Mockingbird 0 #1 August 12, 2004 I just turned 50 last month and tandemed on that day. Have thought about little else---just "when can I do it again?" But I'm getting old and I have no one to do it with--- none of my friends are interested in learning. So I'm still trying to decide if it's something I should pursue in spite of those things. My tandem was incredible--- the funnest thing I ever did! I've always dreamed of flying. I'm sure that if I don't enroll in a class, I'll still do a tandem jump on subsequent birthdays, but I hate to have to wait a whole year; I want to get my license. Should I? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #2 August 12, 2004 Welcome to the forums! Some dz's will let you incorporate a few tandems into your student program. So, if you're still trying to decide if this is the thing for you that might be a good way to start.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
D22369 0 #3 August 12, 2004 I just turned 50 last month Quote Good grief.....dont let that stop you !!!! But I'm getting old please.....dont let that stop you !!!!........aint none of us getting younger... none of my friends are interested in learning welcome to skydiving.....It aint for everyone...make NEW ones..... My tandem was incredible*** Your Tandem Instructor did well, I take it?.... ---> get yer damn license---->donning the fire retardent suit.... Serious now..... If this is something you wish to do, then do it........ you will meet people from all walks of life, some of them will be lifelong friends, when you walk on the dz, its not how much money you make, or what you do for a living that matters....it comes down to what you can do,,,,,,and who YOU are.... you have tasted the freedom we enjoy you will be miserable if you dont pursue it..... good luck with whatever avenue you decide upon.... *side note..*----fill out your profile.....everyone likes to know who they are talking to and where they are from........RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #4 August 12, 2004 Run, don't walk..........to do your class! Do it before the 'little things' of age catch up to you. If you can afford it and don't have anything holding you back, go for it! J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattjw916 2 #5 August 12, 2004 Just do it... none of my friends are interested either so I just figured I will make some new ones jumping... NSCR-2376, SCR-15080 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mockingbird 0 #6 August 12, 2004 I filled in all the info I could on my profile... unless there's more to it than I've seen. It just asked number of years and home dz and equipment, but none of that applies. Am I missing something?Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird "Why is there something rather than nothing?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #7 August 12, 2004 You don't have to fill in everything if you don't want to. Some people prefer to abbreviate part of their name or not include their real e-mail address. But, it is good to give us a little bit of info so we know who we are talking to. 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
tustinr 1 #8 August 13, 2004 Don't wait a minute longer. Get your butt out to the DZ and jump ! Age means zippo. You will meet plenty of new friends and have great FUN ! Go for it. Rich --------------------------------------- Everything that happens to you in life is your teacher. The secret is to learn to sit at the feet of your life and be taught. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mockingbird 0 #9 August 13, 2004 OK, did the profile thing. Now I feel all vulnerable! (I exaggerate; I just wanted to use the embarrassed little smilie) Thanks, everybody, for your encouragement. I guess what I need to do is go to the DZ where I would most likely be training (SkydiveSanMarcos) and try to get a feel for how friendly & professional, etc., they are and then make my decision. In the meantime, I guess I'll just keep watching my tandem video over and over and over, and my "Extreme Skydive" DVD. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nael 0 #10 August 13, 2004 hehe I remember watching my tandem video over and over while I was saving up the money to do AFF! You really should learn if you want to, the fact that you went looking on the net for skydiving info and actually made a user name on this site hints that you have the bug! I did my first tandem in february, I started my AFF in april (after saving every cent I had since feb!) and now I am a licenced skydiver. If you'de told me a year ago I'd be where I am now in skydiving I would have bet you a million dollars you were wrong - seriously! None of my friends are interested in it at all, but I have a whole bunch of new friends now. You will have a blast and make lots of new friends, don't use age as an excuse! The way I see it, you have years of not jumping to make up for! Go for it!www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeth 0 #11 August 13, 2004 Yes, definitely, just do it!! Your age doesn't matter! I was exactly the same way as you -- I did a tandem for my birthday, and afterwards I couldn't stop thinking about jumping again. (I quickly found my way to dz.com, too. ) I, too, thought maybe I could just do a tandem once a year. But who was I kidding!! My big hurdle was not my age, but that I didn't have the time or money to commit to getting licensed. But I have now figured out that I will make the time, and find the money, and not have to give up everything else in my life to do it. After my 1st tandem I went back a month later and started AFP. At my DZ their program incorporates 2 tandems in the progression so I did 1 more tandem before my 1st solo jump. I highly recommend this type of training. The tandems really help you get comfortable in freefall, and you learn about flying the canopy too. Then you are not quite so overwhelmed when you have to do it by yourself! Definitely go to the dz and just hang out and talk to people. Skydivers are very friendly people. Rookies are welcomed into this sport like nothing I've ever seen. I can't believe I almost decided not to do this. Now I am just looking forward to the day when I graduate and can jump with all my new friends. Welcome to the sport! Go for it!! "At 13,000 feet nothing else matters." PFRX!!!!! Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109 My Jump Site Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstime 0 #12 August 14, 2004 I started when I was 46. now 47. I am sort of glad i started later in life because as a younger guy I was not sharpest nail in the shed. Yes this sport has engulfed my life but for me It's great because I sold my house, kids are adults, wife left (not because of skydiving). The only bad thing about starting in your 40's or 50's you have to be careful with those landings because we dont bounce back in a day or 2 like yesteryear. Keep it up , get your license get involved with a group of people 2nd to none. its like being a teenager all over again but your much smarter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mockingbird 0 #13 August 14, 2004 All of y'alls posts have been great and I've really appreciated them. It was especially encouraging to hear from "Firstime" since he's just a few short years my junior. What he said here: Quote ...its like being a teenager all over again but your much smarter. reminds me of the saying: "The forties are the old age of youth, but the fifties are the youth of old age." Anyway, I've decided that in OCTOBER/NOVEMBER (when it's cooler down here-- I can't take this heat), I will make another tandem, but it will be an instructional tandem rather than a purely "fun" type. If I have saved enough money, I will go from there with the tandem progression into the AFF program. In the meantime, I will read a lot, watch my tandem video (luckily I have a copy on DVD as well, because I think I'm gonna' wear out the tape!) and get on the treadmill, as I also have as my goal to lose 10 pounds before the next tandem. So, here goes... Thanks, everybody. See you in the sky! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pwln 0 #14 August 16, 2004 I've met a lot of "OLD"er people when jumping. Go do it. It's the best thing I've ever done. You could even be a member of POPS. (I think) www.thepops.org Membership requirements are that a person has made a parachute jump, or a tandem skydive, and is over forty years of age. An smaller group within POPS is the SOS - Skydivers over Sixty - and there even some JOES - Jumpers Over Eighty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mockingbird 0 #15 August 16, 2004 Having a "club" for people over a certain age is really a great idea, esp. for those of us who never even got STARTED at it until they were over the hill-- we face several unique challenges. Anyway, thanks for the info! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bluskytrvlr 0 #16 August 21, 2004 Mockingbird, You sound like me after my first static line. Thoughts of skydiving consumed me. I think that is a sign you were born to be a skydiver! My wife and I both started jumping later in life. We started because skydiving is immensely rewarding and we stuck with it because of the amazing people we have met in the sport. The sense of camaraderie in this sport is like no other. We truly are "All in this Together." There are plenty of folks around the age of 50 who jump at San Marcos and have a ball doing it. A bunch of them will be at Ballunar in Houston next weekend, come on by if you can. The POPS is the funnest organization in skydiving, nowhere else can you get to know and jump with some of the pioneers of the sport. Sign up now! Welcome to the sky!!!!!A mile of highway can take you a mile But a mile of Runway can take you anywhere! Blue Sky Traveler Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
