{"id":17808,"date":"2017-10-02T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=17808"},"modified":"2017-10-02T23:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-10-02T23:00:00","slug":"2017-10-03-on-the-bench","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/2017-10-03-on-the-bench\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Bench??"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

So you get the long-awaited email \u2013 Yes! \u2013 and your slot on the big-way is\u2026 The Alpha team \ud83d\ude41 How do you cope with the inevitable disappointment if you\u2019re not one of the Chosen Ones?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Tip: If you’re on the bench you can still make the experience positive, educational and enjoyable, you just might need to work a bit harder!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Summit Party<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Firstly you need to understand that not everyone can make the summit. When Hillary and Tenzing first climbed Everest, over 100 men were in the expedition group; climbing, ferrying, breaking trail, carrying, cooking, weather forecasting, pitching camp\u2026 Everyone\u2019s efforts were vital to achieve the tiny sliver of success; a few minutes atop the world\u2019s tallest mountain. The whole crew celebrated the result, and rightly so. It\u2019s the same with big-ways; everyone involved contributes to the event so everyone should rejoice equally in its success.<\/p>\n

\"Dirt-diving<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Not About You<\/h1>\n

<\/p>\n

Big-way organizers have a responsibility to the record attempt, to bring sufficient jumpers on site to make the numbers up in case of injury, illness, poor performance and unforeseen eventualities. Therefore, someone has to be on the ground on that record jump. No-one is saying that the people who are on the load are any better than those on the ground. It\u2019s purely logistics. Pointing at someone on the record jump who is less talented\/experienced\/capable than you is meaningless. The organizers just want to make the formation happen. That might mean that Nice-but-Dim Tim is in the base 6 because he weighs 220 lbs, or 200-jump-Julie is on the rail because she did that slot last week and ripped it up. That\u2019s a no-brainer for the organizers. It\u2019s not that they believe Dave or Julie are better than you; they just want people in those slots that will do the job. Working out a record event to its successful conclusion is like doing a jigsaw puzzle, finding pieces of different shapes and putting them together to make a pattern.<\/p>\n

\"Morning<\/p>\n

There are two ways you can find yourself on the bench; in advance, or at the event itself, by demotion, illness or injury.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1, If You Know in Advance<\/h1>\n

<\/p>\n

So you get the email and you\u2019re on the Alpha team \ud83d\ude41 This is the easiest type of bench slot to cope with as you can rationalize any disappointment beforehand. Look at it this way; you could have more fun than those on the big-way, as you get to do smaller, varied jumps while the others are repeating the same dive ad infinitum, then hopefully you can slide on the record load in the end.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you are on the Alpha team, consider it a compliment!! It could very well mean the organizers think you are a ringer!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

Before the Event<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Set your personal goals before the event, in priority order, something like this:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 100% safety, come home in one piece, & don\u2019t hurt anyone (especially Kate)<\/li>\n
  2. Enjoy, make the most of all the opportunities<\/li>\n
  3. Do whatever you can to help the record succeed<\/li>\n
  4. Join the record<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Throw your toys out of the pram and refuse to go… or email with all the reasons why you should have had a slot.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Go to the event. You\u2019ll still learn, enjoy and be part of it. If you\u2019re talented, more than likely you\u2019ll get on the record.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Assume it’s all over, you won\u2019t be on the record (& your skydiving career is history, and everyone hates you\u2026)<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Read all the advance paperwork\/website info; exit plans, formation diagrams, tracking teams, landing areas, etc, AS IF<\/strong> you have a slot. Choose your own (imaginary) position and prepare by absorbing as much of the plan as possible.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    At the Event<\/h2>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Bench people have a potentially difficult role as they may be doing completely separate jumps to the big-way group and can be brought in at short notice to a skydive without the benefit of days of dirtdiving and preparation. For this reason it\u2019s vital to stay tuned with the big-way; the colors in the base, the aircraft line-up, red zone approach, any keys in the build, and the tracking plan. You\u2019ll never remember all the detail but if you pretend you have a position and learn that slot\/area, it\u2019s easier to transfer this to a different slot than to assimilate everything all of a sudden in five minutes.<\/p>\n

    \"Dirtdive<\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Keep interested in and knowledgeable about the big-way. Watch the dirtdives & debriefs if possible. Put yourself in the frame and imagine your approach visuals. Watch the videos if they are available on Skydiving Photography<\/a>, or at the dropzone.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Ignore what\u2019s going on; the original plan may change, so keeping up means you\u2019ll have minimal new information if you are offered a slot.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Put yourself everywhere on the alpha team skydives; floating, diving, center work. Show the Load Organizer you\u2019re versatile. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Stick to one type of slot even if you\u2019re very good at it, the message is that you\u2019re a one-trick pony.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Put everything into these jumps, most likely with good skydivers, in the sun \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Sulk or treat these bench skydives as beneath you.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Anything to help the big-way (without sucking up to the LOs!). Lend some weight, a jumpsuit, offer a shoulder, bring water, a sunhat.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Sabotage it, or speak negatively about it.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Find a friend on the big-way, somewhere near your imaginary slot (ideally wearing a Go-Pro if permitted by the organizers) Ask him\/her to share the skydive experiences. Watch the footage. Visualize. \u2028<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON\u2019T:<\/strong> Make a dummy of your friend and stick pins in it.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    2, If you\u2019re taken off the load at the event<\/h1>\n

    <\/p>\n

    All the above advice applies but in addition you have to deal with your emotions. It hurts. It really hurts. Either you think being axed is unjustified, which is painful; or you think it is fair, which can feel worse as you\u2019re disappointed in yourself. But it\u2019s now your true colors show. Trust me, being taken off the load is an opportunity to shine. Organizers really remember people who take this in their stride. It\u2019s a horrible thing to ask someone to step down, so you earn yourself a lot of respect by being dignified. Generally the organizer feels bad so don\u2019t make it worse for him\/her.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Ask what you can do to address the problem<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON’T:<\/strong> Stop jumping at the event. You just look sad.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Jump with the alpha team. It\u2019s the only way you\u2019ll get back on the load & a very good way to do something positive. You might even find you enjoy yourself more now the pressure\u2019s off.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON’T:<\/strong> Have a public weeping meltdown. That\u2019s a sure way to add humiliation to your troubles, and make sure years later everyone still remembers you were axed.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Be positive in public, buy your beers, then find a shoulder to cry on in private if this helps.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DON’T:<\/strong> Buttonhole the organizer and explain how unfair\/upsetting it is<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    DO:<\/strong> Remember, on the bench is better than in hospital \u2013 or worse. This sport can be very unforgiving, so thank your lucky stars you\u2019re still here, and Suck it up Cup Cake!<\/p>\n

    \"California<\/p>\n

    \u200b<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    So you get the long-awaited email \u2013 Yes! \u2013 and your slot on the big-way is\u2026 The Alpha team \ud83d\ude41 How do you cope with the inevitable disappointment if you\u2019re not one of the Chosen Ones? Tip: If you’re on the bench you can still make the experience positive, educational and enjoyable, you just might […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOn the Bench?? - Skydivemag<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/2017-10-03-on-the-bench\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"On the Bench??\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"So you get the long-awaited email \u2013 Yes! \u2013 and your slot on the big-way is\u2026 The Alpha team \ud83d\ude41 How do you cope with the inevitable disappointment if you\u2019re not one of the Chosen Ones? 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