Older Jumpers At The DZ

[rickfri59 0]

I'm in my early (cough, cough) 40's and just started jumping in 2002. After raising 4 kids it was time to do something for me. I'd be interested in knowing the following: Are the 40+ year old jumpers predominately made up of those who have been in the sport since late teens/20's, or are they late comers like me?

[schattenjaeger 0]

I'm only 18 so I can only read off the statistics I read elsewhere, which was the majority of jumpers are in their 30s and 40s, and most of them have military experience doing it. The rest are like you, methinks. No shame though, I'm only 18 but I've seen plenty of people twice my age take it up

[quade 4]

Skydiving is a very mixed bag with people making their first jumps at a lot of different stages in their lives.

Skydiving has a fairly large turnover rate with most skydivers dropping out well before their 10th year.

That said, I believe that -most- folks that are eligible for POPS today made their first skydive before turning 40.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Shark 0]

I don't see people at the DZ as young or old. What I see are skydivers. I've had 18 year old kids and 64 year old grandmothers in my FJC. It's all good. We still have a lot of jumpers hanging out after the sunset load and now that we have a fire pit more people are staying a little later to socialize and talk skydiving. What's important is that you are having fun.

[CornishChris 5]

One of the guys I have done some coach jumps with is probably in his fifties and has only been jumping for around four years. He has around 750 jumps and is an instructor.

Go for it

CJP

Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people

[RippedCord 0]

Quote

I don't see people at the DZ as young or old. What I see are skydivers. ...

I agree--I find that I, too, am deeper & deeper into denial with regard to age difference with each passing year...

AMDG

[North95 0]

I don't know the statistics, Rick, but I'm 46 and just started jumping this year. The guy who photographed my last jump must be over 50, or even over sixty. (I hope he is not insulted if he reads this.) He always jumps barefoot.

He did a great job with the photos and video. I've heard him called the "crazy old man". They probably call me that too.

North

Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

[Squeak 17]

did my 1sy jumkp in August 2002 at 39 years,

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[TerryB 0]

I will be 58 next April...70 jumps past four months just got my A license?

[jsaxton 0]

I'm 46 and started when I was 45. 20 months and 700 jumps. Got my Coach rating and working on AFFI.

[akarunway 1]

I started at 40 a few yrs. ago. Best thing I ever did in my life. I hope your doing it for you tho. If your doing it for the young skychickies, forget it.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[McG 0]

"POPS" rulez! Way too many young guns and hot shots give up skydiving when they are just about to learn something. Too bad. We old timers () are not so ambitious anymore, so I guess we have more fun...
***

>If God meant for man to fly, He´d have given him much more money.

McG, DZ EFVA dictator

[rickfri59 0]

Quote

If your doing it for the young skychickies, forget it.

Note to self: Check with wife re: skychickies.
Note from wife: re: castration, lawyer, sleep on street, etc.

[darkwing 5]

I am probably one of the "older" jumpers. In my 30+ years in the sport the large majority of older jumpes started as younger jumpers, and just kept jumping. I have met some that started at 40+, but not many. It is certainly easier to start at 40+ than it used to be. Equipment is much friendlier to an older jumper, skydiving now is physically much less demanding than when I started on a surplus 28' main canopy. And finances are easier for a person with an established career.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[WrongWay 0]

Yup. There are lots of older guys around our dz, and most of them have been jumping since the days of old.

Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.

[skyyhi 0]

I'm 42 and a newbie jumper. . .but of course, I can only speak for myself. . .our DZ is a mixed bag of older experienced and inexperienced, and the younger crowd. . .

________________________________________
Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ
FGF #6
Darcy

[newsstand 0]

I'm 45, got four jumps when I was about 20 and then restarted over the summer. Same reason sdas you. most of the kids gone and I needed something for me.

In a way I got lucky and the wife didn't care to jump, she tried but just didn't find it a thrill. Now I get one thing in life just for me. And as to the skychickies, they aren't going to go to far but they can still show you a little love.

"Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes

[rendezvous 0]

I was most impressed by a 50+ lady who was just getting off AFF and getting into coach jumps.

[firstime 0]

Hey North,
That was Willie and he aint gonna be happy with that
"maybe 60" I will bring him some grecian formula
when I see him in Florida next month. I will intro meeself
when I see you at the DZ in the spring. hehe


Loose lips sink big ships.LMAO

[CanuckInUSA 0]

My first jump was at the ripe old age of 38 (now 40). But I look and act a lot younger than my age.

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

[mfrese 0]

Started when I was 38, just turned 47. Do RW, freefly, tandems, and coaching, thinking seriously about BASE. POPS #6136

Doctor I ain't gonna die,
Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

[Shark 0]

Quote

I'm 42 and a newbie jumper. . .

But you are still one of my kids.

[skyyhi 0]

Quote

But you are still one of my kids.

And I LOVE being a kid. . .

(don't tell IslandCool, but it was kinda nice to be out there without my shadow this past Saturday. . .)

________________________________________
Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ
FGF #6
Darcy

[Evelyn 0]

I had ALWAYS wanted to jump for as long as I can remember. Finally did a tandem to celebrate my 50th in January. Knew I had to do it again so talked my hubby into celebrating our 25th anniversary by doing tandems, except that a week before the scheduled date he changed his mind, so I did my first AFF instead. Realized I couldn't just wait for special occasions to jump. Went through AFF, got my A license and now I jump every weekend. I cannot imagine life without skydiving. I wish I had started years ago! But like they say, better late than never!

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing ~ Helen Keller

[PrairieDoug 0]

Not sure of the answer to your question, but we're around the same age and I also have 4 kids. I've jumped with skydivers of all ages from late teens to 60+ and it's never been an issue for me or them. I tip my hat to those dudes who keep jumping hard when their peers are just waiting for the social security check to show up each month.

BTW, my oldest daughter has done a tandem and my 2nd daughter is through AFF level E2. Maybe that's something you have to look forward to.