Belgian looking for a DZ end october 09

[Polo 0]

Hello everybody,

I’m new in the sport (about 1 year and about 100 jumps) and on dropzone.com

End October 09, I’ll have the opportunity to do a 1 week stop-over in the US on my way to central America from Europe. I could stop pretty much where I want (Florida, Arizona, California) as the price difference on my whole air fair is quite small.

I’ve spend quite a lot of time on the forum and read a lot about Deland, Perris, Eloy and others but it’s very hard to choose.
Could you help me please, eg:

• I’m looking for a beginner-foreigner friendly place (I’m sure they all are but some maybe more)
• I don’t own my chute and will have to rent one (what about rental price? can I keep it the whole day or do I have to wait for a free one? can I repack it myself or do I have to pay someone to do it?)
• Weather “usually” friendly end October?
• Proximity DZ – motel?
• Activities around the DZ?
• I’d like to take a canopy control training during the week.

Any other advice you may think about.

Thank you very much,
Paul

[dqpacker 7]

Check out SkydiveSpaceland.com. We will be hosting the USPA Nationals this year, From October 12th to the 25th.
To answer some of your questions-
-We have rental gear from 150 to 300 in Javelins and Mirage's. Sabre's, Sabre2's, and Navigators. You most likely will be able to rent for the whole day and pack for yourself but a packer must pack it at the end of the day.
-Weather is good in Oct. It better be with Nationals going on.
-For Hotels the nearest ones are about 15 to 20 minutes away. Or we have one small bunkhouse and one house that has bunkrooms in it.
-For canopy control we have coaches here to suit every need.
-For stuff to do off the DZ. Houston has tons to do. Gavleston has the beach, surfing, amusement park. Alligator Park 10 miles from Dz.

Also Swoop Week follows Nationals. All the top canopy pilots in the US will be here.

[Polo 0]

Thank you dqpacker for your answers; you made me discover SkydiveSpaceland :-)

I also received a good advice: “what sort of jumping do I plan to do?” (as some DZs seem more suitable for flat fliers, others for free fliers).
Actually, I mainly fly flat and I’m beginning with RW. But I’m very tempted by free flying and I plan to focus on free fly in October.

The choice is going to be though!! You guys have so many great dz, whaaow :-)