cancina 0 #1 January 15, 2008 Hello, I live in Reno NV and want to get into skydiving. I have been looking into two schools for the AFF program, and after reading countless forum discussion am further baffled on how to choose. I am spit between Parachute Center (less expensive) and Skydance Skydiving. Both are about a 3 hour drive, which makes it difficult for me to go there to get a feel for the people and the dz. How else can I make the right decision? I really can't wait to start. Thanks for any input anyone delivers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taylor.freefall 0 #2 January 15, 2008 I personally would email them or phone whatever, and ask them if they can do a discount and then pick the one that does the best, tell them your predicament and see what they say? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #3 January 15, 2008 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
slobuzzard 0 #4 January 15, 2008 Where is Parachute Center at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,409 #5 January 15, 2008 http://www.parachutecenter.com/Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slobuzzard 0 #6 January 15, 2008 Thank You bigun BS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiem 1 #7 January 16, 2008 I did my AFF at the Parachute Center. Yes, it's not a USPA affiliated dropzone and they do things a little differently, but I got good training. You only jump with one instructor as opposed to two, and you don't use the radios for landing. So if you would be more comfortable with two instructors and radios, Skydance might be better. Buuuut, Lodi has a lot of great instructors, a great DZO, and a lot of people who know a tremendous amount about the sport. I would recommend it to anyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lion1 0 #8 January 16, 2008 Hi Cancina, I just joined this community but I have been a skydiver for 6 years and used to live in CA. Let me first say that I did my AFF at Skydance. I did two tandems (the first was just fun) little did i know I would be back the next weekend in an AFF class!!! I took 35 jumps to get my A license and spent over $2000 for all my tandems and student jumps. I went through the AFF program with my best friend (I highly recommend this, it helps when you have a bad jump or just flat out get scared) Since I finished AFF in 2002 I have jumped in Hawaii, FL, AZ, GA, So Cal, and both Skydance and Lodi. I can say without a doubt that Lodi can train you cheaper than Skydance. But I can also say that I have ALLWAYS felt like Skydance pounded saftey into my mind from the start. Not to say Lodi wouldnt because they do, but I have never regretted spending the money at Skydance for what I feel was superior safety oriented training. My main AFF instructor was a fellow with about 8-9000 jumps at the time. He was a worldclass skydiver (he was on the 400 way jump, and previous records too) It was a long time after I had my A license before he "let" me go jump at Lodi. This is because Lodi had a reputation for being less safe and less student friendly than Skydance. My AFF instructor prefered to jump at Lodi because the jump tickets are super cheap. But he still wanted me at Skydance until I was ready for Lodi. I just looked at my log book and my first jump at Lodi was jump 57, a 4 way with my AFF instructor and my bestfriend and another guy. If my AFF instructor waited till I had almost 60 jumps to take me to Lodi that says something. Dont get me wrong, I think Lodi is a great DZ and when Im back home I would not hesitate to jump there. But AFF is another story. One more reason why I would pick Skydance is the fact that there are may outs around Skydance. Outs are open fields where you can land. At Lodi there used to be many outs but slowly more and more of the fields around the DZ were planted with wine grapes. The grape stakes are a huge hazard if you were forced to land in one of those fields. So overall I would highly recommend Skydance. Remember Im not saying Lodi is bad but I do feel that Skydance is better for AFF. After you get trained and are confident as a skydiver then go to Lodi and have a blast Bill is a great DZO and when he says go to the plane.. GO!!! My bestfriend recently went to a DZ for his Tandem Instructor rating and guess where he went... Skydance! In my opinion go to Skydance for training and Lodi for cheap fun jumps after you have some experience. Oh and when you go to Skydance tell them Barnie Freefly sent you!!! Feel free to email me with any questions. HTH Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #9 January 16, 2008 Larry. I do not work at Skydance anymore, and I train students privately at Lodi under my personal program. Glad to hear your doing well Buddy. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lion1 0 #10 January 16, 2008 Good to hear form you Ed!!! When Im ready for a wingsuit I'll come out for a while and you can teach me how to fly em. I know you were not that happy at Skydance and Im glad you are teaching AFF again. See ya soon Blue Skies... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
noname 0 #11 January 16, 2008 If you are truly serious about jumping, go to Lodi, spend $100 on a tandem, then $500 for static line and then start jumping. Come prepared to jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
noname 0 #12 January 16, 2008 Oh and ignore all the stupid political crap about one dropzone being "safer". You just jumped out of a freaking plane, do you really think it makes a difference whose plane it was? Its your training and your decisions that get you to the ground safely. The quality of training at Lodi is great, I learned there! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #13 January 17, 2008 From what I have been told, static line program is no longer being offered at Lodi. Only their version of AFF.50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #14 January 17, 2008 QuoteIf you are truly serious about jumping, go to Lodi, spend $100 on a tandem, then $500 for static line and then start jumping. Come prepared to jump. Shows how much you get out to the dz lately. No more static line. I spoke with Colin and he's going through my private cousre in March. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cancina 0 #15 January 17, 2008 Yes, I am going to use Ed for private coaching. Thanks to all of those who replied. It helped me make my decision easier. Ed, I will be calling you sometime in Feb. to set a date. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #16 January 17, 2008 I look forward to it Colin. You have my number so dont hesitate to call me with any question you may have in the meantime. Also, keep me posted if you get a chance to fly in the tunnel before we start your training. Ed www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #17 January 17, 2008 QuoteOh and ignore all the stupid political crap about one dropzone being "safer". You just jumped out of a freaking plane, do you really think it makes a difference whose plane it was? Its your training and your decisions that get you to the ground safely. The quality of training at Lodi is great, I learned there! Yeah, it does.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
noname 0 #18 January 17, 2008 Oh yeah huh. I forgot about the static line going away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lion1 0 #19 January 17, 2008 Just for the record... My comments are not "political" they are from experience. Somewhat dated at this point because I did AFF 5 years ago. But you are right that the training and your actions in the air are what save your ass. As far as AFF goes a good instructor is critical. Ed P will not steer you wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
noname 0 #20 January 18, 2008 Obviously if there were some dropzone out there that strapped a rig to your back and tossed you out with 10 minutes of ground school, you would be screwed. But I got great instruction at Lodi and I felt very watched out for. The entire staff saw and critiqued my student videos and landings. I got plenty of advice and help and people have jumped with me all this time and helped me improve my skills. There are places you don't want to land at Lodi, like the grape stakes and the freeway and the power lines, but I have found them very easy to avoid. My AFF instructor went over the entire dropzone picture with me and taught me a strategy to assess where I was and maneuver myself over safe territory and into the huge student landing area. I have walked in from the field many times, but I have never landed in a bad place or off the dropzone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #21 January 19, 2008 Quote Ed P will not steer you wrong YEA, now that we quit letting him use the radios........you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #22 January 21, 2008 Quote Quote Ed P will not steer you wrong YEA, now that we quit letting him use the radios........ Good one. But I dont use radios. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheSecret 0 #23 January 29, 2008 I have jumped at Skydance but have yet to make it to Lodi for the cheap tickets. My good friend might be uniquely qualified on this subject. It's a great story that I can't do justice to in this post but... Long story short he started at Lodi (cheaper) and finished at Skydance. He is a pilot and mechanic who owns a few planes and basically loves talking about aviation. While at Lodi I guess he took notice of their planes, specifically certain dents, dings and their condition. He brought it up to his instructor who was also the owner of the DZ and was immediately banned from the place for life. So he finished at Skydance where he has jumped ever since. Although his version reenacting the incident and the DZO flipping out is absolutely hilarious.Life is good Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #24 January 29, 2008 Yah, I was told the same crock of shit, until I went there at looked for myself. I'm sure your friend was doing static line from the C182, which is a typical gutted jump plane of DZ's over alot of years. Aesthetically unpleasing to the eye, but still well maintained in engine and airframe. Dents and dings are superfiscal on aircraft. I have a few of them on my own plane that I'd rather not have, but it doesn't effect it structural soundness in the least. Travel around to alot of DZ's and you'll see alot with the interior gutted for the removal of extra weight. Lodi's Beech 99's are also gutted of interior, but both the Otters and the King Air are fine aircraft inside and out, with the typicail 100hr inspection done by the fulltime A&P's. Dont be fooled into thinking the cheap jump tickets at Lodi are because of lack of maintanence on the aircraft, but instead its from lack of greed and a thriving tandem operation and upjumper population.www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheSecret 0 #25 January 29, 2008 I don’t know what part is a “crock of shit.” I was simple sharing a real story about a Lodi/Skydance experience. I have no problems jumping anywhere, and I look forward to making it to Lodi one day. As would my friend, except the whole banning thing might pose a problem. I simple found the situation strange at first (since at the time I did not know how DZ worked) but know it’s amusing. First off my friend is a very experienced aviator to say the least, but what’s funny is he is about the most unassuming real nice guys around. He just really likes to talk shop, and for him that’s airplanes. And on that day, clearly the DZO adamantly did not. And that was officially his first banning from anything anywhere in his whole life. He is not a malicious person, heck he has given many people free flight lessons and has repaired more then a few planes for nothing more then a handshake. I look forward to jumping at Lodi for a new experience and the cheap tickets. My friend does not share my budgetary concerns, I think it’s just easier for him to fly there. I don’t know if that will work out because I joke with him he could be the only person to ever be banned from Lodi, so he might stick out like a sore thumb.Life is good Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
