skysprite 0 #1 October 22, 2003 Hey all, I made my first tandem two weeks ago. I was addicted before I even got to the DZ! It's definitely the start of my life long love affair with the sky! Just as soon as I can afford it, I'm going back to take AFF. I'm a student, so it'll be a little while, but I'm definitely going just as soon as I can!~skysprite Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #2 October 22, 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
skysprite 0 #3 October 22, 2003 Oh gosh I know! Money is the biggest problem right now. Workstudy doesn't pay a whole lot, and I live in an apartment at school and have to eat. I want to go again sooo bad but I can't afford it right now! *cry* Which brings me to an AFF question! It is doubtful I could afford even two trainings/jumps in a month, but depending on bills I might not even be able to do one a month. Is that bad? Do they need to be done consecutively, with very little time between each training/jump? Should I just save and save until I can do it that way?~skysprite Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metalslug 36 #4 October 22, 2003 Quote Should I just save and save until I can do it that way? In my opinion; a big 'Yes'. It may take a huge amount of patience to wait it out but it will definitely save you money in the long run. It's not just about the cost of the training jumps but there is usualy a logistical cost (fuel money) each time you travel to the DZ. Also, you have a better chance of passing your levels if you do them over a short timespan because the 'muscle memory' is fresh in your mind. Failing AFF levels, if it happens, will feel like a terrible waste of money. Making or 2 or 3 trips to the DZ over a month period to complete the course with no failed levels is going to be quite cheaper than stretching it over 6 months or more, travelling to the DZ for each jump and perhaps repeating some levels. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pa2themd 0 #5 October 22, 2003 Welcome, to the best thing in the world!!!Best of luck!! Safe skydives "Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just assume it's addressed to someone else!" Ivern Ball Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themitchyone 0 #6 October 22, 2003 If you can save up the money first, good for you. It's not easy coming up with a few hundred extra dollars every month. Shame on me... much of my current AFF has gone on the credit card. "If the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girl's sports such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing." - Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fireflyer 0 #7 October 22, 2003 metal slug is right. i did aff this summer and it took me 4-5 months paying as i went, saving the money for each single jump, sometimes waiting 3 weeks between them. i was always so nervous on the first time up and always noticed the second jump of the day (if I had the $) was SO much smoother. if you got the bug as bad as me, surely hang at the DZ, but dont jump, just learn, talk to people, etc. tell em you are saving for AFF. that will keep you motivated to save. if i did it over i would surely have saved all the money and finished it in a week or two instead. welcome to the forums, best of luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fireflyer 0 #8 October 22, 2003 Quote metal slug is right. i did aff this summer and it took me 4-5 months paying as i went, saving the money for each single jump, sometimes waiting 3 weeks between them. i was always so nervous on the first time up and always noticed the second jump of the day (if I had the $) was SO much smoother. if you got the bug as bad as me, surely hang at the DZ, but dont jump, just learn, talk to people, etc. tell em you are saving for AFF. that will keep you motivated to save. if i did it over i would surely have saved all the money and finished it in a week or two instead. welcome to the forums, best of luck! i did have to repeat a coach dive to get my A license as i was waiting too long between jumps. it can happen if you wait too long. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skysprite 0 #9 October 23, 2003 So is it "okay" then if I go hang out at the DZ even though I'm not jumping? I wasn't sure if that was cool or not. I mean I would love to go and talk and get to know these people, learn by observation etc, but other than that I don't have a "reason" to be there per se. Is it cool with most DZs just to go hang out? (I go to Elsinore.) I wouldn't mind making the drive just to hang out, if I knew I'd be welcome... or at least not not welcome. heh~skysprite Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fireflyer 0 #10 October 23, 2003 oh i would image that to be the case. i had so many weekends i had no scratch and i would just go hang out, drink (bring) some beer. read the aff manuals. basically, you CAN look like you are doing something - see what they have to read, etc. watch people pack. watch landings. etc. we have more spectators than jumpers most weekends - must be the sign by our airport that says "spectators welcome." there are levels of saving too....you dont have to on one hand save some money, take a jump, then wait a month to do another OR save ALL the loot, then do them all : I know people that like did a few in the spring, some mid summer, the rest later (some are going into next spring). they did a few initially to "get in on the in-crowd, then sort of saved/jumped in blocks. that might be a compromise to consider. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skysprite 0 #11 October 24, 2003 All advice noted, and thanks guys! ~skysprite Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaGimp 0 #12 October 24, 2003 hi and welcome."Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee03 0 #13 October 24, 2003 Hang around the DZ.. they won't mind. You can learn things, like how to pack a chute, which your going to have to do for your A license anyway, as well as allot of other things, plus you justget to hang out with a bunch of great people -------- To put your life in danger from time to time ... breeds a saneness in dealing with day-to-day trivialities. --Nevil Shute, Slide Rule Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
