Where do you think the best DZ in DC metro area is

[trekker945 0]

I dont wanna be an ass or anything but where do you think personally the best DZ is in the DC metro area is? I have jumped at a place in penn. about 30 miles from hagerstown,I don't wanna say the DZ but if your from around that area you should know instantly. I have jumped 4 times and I havent felt chill at all...and It wasnt from the skydiving.. some odd reason I felt the instuctors made me not at ease and fear for my life. werid you may think....but I feel more at ease skydiving than I do climbing because atleast I have a reserve...nobody has a reserve rope. I have been thinking about delmarva especially due to their good prices for a university of MD discount.. what do you think?. I know I wanna get certified...also Im close to saving about $6000 for skydiving...do you think thats enough for me to get my A(with redos hahah.. nobodys perfect) and a used system with an AAD.. Just curious..be blunt and speak the truth... thats all I want. I also have 20 min of tunnel time but that doesnt mean shit im sure....My spelling/grammer is not thr best also because a 6 pack of molsenxxx just attacked me and forced me to drink.

[pilotdave 0]

Delmarva's great... it's where I did most of my first 80 or so jumps while I was at UMD. It's not the biggest DZ around (in terms of people), but that can be a good thing for students. It's a really good, safe dropzone with much better facilities than a lot of much bigger DZs. The place is in the middle of nowhere with a big landing area, surrounded by empty fields. Those are good things.
Another area DZ tried to get the university of maryland club's business by offering an even bigger discount... we (I was president for a while) sent a couple people to scope it out and they came back with a definite NO. Delmarva's just a great place to learn and have fun after jumping. Can't recommend them enough.

And yeah, $6000 will get you pretty far. At least most of what you'll need for your A license and gear. But don't worry about costs... skydiving will cost you every penny you'll ever have for the rest of your life, so don't bother counting.

Dave

[Sled14 0]

I started jumping at Skydive Orange in Orange, VA about an hour and a half from DC. They are really friendly and are great instructors. Plus they jump year round

[Hawkins121 0]

Hey bro, I started at Delmarva.. Great place to go.. Dave Matchet rocks...

After doing my first 3 levels of AFF at delmarva I wasted many many weekends driving there waiting for weather to break. I finally got sick of it and Flew to Eloy. The trip out there (Including all fees to get my license, hotel, food etc) ended up being cheaper than it would have been if I had finished out the Lic in the DC area. Plus I got some tunnel time and got to learn from world champs. Dusty Smith, Jason Peters, TJ Landgren etc..

I guess my point is if you want to Get R Done really quick so you are ready for the season in the DC area fly out to eloy or perris and knock it out. I went from lvl 3 AFF to my A in 4 days. This might not be the best thing to do for everyone but it did save me many months of sitting on cold DZ's waiting on the wind.

[DJL 235]

Skydive Virginia is the best DZ in the area. People at Orange are gay, people at West Point are gayer, people at Hartwood are exactly as gay as the people at Orange, people at Delmarva are in Florida.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[murps2000 86]

I know where you went in Pa, and I've jumped there for years. Don't waste your time going back. The list of reasons why is long, but let it suffice to say that the "burg's" best days are in the past. It's really too bad. '98 was a FUN year to be there. They also have what I'd say is the best manicured landing area I've ever had the pleasure of sliding to a stop on. (well, except for "poop hill" and "Carl's bad canyon")

If you train at Orange you will like the place. You will probably like it a lot. Great night life, much nudity, and a good Twin Otter with stradle benches that I wish were in every other Otter. If you go there as an experienced jumper, but an outsider, you will find that they are safety nazis to everyone except for the "in" crew that's already there. Don't let that necessarily turn you off to the place. I've met some really cool and talented jumpers there. Jake & Jen, Trey Trey, and Dan Wayland come to mind.

I've been to West Point and Louisa, and they were both pretty cool places in their own ways, but that was during the Clinton administration, so I can't say what they are like now.

Delmarva was where I started so you may think I am biased when I recommend them, but I'm not. It was a great place when I started in '97, and I jumped there off and on for several years, but it really started to suck around 2002. That was just because it got taken over by some Brits who just killed the vibe after a few years. Thankfully they went back accross the pond and Delmarva now celebrates it's independance from the British in much the same way that most Americans do on July 4th. I left the place in '02, and didn't return until 2004. I worked there that season, and it was a great year. With new management and some new faces as well as some old ones, a great vibe developed again. I don't jump there now because it's 3000 miles away, but I keep in touch with a few jumpers there, and everything seems to indicate that it has gotten better. They have good, experienced instructors, and a very welcoming group of up jumpers there who will be happy to jump with you after you get your A license. The only thing that sucks is the summer beach traffic. If you go there, however, talk to a short, loud mouthed tandem instructor named Kenny and he'll tell you about every shortcut and traffic by-pass there is between the DZ and the Bay Bridge. You can also get good coaching from Grant, party with some old schoolers in the back lot, play hackey with Donnie, and Drink Grand Marnier with Dave-O.

Okay, now that I read what I posted, maybe I am a little biased...

[Tink1717 2]

Come to Delmarva. We have a cool Otter and even better staff. The Beach is only a half an hour away and the night scene around the DZ is cool. The only drawback to the place is the stupid Bay Bridge.

Also, $6K is plenty for what you want to do.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[gweeks 1]

Here's another vote for Delmarva The instructors are very experienced and do a good job of making you feel at ease. The pace is just right for me, not too busy and not too slow. It's a fun place to be after jumping too. Things will get kicked off at Delmarva on Safety Day (March 11th).

I've been to a few of the other DC area DZ's and I like them all. Delmarva just feels more like home to me. Once you get your A license you will want to go around to the other DZ's because each one is different and you may find one that really clicks with you.

The 20 minutes of tunnel time probably will help with your stability in freefall at higher AFF levels and your solo jumps.

Where do you climb? My wife and I are just getting into climbing and there are a handful of other people who jump at Delmarva and also climb.

[gjbskydiver 0]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Skydive Maryland in Salisbury. After trying a tandem at another DZ, I decided to do my AFF with Lance and his instructors at SDMD, and the experience was the best I've had it any DZ! The staff is awesome, and very experienced, the location wide open, and has a very personal feel. I'd check them out if you want to progress quickly, and have a great time doing it! On one weekend I watched a group of 3 guys from the airforce start at AFF level one Saturday morning, and by Sunday evening had graduated AFF, and had 9 jumps each!

Jerry
BTW if your interested in canopy flight, lance, shogo, and a few other staff members, are without a doubt the best canopy pilots in the area. you'll be able to learn a lot from them.

[MrFreefall383 0]

This will help. I'll probably be living in the DC area within a couple years, and I intend to keep skydiving no matter where I go. Hopefully I'll get the chance to jump at some of the DC area DZs.

"If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche