Hi all, super-newbie from Montreal here!!

[Fadz 0]

Hi guys! I'd like to introduce myself to these forums. I'm from Montreal and have a considerable fear of heights which has always bothered me. So naturally I thought I'd LOVE skydiving.

No truth is, skydiving/base jumping/wingsuits have always fascinated me just like most of you guys, and I think now is finally the time to go ahead and follow my urge to try it.

There's only one question I have to ask though - and pardon me if I'm being too forward, but...I'm just wondering how the hell you guys can afford a hobby like this? Everywhere I look in my area, a single tandem jump costs a minimum of 250$, and lessons are more along the lines of 1000$+ tax. I'm really into this hobby but my pockets don't agree with me. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Oh one more thing. Does anyone know of any good jumping sites around Montreal area? Thanks =)

edit: i dunno why the word base jumping keeps linking to another site

[Peej 0]

Welcome to the forums!

It's no secret, this sport is expensive and as far as i'm concerned shouldn't be undertaken unless one is in a position to afford it. But there are ways to make extra money from inside the sport, like packing for example, or video editing.

There is a guy at my home DZ who has learned to pack early in his jumping career, gives packing courses and asked the video guys to teach him to edit, and he earns extra money this way to pay for jumps.

As for the link to the other site, the BASE forums used to be a part of DZ.com until the they were split off into two sites, they are still owned by the same people though.

take care

Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky

[flyfast1966 0]

Packing , learn to pack. I was lucky I had 20 guns, after my second jump, goodbye guns, LOL

[skyjumpsteve 0]

Nouvelair is a phenomenal drop zone and is only about haff an hour from Montreal. They have an outstanding student program and excellent facilities.

http://www.nouvelair.ca/

P.S. BASE links automatically to a sister site of DZ.com.....

P.P.S. Find a way to pay for your student jumps...believe me you will not regret it and before you know it you will be able to fly a wingsuit which is about the most bad-ass fun thing you can do.

[Fadz 0]

Haha sweet, to tell you the truth my main goal is to fly in a wingsuit, but I get the impression you can't exactly go from 0 experience to BASE jumping.

Thanks for your input guys, but can I ask what exaclty do you mean by "packing"? I have no idea what that means. Packing a chute? How does that save money? I pack other people's chutes?

Thanks again!

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

Yes, "packing" refers to packing other people's chutes for $$$. Many folks pay packers to pack their chutes. It is relatively simple work, however it can be physically hard.

Get thee to a drop zone!!! Hang out, see what is going on, talk to people. Then go home and sell all you have... (selling your soul is optional).

Yes, this is an expensive sport. There are some less expensive ways to learn (explore static line and insturctor assisted deployment as instructional methods). Less expensive is a relative term here... these methods may cost you the same over the course of your student career... but they cost less per jump. Less per jump may let you jump earlier and more often.

Beware of the seasons!!! Check with instructors in your area. It may be that fall is a poor time to start as a student, as you may find the winter interrupting your training. It might be smarter to work hard all winter to build up $$$ and then hit it hard in the spring. Local instructors will be able to give you good guidance on that.

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[skyjumpsteve 0]

Quote

but I get the impression you can't exactly go from 0 experience to BASE jumping.

...you are correct. For Wingsuiting the absolute minimum that is generaly recommended is 150-200 jumps. You should be able to do that in a season if you do like Gildeangle says and save up all winter and get ready for the spring!

Not that it is cheap either but an indoor skydiving tunnel is opening in or near Montreal (see Wind Tunnel forum for more info) sometime in the spring. Tunnels can help with training any may allow you to advance quicker....like I said though Tunnel time unfortunately is not cheap.

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Fadz 0]

haha best christmas present ever.