ashleyseitz86 0 #1 March 12, 2010 Ok, so I just found out that my work is sending me to Toulouse for 4 months. There is no way I can go that long without jumping, so that only leaves me with one option...jumping in France. So, does anybody have any advice about jumping over there or does anybody have a good place to go? I tried looking on the internet, but of course its all in French which I don't speak. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #2 March 12, 2010 DZs in France the 6 closest DZs to Toulouse EmpuriaBrava is of course a sure bet, never been to the other ones so can't help you there. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #3 March 12, 2010 you can try posting on the french forum here, or on www.wuza.com there are a coupe of pretty active DZ's in the area In addition to the gear you might have you WILL need an AAD The closest would be : Pamiers Castelnau Magnoac (Air 65) Cahors La Réole Empuriabrava I might have missed some, but these are max 2 hours drive (and mine are closer than Saskia's) scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #4 March 12, 2010 to be even more precise : www.wuza.net/index.php?p=centres&mode=&pays=1®ion=19scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyblaireau 0 #5 March 12, 2010 the best is Pamiers of course, blue sky and no wind 45 minutes from Toulouse Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #6 March 12, 2010 Gap is worth a visit too ... bit further away tho' But Emp' is amazing. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jebthebear 0 #7 March 12, 2010 Just to make sure you are aware of the French legislation: it's supposed to be the worst in the world and there is a minimum canope size to have if you are under 600 jumps... (sometimes the "technical director" -guy in charge of the DZ- could let you go anyway, but count on that). Check that here: http://www.wuza.net/index.php?p=outils it's the last 2 boxes in the bottom: the first one is your weight in kilograms, the second one is your number of jumps... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Floflo 0 #8 March 12, 2010 Yeap, Pamiers is a great DZ and is the closest to Toulouse. It's friendly and you can jump a lot. (And it's not my home DZ! ) Empuria is hours further, more windy, and not that friendly... (But if you like large and fast planes, it's the place to go.) If you travel around to jump, we'll probably meet... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buff 0 #9 March 12, 2010 Ashley, Wine = vin Beer = bière and your favorite = un martini sale sil vous plait. Pretty much covered all the important stuff right there. You're gonna have fun!It's called the Hillbilly Hop N Pop dude. If you're gonna be stupid, you better be tough. That's fucked up. Watermelons do not grow on trees! ~Skymama Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #10 March 12, 2010 QuoteAshley, Wine = vin Beer = bière and your favorite = un martini sale sil vous plait. Pretty much covered all the important stuff right there. You're gonna have fun! ,..and of course Voulez vous coucher avec moi, se soir? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rem 0 #11 March 12, 2010 don't forget "bouloc", just near cahors.niques tout, chies d'dans... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeJD 0 #12 March 12, 2010 QuoteGap is worth a visit too ... bit further away tho' But Emp' is amazing. Only problem with Empuria is the freak weather - there's been a lot of it in the past few years. The seafront web cam from a couple of days ago showed a lot of snow! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SethInMI 174 #13 March 15, 2010 QuoteJust to make sure you are aware of the French legislation: it's supposed to be the worst in the world Wow. I plugged some numbers in as I am going to Belguim this summer (close to France): Under 101 jumps, max WL 0.8 Under 201 jumps, max WL 0.87 Under 301 jumps max WL 0.95 Under 401 jumps max WL 0.95 Under 501 jumps max WL 1.05 Under 601 jumps max WL 1.05 That is right, 600 jumps 1.05 WL MAX. 601 jumps, anything you want. Is that really enforced strictly? If I showed up with my 1.3 WL and 300 jumps, would I be getting student gear? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #14 March 15, 2010 Is that really enforced strictly? If I showed up with my 1.3 WL and 300 jumps, would I be getting student gear? That or a blow-up cast! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #15 March 15, 2010 Quote Quote Gap is worth a visit too ... bit further away tho' But Emp' is amazing. Only problem with Empuria is the freak weather - there's been a lot of it in the past few years. The seafront web cam from a couple of days ago showed a lot of snow! Only problem with Emp is the Freaking COST, BPA is different but as an Aussie jumper they wanted 40 Euro for Insurance, 40 Euro for one jump and 40 Euro per jump rig hire. 120euro for one jump...I dont think soYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #16 March 15, 2010 Quote Quote Quote Gap is worth a visit too ... bit further away tho' But Emp' is amazing. Only problem with Empuria is the freak weather - there's been a lot of it in the past few years. The seafront web cam from a couple of days ago showed a lot of snow! Only problem with Emp is the Freaking COST, BPA is different but as an Aussie jumper they wanted 40 Euro for Insurance, 40 Euro for one jump and 40 Euro per jump rig hire. 120euro for one jump...I dont think so Gee, didn't cost ME that much! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
strop45 0 #17 March 15, 2010 Europe, where the hecks that? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANTDkfkoBaI The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." -- Albert Einstein Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jebthebear 0 #18 March 15, 2010 No it's just applied in France (not in our neighbour's such as Italy, Switzerland, Belgium or Spain). And despite this legislation, depending on the French DZ you are, in several cases they will let you go. But if you already have a (French) DZ in your mind my advice is to call and ask them before having eventually a bad surprise... Blue Sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMFin 0 #19 March 15, 2010 Quote Europe, where the hecks that? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANTDkfkoBaI Perhaps he means Yurop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #20 March 15, 2010 Quote they wanted 40 Euro for Insurance, 40 Euro for one jump and 40 Euro per jump rig hire. 120euro for one jump...I dont think so 40€ for 1 jump ticket ? I don't think so (it's around 24€) 40€ for 1 jump rig rental ? I don't think so (IIRC around 16€ incl packjob) edited to insert actual prices, which are more expensive than when you were there Quote Jump 24 € Gear hire (includes packjob) 16.20 € scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lourson 0 #21 March 15, 2010 QuoteQuoteJust to make sure you are aware of the French legislation: it's supposed to be the worst in the world Wow. I plugged some numbers in as I am going to Belguim this summer (close to France): Under 101 jumps, max WL 0.8 Under 201 jumps, max WL 0.87 Under 301 jumps max WL 0.95 Under 401 jumps max WL 0.95 Under 501 jumps max WL 1.05 Under 601 jumps max WL 1.05 That is right, 600 jumps 1.05 WL MAX. 601 jumps, anything you want. Is that really enforced strictly? If I showed up with my 1.3 WL and 300 jumps, would I be getting student gear? Yes it's enforced in France, but as always I suppose that could be negotiated. As you're not a French citizen, I'm not sure if this could change your insurance rights in case of any problem. However this is only related to your canopy size, so you could still have an advanced canopy with a bigger size... That would be interesting to compare the fatal accident with / without this regulation however (FR/US). In France this helped to reduce them a lot, so I guess it's worth it. Regarding the DZ, I would strongly recommend Bouloc if you want to plan a multiple days. They have a pool, great lodging facilities and 2 Pilatus to go 12kft in 12 minutes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMFin 0 #22 March 15, 2010 Quote That would be interesting to compare the fatal accident with / without this regulation however (FR/US). In France this helped to reduce them a lot, so I guess it's worth it. Im sure if you would totally ban skydiving it would reduce skydiving accidents even more.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lourson 0 #23 March 15, 2010 Quote Im sure if you would totally ban skydiving it would reduce skydiving accidents even more.. Nice troll... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Titanium_Gecko 0 #24 March 15, 2010 Hi, I spent 10 months living and working in France from Sept 2008 to July 2009 and jumped at 3 centres in that time. However, I spent most time at CERPS Saumur in the Loire Valley and can't wait to get back. If you can introduce youself in French and fill in typical DZ paperwork on your own that will be a massive help but not absolutely essential. I found log books, kit docks and FIA license (UK issued) universal and never needed anything French specific. I had to do a safety jump with an instructor to get French grade "B2" to clear me to jump with others, which was no more demanding than the skills for/up to 4 point 4-way; It was just an unlinked exit, swoop to pin, docks and turns for me flat flying. The longer you spend at one place the more english speakers will come out of the wookwork but you need to be willing to try your French; drawings and hand signals worked a lot. I ended up helping drive jumpers out to the plane, put the plane away at the end of the day and got involved in meals and drinks at the end of the day. There was an annual membership fee of about 60 euros at Saumur with jumps around 23/24 euros after that for 14,000ft, from memory. I love Pilatus Porters! Bulk buying should reduce that a bit further. Be prepared for a shutdown at lunchtimes for folks/staff to have a cooked meal, which was a surprise initially, but never really slowed my jumping. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50aNSbU8CRY There are French rules on canopy progression, which didn't affect me but just be open on arrival and I'm sure you'll be fine. Like everything currency will give them confidence and yourself! They also seemed to like having guest/visiting instructors for flat and free flying over certain weekends, who were all very friendly, let alone a fondness for tracking Have fun! Rosswww.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #25 March 17, 2010 Something new per this year for foreigners wanting to skydive in France: http://www.ffp.asso.fr/IMG/pdf/2010_tarifs_vers_def.pdf (type de license: Etranger) You pay the 25 euros on the centre you jump. It's valid for one year on all FPP centres, no medical help/costs are included. Wow, if you're a "Moniteur tandem" you now have to pay 737,00 €/yr ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
