Plz help a 16 year old london student!!

[Mike111 0]

hey everyone,

Jus a lil bout me (dont wanna bore you to death!) - im called mike, live in london, an am 16 and will be doing a full AFF course + consolidation jumps in norfolk this coming weekend and week
But my worry is that i have no real experience of meeting skydivers , except for doing a tandem, and the dropzone (which is excellent!), is expanding and thus has loads of regulars.

Therefore, i feel very intimidated and scared , and was wondering if anyone could offer any advice on how to get to know everybody, without looking like a jerk or being slightly intrusive?

Also, does the fact that someone is 16 change regulars attitudes towards them, so that they are outcasted for being slightly younger than say, some other students or regulars?

Many Thanks in advance for any advice, it will be much appreciated and will make the coming week a lot less daunting!!
Kind regards,

Mike

[psipike02 0]

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But my worry is that i have no real experience of meeting skydivers , except for doing a tandem, and the dropzone (which is excellent!), is expanding and thus has loads of regulars.

Therefore, i feel very intimidated and scared ,
________________________________________________

Hey Mike,

as someone who also just started out in AFF in June, it can be intimidating at first, but if you just go to the dropzone and start hanging out and getting to know everyone, you'll learn everyone is awesome and are really nice. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself. Some of the more experienced jumpers at my dropzone help me with so many questions all the time and some of them are even on this forum!
So don't let it bother you, tell you're a student and just if you can, go up there on random days and just hang out, whether you're jumping or not, you can learn so much from just hanging out and listening.


_________________________________________________
Also, does the fact that someone is 16 change regulars attitudes towards them, so that they are outcasted for being slightly younger than say, some other students or regulars?

________________________________________

No it shouldnt change it, i think you're getting an early start which is cool. I'm only 21 myself and its cool to have jumpers who are older be able to kind of mentor you in the ways of jumping. Most of them will be excited that you're starting early....

So have fun and good luck in your AFF course....let us know how it goes!

Puttin' some stank on it.

----Hellfish #707----

[monkycndo 0]

I got started just last year. I found that most jumpers are happy to answer questions. A good time to socialize is after sunset. No one rushing to make a load, just good times. People will pick up that you are there to learn and want to include you into the family. After no time, YOU are one of the regulars. Just remember, once you get to that point, make sure to say Hi to the new guy.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[RfukfreeflyingW 0]

You'll be fine! we are a friendly community! Go there smile and talk, people will be nice... but the night time suggestion is good, if you hang out drink some beer and bs for awhile, you'll know everyone quickly!

Good Luck

----
-God, you are the perfect amount of dumb...

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!
To make things easier on yourself, remember to stay humble and be open to learning from the locals around you who have been in the sport for awhile. If you get teased about stuff, then you'll know they like you and that you're becoming one of the regulars also.

I'm a mom who has teenagers so I'll add one more thing...stay away from the alcohol and drugs!

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

[RfukfreeflyingW 0]

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stay away from the alcohol and drugs!

he's in london! the drinking age there is like 12!

the drugs part ok...

----
-God, you are the perfect amount of dumb...

[Eule 0]

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Therefore, i feel very intimidated and scared , and was wondering if anyone could offer any advice on how to get to know everybody, without looking like a jerk or being slightly intrusive?

I got started a couple of months ago. Before I even jumped, I went to a couple of local dropzones and
just hung out for a bit, to check them out. I found that most of the people there were very friendly and
outgoing and would tend to notice the "new guy" (me) sitting there and come up and introduce
themselves. I was intimidated at first, as well... after I found the first dropzone, I drove around in
circles for ten or fifteen minutes before I finally got up the nerve to park and go in. :)

The dropzone I'm at is only open on the weekends, so this may be a little different for you since you said
you're going during the week as well. However: after I was there for a couple of weekends, it was pretty
easy to tell the staff and the regulars I had already met from the experienced jumpers that I hadn't met
before. I made it a point to find a time when they weren't too busy (not rushing to get packed or on
a load, etc) and walk up and introduce myself. So far they've all been friendly and we usually talk for
a couple of minutes.

Quote

Also, does the fact that someone is 16 change regulars attitudes towards them, so that they are outcasted for being slightly younger than say, some other students or regulars?

I can't really speak to this, as most of the younger people I've seen jumping (who are no younger
than 18) were tandems. You might be ready to get asked things like "your mom must be the one
jumping, where is she?" either seriously or in jest. Just smile and let them know that _you're_ jumping
and it'll most likely be cool.

Here's a tip: When you've got to go in and meet a group of new people, bribery _works_. Not cash,
but food. You don't have to arrange for a catered steak dinner for everyone! Just show up with a
couple of dozen doughnuts or a box of cookies or something like that - enough that everyone or
nearly everyone can have one. This isn't just for the dropzone... this will work for the rest of your
life - at school/university, on the job, wherever. I have made it a practice to do this on the first day
at a new job and it's worked well for me. Part of what happens is that since you've brought food,
people that might otherwise be shy about introducing themselves will come up to you and say "Hey,
thanks for the food!" and will usually then introduce themselves.

As far as beer goes - in my limited experience, yes, skydivers like to sit around at the end of the day
(_after_ all the jumping is done) and have a beer or three. Some people don't drink for religious or
medical reasons and that is accepted... one of the instructors at the DZ I go to doesn't drink, but
hangs out with the rest of us and has a cola or whatever. Here in sunny Oklahoma, the drinking age
is 21. Somebody who's 20.9 might enjoy a beer with the older people, but somebody who's 16 wouldn't
be given a beer by anyone older and would probably be chastised by the older people if he brought his
own beer. This will vary widely by culture and I don't know what it's like in the UK. I've visited Germany
(not skydiving, just on holiday) where the drinking age is approximately "old enough to see over the
bar" and I suspect that there, a 16-year-old could enjoy a beer in the evening no problem.

One thing that is universal: you shouldn't feel like you _have_ to drink to fit in, nor be made to feel that
way by the people you are with. I will also second the "no drugs" admonition... besides, after you start
skydiving, you won't feel the need for them. :)

You may also want to post a message in the "Bonfire" or maybe the "Events and Places to Jump"
forums - "Bonfire" especially is a little more widely read than this one. Put your DZ somewhere in the
subject line, like "New AFF jumper at Norfolk UK" or "Anybody jump at Norfolk UK?" or similar. You'll
probably be able to find one or two "regulars" at the dropzone you're going to, or at least someone
who's been there before and can tell you some of the names at the dropzone you're going to.

Good luck!

Eule

PLF does not stand for Please Land on Face.

[Mike111 0]

Hey everbody,

Firstly, a massive thankyou to all the great and detailed advice and nice welcome that you have all kindly offered!!)

Also may i thankyou all for preparing me on what to expect, and how best to conduct myself with the other jumpers, and it has all been taken on board fully!! I always try to be as friendly as possible to everybody, and will definately do my best to reassure or support any other students or people who also feel intimated or scared about starting out whenever i can .

LOL unfortunately the drinknig age in england is 18, but there are ways round it......, but will always stay away from drugs!

May I finally wish everyone a very happy and enjoyable skydiving summer (well whats left of summer), and hope everyone stays safe and has a great time following their passion!!!
Oh, and just quickly, may i also humbly say that i am very happy that eveyrone who replied who have recently started skydiving have all settled in and are having a great time.!! Best of luck for the future!!
Kind regards and thanks once again,

Mike

[klingeme 1]

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Also, does the fact that someone is 16 change regulars attitudes towards them, so that they are outcasted for being slightly younger than say, some other students or regulars?

As long as you relize the just because you are 16 and not "Legal" to drink in the US does not excuse you from the beer rules, which the regulars and experienced jumpers will explain to you in depth if you ask them about them. That will be a great way to introduce yourself....

My name is...
...Coulld you explain the "Beer rules" to me.

Have fun and welcome to the sport.

Mark Klingelhoefer

[Maxx 1]

Hi,

I also started skydiving with 16 and had absolutly no problems being the youngest skydiver at the dropzone.. Everyone looked after me and talked to me.. So don't feel scared or intimidated, "they" are only skydivers, just as you.. But beware of the skychicks, they are trying to make you drunk!
Skydiving is very socialising, so I think you won't have a problem with finding your people to hang out with. The only thing that bothered me a little bit is, that there are so few skydivers in the 16-20 years range (speaking of Germany here). So we always need some younger ones here!

Good luck and report here how it goes,
Max

[Mike111 0]

Hey Max and Mark,

Thankyou for the kind advice and encouragement you offered, it was much appreciated!
Thanks to all the wonderful advice that has been kindly offered by everyone, i now do feel more confident about next week, and so offer my gratitude to everyone who has helped!
"report here how it goes" - will do, and thanks for all the "good luck's", cos im definately gonna need it!!!

Kind regards,

Mike

[Mike111 0]

Hey,

I got half way through AFF - got up to Level 5 (and failed it ). The weather was pretty shit overall - only got 1.5 jumping days outa 8 , but better than nothing i guess!

Levels 1-3 went really well, although i was really tense and stiff, which meant i didn't get the full enjyoment, but was pleased i maintained alti awareness.

Level 4 was really nerveracking, but just managed to scrape through, but level 5 went awful - got really nervous and went into a spin while attmpeting a 360 degree turn. ended up tumbling everywhere to and my instructor ended up pulling for me after wrestling to get me stable! Following i had to ride the plane down for the next jump.

But im going back at the end of the month to complete the course for sure and then go onto consolidation jumps.
Finally could i express a big thankyou to all the advice that was so kindly offered - i acted upon it and got on really well with eveyrone i met there, they were all extremely lovely people and very friendly, as were the instructurs
I hope everyoen has a brilliant skydiving season, and thanks once again.

Kind regards, Mike

[mdrejhon 8]

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Therefore, i feel very intimidated and scared , and was wondering if anyone could offer any advice on how to get to know everybody, without looking like a jerk or being slightly intrusive?

(1) Stay late on Saturday and stay for the bonfire to socialize.

(2) Free beer. (Exception apply -- you are too underage for your particular country.) Instead, get free popsicles on a hot summer day, or order free 7:30am coffee half an hour before the first load on Sunday.

[Mike111 0]

Cheers
Thanks for the advice (although there aint a bonfire unfortunately)

Ill do that once i get AFF 8 or licence or sometrhing like that
mike

[teamtwot 0]

Hi Mike

Stick at it man, the trick is to be cool
Don't get fretted about what may happen just know you can deal with it!

Once the bug bites it will change your life for the better my man!

Blues and remember: Chill, there is no better fun!

---

Define normal?!?

[reddevil1 0]

Funding skydiving at 16 how much are you going to spend in the first year ,set your self a limit ,as you are a student ,don't over do your self, i did a bit,but money well spent ,doing birdman now 257 jumps all in the uk,started may 2004 static line.

The point of no return what a rush.

[Mike111 0]

Hey,

Cheers dude, im still working on the fretting part lol , not just in that area btu in all really. Like not panicking when things go unplanned (bad Aff level 5) but thanks ill get there eventually.)

i think the bug has got me , although it seems to like to feed on money. lololol

Cheers,

Mike

[Mike111 0]

Hi,

thanks for the info, what ive done, ive set aside like this jar (jamjar like thing) where i put all skydiving money in so i don't go overbaord and blow it all at once. Its tight though, but doable
257 jumps + birdman, wow! Would love to try a birdman one day in the future
Thanks for the help, the jamjar thing and budget like you suggested really helped.

Mike