Bluehair 0 #1 March 3, 2003 (Sorry corny as hell subject but couldn't resist ) Hailing from Dublin in the beautiful Emerald Isle here and hoping to start jumping a bit more in the good old US of A. Only have bout 70 jumps but not current due buying a house a few years ago and other boring financial stuff. The good news is I'm selling some property soon and promised myself a rig and jumping holiday to celebrate (it's been too long ) Hoping some of you could help out with a bit of advice though. I work for United and it's just as cheap for me to fly to the US jumping than somewhere closer like Spain. Any thoughts on the friendliest/closest dzs to Washington DC Dulles or Chicago OHare?? Tips on getting too/from the airports would be appreciated also (mind you if it was on someone's way to the dz I'd be more than happy to contribute gas/jump $$) The plan is for the summer months to skip over every 3 or 4 weeks for a weekends jumping so the less time spent on a plane the more time I can spend jumping out of one! Blue Skies! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 March 3, 2003 Welcome! Why don't you go to Arizona and get out to Eloy? Then its less of a worry about weather. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bluehair 0 #3 March 3, 2003 Quote Welcome! Why don't you go to Arizona and get out to Eloy? Then its less of a worry about weather. Wow that was quick! Cheers for the welcome Was actually jumping in Skydive Arizona a few years ago for about 4/5 days. Did Sky U there AND got to jump the DC3, great memories.. Only problem with it though is the flights. By limiting myself to Washington DC (IAD), Chicago(ORD) or possibly New York (JFK or Newark EWR) I can plan ahead and make reasonably sure there's gonna be seats when I travel. Should've mentioned it's standby of course but hey thats the fun part. I travel a lot and have yet to be left behind but only because I plan my trips around the load factors not the other way around. Going to Eloy or, say, Florida complicates it since I now have 2 flts to go standby on each way instead of just one. And if the flts from the first city are full I'm screwed! Mind you for the Winter I will more than likely take you up on the visit to Eloy since loads are better that time of year and you're right about the weather too Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 March 3, 2003 That's got to be fun, hop'n flights real cheap around the world... --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bluehair 0 #5 March 3, 2003 Quote That's got to be fun, hop'n flights real cheap around the world... Can't deny it 2002 I got to Maui, San Francisco (twice), Vegas (Twice), Boston, New York (twice), Rome, Prague, London, Paris, Barcelona and ummmm.. I think that's it.... (Bragg mode off ) Mind you if you I told you my salary you'd probably wonder how the hell I put food on the table never mind travel a lot (cheap flights or no). And thats where the tough choice of sacrificing jumping a few years ago to get into property is paying off now. It was bloody tight for about two years when it was genuinely hard to make ends meet but with hindsight I'm glad I did it since it's gonna finance my return to the sport this summer You can bet I'll be heading to the dropzone.com meets no matter where they are too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #6 March 3, 2003 QuoteAny thoughts on the friendliest/closest dzs to Washington DC DullesI have a friend who lives in DC and jumps at Orange, Virginia. You might just try posting your inquiry in the "Places to Jump" Forum. I'm sure someone will know better than me.Welcome to the forums!-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bluehair 0 #7 March 3, 2003 Quote Quote Any thoughts on the friendliest/closest dzs to Washington DC Dulles I have a friend who lives in DC and jumps at Orange, Virginia. You might just try posting your inquiry in the "Places to Jump" Forum. I'm sure someone will know better than me. Welcome to the forums! Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #8 March 3, 2003 Welcome to the forums! She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
easyglider 0 #9 March 3, 2003 Hi Bluehair, did you know that a new DZ's opening in Ireland around St.Patricks week. It's near Waterford, they hope to have a Cherokee. Details are sketchy at the mo, cos the website's not up and running yet (goskydive.ie). THE former CCI of the Irish Parachute Club's one of the founder of this club. Just thought you might like to know there'll be more choice pretty soon. Blue Skies Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,447 #10 March 3, 2003 Close to Chicago there's Skydive Chicago (and other DZs), but there's white stuff on the ground too often for them to be active right about now. There are other DZs too; SDC is probably the largest. Diverdriver and kallend are both dz.com regulars who jump there (among a host of others). One nice thing about a larger DZ is that you're more likely to find bunkhouses and a ride, if you're trying to save your money for jumps and food. Good luck either way. I don't know as much about DZs within spitting distance of either NYC or Washington DC. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bluehair 0 #11 March 4, 2003 Cheers everyone for the friendly welcome. Hopefully I'll get to meet some of you in person someday on my travels. I see your local is Deland Skymama I got a chance to jump with TK in Zhills years ago and it's on the long finger to hopefully return next winter sometime so must stop by Deland too. Thanks for the heads-up easyglider are you originally from these parts yourself? Liam taught me some of the basics when I started out and I'll def be supporting his operation when it gets in the air. (Can't wait!) SDC has such an awesome reputation I'm almost def gonna make a try for a visit this summer so it's nice to know there's some dropzone.com regulars there too wmw999. Funnily enough I might be in Chicago in about two weeks anyway if I can swing the time off (anyone know how to get tickets for Jerry Springer ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
easyglider 0 #12 March 4, 2003 Quote Thanks for the heads-up easyglider are you originally from these parts yourself? Liam taught me some of the basics when I started out and I'll def be supporting his operation when it gets in the air. (Can't wait!)reply] Sorry about the late reply. I'm from Clonmel, Co. Tipp originally but live in Limerick now. Like yourself I got side-tracked from the sport. A mal had me thinking about piorities cos I just became a father 2 months before it, then when I decided I didn't wanna give up the sport I hadn't enough money to go back. So I'm saving for a life membership in one of the DZs with the change left over from buying nappies. It could take a while, but I'm patient. Blue Skies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites