tandem vs aff

[moach1 0]

hello. i am going to make my first jump tomorrow. i have been wanting to do this for years. wife gave me a certificate for our anniversary. she got me a tandem, but i think i want to go with the aff. what are the pros and cons? is tandem better for a first timer? thanks

[yardhippie 0]

exact same situation for me, except she wasnt my wife.
to this day Ive never done a tandem.

As for the whens wheres and whys.

Do a search for AFF, or Tandem.
HUGE amounts of opinions on here.
or
try this:
USPA

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[Icon134 0]

I did AFF for my first skydive (and have never done/don't really want to do a tandem) but I actually recommend that most people do a Tandem for their first jump.

Edited to add: of course ultimately you are the one that has to decided what you want to do...

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[Hayfield 0]

All machismo aside, my personal opinion is to go with a tandem for your first jump. This way you can relax and enjoy the sensory overload and possible time distortion. The best part of a tandem is the practice you get with canopy control and the feel for a good landing (hopefully) without the anxiety of having to land it on your own the first time. It's nice to have some practice before you're bettin your ass.
Personally, I did 4 tandems, one more than the number suggested by the school I was at before I felt ready for AFF-then went to single instructor AFF jumps. Now I'm a sky junky. Good Luck, have fun, and Blue Skies.

"Remember the First Commandment: Don't Fuck Up!"
-Crusty Old Pete

[riggerrob 643]

After teaching: static-line, IAD, AFF, PFF and tandem - for 24 years - I recommend that most people start with a tandem.

[StevieBoy 0]

Before I started skydiving I knew what road I wanted to take to get there, no question you ask is a stupid question, where do you want to start.

Look inside yourself, the answer is already there.

Steve

it deosn't mttaer waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm.

[BIGUN 1,483]

Quote

I recommend that most people start with a tandem.

Ditto.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[matthias 0]

As was posted I'd recommend starting with a tandem as well. As a note I've seen several go right the AFF level 1 jump without issue. All depends on you, your budget, and what you feel is in your best interests. Might ask for different opinions at the DZ. Good luck.

_________________________________________
trance/house mixes for download:
www.djmattm.com

[cjsgrlsx3 0]

My intention was to do one Tandem and then straight to AFF. You won't believe the training you get during a tandem ride. I would recommend tandem first. I have done 5 so far. (I know this is a bit much) I will start my training for AFF in January. Not sure how many more tandems I will do before then. If you have a tunnel near you then give that a try also. Good Luck and have a blast!