cuchulinn 0 #1 May 3, 2003 Is bigger always better? I started jumping at the ripe young age of 17 at Sardis Lake Mississippi, on static line, a Wonderhog rig and a big round ass chute. I handed the through out belly chute to my JM and he pushed me out. Looking down I tried to follow a BIG YELLOW arrow some guy was turning to show me the direction to steer, well I landed in a 8 foot tall corn field. If you ever want to know where the old adage "Your walking around like you have a corn cob stuck up your ass" came from. Just ask I'll tell you! 24 years later at the ripe young age of 41, I started again. at a small DZ in TAFT California. www.skydivetaft.com. Smaller DZ with 2 182's but a staff that made me feel like I was at home! They knew I was relocating east and did all they could to get me up with my coaches to get my "A" before leaving the area! (Thanks MIke and Matt for flying with me and Scottie and Ryan for teaching me to pack). I landed in Virginia where I found www.skydivesuffolk.com. Bigger by standards to TAFT but nothing as compared to Deland, Elsinore and Perris (I've been to all of them). Please PLease do NOT get me worng. I LOVED Perrris, Elsinore and Deland, and although I did not get to jump at 2 of 3 of them, the people there made me feel very welcome! As a matter of fact I will be moving to Florida in 2004 where I plan to make Deland my home DZ. BUT there is something special about smaller DZ's!!! The phrase (unless free flying of course) "Jumping solo is for pussies" was what I heard when I got to me new home in Sullolk. I'd get invited as a 30 jump "A" into a 4 way. When I said.. woooooo never done one, thay said "well it's about time." From the minute I walked on to the DZ I was a welcome addition regardless of my experience. That was just flat out bitchin! I look forward to my skydiving future at the bigger DZ's with LOTS of people... video EVERYWHERE more beer to go around (until someone gets more). But I love the fact my roots were established on the smaller DZ's, granted.. 182's are small, cramped and take forever to get to altitude (espeically in the summer) but there is something inherently intimate with getting to altitude sitting in the laps of people you trust your life with in the air and party and share memories with on the ground over a few cold ones! Blue Skies!!! Damnnnnn why did I waste 20+ years of my life on the ground! SMA#18 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hobbes4star 0 #2 May 3, 2003 i feel the sameway to a point. I now am proud to call Skydive Arizona my home but i "grew up" at a smaller dz, and their is a certain "down home" feeling you don't get at a bigger dz. but of course i wouldn't trade the otters, or sky van for anything if fun were easy it wouldn't be worth having, right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cuchulinn 0 #3 May 3, 2003 Oh don't get me wrong... I've jumped from a CASA, King Air, and Otter since my re-introcution to the sport and I love the HELL out of the bigger aircraft! :) Thus looking towards the future! :) SMA#18 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hobbes4star 0 #4 May 3, 2003 yup it's hard to get 6 plus jumps a day at a smaller dz.if fun were easy it wouldn't be worth having, right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #5 May 3, 2003 Quote yup it's hard to get 6 plus jumps a day at a smaller dz. Tell me about it. __________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hobbes4star 0 #6 May 3, 2003 i remeber going to the dz at 6am doing 3 dives and getting out of the dz at 6pm. now i go to the dz at 10am and to 6 dives and leave at 5pm. if fun were easy it wouldn't be worth having, right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dzdiva 7 #7 May 3, 2003 I love my small dz. It's great. We have a King Air and 2 Cessnas. I learned to love the Cessna over the winter when the King Air was gone. I don't mind that I don't do a lot of jumps. I know all the JM's, coaches and the DZO. It's nice. I like to just hang out and bullshit. I usually only do 1 or 2 jumps, mainly because that's all I can afford. I guess my numbers aren't gonna climb too quickly. That's okay. "It's not just a daydream if you choose to make it your life..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarge 0 #8 May 3, 2003 JMO, I never had the small dz experience, In 5 yrs I never rode up in anything smaller than a king air. Ironic, but my 1st 182 ride was at SDC this past Feb... I honestly believed until then that it was there just for decoration? So cool, thanks for the pub. I want to hit a few 'small' dz's this summer... I appreciate the perks! I'd be on my best behavior if my canopy/wingload isn't already banned?-- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikeat10500 12 #9 May 3, 2003 Quote I love my small dz. It's great. We have a King Air and 2 Cessnas. 1 C-182, 2000' rolled grass runway( your choice of runway 27c or 09c) ,outdoor packing and fire pit. We call it home...P.S. It's the softest DZ in the world ...so it's great for learning hook turns!----------------------------------- Mike Wheadon B-3715,HEMP#1 Higher Expectations for Modern Parachutists. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #11 May 3, 2003 QuoteBut I love the fact my roots were established on the smaller DZ's, granted.. 182's are small, cramped and take forever to get to altitude (espeically in the summer) but there is something inherently intimate with getting to altitude sitting in the laps of people you trust your life with in the air and party and share memories with on the ground over a few cold ones! Well said, Michael. I grew up on a very small Cessna DZ, but call Perris my home now for the past 6 years. I encourage everyone to spend some time at a small DZ, if nothing else to get the flavor and understanding of what's the grounding of this sport. And the people that made it (and still make it) work. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LisaBabie 0 #12 May 3, 2003 FYI! If you should come to Florida, there are some DZ's that I highly recommend you try. Williston and Palatka. Btoh of which are smaller DZ's that generate enough business to make plenty loads, but hold that "at home" atmosphere. Both get larger airplanes every now and then, and both have there own C182's. I grew up at both of them, though there has been some changes in both... I love the people at both, and have a family that I consider much more close then a blood relative at both. If you should ever be close, I would be happy to give you directions to either. Blue Skies. Lisa ColeyFor every first... there is a case of beer! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropdeded 0 #13 May 3, 2003 Looks like Skydive Taft is gonna be my next "local"dz. I have only jumped at Air Adventures across town from Skydive Taft but now that its shut down....... Also got one of the best instructors from my aff over there.Was over there easter sunday gettin prices for recurrency.Hopefully it will be do'able before to long. dropdeded------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cuchulinn 0 #14 May 3, 2003 Hi Lisa, I was actually at Palatka last month, I drove by there on a Wed, they were shut down but I had planned to go you that next Friday but the weather was miserable and didn't make it back out there. Maybe next time! :) SMA#18 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
