dresherr 0 #1 December 22, 2002 I'm currently a student in high school planning to graduate early. I have a few questions regarding my future in the sport of skydiving. I have not skydived yet but can't wait to do it! What should I do after high school to get started in skydiving? Should I go into the Army and work towards being on the Golden Nights team or should I work and save up money on my own to get trained when I'm 18. When I do train I want to go all the way and work towards a career in skydiving. Is it worth it? Where should I go to learn? What is the best option for me to get started ASAP and to skydive for a career? Please reply or email me at dresherr@hotmail.com Thank you so much! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 December 22, 2002 Save up as much money as you can before you turn 18. Don't buy anything skydiving related until after you've done at least a couple of your student jumps; it's rare, but some people, after a jump or two, decide that they don't like skydiving!! imho, joining the Army and going for Golden Knights is a sweet way to get yourself the skills you'll need to make a living at skydiving after you're done with the military - and they'll pay you to do demos and compete while you're there! Many of the top RW competitors and coaches today were once on the Golden Knights, and a very large majority of S&A competitors are active or former GK's. As far as I know, the GK's require that you have a minimum C license when you apply - currently that means a minimum of 100 jumps. So if GK's is what you want, you might as well start jumping before you join the Army. If you jump alot once you start, you can get the C in your first year easy. Get your own gear too. Once you're in, excel at being a soldier and jump as much as you can. From what I've heard they look more at your record as a soldier than they do at your skydiving skills during tryouts. If you decide against the military, plan on getting at least a couple hundred jumps in before skydiving starts making you money. Video is the easiest way to start getting paid to jump. If you want to make an actual living at it, pick up a rigger's ticket, a coach rating, an AFF rating and a tandem rating as soon as you have the required experience. You could start working toward a rigger's ticket now if you have a rigger in your area who's willing to teach. Until you're old enough, hang out at the dz as much as possible. Learn to pack, offer to dub student videos, work manifest, etc. You won't make much money but you'll meet a lot of people, learn a lot and possibly get killer discounts on your student jumps. Is it worth it? That's a question only you can answer. How much you make will depend on how hard you're willing to work, weather and the size of the dz you're at. It's a good bet that full time skydiving isn't going to earn you enough to own a Porsche Boxster though. I got a lot of satisfaction out of teaching and rigging, and today I am really happy working in the skydiving equipment industry. You'll have to decide if being happy with what you do is worth making less than some of your friends bring home. Good luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #3 December 23, 2002 If you are going to sell your soul to Uncle Sam - ignore most of the promises made by recruiting sargents - and have the sense to enlist in a parachute-related trade (i.e. parachute rigger). Once you have completed basic trades training, try to get posted to a base that has a skydiving club, then devote all your spare time and cash to skydiving. Hint, most military skydiving clubs offer major discounts to young soldiers. While the social aspects of skydiving are fun, have the good sense to stay away from the drugs. One DUI will ruin your chances of joining the "Knights. If you are smarter than me, you will do your 20 years in the Army, then use your pension to supplement your modest earnings as a professional skydiver. And I do mean modest earnings. It will be a few years before the current shortage of tandem instructors forces DZOs to pay decent wages. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #4 December 23, 2002 First of all...finish your High School, so you can properly spell KNIGHTS Just kidding!!!! __________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
