woodencyclone 0 #1 October 21, 2005 I recently went sky diving for my 20th B-day, and had an amazing time. I love the rush of things like that, and I plan to go again very soon. However I was just wondering what should I expect on my second tandem jump? I heard they do get more advanced every time you go. I’m not sure if personal certification is imminent in my future, but I just need to take one step at a time or jump at a time. P.S Sky diving must be a rich mans sport because it cost so much money, right or wrong? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justinb138 0 #2 October 21, 2005 Quote Sky diving must be a rich mans sport because it cost so much money, right or wrong? There's all kinds of people. It's expensive, but I spend alot less money on other crap than I used to, so it works out in the end. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jill_UK 0 #3 October 21, 2005 Quote P.S Sky diving must be a rich mans sport because it cost so much money, right or wrong? i saved up to do AFF doing a crappy part time job while i was at school... if you're serious about getting into the sport then you can, it's just a matter of using your money well and making some sacrifices, in my opinion it's well worth it... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tink1717 2 #4 October 21, 2005 Quote Sky diving must be a rich mans sport because it cost so much money, right or wrong? You are misinformed about what this sport costs. There is an initial expense of about $1500.00-2000.00 for your lessons (depending on your performance) and anywhere from $3000.00 - 7000.00 (depending on what you buy) for your first set of gear. After that you only pay for a reserve repacks every 120 days (in the area of $40.00) and jumps ($16-23.00). So. after an initial price of entry, you get away cheap after that. This is the reverse of something like skiing where the gear isn't all that expensive, but the trips and lessons are huge in costs. And compared to something like a motorcycle (where you can be $25,000.00+ and STILL not be off the lot) and it's positively cheap. And depending where you are in the country, you can jump year round with little interference from the weather (BTW, where are you?). I can tell you though, that skydiving is the baddest-ass thing you can do. The rewards FAR outweigh the (very) few downsides. So, get to the DZ a get your ass in the air!!!Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off. -The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!) AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrJones 0 #5 October 21, 2005 Quote (P.S Sky diving must be a rich mans sport because it cost so much money, right or wrong?) If there is a rich man in this sport He is NOT jumping enough. Seriously, yes it cost some $$ but no more than a Golf habit or any other sport that requires investment into gear. NUR ZUM SPASS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #6 October 21, 2005 Do you know where you are ? You're in the jungle baby. You're gonna die. ~ Guns and RosesThis sport will cost you your soul and be worth every second before that happens.You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. ~ Eagles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luv2Fall 0 #7 October 21, 2005 Quote Do you know where you are ? You're in the jungle baby. You're gonna die. ~ Guns and Roses This sport will cost you your soul and be worth every second before that happens. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. ~ Eagles Nice, very nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #8 October 21, 2005 QuoteP.S Sky diving must be a rich mans sport because it cost so much money, right or wrong?Rich is relative. A 3rd world country resident would agree. However, a friend of mine who started skydiving while he was in university, would disagree with you. Sure, he had to work at the dropzone packing parachutes to pay for some of it, but he managed. Also, remember if you get a license and your own rig, you can jump 10 times for the same price as 1 tandem. Sometimes all in one day! (Approx $20 USD per jump) Instead of $200 for a tandem, you would pay only $20 for a jump. Assuming you have your own rig and a license. Yes, getting through AFF ($$) and a rig ($$$) is expensive -- but some people buy sailboats, or scuba gear, or an ATV, or a dirt bike. You just have to focus on it. Then jumps are much cheaper after getting the license and a rig, and manageable for a student at 50 jumps per year... (approximately $1000) plus a little gear maintenance, repacks, and USPA membership (~$300 more). What, that's the price of 6 tandems? I don't have a car and I live in an apartment, but I've managed to direct a fair bit of this year's funds into skydiving. Yeah, in real life, most of us end up buying more gear and jumping more often... But anything's possible even at less than $2000 per year (Even the first year, including AFF and rig, if you work at the dropzone packing parachutes as a weekend part time job). It is easier with more money, but I've seen people enter the skydiving hobby at well under $2K "out of pocket" per year if they were determined to do so... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #9 October 21, 2005 Quote And compared to something like a motorcycle (where you can be $25,000.00+ and STILL not be off the lot) and it's positively cheap. jeez - what kind of harley RUB are you talking about? Most bikes range from 6 to 12, and then drift up past 20k. Motorcycling is about the best equilivent. Up front cost of about 7 grand gets you the A license and a rig, and from then on it's a 1-2k/year hobby. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uponone 0 #10 October 22, 2005 Quote jeez - what kind of harley RUB are you talking about? Most bikes range from 6 to 12, and then drift up past 20k. reply] Have you been in a Harley dealership lately, most sales go well beyond $40 after the bike, gear, insurance, extended warranty, limited edition coffee cup, cool guy harley bandana, billet polished aluminum anniversary pen, etc.... My list of hobbies: racing streetbikes, snowboarding, and skydiving. Skydiving is by FAR the cheapest hobby I do but don't get fooled by people saying after you get your own gear and A license that it's cheap. A weekend of skydiving for me is: 10 jumps = $220 food for 2 full days = $60 (not including booze) booze = $20-$100 (depending on how many firsts and where you eat dinner on Saturday ) gas there and back = $50 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ltdiver 3 #11 October 22, 2005 Quote10 jumps = $220 food for 2 full days = $60 (not including booze) booze = $20-$100 (depending on how many firsts and where you eat dinner on Saturday ) gas there and back = $50 Then you get into competition and training. My team two years ago put aside over $20,000 each to make that year happen. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites woodencyclone 0 #12 October 22, 2005 I’m in New York City, my first jump was at "Freefall Adventures" in South New Jersey, close to P.A. Um I thought it was pretty cool there, I heard Saratoga Springs NY has a nice drop zone? I am planning to go the first sun in Nov. It’s kind of cold out right now, say 45-50degs, so up there it has to be breezy? Um hope it’s not too cold on that Nov day im hoping we luck out and get a nice 60deg day, it happens sometimes. So what should I expect up there? A couple more turns? I think the first time we left we flipped out the plane, but it was more like a falling upside-down and then we leveled out, not a full 360. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites azureriders 0 #13 October 22, 2005 The ATP course as outlined by the USPA level 1) Tandem jump, fun Jump level 2) Tandem jump, AFF style (standing) exit, three practice ripchord touches, altitude awareness, pull the ripchord yourself level 3) Tandem jump, AFF style exit, three PRCT, 360 to the right, 360 to the left, altitude awareness, pull level 4) Tandem jump, AFF style exit, three PRCT, 360 to the right, 360 to the left, Forward movement for 3 seconds, backwards movement for 3 seconds, altitude awareness, pull Ground school on emergency procedures and canopy control Level 5) AFF jump: 3 practice ripcord pulls, maintain heading, altitude awareness and pull before your instructor pulls for you Level 6) AFF jump: 360 right, 360 left, forward movement for redock, altitude awarness, pull Level 7) AFF jump: back flips etc Level 8) AFF jump: front flips etc in the ATP course levels 5-8 are all with only one instructor There are a few other details like circle of awareness, toe taps etc that you will be expected to do on each jump. The above outline is what my DZ told me that the USPA recommends. I did not take the time to verify that as my DZ and most others from what I understand, have modified this course, in one way or another, to more safer standards in their opinons. My advice, as I am at this point right now, if you stay with the ATP course make sure that you complete level 5 perfectly before going on to level 6. My DZ and/or the USPA did not require a release on level 5, but trust me, if you can not hold a heading well enough to get a release, you are not ready to work on turns. Also on level 5 it is not a bad idea to pay the extra slot, very inexpensive, for an additional instrutor so that you have two pros saving your ass instead of one. with some searching of my posts you can find my story about my level 5 experience Then there is always the AFF route. No need for anymore tandems. Straight to the ground school and off to the plane with two instructors and your own chute, but someone else would be more qualified to tell you what to expect there. Hope this helps Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
ltdiver 3 #11 October 22, 2005 Quote10 jumps = $220 food for 2 full days = $60 (not including booze) booze = $20-$100 (depending on how many firsts and where you eat dinner on Saturday ) gas there and back = $50 Then you get into competition and training. My team two years ago put aside over $20,000 each to make that year happen. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woodencyclone 0 #12 October 22, 2005 I’m in New York City, my first jump was at "Freefall Adventures" in South New Jersey, close to P.A. Um I thought it was pretty cool there, I heard Saratoga Springs NY has a nice drop zone? I am planning to go the first sun in Nov. It’s kind of cold out right now, say 45-50degs, so up there it has to be breezy? Um hope it’s not too cold on that Nov day im hoping we luck out and get a nice 60deg day, it happens sometimes. So what should I expect up there? A couple more turns? I think the first time we left we flipped out the plane, but it was more like a falling upside-down and then we leveled out, not a full 360. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azureriders 0 #13 October 22, 2005 The ATP course as outlined by the USPA level 1) Tandem jump, fun Jump level 2) Tandem jump, AFF style (standing) exit, three practice ripchord touches, altitude awareness, pull the ripchord yourself level 3) Tandem jump, AFF style exit, three PRCT, 360 to the right, 360 to the left, altitude awareness, pull level 4) Tandem jump, AFF style exit, three PRCT, 360 to the right, 360 to the left, Forward movement for 3 seconds, backwards movement for 3 seconds, altitude awareness, pull Ground school on emergency procedures and canopy control Level 5) AFF jump: 3 practice ripcord pulls, maintain heading, altitude awareness and pull before your instructor pulls for you Level 6) AFF jump: 360 right, 360 left, forward movement for redock, altitude awarness, pull Level 7) AFF jump: back flips etc Level 8) AFF jump: front flips etc in the ATP course levels 5-8 are all with only one instructor There are a few other details like circle of awareness, toe taps etc that you will be expected to do on each jump. The above outline is what my DZ told me that the USPA recommends. I did not take the time to verify that as my DZ and most others from what I understand, have modified this course, in one way or another, to more safer standards in their opinons. My advice, as I am at this point right now, if you stay with the ATP course make sure that you complete level 5 perfectly before going on to level 6. My DZ and/or the USPA did not require a release on level 5, but trust me, if you can not hold a heading well enough to get a release, you are not ready to work on turns. Also on level 5 it is not a bad idea to pay the extra slot, very inexpensive, for an additional instrutor so that you have two pros saving your ass instead of one. with some searching of my posts you can find my story about my level 5 experience Then there is always the AFF route. No need for anymore tandems. Straight to the ground school and off to the plane with two instructors and your own chute, but someone else would be more qualified to tell you what to expect there. Hope this helps Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites