16 and want to get started to jump but have a few questions.

[woubo 0]

Im 16 and live in Colorado and want too mainly Base Jump but have been researching this for a while and from what i have read there are different opinions and options i can do at my age. Like you need to be 18 to jump and other sties say 16. Also that you need 100 to 200 jumps before base jumping. Which the 100 to 200 are fine but the 16 to 18 minimum age requirements are the ones that i want to get around to start getting into this. And was wondering if there was anyone that knew about this specifically. Also another thing i was wondering about was getting a licenses and if i need one if i rely get into it and pretty much anything else that I am missing to basically get started.

[idodsick 0]

and MONEY! muahahahaaa

the diamond can not be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.

[mrbiceps 0]

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3260531;page=2;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25;

there does seem to be a few dropzones that allow 16 year olds to do aff.
Good luck buddy. As far as base goes there are really no set rules, only guidlines. You can order a rig off the internet if you want and strap it on and go and jump off a building. Obviously having no experience with controlling your body in freefall, controlling a canopy, landing a canopy, you chance of surviving too many jumps like that are pretty slim.
This is why the 200 minimum skydive guidlines are in place.
i wish i had started skydiving when i was 16, man i would have been about a million bucks poorer right now...

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

How to get started:

1. Hunt for a DZ which will let you jump at 16-17 years of age. Undoubtedly you will need written parental consent.http://www.uspa.org/FindaDZ.aspx

2. Even if you have to wait until you are 18, you can do the following now:

--a: Read Section 4 (Integrated Student Program) of the Skydiver information manual.
----i. You read it on line: http://www.uspa.org/SIM/Read/Section4/tabid/166/Default.aspx
----ii. You can download a free copy (PDF): http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/Downloads/Man_SIM_2009-2010.pdf
----iii. You can buy a copy: http://www.uspa.org/USPAShop/tabid/353/pid/2/Default.aspx

--b: Start making and saving MONEY!!! This is an expensive sport. You probably should expect to spend no less than $1000 to learn to skydive. I suspect that $1500-2000 is a common price at many places. These prices are guesstimates for the costs to get your A license.

--c. Visit the local DZ. You can learn a fair amount by just watching landings and chatting with people. If you are highly motivated, you might even be able to earn money by packing parachutes for jumpers.

--d. Read through the incidents and fatalities (two different places on DZ.com) on this web site. Hopefully doing so will give you an idea of the many ways to die in this sport. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.... AND STILL DIE IN THIS SPORT. In addition, you might learn a few things that could be helpful to you if you choose to skydive.

--e. View some of the movies on http://www.skydivingmovies.com. In particular, watch all the malfunction videos there. Rather than learning any specific skills, these videos will help you understand the many ways to die in this sport, and that good decision making by YOU is the best way to keep YOU alive and unbroken. Note how QUICKLY things can go to crap, and how quickly the surviving jumpers respond.

--f. If college is in your future, start looking for colleges with skydiving clubs. See the bottom of the home page here for a list of some of those colleges; http://www.collegeskydiving.com/

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

[Andy9o8 2]

You'll shoot your eye out, kid.

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Quote

You'll shoot your eye out, kid.

C'mon, be nice

Woubo - the good news is that there is a DZ in CO that lets 16yr olds jump. It's up near Boulder. DaSkiesRBlu jumps there and she's 16. A lot of DZs won't jump minors because of the potential liability. Search "16yr old" "underage jumping" "liability release for minors" and you will find a lot about why.

You might want to PM Da Skies R Blu or her dad, Baronvonboll to find out what they had to go through.

BUT - What do your parents think? They will have to sign off on it for you to jump. And probably have to be there when you go.

And it isn't cheap. Figure $1500 for your A license, and then about $3000 more for all the gear you'll need.

You really do want a good bit of experience jumping before you try BASE. Canopy control, body control and the overall reactions you will need require experience, not read in a book or on the net. (and what do your folks think about BASE?)

It's not impossible, but it won't be easy. Good Luck.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[crazydiver 0]

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Im 16 and live in Colorado and want too mainly Base Jump but have been researching this for a while and from what i have read there are different opinions and options i can do at my age. Like you need to be 18 to jump and other sties say 16. Also that you need 100 to 200 jumps before base jumping. Which the 100 to 200 are fine but the 16 to 18 minimum age requirements are the ones that i want to get around to start getting into this. And was wondering if there was anyone that knew about this specifically. Also another thing i was wondering about was getting a licenses and if i need one if i rely get into it and pretty much anything else that I am missing to basically get started.

I was fortunate enough to begin skydiving when I was underage at a dropzone in CO. In colorado, your parents/guardians are unable to waive your rights for you...so basically any waiver you sign is null and void.

Anyway...it is definitely expensive, but I was able to save up and start jumping just working 20 hours per week on minimum wage. Heck, if anything you're in a better spot now that you don't have car payments, mortgage, etc. (that's an assumption I'm making). I was able to get a job packing tandems for that dropzone and that is how I payed for literally ALL of my first few hundred jumps. Packing is not hard to learn and lots of places need packers. Now, 8 years and 4000 jumps later, I am so grateful I was able to start when I did.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Travis

Cheers,
Travis