Advice for new jumper in washington state??

[jampacked 0]

I am new to the forums here, as well as skydiving. I recently made my first jump with Skydive Kapowsin's AFF First Jump course and absolutely loved it. I am ready to get licensed. However, anyone who lives in Washington State probably knows what the whether is like in the fall here. So my question is do I start jumping again in November, or do I wait until the spring to get back into it. Advice from someone in the Pacific Northwest, or anyone in general would be VERY much appreciated. Thanks!

[tetra316 0]

I know you said you just did AFF but the only sure fire way you'll be able to continue jumping with be static line. Unless you can take any day off anytime your best bet with AFF will be to wait until spring. On the other hand I think Kapow does static line. You might see if they will work with you on some modified static line program if you want to continue jumping through the winter.

Or just take a week off and go south to get licensed. But either way you will not be jumping much. Such is weather in the northwest.

And congrats on that first jump, don't forget the beer

[NWFlyer 2]

Are you willing to spend every (or at least almost every) marginal-to-good weekend out at the dropzone for the next few months? That's kind of what it takes to get licensed in the winter in Washington (and this is the voice of experience - that's how I did it - the majority of my student jumps were between December and March, and I spent the first four years of my skydiving career living in Washington). The days that are clear - it'll be cold - but that can be solved with warm clothes and good gloves. It's the days where you spend much of the day hanging out hoping for a break in the clouds that can wear you down.

If your schedule is flexible enough that if it's a good day you can drop everything and head to the DZ, I'd say go for it, but if you don't have much flexibility in your schedule and can only devote a couple days a month to it, you may have a tough time staying current in the winter months.

Another option is to see if you can transition into the IAD program - the earlier jumps in the IAD progression are from lower altitude and there may be more weather days conducive to those jumps than to AFF where you'll need full altitude right away. It's a different style of training that'll get you to the same place as AFF if you stick with it - an A license.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[brucet7 0]

I know it is possible to get your license at Shelton over the winter. I did it a couple of years ago. It was hit or miss, and when I could jump it was two or three a day. I had the advantage of living in town and a job that allowed me to "slip" away on a couple of non-weekends. Still, there were enough good days that I was able to start September 15 and license on May 23. And I was poor enough that money slowed me down some.

POPS #10623; SOS #1672

[jampacked 0]

Unfortunately I'm only 16, so I am limited to AFF, since IAD requires you to be 18. For this reason I think I will take ya'll advice at wait out the winter. When does the weather start clearing up enough to allow jumping almost every weekend ( i know weather will always be hit and miss)?

[brucet7 0]

May is a pretty good time. And BTW -- I did AFF not IAD.

POPS #10623; SOS #1672

[Harmless 0]

Quote

Unfortunately I'm only 16, so I am limited to AFF, since IAD requires you to be 18. For this reason I think I will take ya'll advice at wait out the winter. When does the weather start clearing up enough to allow jumping almost every weekend ( i know weather will always be hit and miss)?

?? I can only speak on behalf of static line, but I'm pretty sure IAD is the same... You only have to be 16 with parental consent

[my SIM and IRM are at the DZ, but I checked the online SIM quickly and can't find anything limiting SL/IAD to 18+ (now your DZ can limit whatever they want, we don't take anyone under 18 for any training)]

Also as an Oregon native, I'd say you'll have to wait till May for consistent good weather. March and April are hit or miss.

"Damn you Gravity, you win again"