Skydiving Bets

[GrendelKhan 0]

One of my friends and I did our first AFF jumps on Saturday but we both missed our landings. We were aiming for the pea pit, but I came up about 50 ft. short and he overshot by about 20 ft. Anyway, we made a golf style "skins game" and whoever hits the pit on the next jump gets 50 bucks. If both or neither of us stick the landing, it goes up to 100 dollars on the next jump. I was wondering what other games and/or bets have come up within the skydiving community. What kind of crazy wagers are ya'll making out there?

Grendel Khan-The Official DZ.Com Newbie Forum Nuisance
"They sicken of the calm, that know the storm."

[BillyVance 34]

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One of my friends and I did our first AFF jumps on Saturday but we both missed our landings. We were aiming for the pea pit, but I came up about 50 ft. short and he overshot by about 20 ft. Anyway, we made a golf style "skins game" and whoever hits the pit on the next jump gets 50 bucks. If both or neither of us stick the landing, it goes up to 100 dollars on the next jump. I was wondering what other games and/or bets have come up within the skydiving community. What kind of crazy wagers are ya'll making out there?

Call me a prude, but I think it's dumb to be doing this so early. If you guys have these bets on your minds, how do you know you're not going to get a "target-fixation" and forget to flare or stand-up in the proper position while trying to out-do each other? It's got the potential to cause injury... I think it's just best left up to the experienced jumpers... just my opinion...

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[GrendelKhan 0]

I understand totally where you're coming from. as somebody with so much more experience than myself your advice is heeded. On the other hand though, Is an accurate landing not part of the requirements for an A license? Please dont assume that because I'm inexperienced that I will put 50 dollars ahead of the safety of myself and the people around me. What is wrong with setting reasonable goals (that are an integral part of the traning program) that we can have alittle fun with? We are not doing something completely outrageous, like trying to outrun instructors, or dropkick each other out the door. We are pushing ourselves to be better skydivers while at the same time getting bragging rights over our friends.

Grendel Khan-The Official DZ.Com Newbie Forum Nuisance
"They sicken of the calm, that know the storm."

[Elisha 1]

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On the other hand though, Is an accurate landing not part of the requirements for an A license?

Umm, no, not really. "The peas" is a small are. You are not going for an accuracy competition, but to be in the general area. Just land in the landing area. That is all that is really required.

[Michele 1]

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Please dont assume that because I'm inexperienced that I will put 50 dollars ahead of the safety of myself and the people around me.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but yes, people do.

I know of someone who flew a mal which should've been cut. When asked later (not by me...but I was there) why he rode it in, he said "I couldn't afford a repack, and I might've lost the handles." I looked at him closely, but no, he wasn't joking.

He quit the sport about a year later.

Frankly, I think placing a bet on performance at your jump numbers (4) is pretty distracting. As for the accuracy claim, iirc the requirement is not as specific as the peas...rather, the requirements are more along the lines of "within 50 feet of a declared target" or something like that. To put pressure on yourself and your friend like that is potentially problematic.

How about, instead of betting each other, you buy beer for the one who lands closest to the declared target? It's both cheaper and safer, and provides an outlet for the competitive spirit you seem to possess.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[popsjumper 2]

How about betting on:

-who completes the A-license requirements and gets signed off first.
-who learns to pack and gets signed off first.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[namgrunt 0]

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How about betting on:

-who completes the A-license requirements and gets signed off first.
-who learns to pack and gets signed off first.

once again andy has the best idea

..

59 YEARS,OVERWEIGHT,BALDIND,X-GRUNT
LAST MIL. JUMP VIET-NAM(QUAN-TRI)
www.dzmemories.com

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Yea I agree with Andy, wow since when did anyone agree with Pops???

I wont make bets jumping, I dont even want to imagine how I would feel if I made a landing bet with someone and they pounded in because they werent taking safety precautions.

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[Beerlight 0]

How about you bet on who "completes" AFF? Not who completes "first", but just that one of you complete.

[BillyVance 34]

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I understand totally where you're coming from. as somebody with so much more experience than myself your advice is heeded. On the other hand though, Is an accurate landing not part of the requirements for an A license? Please dont assume that because I'm inexperienced that I will put 50 dollars ahead of the safety of myself and the people around me. What is wrong with setting reasonable goals (that are an integral part of the traning program) that we can have alittle fun with? We are not doing something completely outrageous, like trying to outrun instructors, or dropkick each other out the door. We are pushing ourselves to be better skydivers while at the same time getting bragging rights over our friends.

I never said setting reasonable goals were a bad thing. As a student, just keep it simple and the distractions to a minimum. The all-important rule now and always is landing on the ground safely so you can go back up and do it again.
Hmm... I tried posting a reply earlier but was told the post I'm replying to did not exist... I guess the mods deleted something...

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[peregrinerose 0]

People get hurt showing off or focusing so hard on hitting a target that they lose sight of other issues like other traffic.

I'm still very new, but spend a lot of time listening to the stories all the 'old farts' have to tell. Some of them scared the shit out of me, and several involved bets or trying to do a specific landing for video on the ground. Some of the endings were less than happy.

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[BillyVance 34]

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I'm still very new, but spend a lot of time listening to the stories all the 'old farts' have to tell. Some of them scared the shit out of me, and several involved bets or trying to do a specific landing for video on the ground. Some of the endings were less than happy.

I knew somebody who years ago dared his best friend into a low pull contest... well he (the darer) had a malfunction and he went in with both canopies out after deploying the reserve into the mess. Died soon after. It's no fun going to funerals, and I've been to a few...

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[GrendelKhan 0]

Points all well taken. Perhaps we were a bit overzealous in our approach. I appreciate everyones comments and concerns.

Edit: In light of safety concerns we have changed our wager to buying a beer for the guy who gets closer to the target, this will allow us to work on perfecting our landing technique and challenge each other to get better without adding undue pressures to the situation. Thanks everyone for your input.

Grendel Khan-The Official DZ.Com Newbie Forum Nuisance
"They sicken of the calm, that know the storm."