Singe 0 #1 January 17, 2003 Hello friends and skydiving gurus, Im going to be making my first jump sometime this febuary (I had planned to make my first jump earlier in 2002, but a death in the family caused me to abort such plans). I live in San Diego, California and have heard alot about the two Perris Valley schools. My question is which one is a better Dropzone to do a first jump at? BTW I am planning on going Tandem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #2 January 17, 2003 You should also check http://www.skydiveelsinore.com/ Stop by this Saturday. We have our annual 10 way competition. Next weekend we are doing a lot of tandems for charity. The price is $40 off of the $199 regular price. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #3 January 17, 2003 If what Shark is saying is true, a $160 tandem jump is a good price. You should go for it. Besides, how could one go wrong jumping at Elsinore or Perris Valley? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #4 January 17, 2003 hmm not positive (never done one) but i think they are only 130 at Eloy.____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #5 January 17, 2003 Yeah, but the commute is a bitch. quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #6 January 17, 2003 Quotehmm not positive (never done one) but i think they are only 130 at Eloy. I lied. It's still $199, but $40 goes to charity: Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness, Inc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,107 #7 January 17, 2003 There's also a DZ in San Diego. If you plan to go tandem, it's a pretty good place - it is absolutely gorgeous (it's in the mountains, on a lake) and it's close (20 min from downtown San Diego.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Albatross 0 #8 January 17, 2003 Break down of the Schools and DZs: Elsinore has by far the best view and ahs some great staff. The atmosphere is casual and friendly. Good place to hang. Due to the size and staffing you might have a longer wait depending on the # of people. Perris Valley has the largest and most experienced staff I have seen. It is a very professional well run operation. You will get trained and up in the air quickly. Due to their volume you might not get a lot of time with you tandem master. Jim Wallace is sort of the middle. The staff is very friendly and does a great job with videos and has agood personal touch. They are smaller and you might have to wait. As for the facilities Perris has a better physical plant witht the bombshelter for food and drinks, the pool and more aircraft. Elsinore has a snack bar, a great view and a great DZO(Drop zone owner) who might be on your planeChris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamsville 0 #9 January 17, 2003 Quade's just trying to get you to jump at his place. Seriously, though, if I am at Perris first thing in the morning and it's not hazy, the first jump is often a free-fly solo jump just to look at the mountains. From the Little San Bernardino range (beyond Palm Springs), San Jacinto, and San Gorgonio to the foothills towards Riverside and Los Angeles, it's a million dollar view (for a lot less). HarryI don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #10 January 17, 2003 Yeah, do a tandem with BillVon and write it up! I've also got a buddy, Brooke Balkwell, who's a coach at the same place, Otay Lake, I think it's called. I rode with a couple tandems in their 206, and I hear their Otter is screamingly fast to altitude. The visuals are much better than Perris/Elsinore, and the visuals are really what your tandem experience is all about. Oh, and get video Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #11 January 17, 2003 Aren't there two operations in San Diego? One at Otay, the other Brown Field? I lived in O.B. for 15 years and jumped at both... Best karma is Elsinore...best dogma is Perris. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #12 January 18, 2003 QuoteAren't there two operations in San Diego? One at Otay, the other Brown Field? Jamey Woodward sold Otay to Buzz Fink (DZO from Brown Field) a few years ago. Buzz fixed the place up and moved his entire operation there. Brown's DZ is closed now. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #13 January 18, 2003 Quote Quade's just trying to get you to jump at his place. Well, actually, after being in the sport for a few years I do have an opinion about where I would send a family member and specifically with which tandem master I'd want them to jump with, but that's not exactly where I was going.All I was really trying to point out was that Eloy is a lot farther away than -any- of the SoCal drop zones. quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
