skydiving?

[crstlextrm]

Any maggots out there skydive? Ive been wanting to do it for a couple years now and finally have the freedom to do it. Is it worth the cost, do you have to go tandem the first time? any info appreciated.

[CaddyDaddy77]

You can go Tandem or Static line depending on the operation. Typically Tandem will allow you to have a longer freefall (more elevation) and will require less time practicing etc., not that that's a bad thing.

Worth the money.

[Crinkle]

I have been before. Typically you need to do your first jump with an instructor, tandem. It cost me about $150, I think. It was one of the best birthday gifts I ever got. It is worth every penny for the adreneline junkie. If you are interested in becoming certified and solo jumping, make sure you sign up for the tandem jump/lesson, so it wont be a lost jump. You can do your first jump solo, if you do a bunch of hours of instruction first and jump with 2 instructors with you at the same time. ENJOY! I did mine outside DC at sunset, it was SCHWEET.

[gincognito]

I've parachuted, but not skydived. The ripcord is pulled automatically so you get maybe two seconds of freefall before the chute opens. Of course, if the chute is messed up, you get to cut it, dive, and pull the emergency chute whenever the need strikes you. Can't speak for everyone, but I seriously didn't want that option.

From what I understand, you'd have to do a dumpload of the above before you have enough jumps to qualify for freefall. And that would get damn pricey.

So, yeah, if you want to do a one-shot skydiving deal, I believe it will be tandem.

Was my experience worth it? I'm glad I did it, but I wouldn't pay that much to do it again.

Sick and ashamed and happy (and quite possibly speaking out of my arse),
d.

[snowsprite]

This is one of those "before I go" type of things that I have to try. Even more so, there's this sinkhole in Mexico that's immensely deep and full of bats. I saw some guys base jump into it and said "That's for me!" Hopefully I can do this before I get too decrepit.
Sprite

[Steven S. Dallas]

It's worth the cost, if only because then you get to say you did it. But it's really really fun, not to mention super extremo. I've only done it the one time, Tandem. As has been pointed out, the tandem gives you a lot longer freefall than the static line (like 2-3x). Also, if the dude you're jumping with is into it you can do some cool flippy-spinny shit.

cons: you've got some guy strapped to your ass; and that harness can be a real chafer once the 'chute opens. Yeeeeowch.

[Endlessseason]

No one has mentioned AFF.
I've done statics & AFF's. I love Assisted Free Fall, and recommend it over tandem.
AFF allows you to fall completely unattached to your instructor, but he's in your face coaching and checking you all the way down. When he gives the signal to pull, you've got 2 seconds to beat him to your cord cuz he'll reach over and yank it for you if you aren't quick enough.
On my first AFF, I was so into the sensation I lost all concept of time and space. I would have gone all the way into the ground with big dumb grin on my face if he hadn't been there to pull me.
There's no other rush like falling thousands of feet at terminal velocity. It's just over too fast and too expensive for the brief rush...so I ski super-fast. It's my "poor man's rush."

[Dantheman]

Worth every cent.

[Eldo]

Did the chute thing about 10 years ago. Ended up jumping just as a thunder storm rolled in. Got blown into a rancher's field 5 K from the airport and was chased around by several crazed bulls for 15 minutes or so. (Very hard to run and jump a barbed wire fence with that harness pinching you in the wrong places.)

However I highly recommend the experience. But damn expensive if you want to progress to solo sky dives. (Airplane time costs big $$.) I think that why BASE jumping was invented.

[Buzzworthy]

Originally posted by Endlessseason
No one has mentioned AFF.
I've done statics & AFF's. I love Assisted Free Fall, and recommend it over tandem.
AFF allows you to fall completely unattached to your instructor, but he's in your face coaching and checking you all the way down. When he gives the signal to pull, you've got 2 seconds to beat him to your cord cuz he'll reach over and yank it for you if you aren't quick enough.
On my first AFF, I was so into the sensation I lost all concept of time and space. I would have gone all the way into the ground with big dumb grin on my face if he hadn't been there to pull me.
There's no other rush like falling thousands of feet at terminal velocity. It's just over too fast and too expensive for the brief rush...so I ski super-fast. It's my "poor man's rush."

That is excatly what a buddy of mine did in NJ. AFF, he loved it. He did say if was a lot of class, but worth the extra money not to be tandemed together. $250 I think.

Now his friend did the same deal, not really a "outgoing" guy and he blacked out on the way down. Good thing you have 2 other guys ready to pull that line. Yes, they had to go down with 2 instuctors. If I did this for the first time, I think 2 is better than one for sure. Of course, I would be loving every minute of it.

[powderfarmer]

I've done one aff and a few statics. aff is great but expensive, closest to solo you can get without a cert. I am doing static corse one and off now, afer 6 jumps you are ready to start the cert process. if you want to get certed this is the cheapest way, liek 120 first time, then 60 for the next 5 times. first time was great, chute opened great, with some line tangles, no bigggy. Next time was smooth also. Third time which was this last, I had to cut and pull the reserve. My spreader didn't come down at all, couldn't get it done, had no control over chute, ie would have crashed on landing. So I pulled emo cord, then reserve, and it went well, extra freefall was only like 3-4 seconds, just enough to scare the shit out of me. Once it gets warmer I am totally back at it, be certed by the end of the summer.