Philly215 0 #1 July 3, 2007 This sucks. I've waited 12 years til I can finally get to go, and now that it's close it seems like it's never coming up! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slotperfect 7 #2 July 3, 2007 Where do you live? There are some drop zones that will train students at 16 with notarized parental consent.Arrive Safely John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #3 July 3, 2007 If you have been waiting since you were 5 you can probably wait one more. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinkfairy 0 #4 July 3, 2007 You are young, you will still be young when you're 18. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glitch 0 #5 July 3, 2007 Just one of many lessons you will learn is that the sky will always be there... Randomly f'n thingies up since before I was born... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #6 July 3, 2007 Quote This sucks. I've waited 12 years til I can finally get to go, and now that it's close it seems like it's never coming up! The age should stay 18. What makes you think you are mature enough at 17? Besides, it offers protection to drop zones. The legal age for many things by law is 18, so due to that alone it should be 18. That said, it's not that much longer. A year goes by pretty fast. Do yourself a favor and don't rush life. Sooner or later you will wish you took it slow.Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #7 July 3, 2007 BUT I WANT IT NNOOWWWW! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZagMarquis 9 #8 July 3, 2007 ... I'll bet he can't wait to jump a highly overloaded crossbraced canopy either. ... unless mommy and daddy are loaded or own a DZ, how does an 18 year old afford to skydive anyways??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blink 1 #9 July 3, 2007 I'm 19, and I started when I was 18. I could only afford it because I am still living at home while I am going to College, so there aren't any bills. Aquiring gear was a different story, I'm in Canada, so we had a nice cold Winter, which aloud me to work and no skydive (save money). Throughout the whole winter I pieced together a great rig and save up some money for the summer. My advice to you, would be this, start saving. Even if you don't know if you're going to like it. FJC: $200 AFF: $1000 Gear: $1500-$7000 You can see that it's a big investment right at the start (well, gear will be a few jumps in). Goodluck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karenmeal 0 #10 July 3, 2007 Start working your ass off and saving up money so that when you turn 18 you can get your license quickly and purchase gear. That is what I did! I had $4,000 in the bank that I had saved up to furnish my first apartment once I moved out of my parents place.. instead, I got addicted to skydiving and spent it all on that. I still consider it money well spent. So what my furniture is all from the thrift store and my couches are worth about $10... who cares?Edited to add: Call up your nearest dropzone and ask if they need any parachute packers and how you could go about getting trained. That is a good way to learn about the sport and make some good money! "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jumpah 0 #11 July 3, 2007 I knew a girl in high school who bought a new Jeep, cash, when she turned 18. She earned the money and saved it. Not hard if one wants it so bad. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyit 0 #12 July 3, 2007 >>That is a good way to learn about the sport and make some good money! There won't be any money , but you're right... it is a good way to go about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azureriders 0 #13 July 3, 2007 Quote... unless mommy and daddy are loaded or own a DZ, how does an 18 year old afford to skydive anyways??? I come from a realitivly poor family. My parents supported us well, roof over our head, schooling, good food, etc, but if we wanted anythign extra, we had to earn it, simple as that. Dad never gave me money, but always saw to it that I had the oprotunity to earn it around town somewhere. By the time I was 18, I had bought a nice second hand truck, enrolled for college, and was spending WAY more on my hobbies then, than I do now for me AND my wife to skydive. So, to answer your question, you WORK for it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #14 July 3, 2007 What makes you think you are mature enough at 18? Fuck im not mature enough at 23 UK you can jump at 16. 1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baseknut 0 #15 July 3, 2007 Quote The age should stay 18. What makes you think you are mature enough at 17?. chill brother, crack a beer.Step into my (sub)terminal Playground Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pooface 0 #16 July 3, 2007 There was a 15 y/o girl in my FJC. And I think we have a coach rated 16 y/o too. Quote Do yourself a favor and don't rush life. Sooner or later you will wish you took it slow. True.>-/oMy Space Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LloydDobbler 2 #17 July 3, 2007 Quote Quote This sucks. I've waited 12 years til I can finally get to go, and now that it's close it seems like it's never coming up! The age should stay 18. What makes you think you are mature enough at 17? ...what makes you think he's NOT at 17? Had a nice, long discussion with him, have you? Chris, there are times I've appreciated reading what you have to say...but this ain't one of 'em. If there's one thing I've learned in my life (and that has constantly been reinforced by skydiving), it's not to judge a book by its cover. When I was 15, I was more mature than most 28 yr-olds I meet today, so I find ageism to be just as bad a form of prejudice as any other. Unless you know his life and the particular circumstances he's been through, you should probably step off, or ask for some more info before you start rendering blanket judgments and shoving them in his face. I think it best to not convince someone interested in the sport that we're all unsympathetic a$$holes before he even gets in it. What's more, come on. I personally have a hard time waiting 'til next weekend to jump, so it would be awfully hypocritical of me telling someone, "Meh, it's only one more year..." Dunno about you, though... Back to Philly, I'd take the advice re: calling around, looking for a DZ that'll take jumpers age 16 & up with parental consent. If you can't find one nearby, then all you can do is suck it up and start saving every penny...you're gonna need it. (Starting packing might be a good idea...and would get you good at that particular, um 'art' before you even get off AFF, which will be a huge advantage.)Signatures are the new black. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #18 July 3, 2007 I have seen people who were not mature enough to skydive at age 57! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tornolf 0 #19 July 3, 2007 Quote ... unless mommy and daddy are loaded or own a DZ, how does an 18 year old afford to skydive anyways??? You'd be surprised how much money you can get just for busting your ass academically in high school. 4 years of financial worry free living afterwards (college), plus extra play money, was worth all the work especially since I don't even have to work a job. And I'm a white male who doesn't qualify for any need based aid.A waddling elephant seal is the cutest thing in the entire world. -TJ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #20 July 3, 2007 I'll bet you think Christmas will never get here, also._____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kynan1 0 #21 July 3, 2007 Buy a base rig. I don't think there is an age requirement for that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spizzzarko 0 #22 July 3, 2007 I've waited 12 years til I can finally get to go, and now that it's close it seems like it's never coming up! It is this attitude that is contributing to the death of skydiving!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #23 July 3, 2007 QuoteBuy a base rig. I don't think there is an age requirement for that. To young to buy cigarettes? Just start shooting heroin... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #24 July 3, 2007 Quote What makes you think you are mature enough at 18? Fuck im not mature enough at 23 UK you can jump at 16. That isn't even the point. What makes you think you are mature enough at 16 or 17? You have to set the limit somewhere and 18 is the best place to start. Otherwise it's like saying the speed limit should be 65 instead of 60. If it's 60, 99% of people are going to do 65 anyway and push the limit by 5 miles and plenty will push it to 10-15 higher than the posted limit. If we change it to 65, they will still do the exact same. So whats the point of adding 5mph? The limit has to be somewhere.Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #25 July 4, 2007 The scariest skydive - I ever did - was with a 13-year-old German girl strapped to my chest! Just above deployment altitude, she took a DEATH GRIP on my left thumb. Remember that this occurred shortly after drogues were installed on Vector Tandems and a few years before the second drogue release was introduced. This was also several years before Cypres was invented. Don't rush age limits. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
