DynamoGuy

Yeah, the more I am researching the more excited I get. The general consensus is that you can dramatically minimize risks by being smart, listening to instructors and people with more experience, and not trying to push the envelope too far too fast. Thank you everyone for your input. Now I gotta find ways to save money so I can start AFF/jump again.

Well? Any updates? I won't be able to do AFF for a while, but just reading your posts is making me wanna jump again!

Thank you Hvance for replying to my post. This is very reassuring for me. I will call the DZ that I did my tandem with and talk to one of the instructors there. The skies are calling and I gotta answer...

Wow, thank you both for your perspectives. This is all so new to me. I run, cycle (which can be very scary, I guess), hike. Stuff like that was adventurous to me. I was never the guy who searched out danger to get an adrenaline rush. I was actually scared of roller coasters before last week! (haha, seriously). Now, even going 30-40 mph on my bike doesn't bother me and I see videos of people jumping and floating on their chutes and all I can think of is, "I want to be there...". If there are any newbies, would you mind sharing what your thoughts were at this time in your jumping career? I know I can't be the only person thinking this stuff, right?!

Hi everyone, my name is Frank and I did my first tandem jump last week. I am not an adrenaline junkie and I am usually conservative on what I do in my free time, but after doing that tandem jump I am at a crossroads of my life. Skydiving was the most exhilarating, free, amazing experience I have ever had in my life. I can't stop thinking about it, I can't focus on work, I can't focus at home. I had no idea that there was a skydiving community that did this as a hobby. I have a few questions, and honest answers would be appreciated. 1) Does a class A license allow you to jump from any DZ in the world? 2) If someone does everything "right", checks their gear, packs right, stays within their skill level, and watches to avoid collisions, how "safe" is skydiving? *note* I understand that doing everything right can still kill you in this sport and that this is just minimizing risks..... I know yall are probably sick of reading/answering stuff like this, but I am seriously thinking about going to AFF and getting an A license, and I want to be able to live a long, happy, skydiving life. Is that possible or is an accident waiting around every corner? Sorry for the negative post, all gloom and doom.