. It takes a look at what it is I really love about wingsuiting. As I’ve been promising a video blog for a while now and have yet to find the time to do so, this is what you get from our first meeting.

Hi!

Please excuse the fact that this is mostly about me…it was for a project where I was requested to talk about myself. But, at least you get my perspective first-hand!

So with that, I clearly can’t recommend this discipline more. It truly is an experience like no other.

Love and Blue Skies!

Ashley

Doing it for yourself

This post has been a long time coming, but I’ve been struggling to find the words to tie all my thoughts together. So bear with me, if you please, I’m doing my best on this one.

I’m a big believer in the idea that the most important relationship you have on this planet is the one that you have with yourself. My reasoning for this is a whole different story in itself, if you’re curious, we can chat later . That said, there are some things you just need to do for yourself to keep that relationship healthy. Over the last year, skydiving has become that “thing” for me.

Skydiving has always been something I’ve done for myself. It’s my stress relief. It’s my zen minute. It’s my own personal challenge, and a pursuit I continue for me.

Now, don’t get me wrong, having Rick right there with me, passionate traveler, willing to hit it hard with me anywhere, anytime is huge – I love that this is something we can share together – but in the end, it’s a passion I pursue for me.

Something I’ve never fully understood is the constant need to prove oneself to others in this world we live in. We’re all out there with a common interest, shouldn’t we be supporting each other rather than trying to one-up our fellow jumpers?

Sure, I’m all for healthy competition and pushing each other to improve, ribbing one another when we cork out or just can’t manage to stick that sit – after all, that’s what friends do – but above that, shouldn’t the skydive be for yourself?

It’s so freeing, so enlightening. The last thing I want is to get back on the ground and feel as if I’m not good enough because someone else is criticizing, or worse, making someone else feel as if they are not a good enough skydiver. (Editors note: this goes beyond helping others improve in the sky. We all know the difference between talking out a jump and working on fundamentals with your fellow jumpers, and being the asshole who is condescending and talking down to other jumpers as if they’re not worthy).

We’ve all got something to prove in this life, but who is your target audience? Yourself, or everyone else.

As my mother used to preach to me growing up, you can’t please everyone. So, I don’t try to. Maybe I’m different in that respect, but things like traveling and wingsuiting and even this blog, all those things are fulfilling a passion of mine – and no matter what happens with the other aspects of my life, I can know that these experiences were for me, and be proud of myself for these accomplishments.

So to all those jumpers out there stressing about which point to prove next (like how many jumps you have or how great a skydiver someone told you that you are) ask yourself this: are you really in this sport for yourself or is it to prove that you’re this awesome, cool skydiver to everyone else? And in the end, does it really matter what everyone else thinks?

Food for thought.

Blue skies!

Ashley

Wingsuit Weekend

Between last weekend spent at the Ranch for my birthday and the long Memorial Weekend spent back at home (Skydive PA) I’ve got a lot of catching up to do – blog wise.

Today I want to touch on the event that was most exciting for me this weekend. (I promise, soon I’ll get to talking about The Ranch…but this just has to come first while it’s fresh in my mind).

Upon arrival at Skydive PA on Friday evening, I was prepared for a long weekend of freeflying, but that all changed when the beer light came on and my rigger brought out his wingsuit for me to try on.

After hooking it up to my rig and donning the suit, I’d decided that this was the weekend to give wingsuiting a whirl.

Saturday morning I went up for a solo jump to practice some head down moves, then went up again to prove to Rick that I can stick a head down out the door . Just as an aside, this was an incredible skydive. I went head down and he stood to keep relative – when I flipped out we were right there the whole time. We’re really getting it together!

So after a couple warmup jumps, it was time to get suited up for that first wingsuit flight.

Yes, for all those who are screaming “beer” in your heads, that case has already been purchased and drank.

I am extremely lucky to have Moe Viletto as my wingsuit instructor – and that he also had a wingsuit to fit me. After a few hours over the course of a couple days chatting about that first flight, the emergency procedures and how to go about find the “sweet spot,” it was time to become a bird!

Exiting last was strange. I’m used to seeing the tandems on my way out the door, not watching them go before me. It is nice, however, not to have to stress about the spot so much. When you’re a bird, especially one who is pulling a little high, making it back isn’t much of an issue.

Anyway – back to the first flight. So I’m crouched at the door, wings all tucked in and I huck myself out. That first jump I was nervous about opening up too soon and hitting the tail, so I stayed balled up a little longer than necessary, but when I came out of it and caught that first lift, I couldn’t believe what I was experiencing. The forward speed is incredible.

I had a flight path figured out and after doing my practice touches to make sure I could find my hackey with my new set of wings, I looked to my right to see him gliding next to me. What an incredible sight! For once I’m flying next to someone instead of looking down, hoping to get my speed up enough to catch the group.

Wingsuiting is an entirely different experience than a typical skydive…you’re actually going somewhere other than just down.

One of the things I’ve always said I love about freeflying is the speed, and that’s no exception with a wingsuit; difference being, the speed is horizontal, rather than vertical.

The rest of the weekend was spent obsessing over the wingsuit jumps. A couple sunset loads made me realize just how much my eyes have been missing during freefly. The sky is so beautiful, and the clouds are your friends. This is definitely something I want to continue experiencing.

Hopefully in the not so distant future I’ll feel comfortable enough to strap my camera back on my head and give you a little perspective of what it’s like to be a bird!

Until then, here are some pictures from the ground, captured by the lovely Sandy Weltman – love having you out at SPA Sandy!!

(Suiting up for the first jump)

(Sipping up our legs and getting to booties situated.)

(Beyond pumped from that flight…amazing!)

(Running it out with wings is a little more challenging!)

(Coming down from a beautiful sunset flight)

(If I look exhausted it’s because I am…but it’s worth every second!)

Blue skies!

Ashley