Getting into the sport

[CrazyDave 0]

Hi, what is advisable as a first time jump???

i hear that most peeps recomend doing tandom first, but i really wanna do it my self (static line).... any help?

cheers

CrazyDave

[CrazyIvan 0]

Do a TANDEM first, and if you like it, sign up for AFF.

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Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[robskydiv 0]

For the first time jump, Tandem.
For the first time sex, ... Condom.

[CrazyDave 0]

u think so???...

i dont really fancy aff though coz i cant afford.

but u still reckon i shud do a tandom first??. guess i shud see wether i like it, but i know im gonna coz im a stupid nutter and i like most things... apart from brussel sprouts

[CrazyIvan 0]

Do a TANDEM first, and if you like it, sign up for [S] AFF [/S]. S/L course.

Sounds better?

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[CrazyDave 0]

yep.. !! and even if the chute doesnt open... at least ill have a gud time on the way down

[CrazyIvan 0]

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yep.. !! and even if the chute doesnt open... at least ill have a gud time on the way down

And don't forget to ARCH!!

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[jerry81 10]

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and even if the chute doesnt open... at least ill have a gud time on the way down

Yes, at least until your student-mandatory aad fires the reserve- that might hurt a little.

I'd suggest doing a tandem, or two, or three, until you're certain this is the sport for you. S/L progression might be cheaper, but you'll have to wait a bit until you can enjoy freefall. And anyway, if you find out this is the sport for you, you will spend a lot of money on it. It's up to you to decide how to spend it.

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[CrazyDave 0]

i wont...

[CrazyDave 0]

i suppose ur rite about the reserve.. there goes my plan for a nice end.

u reckon several tandoms .. how much is a tandom these days anyway?? is it more expensive than a staticline RAPS square jump???

[jerry81 10]

Almost certainly (unless you're friends with a tandem master who's willing to take you up for a price of a ticket and a beer). Still, consider how seriously you want to skydive- if you're at all uncertain, do a tandem first.

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[jumprunner 0]

Quote

Quote

yep.. !! and even if the chute doesnt open... at least ill have a gud time on the way down

And don't forget to ARCH!!

Let me reemphasize that. DONT FORGET TO ARCH!!!

[katiebear21 0]

I guess I'd agree with the rest and recommend a tandem. I went straight to AFF and the first jump was so completely overwhelming. Total sensory overload. I can remember Andy and Paul coming in front of me and just totally laughing and geeking me to get me to relax. It was totally intense! I did everything I was supposed to but I don't remember how!

I think once you overcome the anticipation of what the actual freefall will feel like you'll be able to concentrate on the more important parts of the skydive like your body position and pulling your handles!!!

A lot of people at Raeford do static line progression because it is more affordable and that's what the military clubs offer. I think you'll like it!

Katie
Get your PMS glass necklace here

[tombuch 0]

My suggestion is a tandem to start. I'd also recommend you buy a copy of a book I wrote this year called JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy published by McGraw-Hill. JUMP!explains everything you need to know about the sport, including how to find and compare drop zones, and how to determine if the drop zone you select is heads up as far as safety goes. It also has great chapters about risk (with statistics) and psychology. JUMP! is available at many local bookstores, and also online at places like Amazon.com.

Have fun on your first skydive!

Tom Buchanan
Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem)
Author, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Tom Buchanan
Instructor Emeritus
Comm Pilot MSEL,G
Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

[Scottyb 0]

Tandem is the only way to go. The first jump you make your mind goes into sensory overload and you hardly remember it. I also recommend getting a video because you never make a first jump again.

Blue Skies

[Muenkel 0]

Ditto what Scottyb just said. I also want to add that freefall is much different than you probably imagine. The sound, the feel, all the sensations. A tandem gives you an opportunity to experience all this while an experienced skydiver is in control. Also, get the video!!!! It is a must!

Good luck.

Chris

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Chris

[skymick 0]

If you aer really tight on cach, you dont necessarily have to do a tandem if you know this is what u really want to do. For some reason I always knew I wanted to skydive so I never bothered witha tandem, just got straight into it and never looked back...but then again thats just me

[flyer299 0]

I must be a total nut, because I did AFF first, and loved it. Then again, I've known for a long time that I wanted to skydive, and I knew I would be in it for the long haul. I waited till I could afford the entire AFF course, and I went...

Unless you are that sure of it, I would do the Tandem first to make sure. Once you are sure save up for AFF. I really like AFF over SL. I feel I am a better sky diver for it.

[dragon2 2]

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If you aer really tight on cach, you dont necessarily have to do a tandem if you know this is what u really want to do. For some reason I always knew I wanted to skydive so I never bothered witha tandem, just got straight into it and never looked back...but then again thats just me

Ditto. Also I have this "I wanna do this myself" attitude. Like, if I was too scared to jump more then once, at least I'd have made a jump *myself* all on my own! I did SL, btw.
Maybe for AFF a tandem would be nice, but personally I don't think it really matters for SL...

For me too, money was tight (still sorta is, but I've got a different attitude/priorities now ), and SL doesn't costs so much all at once.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[masher 1]

I did a S/L course through cadets to get my para wings. A few weeks later I decided that I wanted to do this, and a couple of months later, I went back and started up again on SL.

Now I've got 70ish jumps, and I've just got my own gear, and I haven't done a tandem yet.


It all just depends...

--
Arching is overrated - Marlies

[fudd 0]

Go straight to AFF. Nothing rocks more than jumping out at 12500' yourself with just two instructors holding on to you.
I loved the sensory overload from my first jump. A tandem first might take some of that away. (but that can be a good thing too.)

There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

[falxori 0]

i started with AFF.
if you are not sure you like it, try a tandem first.
i was sure, and i thought (and still think) tandem is a waste of money.

i first signed up for a S/L, but after talking to a few people, switched to AFF, and i'm very happy i did.
it costs more but i think its worth it...

O

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero."

[skymick 0]

I would say to go with AFF to if you can afford it, I originally did about 20 jumps on SL took a 2 year break then came back to do AFF. When I was doing SL I had to force myself to get down to the DZ, I came up with any excuse not to go but since I did AFF I couldnt get enough of it,...but again thats just me

[alain 0]

People like you in France can go for the AFF stage 1 only (that is basicaly 100 euro more than a tandem) and if you want to go further you just keep going: the 300 euro you've spent on the first AFF jump become part of the whole AFF training (that is arround 1000 euro when all is said and done) => you don't waste money
Because of the complete AFF ground training, you will need a full day to do that whereas a tandem requires only a couple of hours.
duno if you can find this in UK ?

[pkasdorf 0]

Simple choices:

1) You think that skydiving looks amazing and you would like to be a skydiver - try a tandem first

2) You know you want to be a skydiver - save your tandem money for your training

HISPA # 18 POPS # 8757