Tips for Bigways No 16
We have choice not immunity
There are now so many ways to join our sport and participate. With the availability of tunnels in Australia, minimum jumps to qualify in AFF have been further reduced. Skydiving in itself has become mainstream. To what end?
As summer approaches and along with it more opportunities to enjoy what we do, this month I would like to focus on mindset. Specifically staying alert to the fact that we are playing in a hostile environment where we do not always call the shots.
As you may have heard Dan BC ask of us, treat every deployment as an emergency until it proves that it isn’t. Every time we leave an aircraft we enter a world of risk. We can mitigate aspects of this through equipment, knowledge of how it works and practicing how to focus and react in an emergency. But we cannot remove every risk.
Bad luck cannot always b
e controlled however I urge you to stay mindful to the fact that complacency kills, hubris kills and stupidity kills.
Ensure you have information on the jump plan, the weather and the other people on the load. Ask questions. If you are not feeling well, if you don’t feel confident in yourself, the mindset of the people on the load or the people who you would be jumping with, if you have a concern about your gear, or the weather, its ok to stay on the ground or not jump (ensure your team mates and the pilot know of your decision).
To be a member of the Aussie Bigways team, you are someone who makes the effort to develop your skills, knowledge and attitude (SKA) to mitigate the risks that are in our control and manage related fears and anxiety so that you can perform and be safe in all circumstances, on the ground and in the air.
An Aussie Bigways team member has respect for the environment we play in, for our team mates and ourselves.
Written by Melissa Harvie – Coach and Mentor – 0408 553 561
melissaharvie@gmail.com
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