How old were you?

[fell4skydiving 0]

I will be turning 33 in about 2 weeks. I did a tandem jump for the first time 2/15 and fell in love with the feeling of freefall so I signed up for AFF and did my first student jump 3/16.. I've completed through level 4 and plan on completing 5 and 6 this weekend <--- excited, yes!! I'm just curious about how many others have started this sport past the 30 mark. :)

[fencebuster 7]

51.

CG

Charlie Gittins, 540-327-2208
AFF-I, Sigma TI, IAD-I
MEI, CFI-I, Senior Rigger
Former DZO, Blue Ridge Skydiving Adventures

[CSpenceFLY 1]

I was 32 I think. To lazy to do the math.

1800 jumps and one crushed vertebra later here I am at 46. Not active in the sport now. Still jump once in a while and run a boogie once a year.

[fell4skydiving 0]

Crushed vertebrae?! Is this why you're not as active in the sport anymore?

[cjsgrlsx3 0]

I did my first tandem at 35 started AFF at 36! 42 now and almost 500 jumps! It has been a fun ride!

[NewGuy2005 53]

47

[Bader 0]

Quote

how many others have started this sport past the 30 mark. :)

Thousands. Not unusual at all.

Many people who want to get into the sport earlier in life can't, because they don't earn enough money yet. So it comes later in life when they're more secure financially.

[BillyVance 34]

I started at 25, but the majority of my jumps were made from 28 to 33 years of age, and I'm 45 now. The last 10 years have been sparsely populated with jumps here and there with a few long breaks. Being a home owner, husband, and father of two girls tends to get in the way.

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

[labrys 0]

40

Owned by Remi #?

[fell4skydiving 0]

Lol. As new as I am, I can relate with that with being a single mother, homeowner and being full time employed.. The time and the cost are both in the way! ;)
Why can't I win the lottery? Oh, there is no lottery in AL :/

[dthames 0]

Several months ago on a different thread the question was asked by someone 50+. Many answered that were 50 or older when they started. 54 for me. Mid-30s, you are in the prime of your adult life. Keep your eye open for the first jump students at your DZ. Empty nest adults are not uncommon.

Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

[TsunamiGilligan 0]

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Many people who want to get into the sport earlier in life can't, because they don't earn enough money yet. So it comes later in life when they're more secure financially.

^^^This

And I was 35 for my first tandem and got my A at 37.

[The_Don 0]

First tandem... 41.

Welcome to the fun!

I am NOT being loud.
I'm being enthusiastic!

[mistercwood 287]

Had my first tandem last August, turned 32 in December and started AFF in January. Pleasantly surprising to see so many started later than us... I was mildly annoyed at myself after my first jump for not having done it a decade earlier, but hey at least I didn't start a decade later, right?

You are playing chicken with a planet - you can't dodge and planets don't blink. Act accordingly.

[oldwomanc6 52]

I'm flabbergasted! Skydivers actually waiting until they can afford to jump... What is the world coming to?

lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9

[airtwardo 7]

Quote

I'm flabbergasted! Skydivers actually waiting until they can afford to jump... What is the world coming to?

If I'd have waited for that - I'd STILL be waiting!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[PiLFy 3]

First jump @45...

[neflier 0]

First tandem in college at 21. Life got in the way. Last year did tandem #1 again, all the way through "B" at 42/43.

Looking forward, not back!!

Life is too short to drink cheap beer.

[Mikeal 0]

I was 18 when I did my first tandem. Had to wait until I was 19 to start my license progression because of state laws. Been 2 years. Being a poor college student has slowed me down sure, but I have my license, a bunch of jumps, and all my gear. It gets cheaper from now on right? :P

[FlyingRhenquest 1]

Quote

Lol. As new as I am, I can relate with that with being a single mother, homeowner and being full time employed.. The time and the cost are both in the way! ;)
Why can't I win the lottery? Oh, there is no lottery in AL :/

Just open a bank account and every time you would have bought a lotto ticket, put a dollar in the bank account instead. If you planned to buy 1 lotto ticket a week, at the end of the year you'll have $52 more than you would have if you'd done that.

If you have other bad habits (Smoking comes to mind) you could kick them and put those funds into that bank account, too. It adds up pretty quickly. Spend a buck a day on a vending machine soda? That's a really good candidate for that, too (And another $365 at the end of the year.)

I did my first skydive in July of last year, at 42. I'm 100 jumps in now. Making up for lost time. I did try hang gliding back in the 90's, so a life of adventure wasn't completely unknown to me.

I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here?

[airtwardo 7]

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...at the end of the year you'll have $52 more than you would have if you'd done that.

Yeah...gas to the DZ & one jump!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[spage 0]

I had just turned 30.

Skydiving really does make you feel younger! My bank account & diet are just like when I was 21!

[Napalm_C 0]

My old man started his AFF 2 months shy of his 60th birthday. 28 jumps so far so yeah - 33 is not late at all

[FlyingRhenquest 1]

Quote

Quote

...at the end of the year you'll have $52 more than you would have if you'd done that.

Yeah...gas to the DZ & one jump!

Better than just giving it away, and that's assuming you stop at one $1 ticket a week.

Kick a pack-a-day smoking habit and put that $5 for the pack of ciggies in the bank instead, you'd be $1800 richer at the end of the year. Once you actually get in the habit of doing it and realize how quickly it's accumulating, it gets to be easier to sqirrel a little more away every now and again. Pretty soon you have enough for a new rig (Or a down payment on a house...)

'Course if I had $1800 sitting in savings, I'd start thinking maybe I should make that money work harder for me than it would be in a savings account, and start looking for under-valued stock. Maybe get in on the ground floor with some diesel powered nuns!

I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here?

[Willi91 0]

I was 13 years old on my first tandem. Did another one when I was 14. First solo jump December 31st - 5 days after turning 16.