PhreeZone 20
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Eatgrass 0
Well said, I agree....its killing the goose that laid the golden egg, I wonder if the newbies are getting value for money sometimes with low time C's coaching now, back in the early 90's many of the things they pay for was passed on freely as a given...it was called "giving back to the sport"...but as others have said---skydiving isn't for everyone
You have to be willing to sacrifice
Agreed sort of
Except the goose that is laying the golden egg is still alive and well.
Yeah well sometimes its a slow death
Think Tandem & AFF. Thats all the DZO's and the "Pros's need.
"Giving back to the sport" dates back to at least the 60's not the 90's.
~Stayed around quite a while then~
It was around to about the time that BOD put in the coaching clauze & froze the good ole boys with D's out. I saw many JM's get tired of the grind, give up their rating and just go out and jump with newbies
cauze it was so much fun, their still pumped at that stage you know
No offence to the DZO's or the worker bee's they have to go where the money is . As long as the DZO's can have worker beee's and worker bee wanna bee's and the super $$$$ there will be fun jumping.
eventually all the real skydivers will be sitting home showing everyone the video of their skydive (their 1 one tandem). And the goose with their golden egg will continue to line up for their One skydive and video.
HAHAYHAHAHAHAHA good one!
Attendence at boogies is dropping off for fun jumpers but the goose with the golden egg is still attending the boogie and the industry is still happy $$$$.
A successful boogie used to be counted by # of plane loads. Now it's counted by number of tandems and video.
Follow the $$$$. Fun jumpers are tolerated at boogies for the atmosphere they provide to the Geese.
Not bitching at the DZ, just the way i see it.
Don't wanna believe it? Lets see what happens in another 10 yr's. I hope I'm wrong again.
R.I.P.
As far as the boogies, most of it was about jumping aircraft not avaliable locally....And big ways not to mention partying. I went to Quincy in 1995 just for those first two reasons....plenty of partying on my home DZ back then.....In fact if you made last load
all the green bottle beer was likely to be gone before you gathered in your canopy. Fun jumping was becoming blured....When I started it ment just
getting your knee's in the breeze....About 1994 I knoticed it had changed to drinking up all the student beer
First loads started getting off later and later cuz of the hangovers. First thing you know, people who didn't sleep over on the DZ on weekends started showing up after lunch. Sucks if you be an up jumper
relax kids, all you need is airtime airtime airtime and the ability to relax of course
Plan your dive and dive your plan bsbs
Plan your dive and dive your plan bsbs
Eatgrass 0
I don't think the cost is real issue here. In "good old times" skydiving was FREE in all ex-Soviet Union repulbics, as it was sponsored by the goverment as pre-military training (with no real obligations for you though). Now it is commercial almost everywhere, and the number of skydivers seems to have increased there - even though you have to pay $15 for a jump.
Makes sense to me, who would want to jump if it led to induction into the Rooskie army?
relax kids, all you need is airtime airtime airtime and the ability to relax of course
Plan your dive and dive your plan bsbs
Plan your dive and dive your plan bsbs
slug 1
What was the last boogie you attended?
Hi Pee Z
We sent you a PM to your question in spite of the fact that it was out of line. Whats the problem didn't like the response that we were at LP boogie a couple of weeks ago
R.I.P.
Eule 0
I was doing some work at Skydive Dallas this weekend. After the weekend I was talking to Ernie the chief head honcho with a mullet
I can't help but like somebody that has longer hair than I do. :) I hear he went on a big-way out of town someplace, too.
If an AFF FJC student lands and buys his next level that day....It costs only 99 bucks.I thought that was great! Then I found out that if he lands and buys his next ticket....99 bucks.
Wow! When I jumped there in fall 2005, I understood that they did this for tandems (another tandem for $99) and maybe for AFF L1s (your L2 for $99) but after that it was 'list price'. My understanding could be wrong, though. I recall a banner hanging up above the student check-in window that mentioned the $99 price, and I think I remember some TMs pointing it out to their students after they landed.
I was shocked, the DZ loses money on levels 2,3 and only breaks even on the rest.
I could be way off base here, but my understanding is that the DZO down there has a "day-time job" as well - in other words he doesn't _have_ to make money on the dropzone to buy groceries. Nobody likes to lose money all the time, but somebody who's got money coming from another source can afford to do it for a little longer before deciding to do something different.
Eule
PLF does not stand for Please Land on Face.
airmagic 0
The $99 deal they are doing at Dallas has definitely increased our number of AFF jumps made. I'm not sure how many new students are coming out because of it but what we have seen is an increase in return students from the First Jump Course. All of our students are also now more inclined to do multiple jumps in a day.
I'm not sure what the management was thinking but it does not get any better than this for an upcoming student.
-Mandy
I'm not sure what the management was thinking but it does not get any better than this for an upcoming student.
-Mandy
kallend 2,114
The $99 deal they are doing at Dallas has definitely increased our number of AFF jumps made. I'm not sure how many new students are coming out because of it but what we have seen is an increase in return students from the First Jump Course. All of our students are also now more inclined to do multiple jumps in a day.
I'm not sure what the management was thinking but it does not get any better than this for an upcoming student.
-Mandy
Apparently this program has been quite successful in increasing the number of people earning licenses at Skydive Chicago.
...
The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.
The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.
Why am I not skydiving when my first tandem changed my life and my second confirmed to me that this is something I could do? Why? I ask myself sometimes - but it comes down to money and other obligations I have - my son in college - the new house we just built - my elderly parents who have lost 2 children and couldn't handle another loss - and while I look at the crystal blue of the sky today and as I write this tears come to my eyes because instead of heading to the local DZ and the pursuit of dream I'm heading to the hospital for another mind numbing meeting - I will treasure what I have expierenced - come to this website to somehow feel a little part of this dream and continue to be one of the statistics that don't pursue the wonder of skydiving - and when the sky is this perfect and I hear the drone of a plane - my heart will ache for what could have been - and I my cry - I'm a woman after all - but the same determination that could have been used to become a real skydiver will help me do what I need to do for the good of my family - but I did fly - I did - joy
I used to cry, now I hold my head up high..
and you see me, somebody new...
and you see me, somebody new...
...to become a real skydiver...
***
You already DID!
Blue Skies!!!
~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~
***
You already DID!
Blue Skies!!!
~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~
Ron 10
I could be way off base here, but my understanding is that the DZO down there has a "day-time job" as well - in other words he doesn't _have_ to make money on the dropzone to buy groceries. Nobody likes to lose money all the time, but somebody who's got money coming from another source can afford to do it for a little longer before deciding to do something different.
Very true. But that does not change things that much, several DZO's have other jobs/investments.
But the SDD owners running at a loss still amazes me. And the fact is they do it for two main reasons I can think of...One is to get new blood at the DZ an to ensure that they have a next generation of jumpers to sell tickets to, the other is just flat out love for the sport.
Either way I am really impressed. I like the SDC "A in one week" program as well. I have had great success getting people to go through all 8 levels in three days. Currency is the biggest factor in retention IMO.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
NWFlyer 2
One is to get new blood at the DZ an to ensure that they have a next generation of jumpers to sell tickets to, the other is just flat out love for the sport.
I think you nailed it - it's the combination of those two factors, otherwise, the DZ would continue along what appears to be the more common path, which is that the tandems and student program subsidize the experienced jumpers. I haven't done the math, but it makes intuitive sense that at most DZs, experienced jumpers pretty much cover the marginal cost of hauling their ass to altitude; it's the tandems and students on the plane that are covering the larger cost of operating the dropzone and the aircraft and the student program.
If Skydive Dallas were only concerned about an immediate influx of cash, they'd stick with that model; after all, it "works." But throw in the desire to support the growth and sustainability of the sport overall, and you have the program you've described.
It's pretty brilliant marketing: get someone to commit before they leave and get the cash in hand. A few may not come back after they've paid for their next jump (bonus money for the DZ), but even if they all do come back and you sell student jumps at cost or a loss, there's lots of long-term benefit. It builds loyalty to the DZ, and lots of residual benefits can possibly come out of that (referrals, gear sales, willingness to pitch in and support events, etc., etc., etc.). And you've just helped to create a new longer-term customer rather than a one- or two-time customer.
You're also (potentially) creating a better skydiver by making it easier to stay current early in their training. That's another potential savings for the student if it can minimize repeat jumps.
I admire a DZ that can take a long-term view towards marketing. It's smart business.
"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
riggerrob 643
Apparently this program has been quite successful in increasing the number of people earning licenses at Skydive Chicago.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
That plan is popular with Europeans who take a week-long vacation to earn a skydiving license, similar to scuba schools, ski schools, etc.
Why more North American DZs do not use this proven program is a mystery to me.
I hate the opposite program: students who can only afford one PFF jump per month. They forget so much between jumps that they need extensive ground school refreshers to bring them up to speed and usually repeat numerous levels and every body gets frustrated.
reply]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
That plan is popular with Europeans who take a week-long vacation to earn a skydiving license, similar to scuba schools, ski schools, etc.
Why more North American DZs do not use this proven program is a mystery to me.
Because Europeans get like 8 weeks of vacation a year...USA? Not so much. Lucky if you get three or four weeks (and that includes sick time!).
Dolph 0
Because Europeans get like 8 weeks of vacation a year...USA? Not so much. Lucky if you get three or four weeks (and that includes sick time!).
I sure don't get 8 weeks.
In the last two years, I've gotten 4, all together.
And tomorrow is a mystery
Parachutemanuals.com
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