AFF, RAPS or Tandem first?

[headsup 0]

A friend has heard enough and decided he wanys to do his first jump. He is unsure on if he wants to do Tandem, RAPS or AFF first and I thought i'd ask peoples thoughs on it?

Should he do tandem before anything or just go for it and if so, what course do people think is the better?

[Peej 0]

There's been plenty of discussion on this topic in the forums, do a search and you'll find plenty of info.

Most places in the US will require him to do one or two tandems before AFF as a part of a Tandem progression course. Here in South Africa, at the club i jump at, you can happily arrive and do your first jump as an AFF.

Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky

[mr2mk1g 10]

Consider the wind tunnel as a first option too. There's one opening very shortly and one opening shortly, both just a motorway hop away for your friend.

We guide people to tandems if they know they're not looking to enter the sport; to AFF if they just know they are going to enter the sport (even though some are wrong) and RAPS for the rest who are open to the idea of getting licenced but just want to do a jump first.

In the UK there's a huge price difference between AFF level 1 and your first RAPS jumps... this makes a big difference for a lot of people. Only downside is you don't get FF... but on the other hand you'd have something like 7 or 8 jumps and done a couple of freefalls before you spent the same as you would have on just your first AFF jump alone.

If he's not too worried about the cost though go for AFF.

[packerboy 3]

Tandems

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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[Icon134 0]

OK, I don't have a whole lot of jumps... but I did AFF for my first jump and I'm glad I did that instead of a tandem. I don't see myself getting a tandem rating and as such I don't imagine I'll ever do a tandem. (that may change as I progress in the sport though...)

Having said that. For most people the right decision is to do a tandem (or a couple of them) before proceeding to AFF progression.

just my 0.02 cents...

Scott

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

[headsup 0]

Nice one for the kind advise guys, im thinking a tandem would be good first and move him on to AFF after, im only low jumps myself so hence asking for the advice.