I did it! It was an absolutely amazing day and I have passed Stage 1 AND Stage 2 first time! I had a 'slight' problem with my exit on the Stage 1 jump (basically I almost didn't) but it was OK and I'm doing Stage 3 tomorrow (Thursday).

The weather looked a bit dodgy when I rang NZONE at 9:30 to see if we going ahead with the jump. There seemed to be quite a bit of low cloud about but it wasn't enough to stop us going.

I got picked up from the hostel and when I got to the Drop Zone went staight into getting into the rig and running though the jump plan. My two Jump Masters were Damon and Brendon. We went thought the jump plan and then tried a practice exit while the plane was on the ground. Parachutes are heavy! When I jumped out onto the ground I fell over backwards! Anyway, we did another exit and that was fine so it was just a case of waiting to go.

I can't remember if I mentioned it but you get a radio so that once the canopy is deployed Keith on the ground can talk you down as obviously the Jump Masters can't help once you stop free fall as they have get far away when you deploy the chute. So we checked the radio and Keith showed me on an aerial photo of the Drop Zone where I should be at 2,000ft, 1,000ft, 500ft and 200ft. He also explained the kind of flight pattern I'd need to get betwteen those points and as there was alomst no ground wind he decided I should land on the PLA along the longest part of it. You should try to land into wind so that you reduce your ground speed so that when you flare the chute you aren't moving forward and you just basically "jump down" onto the ground.

We went up and I was rehearsing the jump in my head like you're supposed to. I was feeling extremely nervous! Lorraine, the other AFF student, was going to do a solo jump so when we got to 12,000ft she went first. That's the point where I panicked! I got the OK to move to the door and then when I got there I didn't think I could do it. Brendon was out side and Damon on my right inside. I shook my head and shouted I couldn't. Damon said "yes!" and gave a thumbs-up signal. I still couldn't do it - it's a bloody long way up! Damon looked over to Brendon, nodded, looked at me and pointed out. I knew they were going to push me! They did. I did actually shout "Noooooooooo" as we went! But, and this is the really important thing and what I'm most proud of myself for, I took two deep breaths, as it says in the jump plan, and then I got on with it and loved every second.

I did all the things I was supposed to. The only thing I missed was the first extended practice pilot chute pull I couldn't find the toggle and Damon had to guide my hand to it. The next one immediately after I got first time. Every thing else went perfectly. I deployed the chute as I approached 4,000 feet and when I checked it was all as it was supposed to be. Keith immediately came in on the radio and got me to do a couple of turns to check that I could hear him. Much to my surprise I loved being under canopy and just floating down. I got all of Keith's instructions and came in on the correct heading. As I was coming in to land he told me to flare and then I just stepped down onto the grass. Yep, on my first jump I managed a stand-up landing!

I was convinced that I'd need to re-do Stage 1 because of my less than elegant exit. As soon as you have collected up your chute and got back to the hangar and taken the rig off you get a de-brief on the jump. They ask you to talk them through it as far as you can remember and then they go through it from their point of view. I was expecting that we'd have to go over and over the exit and that I'd have to re-do that jump again. They said there was no need: the aims of that stage are height awarness, body position and deploying the chute before 4,000 feet. They said that I'd been average to above average once I'd got out. They said that I'd obviously just let nerves get the better of me and suggested how to stop that happening again. They were really reassuring. Brendon said that my excellent performance during the free fall shows that I have no need to be afraid of jumping out.

So then it was on to Stage 2. This is basically the same as the first one but you learn how to do 90 degree turns left and right. I won't bore you with the whole thing and the practice but we went up. Three people jumped out before me this time and I made myself watch them. I was still really scared but I was determined to do it on my own this time. I told myself that I love what happens after and the only way to do that is to get out of the sodding door! OK to go to the door. Right OK, Left OK, Up, Down, OUT. Still scary but no problem. The dive was fantastic. We did five turns and I got each one. Keith had shown me where I should be at 2,000ft and said he'd let me try and get myself there from wherever I was when the chute opens! I got a bit of a shock when I checked the chute as it wasn't fully open when I looked. I think I just rushed and looked too quickly. As I watched it opened, the cells inflated and the slider came down. Keith just asked me to zig-zag left and right to check I could hear him and then said he'd leave me to it. All he said before around 2,000ft was "You're doing really well, just keep on doing what you're doing". It was great fun to decide where I should be going for myeslf and steer accordingly. When I got to just about 2,000ft he started to talk me down. I was a bit high so had to do some spirals to loose height. There was no wind at ground level and when I came in on this one I had to sit down on landing.

I got back to the hanger and Damon said "You nailed it!" and Brendon just looked at me and said "Awesome". I don't think I can ask for better than that.

So, there you go. I'm doing Stage 3 tomorrow: One Jump Master lets go and flies infront of you. Then he moves to one side and you have to turn to face him again and so on until it's time to deploy the canopy. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm still not expecting that I'll pass first time as it starts getting harder but I'm going to have a lot of fun trying!

I just can't tell you all how excited I am. I thought the tandem jump was amazing but the two jumps today have been even better! Let's just hope the weather stays clear!

Ian.