mountainman 0 #1 January 31, 2002 Hey there TMs of dropzone.com.....I am wondering what you would suggest doing to be a tandem master. Since I have very little jumps (43), I am wondering what you would recommend doing as to be the best prepared. Are there drills, certain jumps, disciplines you would suggest?Thank you!JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 January 31, 2002 You've got a ways to go, but here's what I'd do if I were in your shoes. And of course, this is just my opinion For now, jump your ass off. Concentrate on belly flying and canopy control skills as these are what I consider to be two of the areas you need to be very competent at to do tandems. I'd suggest getting a rigger's ticket too; even if you never pack reserves for money the knowledge you'll gain about equipment is invaluable. Work with as many low timers as you can. Learn all you can about the sport and pass that knowledge on to others. Pick up the coach rating as soon as you have the required jump numbers. Once you've gotten some experience coaching, pick up an S/L or IAD instructor rating. Teach lots of FJC's and keep working on your belly flying skills. Go for an AFF rating as soon as you hit the required amount of freefall time. Doing all of the above should provide you with the base of knowledge and skills that will make you not just a tandem ride operator, but a tandem Instructor. After all, the whole point of tandem is not to provide an amusement park ride, but to introduce people to the possibility of becoming a skydiver themselves.Oh yeah... keep your medical and disability insurance paid up since tandem is where you are most likely to be injured. Stay in very good physical condition; carrying meat out of the airplane with you is physical work and the better shape you're in, the more tandems you can safely do in a day.pull and flare,lisa--What would Scooby Doo? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #3 February 1, 2002 Well said Lisa,I learned more about Tandem/AFF from the oldest instructor out at the DZ.Example if you were going out for the track and field squad and you wanted to be a Javelin catcher. You'd want to learn from the oldest guy ou tthere...It's not supposed to be a carni ride either (like Lisa said) It is an introduction to skydiving. Just study. Practice gearing up students before they jump. And polish up on your customer service skills..........jump yo ass off.........So thirsty for some warm air and cold brew........Seb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #4 February 1, 2002 . Quote And polish up on your customer service skills..........Smething certain people dont think about.....and thats all I'll say about that!!!!!!jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirils 1 #5 February 1, 2002 Please don't take offense, but why would you want to become a tandem master??Skydiving is not a static excercise with discrete predictability... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,095 #6 February 1, 2002 >I am wondering what you would suggest doing to be a tandem master. Since I have very little jumps (43), I am wondering what you >would recommend doing as to be the best prepared. Are there drills, certain jumps, disciplines you would suggest?As Lisa mentioned, regular RW skills and landing accuracy are the primary ones. Some secondary ones include upper body strength and knee-stability exercises - your knees will have to land with the weight of two. (I am _not_ one of the people in favor of butt landings, since I would choose an intact spine over an intact knee any day.)The biggest change you'll have to prepare for mentally is the gear-operation change. Your emergency procedures, bailout altitudes, pre-exit checklist, and exit planning will change dramatically. One of the most common reasons for TM fatalities is that they revert to their sport-gear training, and forget that the main won't deploy with no drouge (for example.)-bill von Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #7 February 1, 2002 Quote I am _not_ one of the people in favor of butt landings, since I would choose an intact spine over an intact knee any dayAgree wholeheartedly! Back injuries are no fun at all. Building a very strong midsection - abs and back muscles both - will help you avoid them, but landing other than sliding in on your butt will help most to keep you from going through what I get to deal with for the rest of my life. Quote why would you want to become a tandem master??Tandems can be a lot of fun! A lot of work and risk for not a lot of money, but the rewards of sharing someone's first jump are pretty cool, especially when they keep jumping. pull and flare,lisa--What would Scooby Doo? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #8 February 1, 2002 Quote Please don't take offense, but why would you want to become a tandem masterI cant speak for MM but for me I get the biggest kick out of going up with tandems and seeing people scared shitless and then as soon as they land it was like the coolest thing they ever did....and jsut to see that transition form fear to exilaration (sp) I think is just the coolest...I mean its something that we can all say ...yup ..I know how you feel ....been there!!!!!!jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
des 2 #9 February 1, 2002 hey mm,i do tandems 7 days a week 364 days a year,(get xmas day off),and it's the most satisfying and enjoyable job i ever had.some days i feel guilty getting paid for this,but windy ones i earn my money.sometimes i have to do video,and hate it,i can fun jump free anytime i'm rostered off a load,but usually try to take a ground crew or office staff for a tandem,way more fun!if you think you will like doing tandems, you probably will.learn all disciplines you can,I believe freeflying is very good tandem training,and as the others said canopy skills are paramount.go for it!des Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LawnDart21 0 #10 February 1, 2002 I think it's great you already know that you want to be a tandem master. Like you, I knew that I wanted to be a TM before I even hit 50 jumps, for the sole purpose of being able to share the "1st jump" with others. I only have 408 jumps to date, so I'm still a few more jumps away from qualifying for the course, but I plan on taking the course as soon as I hit my 3yrs and 500 jumps (June 19th 2002 is my 3 yrs). Every tandme master I have talked with has said the same thing, unlike a solo where you have to fly your own body, you have to learn to fly the passengers body so to speak, which comes with practice and every TM reenforced that canopy skills are of the utmost importance, so keep aiming for the peas. I just recently (this past august) got my coaches rating, and the coach jumps that I do are by far the most rewarding jumps I've ever made, it's great to see someone else experience what we went through and see the excitement in their eyes. Best of luck and blue skies!Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #11 February 1, 2002 Thank you to everyone! It is so awesome to see that you took the time to help out. I think one reason I really want to tandem is because I have the "teacher bug" in me. I will be stduent teaching this coming month (March - May) and will graduate as a Spanish teacher. I guess I would love to spend my summers and holidays teaching about my favorite hobby/sport.I guess by all the replies, I need to keep going back to the gym and then working on my RW and my canopy skills. I am really excited to do this and cannot wait to get to that point in my jumping career where I can share this awesome sport with others. *sigh*. What a feeling!!Thank you again and blue skies!!JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #12 February 1, 2002 Quote I guess I would love to spend my summers and holidays teaching about my favorite hobby/sport.Plan to do tandems during the school year too - currency is very, very important to doing tandems safely pull and flare,lisa--What would Scooby Doo? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #13 February 1, 2002 Why would you want to become a tandem instructor?Because it is the best paying job on the DZ!They pay you $35 per jump to wear out someone else's gear!I made $420 per day at Snohimsh and I here that busy DZs in places like Hawaii and Guam pay even better!Packing may pay about the same, but packing is far harder on the hands.AFF may be the glamor slot, but it pays the same, takes longer and you get to wear out your own gear.Photographers collect about the same pay as TMs, but they have to maintain twice as much gear as the AFFIs.Do the math.But the main reason I still do tandems is the thrill I get listening to the giggles that come out of first timers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #14 February 1, 2002 Are you crazy? You get $30, have a pilot chute in tow on every jump, some wuffo in front of you stealing your air, take a beating on every landing...... crazy man... crazy.... I wanna do it!Never argue with stupid people.They just drag you down 2 their level & beat you with experience Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #15 February 2, 2002 Hey Lisa.....I guess I meant that I would do tandems a LOT during the summers since I wouldn't have another "real" job. Maybe something that is 4 days per week and then spend Fri - Sun at the DZ doing tandems. Anyway, I know you are just looking out for my safety. Thank you.JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
littlclimb 0 #16 February 5, 2002 The DZO at my DZ said it perfectly when I told him I wanted to do TM also..."Youre going to take the most complicated gear on the dropzone, jump an intentional malfunction, with someone strapped to the ftont of you trying to kill you,,,and for that you get to be part of everyone's first jump"Sign me up!!JC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #17 February 5, 2002 Quote The DZO at my DZ said it perfectly when I told him I wanted to do TM also..."Youre going to take the most complicated gear on the dropzone, jump an intentional malfunction, with someone strapped to the ftont of you trying to kill you,,,and for that you get to be part of everyone's first jump"Sign me up!!That is excellent! I am sure the trade-off (and money) make it all worthwhile.JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #18 February 5, 2002 Quote That is excellent! I am sure the trade-off (and money) make it all worthwhile.Dude. How much money do you think you're going to make as a TM? How many jumps do you think you'll get in a month? Remember, there's quite a bit you don't hear about the life of a TM. Most are independent contractors, that means they pay their own taxes out of their tandem earnings. They pay their own health insurance. They pay their own retirement fund (You can't be a TM forever). If they own their own tandem rig that's at least a $10,000 investment.I'm not suggesting that you or anyone else should stay away from being a tandem master or a professional skydiver, but please, know what you're getting into before you commit everything to it.-Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #19 February 5, 2002 Quote Dude. How much money do you think you're going to make as a TM? How many jumps do you think you'll get in a month?I never said I want to be rich. This is sort of a side job/summer job. No need to rain on my party. JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
