kenpoguy 0 #1 November 12, 2003 Greetings... I have done my first tandem jump and am getting ready to start my AFF training (now that I'm hooked on skydiving). My questions are as follows: 1) which would you recommend for AFF training - a small school (like 2 instructors and a Cessna 182) or something like Perris or Skydive AZ? I live in rural northern California and did the tandem from a small DZ, but am reconsidering the AFF training somewhere else. 2) reguardless of school size - would you recommend a 2 week intensive course at a DZ for the AFF training or go to the DZ once every other weekend for as long as it takes? Just curious as to others opinions. I've already read JUMP! and just started reading Skydivers Handbook. Can't wait to get back in the air TIA... Blue Skies...... Bruce in Redding, CA Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zoter 0 #2 November 12, 2003 In my humble opinion.... I did an AFF course a few months back at a fairly small DZ in Spain. Although it was small the Staff there are very qualified instructors.......big dont necessarily mean 'best'. I did an intensive course.....all in all 10 days and that definately is the way to do it...I saw other weekend AFF'ers...who often had to relearn things they did on last weeks level....an intense course gave me focus and continuity. The 'small' DZ attitude was great.....you do feel like everyone is focused on you and that motivated me to do well and gave me that little 'extra' if you know what I mean.....when ALL the DZ Staff gather around after the jump to watch your instructors video....you really feel like part of a community. When I came back to the UK I found that attitude was not really there with the large DZ's...and you sometimes feel a little 'isolated' but I know the backup is there . We jumped a small 3 person Cessna and frankly it was great.....of course there is not much room...but after jumping in those it feels much more personal....and TBH when you get on Porters,Caravans ,Lets .....it feels like Limo luxery !! Stepping out on the wheel strut for poised exits...well its a bit freaky during AFF but I wish I could do some more now....It was great ! My point....if it gets you up to 12K +...who cares what it is . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zoter 0 #3 November 12, 2003 In fact I loved that small DZ feeling so much ( loads of rig availability and great service)......I'm going back there for a fortnight next week....to do some progression jumps Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites darkwing 5 #4 November 12, 2003 You won't automatically have a "better" experience at either a big or a small DZ. Feel free to check them out ahead of time and then make a decision. To progress in jumping, generally speaking more is better. There are limits though. I wouldn't recommend a student make more than 3 jumps in a day, and for most, two would be fine during the training process. There is a lot to think about and to assimilate. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nissin 0 #5 November 12, 2003 I will relate my experiences. I did my first jump, also a tandem, at a small DZ (California City). I too really enjoyed the atmosphere of the small DZ. I did my AFF at Perris, mainly because it was a lot closer to where I live. The biggest advantage I see for using a large DZ is that you can just show up and get trained - they always have plenty of instructors on hand. I imagine small DZs might have restrictions on what days you can get trained, etc. Maybe not, but I would check first to be safe. I don't know about other large DZs, but I have found Perris to be quite enjoyable. The instructors are a lot of fun to work with, and even though it is a busy school, I have been able to get quality one-on-one time from their instructors, even when I'm not taking a class. One thing I did that I would recommend against is switching DZs in the middle of AFF. I started at Perris, then did a couple jumps at Elsinore, then finished up at Perris. Each school has its own way of doing things, and I had to repeat some levels because I was switching back and forth. So unless you have any real problems with your AFF instructors, I recommend sticking to one DZ. These are just some rambling thoughts off the top of my head. Hope it helps. -- Ei nirobh akashe aka porchi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites elfanie 0 #6 November 12, 2003 I did my training at Arizona Skydive in Coolidge..and it was great. I'm sure that I'm going to upset a lot of people with the following statement...but... I jump Coolidge, just 20 miles from Eloy...have never jumped Eloy...and, honestly, don't have any sort of desire to at this point. Nothing against Eloy, I've heard nothing but fantastic things about them!! It's just...I'm more a "small town" girl than a "city" girl. I like the smaller "family-style" attention we get at Coolidge. There is a place they/we've set up for my kids to play, I know most of the people down there now by now and they know me....and I like the small-town feel of it. I don't think bigger is better...or that smaller is better....anymore than I think living in a city is better/worse than living in the country or a small town. It's just different. And I'm a small town style girl (living in the city of Phoenix. heh.) I also did the "every weekend" thing, and found that very very useful. First off...after 2-3 jumps, I'm tired! My arms get bruised...my muscles are sore the next day...I'm just tired and don't think I"d enjoy doing 10 jumps a day at this point. Second off...having the weekday-long break gave me a chance to reflect and learn from my jumps in a way that I don't think I could have done otherwise. At least two different weekends I came back after thinking about my previous jumps and said, "Ah ha! I know what I was doing wrong!" and my next jump was significantly better...just because of the reflection time. Again...I'm not saying that my way will work better for anyone else! I'm just saying that it worked best for ME! I loved my small-town dropzone (Coolidge) and loved jumping 2-3 times each day on the weekends only. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jsaxton 0 #7 November 12, 2003 Skydance Skydiving is probably the closest turbine dropzone to you. I'd go there if I were you. BTW: I teach at a competing DZ (Bay Area Skydiving) but we are probably another hour from you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Nightingale 0 #8 November 12, 2003 I had an awesome AFF course at Perris. I'd recommend it to anyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites towerrat 0 #9 November 14, 2003 i have found that a large DZ becomes a small DZ when you hang around and make friends. There are really not that many instructors and if you buy them a beer and have a conversation in the evening, you will find that most are quite amicable.Skydivers love to talk about skydiving. Sure they are busy when there are 50 loads a day but I found that my instructores really gave a shit. It's not about the money dude, there's not a whole lot in it.Play stupid games, win stupid prizes! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bodypilot1 0 #10 November 14, 2003 Quote but I found that my instructores really gave a shit. It's not about the money dude, there's not a whole lot in it. Oh how true both of these statements are. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bodypilot1 0 #11 November 14, 2003 Quote would you recommend a 2 week intensive course at a DZ for the AFF training or go to the DZ once every other weekend for as long as it takes? Doing your training jumps as close as possible, meaning 2 or 3 jumps a day, has always had a better learning curve for a student, unless your a "natural", and pick it up with no problem. I currently have a student thats a "natural", that you may like to speak to. He's StearmanR985 on here, look him up. He'd be happy to talk skydiving with you. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com 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. 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darkwing 5 #4 November 12, 2003 You won't automatically have a "better" experience at either a big or a small DZ. Feel free to check them out ahead of time and then make a decision. To progress in jumping, generally speaking more is better. There are limits though. I wouldn't recommend a student make more than 3 jumps in a day, and for most, two would be fine during the training process. There is a lot to think about and to assimilate. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nissin 0 #5 November 12, 2003 I will relate my experiences. I did my first jump, also a tandem, at a small DZ (California City). I too really enjoyed the atmosphere of the small DZ. I did my AFF at Perris, mainly because it was a lot closer to where I live. The biggest advantage I see for using a large DZ is that you can just show up and get trained - they always have plenty of instructors on hand. I imagine small DZs might have restrictions on what days you can get trained, etc. Maybe not, but I would check first to be safe. I don't know about other large DZs, but I have found Perris to be quite enjoyable. The instructors are a lot of fun to work with, and even though it is a busy school, I have been able to get quality one-on-one time from their instructors, even when I'm not taking a class. One thing I did that I would recommend against is switching DZs in the middle of AFF. I started at Perris, then did a couple jumps at Elsinore, then finished up at Perris. Each school has its own way of doing things, and I had to repeat some levels because I was switching back and forth. So unless you have any real problems with your AFF instructors, I recommend sticking to one DZ. These are just some rambling thoughts off the top of my head. Hope it helps. -- Ei nirobh akashe aka porchi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elfanie 0 #6 November 12, 2003 I did my training at Arizona Skydive in Coolidge..and it was great. I'm sure that I'm going to upset a lot of people with the following statement...but... I jump Coolidge, just 20 miles from Eloy...have never jumped Eloy...and, honestly, don't have any sort of desire to at this point. Nothing against Eloy, I've heard nothing but fantastic things about them!! It's just...I'm more a "small town" girl than a "city" girl. I like the smaller "family-style" attention we get at Coolidge. There is a place they/we've set up for my kids to play, I know most of the people down there now by now and they know me....and I like the small-town feel of it. I don't think bigger is better...or that smaller is better....anymore than I think living in a city is better/worse than living in the country or a small town. It's just different. And I'm a small town style girl (living in the city of Phoenix. heh.) I also did the "every weekend" thing, and found that very very useful. First off...after 2-3 jumps, I'm tired! My arms get bruised...my muscles are sore the next day...I'm just tired and don't think I"d enjoy doing 10 jumps a day at this point. Second off...having the weekday-long break gave me a chance to reflect and learn from my jumps in a way that I don't think I could have done otherwise. At least two different weekends I came back after thinking about my previous jumps and said, "Ah ha! I know what I was doing wrong!" and my next jump was significantly better...just because of the reflection time. Again...I'm not saying that my way will work better for anyone else! I'm just saying that it worked best for ME! I loved my small-town dropzone (Coolidge) and loved jumping 2-3 times each day on the weekends only. -------------------------------------------- Elfanie My Skydiving Page Fly Safe - Soft Landings Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jsaxton 0 #7 November 12, 2003 Skydance Skydiving is probably the closest turbine dropzone to you. I'd go there if I were you. BTW: I teach at a competing DZ (Bay Area Skydiving) but we are probably another hour from you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #8 November 12, 2003 I had an awesome AFF course at Perris. I'd recommend it to anyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
towerrat 0 #9 November 14, 2003 i have found that a large DZ becomes a small DZ when you hang around and make friends. There are really not that many instructors and if you buy them a beer and have a conversation in the evening, you will find that most are quite amicable.Skydivers love to talk about skydiving. Sure they are busy when there are 50 loads a day but I found that my instructores really gave a shit. It's not about the money dude, there's not a whole lot in it.Play stupid games, win stupid prizes! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #10 November 14, 2003 Quote but I found that my instructores really gave a shit. It's not about the money dude, there's not a whole lot in it. Oh how true both of these statements are. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #11 November 14, 2003 Quote would you recommend a 2 week intensive course at a DZ for the AFF training or go to the DZ once every other weekend for as long as it takes? Doing your training jumps as close as possible, meaning 2 or 3 jumps a day, has always had a better learning curve for a student, unless your a "natural", and pick it up with no problem. I currently have a student thats a "natural", that you may like to speak to. He's StearmanR985 on here, look him up. He'd be happy to talk skydiving with you. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
