New to skydiving - Questions

[Cerebrus 0]

Hey all.

I've always really wanted to get into skydiving but never really had the opportunity. Anyways, I'm in college now, and will be in San Jose, CA (I'm transferring) in fall 2008, so I'm hoping I'll be able to make it a serious hobby.

I also plan on moving to Europe after college (maybe Spain) as I've spent most of my life overseas and from what I can tell skydiving's huge there.

I really want to get into wingsuit basejumping, which frankly looks mindblowingly awesome. I read somewhere though that you need lots of experience (i.e. jumps) before you can get to that (and I haven't even done any standard skydiving yet).

So what's the best way to accomplish this goal (of getting in a ton of jumps quickly)? I mean, I can't afford to dish out $150-200 500 times! Is there an alternative?

Thanks.

[NWFlyer 2]

The alternative is to get licensed. If you do just tandems ($150-200 every time) you'll never get the skill needed to do those wingsuit base jumps. Licensed skydivers pay only between $20-25 for most jumps; however, there is quite a bit of up-front cost in instruction and gear to get to that point.

Check out the articles here to start:

http://www.dropzone.com/safety/Learn_to_Skydive/index.shtml

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Cerebrus 0]

Thanks dude. So if I have a license I can just go to a regular skydiving place (where people go for a once-in-a-lifetime jump and stuff) and they'll let me on for only $25!?!

[NWFlyer 2]

If you show up with all your own gear, yes. Needing to rent gear costs more.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[beowulf 1]

Before you get too excited. Look through the different options for getting certified. Getting your license isn't all that cheap and gear can be pretty expensive depending on if you buy new or used.

[Cerebrus 0]

So just a ballpark estimate... how much will it cost to get licensed and buy all the gear?

[Thanatos340 1]

Skydiving is Expensive.
But it does not cost $150 to $200 every time you make a Jump. Your first few Jumps will cost that much (Or a little More) until you Graduate AFF (7 or 8 Jumps if you pass them all on the first try). After that Jumps are $20 to $25 each plus Gear Rental or you buy you own gear (Older Used Rig can be usually found for around $2,500 and new custom can cost between $5k to $7K depending on Options and Brands.)

Call your local Dropzones and talk to them about any AFF Packages they may offer. Also make sure if you talk to ANYONE you are actually speaking to a real Dropzone. There are 100`s of websites out there for dropzones that do not really exist. Usually the best thing to do is look for actual Direction to the Dropzone on the website. If they Have direction to their location, They are probably a real dropzone. If they do NOT have directions to the Dropzone on the website, Dont bother calling.

[BETO74 0]

Around $3000 to $3500 to get off student stutus another $3500 first gear nothing fancy check the different DZ around your neighborhood for AFF or static line courses.
Then star jumping as much as you can without going broke, then you can think of the rest.
One last thing, you have to make a decision on are you in for the long run or just the experience?? if youre for the long run dont rush things they will come in time. You will start knowing the how much you dont know about the goals you had set for yourself until you have star skydiving, neither skydiven nor wingsui much less base jumping require great deals of self discipline.

Best advice : Dont rush things!

http://web.mac.com/ac057a/iWeb/AC057A/H0M3.html

[beowulf 1]

Some dropzones require a certain number of coached jumps before they allow you get your A license. Each coached jump is about $90

[michalm21 2]

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I really want to get into wingsuit basejumping, which frankly looks mindblowingly awesome.

Even though I'm very new to skydiving, I've heard/read this from new jumpers (yet to be jumpers) so many times already, it scares me.
It is nothing against you, just a general statement.

Being new to this all, you will soon realize how little you know. Even funnier is, the more you learn over time, the more you will realize that you don't know anything at all

But if that's what motivates you, go for it. Skydiving is a great journey.

[Cerebrus 0]

hey man it's cool I know I know nothing heh.

I know a guy from high school who worked at a DZ for a while and has done a few basejumps (no wingsuit though) and he said wingsuit takes a whole lot of experience and is very technical so I know I won't achieve it for a while.

Maybe in 5 years? Hopefully :D. Just watching some vids on youtube gave me a huge rush I can't imagine what it'll be like to do it in real life.

Out of curiosity how much does the wingsuit reduce falling speed? I mean, sometimes it looks like they're flying completely horizontally.

[beowulf 1]

Keep your major goal in the back of your mind and concentrate on each small goal. Right now just look at AFF and how much it costs. Once you finish AFF then look at getting gear and just keep pushing it and next thing you know you will be flying wingsuits.

[chrismgtis 0]

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So what's the best way to accomplish this goal (of getting in a ton of jumps quickly)? I mean, I can't afford to dish out $150-200 500 times! Is there an alternative?

Here: http://www.chrisgrooms.net/blog/skydiving/so-you-want-to-learn-to-sky-dive/

Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033
Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

[Cashmanimal 0]

I am currently a sophmore at SJSU, and can tell you first hand there is plenty of jumping around here. I don't have much time now, but send me a PM with any questions you have and I'll answer all I can.

As far as your wingsuit specific questions and such go, I would head over to those forums specifically. I am sure everybody would love to answer them, but why not go directly to the source, amirite?

Good luck!

It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

[Cerebrus 0]

Awesome dude! I might be going to SJSU actually. Not sure yet. (I got accepted there but I'm out of state so gotta see if they're gonna give scholarship or not)

[kelpdiver 2]

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I really want to get into wingsuit basejumping, which frankly looks mindblowingly awesome.

Even though I'm very new to skydiving, I've heard/read this from new jumpers (yet to be jumpers) so many times already, it scares me.
It is nothing against you, just a general statement.

It's as good a goal as any in the sport. He probably should talk to the base people as well for suggestions on how to get there. Is the recommendation still 50 skydives minimum to start BASE, or higher? And how many base jumps before thinking about wing suits, or is the question how many skydive wingflights before taking it on the shorter delay.

IIRC, for Hollister it is 22 or 23 for the jump ticket, and I think 20 for the rental, but may be 25. So for about 3 grand, you can get down to $47 or less per jump until you spend another 3 or 4 grand to get down to low 20s per jump. The altitude there is 14-15.5k for that price, with 18k for a few bucks more. Never saw a wingsuit there, but their website first mentioned a instructor for it a while back.

[jakee 1,594]

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Even though I'm very new to skydiving, I've heard/read this from new jumpers (yet to be jumpers) so many times already, it scares me.
It is nothing against you, just a general statement.

Why?

I started skydiving in a large part because I was sure I wanted to work up to wingsuit BASE. Now I've been jumping for 4.5 years, wingsuiting for the past 2, I'm on course to start BASE next year and if things pan out as I hope they will then maybe I'll be wingsuit BASEing sometime in 2009 or 10.

I don't see anything at all scary about newbies having that ambition, only about people who aren't willing to put in the groundwork and who go about realising their ambitions the wrong way.

To the OP, google is your friend. If you're serious about doing this then research it. Find out what DZs will be near you, look at what they offer, talk to them on the phone to find out what kind of investment you'll be looking at to get licenced. Look in the 'Dropzones' tab at the top of the forum to read the reviews of your locals. Put the effort in and you will get the rewards.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[jakee 1,594]

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Is the recommendation still 50 skydives minimum to start BASE, or higher?

Who's recommendation? Funny thing, but it tends to be that the more experienced BASErs you talk to, the more experience they recommend before starting. I know for sure that if I'd gone up to any of the experienced locals on my DZ when I had 50 jumps and said "I'd like to start BASE now" they'd have laughed in my face and told me to fuck off

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And how many BASE jumps before thinking about wing suits, or is the question how many skydive wingflights

Ideally both. Lots of both.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[bodypilot1 0]

If your going to school in San Jose CA soon, get alittle time in the wind tunnel that is near there and learn stability and how to recover from being on your back. Then come and see me, I'll do a modified private AFF course for you and you be jumping on your own. It will cost you a hell of alot less then any drop zone around.
Then when you have the skills for the wingsuit, I can train you for that also.
This weekend I trained 2 guys with 10mins in the tunnel and they both have about 13 years experience as Acro and Tandem Paraglider pilots. They did my course in 4 jumps, they stood up all the landings on a 170, a both kited the parachute after landing. One even said it was slow for him.

Ed

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[airdvr 210]

If you haven't already give this a read.

http://www.basejumper.com/Articles/Getting_Into_BASE/Getting_into_BASE_660.html

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Cashmanimal 0]

We have a number of people at Hollister who can help you out with wingsuiting when you get around to it.

I personally prefer jumping at Hollister, but occasionally make the trip to Monterey Bay, Davis or even Lodi.

Come on out, I need somebody to split gas with me (but seriously )

It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

[kelpdiver 2]

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If your going to school in San Jose CA soon, get alittle time in the wind tunnel that is near there and learn stability and how to recover from being on your back. Then come and see me, I'll do a modified private AFF course for you and you be jumping on your own. It will cost you a hell of alot less then any drop zone around.
Then when you have the skills for the wingsuit, I can train you for that also.

there a solution he should jump on. Bit of a drive to Lodi, but the price per jump drops ~10 bucks.

Ed, how do newcomers safely learn to recover from their back in the tunnel? Does the tunnel coach hold onto a foot?

[bodypilot1 0]

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Ed, how do newcomers safely learn to recover from their back in the tunnel? Does the tunnel coach hold onto a foot?

The transition from back to belly is the same as you would on a skydive. Arching the torso as you bring in one arm to your chest. Bring the arm back out as you turn onto your belly. No body should need to hold your foot for you to do the transition.

Ed

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[Cerebrus 0]

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If your going to school in San Jose CA soon, get alittle time in the wind tunnel that is near there and learn stability and how to recover from being on your back. Then come and see me, I'll do a modified private AFF course for you and you be jumping on your own. It will cost you a hell of alot less then any drop zone around.
Then when you have the skills for the wingsuit, I can train you for that also.
This weekend I trained 2 guys with 10mins in the tunnel and they both have about 13 years experience as Acro and Tandem Paraglider pilots. They did my course in 4 jumps, they stood up all the landings on a 170, a both kited the parachute after landing. One even said it was slow for him.

Ed

Dude thanks for the heads up. Seriously. Obviously as a student I don't have a lot of cash to throw around and the faster I can get to wingsuit the happier I'll be (though I'm sure just jumping out of a plane will be an awesome enough experience).

I'll be in San Jose either Spring or Fall of 2008 and I will DEFINITELY get in contact with you when I do get there.

Thanks again!

[kelpdiver 2]

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Ed, how do newcomers safely learn to recover from their back in the tunnel? Does the tunnel coach hold onto a foot?

The transition from back to belly is the same as you would on a skydive. Arching the torso as you bring in one arm to your chest. Bring the arm back out as you turn onto your belly. No body should need to hold your foot for you to do the transition.

Ed

You're in a 12 foot tunnel with a blast of wind. A badly executed move can get you rather hurt. It's a lot easier to safely do this in the sky.

I believe the tunnel does a progression from belly to back to sit to head down. 10 minutes from nothing to doing that seems fast.