Why do you choose your DZ?

[weber 0]

I know that this question was just in Skydiving Magazine, but I would like to hear some more input. Why do you choose the dropzone you do?
I'll go first...I think the overall attitude is the most important. The pricing doesn't do much for me because a jump is ten times better if you are in good spirits.

[AggieDave 6]

Attitude is one of the most important things! I drove 3 hours one way to jump at a C182 DZ because the people there are freaking awsome! I don't care if there's a cheap DZ next door to my house, if the people/staff aren't cool, then I'm not jumping there.
AggieDave '02
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Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.

[Jabeln79 0]

I made my first jump at my DZ and havent been anywhere since i dont really want to go anywhere else.. the people are awsome.. Although i am planning a trip to Florida and have to jump there but thats becasue it Florida. THeres a DZ closer to my house that i dont go to just becasue i have such a good time at my regular DZ.

[Jimbo 0]

I currently jump at Cross Keys. Why?
* Great people, good vibes.
* Excellent facilities. Some of the best I've seen.
* Fast planes and plenty of them.
* Some cool 'specialty' aircraft. Bi-plane, occasional helocopter.
* It's close to home.
-
Jim

[lazerq3 0]

I choose mine at first cause its only 5 min away from my house, but after going there wweekend after weekend and getting to know people its a really nice atmosphere and the facilities are great. Its also nice to walk into a place where as soon as you do everyones like "hey so and so what up". the only downfall is that the EXIT ALT isnt is high as our nieghbors to the south! I have visited our other DZ and it seems to be a very freindly place also. But for me being a newcomer to the sport its a little intimedating because there are a lot of FF'ers there and well .....what can I say I'm still trying to learn that disepline and .....no disrespect but you guys just intimedate me. All in all both DZ,s are a blast to jump at. I'll jump at either or!!!!
jason

[FallingILweenie 0]

I go to Archway cuz the people there rule. It's where i started, but what kept me there is how much everyone cares about one another. In the summers i jump up at Skydive Illinois which has a similar vibe (tho i don't know as many of the regulars there).
blue skies
Tomas

[PhreeZone 20]

I've been to 4 or 5 DZ's and always go back home. The people and the staff are unbelievable. Everyone is a big family at the DZ. The annual Christmas party is held at the DZO's house, bbq's durning the summer there too. While other DZ's might have better facitlities or even better prices and airplanes, I'm giving all that up to keep going home every weekend. The entire atmosphere is a very relaxed and layed back one. Its notunusual to get an email in the middle of the week if you have'nt been around lately by some of the jumpers just to make sure that everything is ok and you are still alive and kicking.
Having a Casa all summer and hands down the best pilots I've ever seen does'nt hurt either.
I'm not sure what to put here right now.....

[jtval 0]

when i started in daytona i drove past a handful of dz's and took a 3.5 hr trip everyweekend to get there. for and formost was the competence that was there in the instrcutors then i was hooked on those people and the altidude. ive jumped at 6-7 d'zs in my short 102 jump career and thee first thing is always the attitude of the ppl there. and altidude.
Have fun, LIVE FREE, Skydive
JT
ok i just read this thing the fat finger law is in effect here. disregard the spelling please.

[mountainman 0]

Jeez Eric......better airplanes?? I would like a CASA at my DZ.. Anyway, I picked our DZ in the first place from the training facilities they had and the people there were great. Also, I like the fact that they are USPA group. It gives me the feeling they are following a well thought out set of guidelines.
I love Richmond! I sure hope we have a plane next year other than the broken down Beech 18. Its a sweet looking airplane, however it has never been running while I was there. Oh well.
Ok, I'm done.
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http://www.JumpinDuo.com
"oh no. Not another one"-Alienangel

[Vallerina 2]

I have to agree with Mountainman on how awesome the people at Richmond are! I've only been there once, and I didn't even get to jump while I was there because of the terrorist attacks, but everyone still had positive attitudes, and I had a great time. Too bad it's a 2 1/2 hr drive....but my home dz still rocks, especially since I've made some great friends there.
"To alcohol! The cause of-and solution to-all of life's problems!" -Homer Simpson

[PhreeZone 20]

As I've said many times... Group membership is way over rated. If anyone has never jumped at a non-USPA DZ, they are just as safe if not safer then any other DZ. And for the most part Non-member DZ's are cooler places to jump at then most GMDZ's.
Like I was saying this last weekend. SGC has a saftey record that most DZ's its size wishes they had for student injuries and such. Jim and Lee have done a excellent job in keeping the DZ open for 40 years and they are running a tip-top place. I'm looking forward to jumping there for many more years. And besides, the whole concept of paved runways bothers me..... grasss runways is the only way to go I'm not sure what to put here right now.....

[nickwhiteley 0]

I jump at Weston (in the UK), all the people made me feel at ease (only a student on RAPS at the moment) and are really friendly, another advantage is that it only takes me about 20 minutes to get there.
Nick

[E150 0]

The people - they are great, lots of charachters & everyone is helpful.
Safety - Comes first!
The DZ - facilities are good.

[E150 0]

I did my first jump at Weston (have some tickets to use up so may pop down in the new year).
I jump at Hinton mostly, but like to try out others DZ's for experiance from time to time.

[Dutchboy 0]

Most important thing is the people who jump and/or work there. Of course, I am also very safety conscience.
A big jumpship is nice, but I'd rather drive further just to jump a 182 with cool people than jump with a Casa load of assholes at a DZ that isn't concerned for my safety.
The Dutchboy
http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

[sunshine 2]

I choose my dz cause Phreezone jumps there!! Seriously, I started jumping at my current dz cause of my sweetie, but now I consider the dz my home. The people there are the friendliest and always willing to take a newbie on a jump with them. The planes are great. I've been to lots of dz's and SGC seems to be the best at noticing when a jumper lands off. They really pay attention to that. So what if they're not a USPA member? I've never felt unsafe there. And I have felt unsafe at other dz's that are members. For Thanksgiving we got to make a jump, then Jim invited everyone over for a Thanksgiving meal. Being there is truly being with "family". "Leave my brain alone!!" ~ SpongeBob

[mountainman 0]

Yo Vallerina!! Get on over to Richmond then sometime. It is 1.5 hours for my wife and I, however it is totally worth it. The jumpers there are all great and extremely helpful. Also, the DZO, the manifest, and the instructors are all great. I love how they all keep a level of professionalism about their job, however they are all great people to just be friends with. There is one DZ 45 minutes away and another large DZ 1.5 hrs away, but we keep going back to Richmond. The people there are awesome!
As for what Phree says about SGC, I will comment on the people there. From what I've seen the people there are top-notch which is pretty much mostly what makes one go where they go. I've been there four or five times in my life (not all to jump), and each time, they are really nice people and always willing to help out.
No matter where you go, as long as you like the poeple, that is all that matters. (That and safety aspect, of course.)
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http://www.JumpinDuo.com
"oh no. Not another one"-Alienangel

[flyhi 24]

Proximity.
flyhi

[Alienangel 0]

because I'm shagging one of the packers...

[philhartree 0]

Nice work soldier
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If you have to ask, you don't understand

[Merrick 0]

Damn Will, when'd you start packing at Hinton? lol
"Pammi's Hemp/Skydiving Jewelry"

[freeflir29 0]

Skydive Atlanta....what can I say? Cool DZO,Cool people, Nice planes (Ok...OK.....We get some pretty slow Otters sometimes but.....that can't be helped..
PS....I went to that other DZ which is closest to my house. It sucked so now I drive twice as far to SD Atl.
"and I'm not easily impressed...Ooohh look...a blue car!" -Homer Simpson

[Alienangel 0]

Quote

Damn Will, when'd you start packing at Hinton?

I reject your insinuation, Sir! The day Will can pack to the standard demanded of the highly-skilled professionals we are honoured to share hangar-space with at Hinton, is the day that..uh..Will might actually get laid (see Mounty's post on how to get round the problem of having to pack...)
ciao
x

[wildblue 7]

Quote

And besides, the whole concept of paved runways bothers me..... grasss runways is the only way to go

No kidding! Those paved runways are dangerous! And you know how hard they are on tires?!
Statistics prove that 99.9% of all accidents in the last 10 years occuring during take-off or landing occured on paved runways.
Ok.. seriously.. I jump where I do for a couple reasons:
The people there are way cool (of course)
Nice, fast planes, huge landing area (could use more packing space I guess)
Very little political crap goes on
I don't have to worry if the guy in front of me or behind me in the plane is stoned out of his mind
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag

[larry 0]

When I decided to start jumping I just chose the DZ closest, thought they were all pretty much the same. Lucky for me I later learned my DZ is:
· Owned and operated by world class (record holding) skydivers
· Staff has a great attitude
· Safety really is first (from what I’ve read many say that but not all really live up to this)
· Used new(er) state of the art equipment while learning to jump (of course now I have settled for used stuff that I could afford but is still in good shape)
-Larry