chrismgtis 0 #1 May 8, 2007 I was thinking the other day about when I started out. I had a lot of questions that I think are common among anyone that is considering a sky dive (or more specifically becoming a student). Now that I have experienced a lot more of the sport and those questions have been answered, I decided to write everything down so others can benefit from it. Out of boredom more than anything I write in a blog occasionaly (hm blog, whats the purpose.. oh well it's kind of addictive) so I used my Wordpress blog to write an article "So you want to learn to sky dive?" Seems to have come out pretty well. You guys are the more experienced jumpers and some of you are probably a bit sharper when it comes to grammar, so I'll let you decide. http://www.chrisgrooms.net/blog/index.php/?p=50Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baksteen 84 #2 May 9, 2007 Taking the risk of turning this into yet another "SL vs AFF" thread, i really feel you shouldn't dismiss the static-line method quite so easily. It is still a great way to start skydiving for people who don't have enough money up front to pay for AFF (such as me). And I don't know about AFF replacing SL in America, but in other countries that might not be true. Especially the smaller dropzones might only offer SL. And if a small dropzone offers both methods, SL might actually be a better choice if you just want to jump as often as possible. Remember that for an AFF level-1 jump, three people and the weather conditions have to agree about when the jump will take place. A static-liner only needs a jumpmaster. So maybe it would be better if you just listed the pros and cons of each method, and let people decide for themselves which method suits them best Edit Well, a static liner needs only a jumpmaster - and good weather conditions at 3500 ft. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #3 May 9, 2007 Good stuff!! Some suggestions: The pricing. You may want to consider putting in a range of prices instead of the one listing for each activity. The prices you show are on the high end and would maybe discourage potential new students. S/L is still a very viable learning method these days. The pricing you show for used gear is on the VERY high end of the spectrum...in the $2000 range is much more common. The pricings you show for completing the course and A-license requirements are also way up there on the high end. Make a link directly to the USPA.org site. Their "About Skydiving" page is a good resource for basic info. Otherwise, pretty darn good for an introduction.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #4 May 9, 2007 Quote The prices you show are on the high end and would maybe discourage potential new students. I thought those were pretty conservative estimates, especially now, because wasn't there an increased fuel tax recently? Our DZ's prices went up a little bit and I assume that's why unless the tax hasn't come into effect yet. Quote S/L is still a very viable learning method these days. The reason I said static line was being phased out is because so many drop zones don't really offer it compared to say 20 years ago when it was a much more widely used training option. I think a lot of DZs will offer it? but it isn't really advertised as an option.. but I'm making assumptions there. I tried to stick with facts instead of guesses :P. Quote The pricing you show for used gear is on the VERY high end of the spectrum...in the $2000 range is much more common. What kind of gear are we talking about? A complete used rig? It cost me $2400 for the used rig that I got, but I figured in after doing some modifications, small repairs and needing to buy an AAD it comes out to about $4500. I know you could come out less than that, but quality wise what are we talking about? Quote The pricings you show for completing the course and A-license requirements are also way up there on the high end. If $1200 to complete AFF and $1400 additionally to complete the license in 25 jumps is high end I want to know where your jumping so I can move there :) and if I farked the math, let me know because I suck at math and it's highly possible I screwed up an addition problem. What organization is used in Europe or other countries (like the USPA)? I live in the United States so I'm not savy to skydiving of other countriesRodriguez 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 #5 May 9, 2007 What organization is used in Europe or other countries (like the USPA)? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> British Parachute Association, Federation Francais du Parachutisme, Deuscher Fallschirms Verband, Canadian Sports Parachuting Association, Australian Parachute Federation, Parachute Association of South Africa, etc. All those national organizations operate on the same level as USPA: setting standards, training instructors, organizing competitions, keeping government bureaucrats off the backs of DZs, etc.. The Federation Aeronautique Internationale is the planetary governing body, whose primary function is to organize competitions on the planetary level and recognize world records. The FAI also facilitates exchange of ideas between national organizations. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricaH 0 #6 May 9, 2007 Very nice blog - i'm sure someone looking into starting to skydive will find it very informative!! Not to be too picky, but since you asked, a few suggestions: As to Static Line - many dropzones actually can do it, they just don't advertise as it tends to be less popular & requires some extra work setting up to do it. Perhaps you could reword the "being replaced by" to something along the becoming less common line? Exit altitude is affected more by the drop zone's altitude than cloud cover. Also saying that many drop zones "provide video footage" sounds like it's free - it's typically not. What about: many drop zones offer the opportunity to have the experience recorded on video and photo. The 1st jump being the same day as the FJC is pretty iffy - lotsa classes are taught on days a student can't jump. At the next opportunity they'll make their first skydive. Also, what about saying something to the length of the class 4 - 6 hours is a bunch of time to commit. I don't know about other places, but in the mid-west the waiting game is part of initiation; especially if you take FJC in the spring. The wind means a lot of time (weeks +) sitting on the ground. Which is a great opportunity for people to learn/ask questions/observe. Then when talking about the instructors and that they "exit the aircraft with you" they are actually holding onto you. When you say "when you complete AFF...." it sounds like one jump - you don't mention that it will be at least 8-13? jumps (I can't remember) and could be more. On your prices, put an asterick the word "approximate" so they'll know to refer to the asterick note under the list. Anyway, after all that - very good. It's really great how you talk about the non-jumping side of the dz experience. It's a wonderful place to interact with a wide cross-section of society. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agent_lead 0 #7 May 9, 2007 hmmm..site says im banned.. Warning: gethostbyaddr() [function.gethostbyaddr]: Address is not a valid IPv4 or IPv6 address in /homepages/28/d192611010/htdocs/wsb4385252401/blog/wp-content/plugins/ban/ban.php on line 93 Warning: gethostbyaddr() [function.gethostbyaddr]: Address is not a valid IPv4 or IPv6 address in /homepages/28/d192611010/htdocs/wsb4385252401/blog/wp-content/plugins/ban/ban.php on line 72 Either you have been naughty or another user was using your current IP address or host name to anger the site owner. If you wish to be unbanned, contact the site owner by email at chris@chrisgrooms.net.-------------------------------------------- www.facebook.com/agentlead Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrismgtis 0 #8 May 9, 2007 Quotehmmm..site says im banned.. That's odd, because I don't have any bans set. I reset bans anyway to see if that helps. Let me know if you can get in now, there may be an issue with the Wordpress plugin I'm using.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
