SKYDIVING

[orbovi]

I went skydiving this past Saturday...all I have to say is if you're thinking about doing it, DO IT. We jumped out at 13,500 feet and a minute later we were pulling the canopy at 5,000 feet...rediculous. I'm going again in two weeks, this time taking the courses to get certified to jump solo. For anyone around the PA/NJ/DE area, I went to Freefall Adventures in Cross Keys-awesome place.

[Florida240sx]

Been wanting to do it for so long.

[NoStickers]

How much does it cost?

[orbovi]

The price was 180 bucks for the first jump and it decreases with the amount of jumps you do until you get certified. Once that happens it drops down to 50 bucks to rent gear for the whole day if you don't have any and then 20 bucks a jump.

[TheOne]

so you have to jump with an instructor of some sort till you get certified?just wondering as i wanna do this myself with a couple of friends.

there is a municipal airport around here that i heard does skydiving, but i still gotta ask.

[orbovi]

Yeah you jump tandem unless you're certified or you're in the later stages of the training course. My guy was some crazy British dude who's been jumping for over eight years.

[Oatmealman]

dude sky diving is the **** it's such a thrill rush i did it for my birthday one year and it was ****ing crazy i wanna go again

[paemt6220]

Maybe if I get over my fear of hights!! I fly alot, so I am half way there!.

Chad

[Oatmealman]

when we went back to wisconsin i'm not technically suppose to fly i'mw ay to young but the pilot was cool and let me fly for a couple

[hybrid_flyer]

FINALLY somebody else out there gives it a try. I have been jumping for 3 years, I have almost 500 skydives, and now shoot skydiving photography. If there is anything you need to know let me know.

As for Cross Keys, thats actually one of the biggest skydiving locations in the nation. But Deland has a huge operation as well.

p.s. thats me on the outside of the formation shooting video

[D1SR240]

Looks like a lot of fun. I should look into Skydive Chicago.

[streetspirit7]

I've been on a tandem jump and I highly recomend it, I'd love to get certified, it's in my blood, both my parents where skydivers. My dad logged 2000 jumps before he was in a wreck and messed up his knees, can't do the landings anymore

[orbovi]

Damn Hybrid that's awesome to hear. I was going to go back in two weeks and do the other two tandems and then the six hour course but I remebered that's the weekend of Live 8...can't miss that here in Philly, it's gonna be a drunkfest. Looks like it's going to be pushed back a week. But how much does a full setup of gear usually cost?

[GrilledCheese33]

I live right on the beach and skydivers take off from the local airport and land on the beach right in front of my house: its so fun to watch! They also have landing competetions here on flagler beach also, I wanna do it so bad, sounds like its the shiz!

-Darren

[hybrid_flyer]

Damn Hybrid that's awesome to hear. I was going to go back in two weeks and do the other two tandems and then the six hour course but I remebered that's the weekend of Live 8...can't miss that here in Philly, it's gonna be a drunkfest. Looks like it's going to be pushed back a week. But how much does a full setup of gear usually cost?

everything brand new you are looking at least 5500, but good used gear and you are lookin to spend about 3500-4000. Check around everyplace is different in regards to what you have to do to complete the self jump course (commonly known as AFF)

[orbovi]

Damnnnn I didn't realize it was going to be that much. Almost starts to make me think about what I should be saving my money for, this or a new engine...

[hybrid_flyer]

i am in the same situation, but now i get paid to jump, so all the money i make skydiving, goes to skydiving equipment and the such, and money i make at my normal job goes towards the car

[bcar240]

I was just wondering, I have been looking into skydiving for a little bit now. Do you always have to do tandems, or if you take the cert class can you just start with a solo static or something? My dad and his high school buds did some skydiving a few years ago and that is how they started (cert class and static solos), but I don't know if the rules are still the same. I am not against the tandem per say, but I don't really like the idea of putting out almost $200 (at closest skydive place) to just "go along for the ride," especially if its not required.

[hybrid_flyer]

I was just wondering, I have been looking into skydiving for a little bit now. Do you always have to do tandems, or if you take the cert class can you just start with a solo static or something? My dad and his high school buds did some skydiving a few years ago and that is how they started (cert class and static solos), but I don't know if the rules are still the same. I am not against the tandem per say, but I don't really like the idea of putting out almost $200 (at closest skydive place) to just "go along for the ride," especially if its not required.

it all depends on where you go. at smaller locations with few airplanes and even fewer instructors, you usually do a static line progression. At larger places you can usually do some kind of progression course or some kind of AFF program. But no tandems are not required to get certified, I have almost 500 jumps and zero tandems

[orbovi]

How'd you end up getting paid to jump? By being the video dude? Done any competitions or anything?

[hybrid_flyer]

How'd you end up getting paid to jump? By being the video dude? Done any competitions or anything?

Umm, getting onto this video rotation wasn't easy, the guy who owns the concession is very picky about how the videos look and such. So it took me about 2 months of paying for my own jumps to train on tandems that did not buy video. then i had to learn how to take still photos at the same time. As for competitions I am plannin on attendin the nationals this year, either with the 4-way team I train with or as a mercenary video guy.