UK Winter Skydiving

[Andybilly 0]

This can only be answered by people who have jumped in the UK.

I am planning to goto Spain late September/early October to hopefully complete my AFF and consols, ready to come back to the UK and Join a club. My question is how often I will need to jump to keep my newly aquired skills up to date and improving? and whether the UK weather will allow me to do this?.

I was thinking about putting it off until the Spring but I will not have the holiday time from work to allow this.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[mr2mk1g 10]

Going uncurrent so soon after qualifying is a bad idea. There are no formal currency requirements for A license holders here though... but you may well have to do a recurrency jump if you just turn up to a DZ having not jumped since you qualified 3 months earlier.

Jump as often as you can once you qualify. Try to make it to the DZ at least once a month. The weather more than allows for this even during the worst winters; just get hold of some decent thermal base layer stuff and some warm but grippy gloves that allow lots of movement (they do exist if you look for them).

Cloud cover often doesn't stop you doing hop+pops. It's the canopy ride that's more likely to kill you anyway so these are great for currency.

If you go uncurrent, talk to instructors at your club and either do a conservative solo or jump with them as they recommend.

Remember - DZ's don't just shut down here over the winter (well most don't anyway). There's plenty of jumping to be had if you want it.

[Andybilly 0]

Thanks for the advice, its what I wanted to hear. I am planning to jump as often as I can once I come back weather permitting.

[vt1977 0]

Quote

I am planning to goto Spain late September/early October to hopefully complete my AFF and consols, ready to come back to the UK and Join a club. My question is how often I will need to jump to keep my newly aquired skills up to date and improving? and whether the UK weather will allow me to do this?

I won't kid you, trying to jump in the UK in winter can be hard work! It is possible to get jumps in but accept that you will get cold!

Have you considered booking some cheap flights to go back to wherever in Spain you are doing your AFF for some weekends in October, November and December? If you book early you should be able to get them pretty cheap. If you're running low on holiday time, you could also look at heading back to Spain for Christmas/New Year and getting some jumps in then.

hth!

Vicki

[Zeemax 0]

Quote

There are no formal currency requirements for A license holders here though...

are you sure?

i thought the BPA stipulated a jump at least every 3 months?

Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE
Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies

[mr2mk1g 10]

ah - on closer inspection Section 5 requires:

Quote

Where a Student or an FAI ‘A’ certificate (Red) parachutist has had a lay-off of two months or more, approval of the CCI must be obtained as to the type of descent to be made next.

The three month requirement applies to students but you were closer than I was.

I can't find any currency requirements for people B and above other than for things like demo's and instructors etc.

[Newbie 0]

Where did you start AFF? How far into it are you? How have you found it so far? Why are you now going to go to Spain? Just for the weather? Do you have video and log book briefs of all current jumps to take out there with you?

I did all my AFF in Spain, plus another 20 jumps, then about another 10 when i got back at my old dz before winter came in. I went back there 4-5 months later and it was fine, they said just get up and jump which i did.

It is dependent on many things. My advice is put it off until the spring, unless you are confident you have the time, ability and finances to do more than just your AFF and a few consols. Coming back to the UK with AFF and a few consols completed at a variety of different places could cause you a few issues.

"Skydiving is a door"
Happythoughts

[lowie 0]

I'll be amazed if you can hang out for 2 months before you jump again - you'll be gagging for it. I struggle to jump in winter but find that up to end of November is ok - it's Dec - Mar that are the really tough months. Jump heaps in November and then do a couple of jumps a month until it warms up.

[Stumpy 284]

It would help a little if you put some more info in your profile - specifically where your home dropzone is. Someone might be able to give you some more specific info. There is at least one instructor on these forums from the uk and probably more.....

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[Andybilly 0]

My nearest DZ is Headcorn, I am also planning to jump at Sibson as I have a friend goes there a lot.

[skytash 0]

Do you live in London or Kent for saying Headcorn is your closest? One of the things you may want to keep an eye on is whether the planes have heaters and doors...(don't know about the Headcorn planes)

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

[Jill_UK 0]

that's exactly what i did last year... I finished my AFF in Spain in September and then spent most weekends in the winter at Headcorn... if you're at the DZ enough, you'll get to jump eventually...

i jumped enough to stay fairly current and went to spain every few months to get some more jumps in... it seemed to work for me...