Push me over the edge....

[vipergts 0]

Alright everyone, I need a little help. I have been seriously thinking about skydiving as a serious hobby for several reasons:
1. It is Extreme( I love extreme things) and @ 26 and being moderately successful I want something else to conquer (just remember, my success is relative (in my book I consider myself successful(by my own definition)(you know accomplishing the things I wanted to by age 26)))
2. I am scared as hell of skydiving and I have always wanted to conquer things I am scared of.
3. I want something that will take up my time and to keep me motivated to (stay in shape, keep mentally sharp (extremely focused when needed), and to give me a reason to get thought the LONG weeks).
I am just having trouble pulling the trigger, I would prefer to have some take the plunge for the A License with me but I can not find anyone willing or crazy(if that is really a prerequisite) to go jump with me. I have always been a fan of teams, mainly for the strength and commoderarity they build, not to mention having another neewbie to jump with would be great, however I can’t find anyone.
Somebody please push me over the edge...
Thanks,
Robert

[Skystorm 0]

Consider yourself pushed..... Don't THINK you can, KNOW you can...

[Jasmin 0]

Pen and Paper ready? :-P
1) Locate your nearest DZ
2) Try your AFF/static Line/tandem
3) Stop procrastinating and actually do it! If you weren't prepared to do it, you wouldn't have gotten onto this site!! (Seriously, skydivers are the same everywhere, the instructors are almost always awesome and it IS the most fun you can have legally.....!)
I met the most awesome people at the DZ during/after my AFF. I now make an effort to meet newer jumpers (B-rel students and late stage Aff-ies) because you remember how nervous you were when you first started jumping.
Go out to the DZ, hang around a bit and talk to people, you'll find that the atmosphere at most DZ's is pretty cool. If there isn't a decent feel about the place you'll soon find one that suits after jumping for a short amount of time!!!
Y'anyways, unless you're on your way to Australia or Europe I can't help you much other than to wish you luck and tell you to get out there, you won't regret it....

[Jasmin 0]

PS You don't conquer skydiving....it conquers you!
(Translation: you get over the fear and get addicted to the adrenaline pretty quick...)

[ernokaikkonen 0]

> I have been seriously thinking about skydiving as a serious hobby
I think you should try it first before you decide whether skydiving is for you or not. Do a tandem first and then consider a more committed approach to our sport. Don't do it because you think it'd be cool, do it because you know...
>1. It is Extreme( I love extreme things)
Huh? What so extreme about jumping out of a plane.... at 3000m...relying on a bunch of cloth and lines to save your life......... Oh..... oh yeah nevermind.>2. I am scared as hell of skydiving
As you should be...
>I am just having trouble pulling the trigger, I would prefer to have some take the
>plunge for the A License with me but I can not find anyone willing or crazy(if that
Maybe you're trying to bite off more than you can chew? Don't think of your first jump as a serious commitment to the sport. Just try it! After your first tandem you can decide if you want to pursue the A,B,C and the rest of the licences... and waste all your money on jumptickets...and sell all your valuables and move to the DZ... and watch your so far successful life go down the drain....
>I have always been a fan of teams,
>mainly for the strength and commoderarity they build
Team-spirit can be a part of skydiving, but that will happen later on in your skydiving career. The first jumps, especially the student jumps, you're going to be pretty much on your own. It's only about you, and only you, in the beginning... You won't be able to turn to a friend for support when you're standing in the door for the first time.
>Somebody please push me over the edge...
[push]
Erno

[skreamer 1]

Well said Erno. Also, vipergts, even if you do get into a team sport in skydiving (FS etc.) just remember that at pull-time you are always alone. This is something I find really empowering about the sport, it is up to you to save your own ass. Your training and practicing emergency procedures should prepare you to deal with situations as they arise.
I'd definitely recommend what the others suggested though - do a tandem first and see how (if) you enjoy that.
Will
"Look before you jump, don't die until you're dead"

[JDBoston 0]

Go find some girl you want and mention in the course of conversation that you're going to go skydiving on X date - how about June 29th? Then go do it. If you don't do it, the next time you talk to her you'll look like a puss... wimp, I mean. Hell, maybe she'll even go with you. Isn't that motivation enough? Good luck!!!!
Joe
PS What exactly is "commoderarity"? I knew I should've played more of those team sports...

[captainquim 0]

don't do it man.... everyone is out to get you when you start, they cut your lines and rip big holes in your parachute after having removed your reserve. they think it's funny! but hey, whatever, give it a go anyway, and if it doesn't work out, you can carry on in the next life. doh, there isn't one! nevermind.
it's gonna be a yabba dabba do time, as a famous philosopher once said.

[Sinkster 0]

I agree with what everyone said here with the exception of doing a tandem for the first jump. I would consider doing AFF for your first jump. Then you would already be one step closer to your goal, and even if you decided that skydiving wasn't for you the knowledge acquired through the First Jump Course (FJC) and the knowledge of yourself that you gain through "doing it yourself" (although *statistically* AFF is safer than tandem and AFF Jump Masters are there with you in freefall like white on rice) may be worth it.
The DZ where I did my first jump wanted me to go tandem, but I didn't and instead went AFF and don't regret it one bit--although I wouldn't recommend that to everyone (I have seen some very scary videos of first jump AFF students who couldn't psychologically handle it.), of course there is also nothing wrong with doing a tandem your first jump either. But if you feel confident that you can keep cool and perform some relatively simple tasks under pressure then go for it.
Someone once said "it's not what you have to do that's hard it's where you have to do it at". This is why most of learning to skydive is mental. (in my opinion)
Whatever you decide, remember have fun and enjoy the ride! It's not about the destination but the journey!

• Quote

[bbarnhouse 0]

Do you want to see what I see?
Do you want to hear what I hear?
I know you want to do what I do.......
Everybody wants to fly........
shuddup and jump!Just Do It already!
It's better to lose you pride to the one you love,
than to lose the one you love because of pride.

[skreamer 1]

Quote

although *statistically* AFF is safer than tandem

What statistics are you quoting? What makes you say that AFF is safer than doing a tandem?

Quote

(I have seen some very scary videos of first jump AFF students who couldn't psychologically handle it.)

That right there seems to me to be a good reason for someone to do a tandem first. I never did one (first jump was static line), but still think a tandem is a good introduction. Gives people an idea of what freefall is like, probably a good confidence builder for AFF level 1 too.
Will
"Look before you jump, don't die until you're dead"

[bbarnhouse 0]

Ok let's see the statistics. If you are going to make that kind of statement then I want the numbers.
I did tandem progression before AFF and I loved it. Not to mention that I had 3 tandems prior to entering the program (cute guys ya know). My primary concern with tandem vs AFF is muscle memory. The pc is on a different place and requires one to relearn placement on boc. Tandems are not as intimidating, and allows a person to decide if it is something that they really want to pursue. So ante up with those stats. I'd be interested to know where you got them.
Cheers and hugs
B
It's better to lose you pride to the one you love,
than to lose the one you love because of pride.

[JDBoston 0]

I started with 3 tandems. I would've done AFF if I had the balls. I'd never been under a parachute before, or bungee jumped, or anything, and I didn't want to discover that I wasn't cool with the whole concept 5000' up, under a parachute by myself. But I think pure AFF is way better from a learning standpoint.
Joe

[E150 0]

OK - so everyone is going to have their idea of what is best for someone else, based on their own experiance/knowledge.
All a first timer can do is read up on the facts, look at what each jump involves and decide for themself IMHO . . . . . . . .
Tandem - Do this if you want to get an idea of what it's all about, without much responsibility. Just a fun ride.
AFF1 - More expensive. If you are more serious about getting into skydiving and would like a greater challenge & more responsibility.
Static line - Maybe, if you have a smaller budget. This is an exit and a canopy ride. No freefall, which is a shame.
Don't tell the boy what to do. Let him decide.
I did an AFF L1 on my first jump and it was definately the best options for me.
As for AFF being safer than a tandem jump . . . . . . . . there are more potential mals on a tandem rig, than there are on a normal rig. But, I would not say one is 'safer' than the other!
People may argue that AFF is safer than static line!!! But, we are not here to argue

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[Rhonda66 0]

I don't think there's any right answer to this, but personally I think it's better to do a tandem because you really have no idea how you're going to react to freefall until you've tried it and I don't think it hurts to be strapped to someone very experienced in case you freak out on your first jump like I did.
Rhonda

[skreamer 1]

Quote

there are more potential mals on a tandem rig, than there are on a normal rig. But, I would not say one is 'safer' than the other!

Agreed, but the person dealing with the mals on a tandem is a *little* more experienced than a first time AFF student who has to deal with a mal. I was just curious as to the 'statistics' that say that AFF is safer than a tandem.
"Look before you jump, don't die until you're dead"

[E150 0]

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Absolutely. That also applies to landing the canopy.
Same for Static line, your on your own to deal with mals and landing.
Yes, it would be nice to see some stats.
Question: Having done a tandem (as a first jump), then deciding to do AFF/Static line, does it mean your gonna deal with a mal/landing any better than if you had not done the tandem????????????
Doubt it makes a difference!

[Remster 30]

if what you want is extreme, go try inline skating or BMX.... after all, the X Games droped skydiving for those.....
Remster
Muff 914

[freeflir29 0]

Quote

I was just curious as to the 'statistics' that say that AFF is safer than a tandem.

If I was gonna guess it's probably just due to twisted ankles and such on tandem students. Especially the ones that don't like to pick their feet up.
"Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[rhino 0]

Just do it!! Jump!! Get on the band wagon!! Livin La Vi La Loca!! or something.. lol Blue Skies .....

[flyingvet 0]

Well, if you consider skydiving a simple hobby, you should first try a tandem jump, just to see if it is all right for you.
Secondly and most important (at least for me), there are several and various reasons that can push you starting skydiving, but we all skydive because WE LOVE IT. You don't need to conquer anything, skydiving it's not a trophy, it's not a fight with yourself to demonstrate you're great. It's more, it's a way of thinking, of living of feeling...we all love this way!
Skydiving is FUN, is FREEDOM, is a NEW WORLD you will discover. I think I can say you cannot conquer skydiving, it's SKIDIVING that will choose you.....
Anyhow, if you want to start go to the nearest DZ, have a talk to some local instructors, pay your slots, and push your ass out of that perfectly functioning plane. The rest is "only" the most exciting FUN you have ever experienced!!!
Don't be won by your fear. Everyone have fear, but it's not the point that can stop you. Try to fell fear, try to appreciate it and, may be, try to enjoy it. You will appreciate that kind of deep strange sensation that conquers you before your jump and that becomes deep FUN after you leave the aircraft.
Go ahead, go ahead, don't be stopped by fear and you will enter the new world!
Good Luck, all the crew is waiting for you
Flyingvet

[skybytch 273]

Come to the edge.
We can't, we're afraid.
Come to the edge.
We can't, we'll fall.
Come to the edge.
And they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew.
- Guillaume Apollinaire
Like others said, skydiving is not something you will conquer. If you do jump and the bug bites you, skydiving will conquer you. Go jump!
pull & flare,
lisa
"Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda sez

[Ricx 0]

Hear Hear!!
It is certainly something to ponder over for a while as when the leap is made it, can have some serious repercussions on your mind set for the rest of your life!
Are you prepared for that burden?
Are you sure you don't just want the OTHER life?
[Whisper] Go on... JUMP! [/Whisper]
Ric

[eeneR 3]

Well I think that doing tandems as the first jump is a safe way to handle the first exposure to free fall. I did two tandems (7 years apart, ugh long story) But I felt that it got me past the first feelings of dealing with free fall. I then went on to complete the AFP program....If done right tandems are not just a joy ride but can be a training experience.
As for finding a partner in crime....You will meet many many new people. I went to my DZ by myself...this sport is about you and your strength within to crush your fears...You dont need to have some one holding your hand. When shit happens you need to be strong enough to deal with it....no one is going to be there to help you pull that reserve handle..
So be one stronger!!! Go it alone....I would have had it no other way personally!!!
eeneR

[jfields 0]

Yup. Jumping totally gets into you.
When I hear about people at work playing "an exciting round of golf", I want to laugh. Friends of mine went to an amusement park, but I passed. Spend like 3 jump tickets to go on ill-maintained roller coasters that just bore me? Not likely!
I was totally hooked the first time I jumped. I was stuffed in the back of a C-141. From the time I hooked up the static line until the time I was hurrying to the front of the plane, I wondered how I'd like it. But right as I passed the line to the jumpmaster and looked into the door, it was all over. Goodbye, "old me". Out I went. Justin