KenKnight 0 #26 December 16, 2003 I turned 40 yesterday. Started jumping about 13 months ago at 38. I probably will never be someone who makes 10+ jumps everyweekend, but I really enjoy the 4-5 I get in every other weekend. I do it to relax and have some fun._______________ D28695 PoPs #9237 "Mix ignorance with arrogance at low altitude and the results are almost guaranteed to be spectacular" — Bruce Landsberg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldnewbie 0 #27 December 16, 2003 I made my first jump two years ago at age 45. I have my A now, so hopefully I can start jumping a lot more!!! Your not the only one!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
algboy 0 #28 December 16, 2003 "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?" Personally, I'd have to say YES! I'm a 46-year old (fart). I started as an inspired 19-year old college student, made two s/l jumps, out of sport for 22 years, came back, did tandems, AFF, quit again, got my A this past weekend and don't EVER plan on quitting!!! I love the crazy pierced freeflyers as well as the old timer belly flyers. Age is just a number--on jump run I'm not thinking about how old the person is I'm getting ready to exit with.“Keep your elbow up!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cindee 0 #29 December 16, 2003 I'm in my 40's and just recently started jumping. I never did any skydiving in my younger years...__________________________________________________ "If happy little bluebirds fly above the rainbow, why oh why can't I?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danl 0 #30 December 16, 2003 My first jump was a surprise 40th birthday present from my wife. I don't think she expected me to keep jumping. She gives me a long leash, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skyjunior 0 #31 December 16, 2003 I started jumping in 1997 and was 41 years old, I now have over 1200 jumps including over 300 tandems, plus a instructor rating for static line. So my friend starting to jump in your forties is definetly not to old. PLEASE REMEMB Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jumperconway 0 #32 December 16, 2003 I did my first AFF Oct.'98. Did 3 more AFF's and gave up for almost 2 yrs. Came back about 3 yrs ago and over 1600+ jumps late, I'll be 45 and the end of the month. I'm still a newbie to say. Two years of 4 way, Airspeed tunnel, 2 records and many record attempts, still the reborn passion of my life. Just really sorry that I wasted a lot of years pursuing golf instead of continuing or having started younger but I went as soon as I was introduced to the sport. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Amazon 7 #33 December 16, 2003 I did my first jump in 1975 at the age of 23. Over the next few years I got to about 450 jumps..... then too a 22 year layoff. I had responsibilities and other reasons for quitting at the time. Now that I am older and wiser I decided to do something fun... FOR ME.....I made my first jump into the sport again on March 16 of this year and since then have about 200 jumps.. done big ways. done other belly flying. Started working on sit flying and can stick it and fly it stable... go to a stand and still maintain it stable...Head down( not really good at it yet.. but I will get there.. and Speed Skydiving... 253 MPH is my personal best fo far. I have met some really cool people and had a hell of a lot of fun.. and spent WAY too much money on it but hey its about living Who said you cant learn new tricksJeanne D-4888 SCR- 5993 POPS 99xx( cant remember the exact number.. am I having a senior moment) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bch7773 0 #34 December 17, 2003 actually at most DZs I've been to, it seems that the majority are 30s and older. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the older folks have a lot more money to jump with or buy gear with. But I really don't know if they started when they were older or younger. MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites judedre 0 #35 December 17, 2003 yep u r talkin bout willy T grey balding funky pony tail flys great camera his only bout 40 but 20 years o jumpin every day i can understand y u think he looks 60 but i cant wait to tell him this weekend lololol he jumps here at skydivesobe now... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bozo 0 #36 December 17, 2003 [ 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? I just turned 50 been jumping for half my life. no layoffs bozo bozo Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyjunior 0 #31 December 16, 2003 I started jumping in 1997 and was 41 years old, I now have over 1200 jumps including over 300 tandems, plus a instructor rating for static line. So my friend starting to jump in your forties is definetly not to old. PLEASE REMEMB Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumperconway 0 #32 December 16, 2003 I did my first AFF Oct.'98. Did 3 more AFF's and gave up for almost 2 yrs. Came back about 3 yrs ago and over 1600+ jumps late, I'll be 45 and the end of the month. I'm still a newbie to say. Two years of 4 way, Airspeed tunnel, 2 records and many record attempts, still the reborn passion of my life. Just really sorry that I wasted a lot of years pursuing golf instead of continuing or having started younger but I went as soon as I was introduced to the sport. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #33 December 16, 2003 I did my first jump in 1975 at the age of 23. Over the next few years I got to about 450 jumps..... then too a 22 year layoff. I had responsibilities and other reasons for quitting at the time. Now that I am older and wiser I decided to do something fun... FOR ME.....I made my first jump into the sport again on March 16 of this year and since then have about 200 jumps.. done big ways. done other belly flying. Started working on sit flying and can stick it and fly it stable... go to a stand and still maintain it stable...Head down( not really good at it yet.. but I will get there.. and Speed Skydiving... 253 MPH is my personal best fo far. I have met some really cool people and had a hell of a lot of fun.. and spent WAY too much money on it but hey its about living Who said you cant learn new tricksJeanne D-4888 SCR- 5993 POPS 99xx( cant remember the exact number.. am I having a senior moment) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #34 December 17, 2003 actually at most DZs I've been to, it seems that the majority are 30s and older. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the older folks have a lot more money to jump with or buy gear with. But I really don't know if they started when they were older or younger. MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
judedre 0 #35 December 17, 2003 yep u r talkin bout willy T grey balding funky pony tail flys great camera his only bout 40 but 20 years o jumpin every day i can understand y u think he looks 60 but i cant wait to tell him this weekend lololol he jumps here at skydivesobe now... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bozo 0 #36 December 17, 2003 [ 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? I just turned 50 been jumping for half my life. no layoffs bozo bozo Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meltdown 0 #37 December 17, 2003 I did my first jump 3 months ago at 39 (I'm 40 now), and the wife started a month earlier. We bring our daughter (7) to the DZ regularly, and she loves it out there. We're enjoyin' the hell out of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
webracer 0 #38 December 17, 2003 I started at 33, I think the majority over forty are late-comers. Maybe late-twenties, early thirties for most of them, but I agree with Quade that many people participate for 10 years or so and lay off. Hope I'm not one of them.Troy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Garycal 0 #39 December 17, 2003 Istarted when I was58 been jumping for 3 years age isnt really an issue mont of the folks i meet at the dz.Just the whuffos have a problem and I dont think they would care much about age. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,026 #40 December 17, 2003 I started at 52, now 58. Coming up on 1400 jumps. Competed at Nationals 2001, 2002. Been on 4 world record attempts of various sorts (including one that succeeded). Gravity rules!... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpinfarmer 0 #41 December 17, 2003 I'd say about half of the jumpers at my DZ are over 40 some are over 60. It's neet to here all the stories of the old days. I just hope I can learn to fly like them someday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murrays 0 #42 December 17, 2003 I started at 28 and am now 51 and still loving the hell out of skydiving! Our little dz is pretty young with most people in their 20's and 30's but there are a few of us with 20+ years in the sport. I'd say that at our dz most people 40+ started when they were young and have never stopped.-- Murray "No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #43 December 17, 2003 I'm 41, started when I was 22 and out of the Military. Been going ever since. Age means nothing. The gear today is real forgiving. Did 16 jumps this past weekend. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HRHSkyPrincess 0 #44 December 17, 2003 I'm a late bloomer, too. Started skydiving 2 1/2 years ago, on my 50th birthday! Am now a USPA Coach and I LOVE THIS SPORT! Go for it!***************** Attitude is everything! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HRHSkyPrincess 0 #45 December 17, 2003 Wife has perspective. Be a good boy and keep jumping with a deep voice!***************** Attitude is everything! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstime 0 #46 December 18, 2003 Hey tell Wllie the gang at skydive long island said Hello and hope all is well. I hope to get down there next month. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Speer 0 #47 December 21, 2003 Rick, Intuitively, I'd say both. At our DZ, it seems more students appear to be in their 20's than their 40's. When my son (the youngest of four) turned 18, I put us both through AFF. I was 49 (50 now). Yes, it was as much for me as it was for him. I promised him at a very young age to fulfill his wish to jump... his oft' repeated desire to do so prepared the wife for that eventuality. I've had a blast skydiving (on my 13th or 14th childhood now). I got to watch my youngest daughter, who was 20, who is terrified of heights, ride to altitude and exit behind me on a tandem. So in our family, we represent both. The boy has about 15 jumps, and the daughter is starting to make noise about AFF... Russ Generally, it is your choice; will your life serve as an example... or a warning? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
North95 0 #48 December 21, 2003 Quote Hey North, That was Willie and he aint gonna be happy with that "maybe 60" I will bring him some grecian formula Why is it that the only thread I lose track of is the only one I'm in real trouble? If I had seen this Friday I could have bribed judedre to keep his mouth shut, now its probably too late. In my defense, I also said: "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. " Maybe I'll get some sympathy for smashing myself up, and for being 46 myself, and for using Just For Men. And, he created my Avatar! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imdskydiver 0 #49 December 21, 2003 I will be 47 when the spring jumping starts again , I have been jumping since 95 and have 900 weekend jumps , I am still having fun . The thing i like about jumping is that when i do it i don't think about work . ( Good medicine ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #50 December 21, 2003 I'm 46... ( ) Started just days following my 18th Birthday, and have made what averages out to be a little over 100 jumps a year since I started. Hard to tell these days! I was recently speaking with this 60+ year old gentleman... a very talented and current skydiver. Referring to gear and events from 'back then' When I realized he had no idea as to what I was talking about! We cleared things up when he said... "I just started jumping a few years ago, and only have 1700 jumps." WOW! Kewell Dude!! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
