DZ etiquette

[hawkflight 0]

Hi guys,
Sunday I make my AFF1 jump and I intend to complete my training at the same drop zone....Skydive the point West Point Va.....and i am interested in getting to know and making friends with the other skydivers, now don't get me wrong I'm not shy and I do have the social skills to meet people and make friends, however I've been hearing things like "beer rules" and "DZ etiquette"
could somebody fill me in so I don't come across like a dork or an unfriendly prick i.e not buying beer when I should.....Thanks Tom.....

...............................

"Any fool can learn for his own mistakes, a wise man learns from anothers." Mark Twain

[freeflygoddess 0]

well a first anything means a case of beer!

[kelel01 1]

And don't worry-- everyone will let you know when you owe beer!

Kelly

[CanuckInUSA 0]

You will make great progress with the more experienced jumpers if you:

1) Hang out afterwards to talk.
2) Bring beer.
3) Ask questions.
4) Listen.
5) Bring more beer.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[quade 4]

Go buy a CASE of good beer.

Put beer in ice chest.

After your first jump, tell your instructors you have beer in an ice chest for after their last load -- probably sunset but maybe earlier.
Stick around and hand them the beer first, then let the leeches, um, er, I mean, uh, other skydivers have some.

Sit back and listen to what anyone has to say about anything.
Don't get so drunk you can't absorb insights.

Show up the next day and do your next AFF jump. You won't -have to- buy beer for everyone, but you probably should buy it for your instructors anyway.

Come back the next weekend and jump your ass off.

Repeat until people start buying YOU beer.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[taln1rigr 0]

When you chop, buy the Rigger who packed the reserve a "bottle" of his/her prefrence.

[wzettler 0]

Tom, i went through my training at West POint and jump there sometimes still ($$$ has been a problem recently). You should have no problem there. All the people there are very nice. "The Queen" of skydiving jumps there and she is one of the nicest people i have ever met.

I think when Jesus said "love your enemy" he probably meant don't kill them.

[bkdice 0]

West Point is a nice DZ.
Bring a case of beer with you on Saturday, and hang out that night and get to know everyone. People will fill you in fast on all the "rules" because being a newbie means lots of beer will be purchased by you in the coming months.

[Luv2Fall 0]

Hey Tom - West Point is where I skydive! You have nothing to worry about. It's more teasing than anything else as there's no "beer enforcers"......having said that, I do bring in a case here and now. Just go and have fun. I'll be there tomorrow, but not Sunday.

Robert

[mcrocker 0]

Quote

Hey Tom - West Point is where I skydive! You have nothing to worry about. It's more teasing than anything else as there's no "beer enforcers"......having said that, I do bring in a case here and now. Just go and have fun. I'll be there tomorrow, but not Sunday.

Robert

The rule at our DZ is you can appeal the beer rule. Appealing the rule will cost you a case of beer (court fees) and you will most likely lose your case (pun intended)

[Laurel 0]

DZ etiquette - isn't that an oxymoron? I don't think Emily Post wrote anything about this.

Like any other social setting, mingle and make friends. Don't feel like you have to supply the whole DZ with beer all of the time, but do contribute to functions with beer, pizza, etc. funds. Whatever is planned, be part of it.

Now, go out there and have fun.

.....................................................................
PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074
My Pink M

[skysprite 0]

Besides the fact that I'm underage, I don't drink. Not to sound prude-ish or anything, but I'd rather not buy beer either - it's a personal decision. Will I be laughed at if bring an alternative drink for everyone? (One that's so amazing and orgasmic that they'll forget it's not beer?) Is beer really a necessity to fit in in the skydiving world? Or am I going to be an outcast in this world too?

~skysprite

[gulaz 1]

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I'd rather not buy beer either - it's a personal decision...am I going to be an outcast in this world too?

The "official" beer rules state that:
8. Participation is voluntary. If a skydiver chooses not to participate by buying, neither shall the skydiver enjoy the fruits of the accomplishments of others.

9. Non-drinkers may buy sodas and buyers may make up any part or whole of their purchase in soda for the enjoyment of those non-drinkers.

Hope this answers your questions

[Luv2Fall 0]

Excellent!

[Laurel 0]

Quote

Besides the fact that I'm underage, I don't drink. Not to sound prude-ish or anything, but I'd rather not buy beer either - it's a personal decision. Will I be laughed at if bring an alternative drink for everyone? (One that's so amazing and orgasmic that they'll forget it's not beer?) Is beer really a necessity to fit in in the skydiving world? Or am I going to be an outcast in this world too?

You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Be your own person and people will respect you for that. You will NOT be an outcast. Skydiving is for everyone that is old enough and dedicated to the sport.

.....................................................................
PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074
My Pink M

[Kat1221 0]

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Is beer really a necessity to fit in in the skydiving world? Or am I going to be an outcast in this world too?

Nope - we have a non drinker at the dropzone, and he's great. Can you say designated driver? Plus, you can get the video of all your drunk friends making asses of themselves!

[leroydb 0]

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And don't worry-- everyone will let you know when you owe beer!

Kelly

especialy this 2 fisted drinker here

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...

[taln1rigr 0]

Not sure if this is the same at all DZs since I've only worked at one but here's what I've observed at my DZ & since I've been here (dz.com):

Find out what "flavor" will make you a DZ hero. My DZ wasn't picky but I've never, in my whole life, seen so many people (threads) whine about FREE beer & you certainly don't want your beer rejected ... or worse, wind up as bon-fire fuel.

At my DZ you only owed beer if you [keyword]admit[/keyword] something was your first. Of course it's hard to hide your first AFF jump or when you show up a t a new DZ but you may want to keep this in mind for other "firsts."
Packing space was limited & shared by the staff & experienced jumpers at my DZ. So when we had busy days, 2 or more tandems turning on every load, it was much appreciated when the experienced jumpers didn't attempt to pack on the floor space underneath the hooks we have up for tandem packing. So I suppose the etiquette advice I'm offering is; observe.

Welcome, Congratulations & Best Wishes!
Dawn

[andy2 0]

[QUOTE]Whatever is planned, be part of it.[/QUOTE]

Or not, do whatever you feel like do. Don't feel like you have to do anything.




ps (You have to bring beer)

---------------------------------------------
let my inspiration flow,
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm...

[hawkflight 0]

thanks for all the tips guys .....I'm sure buying beer won't be a big strech for me any way m,an i ca'nt wait till sunday I'm trippin'

...............................

"Any fool can learn for his own mistakes, a wise man learns from anothers." Mark Twain

[ZoneRat 0]

For a while. Never go to the DZ without a case of beer.

Expect to be hugged a lot. By anything.

If you leave food, beer, smokes, or possibly even girlfriends laying around, expect that someone will help themself without asking. (Kinda like a best friend or room-mate might).

That said, A DZ is not like a ski resort, where you have to worry about things being messed with or stolen. It's like a second home poplulated by friends and family. Outside of the above list, 99% of the time everything else will be left alone, or even taken care of if need be.

Expect to meet a suprisingly wide variety of humans. Rich, poor, young, old, conservative, religious, wacky, marginally insane, whatever. The only consistency I've seen in Skydivers, is that they all love to Skydive, and they all want you to love to Skydive too.

Have fun on your AFF. An incredible journey awaits you.

---

PS: Someone may, in good faith and honest intention, offer you advice as you progress through AFF towards your A licence. Don't ever take it without asking your instructors about it first. Ever.

“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophies.”

[gulaz 1]

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Plus, you can get the video of all your drunk friends making asses of themselves!

your drunk friends better include yourself, and not just me

[jeremyneas 0]

Don't step on any (parachute) lines!

Don't run through the hanger, you may accidently trip over someones lines.

Don't light a smoke up by a parachute.

Don't step on anyones parachute equipment.

When someone is boarding the plane, don't slap them on the rig and say "have a great jump"

keep your dog at home

replace anything you drink

always take a big dump in the ladies bathroom at 8am

[countryscrub 0]

word to the wise have fun and dont stress...but also a small tip never and i mean never leave your log book out after dark....youll make some pretty impressive jumps if you do

_________________________________________

i used to do alot of things ....skydiving wont be one of them :)

[kai2k1 0]

Tom,

Just be yourself and talk to people. You'll be fine

There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan