Newbie without a first jump...

[Riftcloud 0]

Let me introduce myself.... My name's Sisco or the Sisco kid if you will. I'm 28 years old and have been interested in skydiving for years. The other day a friend of mine at work tells me that he jumps, and started telling me that my first jump doesn't have to be a tandem but I can do AFF. This of course exited me and I'd like to do my first jump soon. I'm in Maryland and it's starting to get cold here, and since I don't know much about the sport, I'm thinking that it's too cold to jump. However, I will be in Yuma, Arizona in January and maybe that'll be a good place to start since it will be warmer there. So if anyone lives near there and knows a good DZ to start my training please reply.

the not quite yet rookie,
a.k.a. Sisco Kid

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Quote

knows a good DZ to start my training please reply

Skydive Arizona commonly referred around here as Eloy is a world class DZ.

Plus in the future, click the "Post New" button instead of the "New Poll" button. Polls are for ... well setting up a poll to get people's opinions about a certain topic.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Riftcloud 0]

Oh, and I am terrified of heights but I know this is something that I want and have to do...

[AggieDave 6]

SD Arizona in Eloy is a great DZ, large facilities and a great instructional staff.

You don't have to do a tandem first, but I do recommend doing a tandem, preferably a working tandem that counts directly towards your A license. Why? Well, freefall is a very different envrionment and trying to remember everything youcovered 8hours of ground school and apply it can create more stress then needed.

Call up the DZ you're interested in learning at and talk to the instructors about their training program. Each DZ is a little different and they'll be able to tell you why, how, what, when and how much.

Good luck!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[mattjw916 2]

BTW, if you go to Eloy to do your first jumps they pretty much require you to do 2 tandems first. You can probably talk them out of one of them, but they, for good reason, really don't like to let people do AFF without one fun and one working tandem first. They really make your progression go smoother.

Since I went there for my first 25 jumps here is how their ASP program is broken down:

2 tandems
7 AFF jumps (solo jumps w/own rig and 1 or 2 instructors holding your harness until you demonstrate stability, etc)
2 high solos from ~13.5k feet
1 low solo from ~4k feet
12 coached jumps (adv turns, mantis position, fall-rate control, tracking, 2 way RW)
1 solo jump... "A" license woohoo!

The above assumes you didn't "fail" any AFF levels and have to do a rejump.

All the instructors out there are real pros!

edit: spelling

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[Riftcloud 0]

o.k. well how far away from yuma is eloy? and the more I think about it, a couple of tandems would be a safer way to introduce myself.

[mattjw916 2]

http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&un=m&2tabval=address&1n=Yuma&cl=EN&ct=NA&1v=CITY&1tabval=address&1y=US&1a=&1c=Yuma&1s=AZ&1z=&1ah=&2y=US&2a=4900+N+TAYLOR+ST&2c=ELOY&2s=AZ&2z=85231-9759&2ah=&idx=0&id=4192b9ab-00299-026a7-cdbcf362&aid=4192b9ab-0029a-026a7-cdbcf362

188 miles... well worth the drive!

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[Riftcloud 0]

I am so exited about doing this!! I keep looking at pictures and wish that I could do it tommorrow!!

[mattjw916 2]

Great, when you get there, tell them I referred you... so I can get a free jump ticket or two out of it.

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[Riftcloud 0]

So after some reading, is it really better to do some tandems first? I mean do you really get the feel of whats going on with a tandem versus an AFF?

[mattjw916 2]

I think doing at least one tandem first is a good way to reduce the amount of information overload you will experience on your first AFF jump. If you go to Eloy, just follow their program and I bet you will do fine.

I know plenty of people that did AFF without tandems and others that did static-line progression... they are all just different paths to the same destination. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it the same way without a doubt.

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[treeman 0]

im in aff and i had two tandems i think it really helped my $0.02 blue skeyes

[Peej 0]

I think tandems are a good idea.

However, in South Africa, afaik, we don't offer tandem progression and for me it was a cost issue combined with the fact that i had wanted to skydive since i was about 4 and knew i'd stick with it - so i went straight into AFF.

just my .2 cents

Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

So after some reading, is it really better to do some tandems first? I mean do you really get the feel of whats going on with a tandem versus an AFF?

If you were just planning to do one jump, you could make a case for either one. Tandem is quick and easy. AFF gets the full fear factor since you're on your own, but 6+ hours of training.

But if you intend to do the student training, starting with the tandem lets you get your feet wet to make sure, and gets you some good canopy training with an instructor before you do it yourself.

[CanuckInUSA 0]

If you follow Eloy's program you will be doing both. But keep in mind that your tandem(s) will be a working tandems where you are expected to pull the rip cord and then your instructor will guide you with instruction while you fly the canopy.

I did one tandem before I made my AFF jumps and am happy with what transpired. But I believe that being a licensed pilot first before I was helpful when it came to my canopy flights. My instructors didn't need to guide me with a radio because I was already familiar with setting up in a pattern for landing.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over