Bonjour!

[Xander 0]

Thought I mights as well make one of these.
Basically a 19 year old student Brit, been researching BASE and skydiving on my nights off the for past 3 weeks now.

My thoughts on stuff are a little confused, trying to find who I am, where I belong amongst the meaning of life etc. I look more and more towards being free and living as apposed to existing and following what is normal just getting by. So I'm on the hunt for life experience!

I've always been one to avoid theme park rides as as a child I hated that drop feeling in my stomach. But the older I get the more I think of those moments as ones to remember as feeling alive rather than painful. As I said, very confused at the moment! Apologies for waffling.

Anyway, going to hopefully book a tandem, swallow the fear come spring time as I don't think anyone would actually jump going into winter in the UK? It's more often than not immensely windy and peeing it down.

Maybe I'll like it, maybe I won't! But at least then I'll be able to say I've done it.

I don't think I'll be able to afford AFF or Static line course before I finish studies and get a full time job. But I could at least get a tandem every 2/3 months (Which would be all my money for booze gone!) Is there any problems with just enjoying carefree(ish) jumping for couple of years?

I don't know how many Brits are on here, but whats the rules on going to a DZ? Can I just turn up and hang around for a bit to see what goes on?

Anyway, hopefully enjoy my stay here on DZ.com cheers

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!
Just so you know, you won't get that drop feeling in your stomach when you skydive from a plane because the plane is still flying when you jump out. You would get that feeling if you jump off a stationary object.

There is no problem with doing tandems until you feel you are able to jump on your own, many people only do tandems. I haven't been to a dz in England, but I bet you can just show up and hang out. That's the way we do things in the states. Go have fun!

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

[MikeJD 0]

Hi, and welcome!

Regarding UK winter jumping, people do it but of course it's more likely that you'll get weathered out, and there are fewer daylight hours in which to jump - and it will almost certainly be colder. Realistically you probably wouldn't notice the temperature so much with everything else assaulting your senses, but it's much more fun to sit around a dropzone on a spring or summer day when it's warm out and there's lots of other jumping going on to keep you entertained while you wait.

Bottom line - I think you're right to wait for the warmer weather.

Regarding hanging out in the meantime - at the vast majority of UK DZs that wouldn't be a problem, since they're completely open and many tandem students have friends and family come along to watch. Just be sure to observe all the signage and stick to the public areas, because airfields in general and dropzones in particular can be dangerous places to wander around.

I can only think of one DZ (Netheravon) where you might have a problem just turning up, since it's military and therefore guarded. Unless you're an experienced jumper, I'm not sure that you can get in without prior notice.

Whereabouts in the UK are you?

[Xander 0]

Thanks for the kind welcomes guys,

I live on the outskirts of Manchester, my gym is literally right next to Airkix tunnel! Planning to go up to Cark DZ or the one near Nottingham (I forgot the name ).

[adagen 0]

The one near Nottingham....Langar? Nice people!

Anne

[Xander 0]

I was thinking Lanyard But yeah Langar is the one thank you
Where abouts in the UK are you guys from?