Cajundude

The tandem rigs have a ripcord that the student can pull. Also the parachutes are set up with dual steering controls. The one thing that you want to know is that you are harnessed together prior to leaving the plane, but there is no reason that you are completely at the mercy of the tandem instructor. You should be an active, learning participant in the skydive, (as much as you want to be). Our dropzone requires two tandems also. We used to offer all options for first jump courses, but it quickly became apparent that tandem was the quickest, safest, and most effective way to introduce someone to the sport. It is an integral part of our training for many reasons. It makes the first solo jump course much more effective, because you are able to truly understand the material that the instructor is explaining after you have made a tandem. Not just by imagining it, but because you experienced it. The advantages of the canopy control learning on tandems are obvious. This allows you a comfort level under canopy that frees your mind to concentrate on the freefall learning objectives more readily. I could go on and on. Best of luck with your skydive!

Thanks! Watching you guys in the wingsuits is what got this rampage started. I want to do that so bad I literally have trouble sleeping sometimes because I think about it so much. I know I have a long way to go before I can be in a wingsuit but maybe I will get to come out to your class in 2 or 3 years. I hope so. Thanks to all for the great replies.

I've never said money was the problem, I was just looking for opinions on solo vs. tandem from the beginning. I have decided from these other posts here that I will in fact do the tandem first and it will probably be next week on Wednesday. As a matter of fact Spacelands tandems are very fairly priced and do count towards your license. I can't wait! It looks like I will be able to get away from the office and go on my B-day. Wish me luck! Oh yea, the weather is supposed to be perfect M-W next week.

The spices are alllllllwwwwaaaaaays perfect!

That's a lot of work broiling crawfish Work! Not at all. It's fun! It's cleaning up that sucks. Hmmm, maybe after I start jumping next week at Spaceland I can become the resident boiler. Yea, yea, I can get a sign made: WILL BOIL FOR JUMP TICKET

Well it looks to me that it is a good idea even though I have done a static jump and I'm pretty sure I won't freak so I am glad I asked this question. Here are the main points I am going by: "Sensory overload is common with first jumps"; "I can see where it would have been MUCH less stressful for me to have done a tandem first"; "students coming off of the tandem progession seem to learn faster, do better and complete AFF with less jumps (less repeats, etc)"; "you'll be acclaimated to free fall (big advantage) and you'll get to steer the parachute while in direct communication with the TM"; "Students learn more faster about canopy control that way". Can't wait another 2 weeks!! Haven't figured out how to do multiple quotes yet from different posts. Oh well. Thank you all for all of the input you've given me.

Sorry, but I'm calling bullshit. At Aggieland, with our tandem progression you will save a bit over $300 then the traditional AFF program. Not only that, but the students coming off of the tandem progession seem to learn faster, do better and complete AFF with less jumps (less repeats, etc). It all comes down to the amount of information taught at a time, you learn faster with skydiving by learning little blocks of information at a time, then trying to digest 8hrs worth of groundschool at once. Then again, this is only my opinion as an instructor and a coach. Thanks Dave, that is exactly the justification I was looking for. I'll let ya'll know how it goes. My plan is to jump on my B-Day which is May 5 (work permitting) but it will certainly be the 5th, 6th, or 7th of May.

I definitely want to go all the way with it. I hung up my scuba instruction license of 10 years and am selling all of my gear so I can go jump out of planes. I've done a static jump before and thought that was the coolest thing in the world. I can only imagine how much I will love the freefall. I am like that, I will jump in head first and go all the way. I like to achieve high ratings in whatever I do. I also like to stick with the people I start stuff with, i.e. Skydive Spaceland because if I go somewhere else Spaceland will probably eventually be my home DZ so it seems only fair that I start with them.

Hello all! I have pretty much decided that I want Skydive Spaceland to be my dropzone and training site but am wondering about the 2 tandem requirement. My question is this: Are there advantages to be required to do 2 tandems before you can go solo? I would rather do my first jumps solo because it worries me less if I have a chute and reserve on my own back. With the tandem you are pretty much completly at the mercy of the instructor right? If it bothers me that much should I go over to the other DZ in Houston? I prefer to go with Spaceland for a few reasons but I am just looking for some justification for the tandems first. Thanks for you help!

How high can baloons go? Is it the $40-70 range just for 3500-6000? I guess it would be definitely worth doing it once.

I've been a scuba instructor since 1994 and I can tell you as a contract instructor (which seems to me what the skydive instructors are) you probably won't get a raise. Since 94, I was paid a certain amount per student depending on the level of certification. If ya'll are getting $30 per jump that sounds awesome. Imagine only getting $50 a student for about 25-30 hrs. worth of work! With only 8 students in a class that is $400. I've decided to switch over to above sea level instead of below sea level. I am in the process of selling all of my excess scuba gear and will be starting my journey to the A license and possibly one day an instructor on May 5, my birthday! So get ready Skydive Spaceland, I'll be visiting you soon! Oh yea, this was on top of my regular full time job because there is no way you can make a living doing it, at least not with my tastes in hobbies.

That is some funny sheeeeet!