Any other skydivers out there?

[Scott Halepaska]

This is what it looks like when you think the girl flying camera is about to run into you at 10,000 ft (you might be able to see the altimeter). Any others out there?

[Amit Ghorpade]

I am a aspiring Skydiver, hoping to do my first jump soon.

[Bear Bibeault]

[Scott Halepaska]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:I am a aspiring Skydiver, hoping to do my first jump soon.

Aspiring as in want to do it once or want to pick it up as a hobby? I can answer any questions you might have. Better picture:

[Amit Ghorpade]

Pick it as a hobby, become a A+ certified diver, if I ever reach there .
Least I want to one AFF jump.

[Scott Halepaska]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:Pick it as a hobby, become a A+ certified diver, if I ever reach there .
Least I want to one AFF jump.

Very cool. Sounds like you have the terminology so you probably know the costs involved. Skydiving is like a lot of other sports in that the expenditure for equipment is large up front but after that, it is about as cheap as they come. Treat it seriously and you will do great, it is amazing.
<Speaking as someone that has been doing it two years and has about 100 jumps and owns all of my own equipment.>

[Amit Ghorpade]

I know its amazing, I mean I have gut feeling that it will the best thing I would ever do.
Its the expenditure that is delaying my aspirations. Even the course fees are quite high excluding the equipment.

Scott Halepaska wrote:<Speaking as someone that has been doing it two years and has about 100 jumps and owns all of my own equipment.>

That is real cool thing

[Saurabh Pillai]

Add me to the club too. Here is my bragging ;-)

[Scott Halepaska]

Saurabh Pillai wrote:Add me to the club too. Here is my bragging ;-)

Very nice! I guess you could say I 'should have searched the forum before posting'.

[Jelle Klap]

Oooooh, I've been wanting to sign up for an AFF program since a few years ago! Every year since I've found an excuse not to, though.

[Amit Ghorpade]

Jelle Klap wrote:Every year since I've found an excuse not to, though.

Want to toss some piece of advice to another wanna be?

[fred rosenberger]

Did a tandem jump once, probably 15+ years ago when I was single and had no real obligations.

I now have a house, a wife, and a child. I'm the primary provider for the family.

It's not worth the risk to me anymore.

[vishal saha]

fred rosenberger wrote:
I now have a house, a wife, and a child. I'm the primary provider for the family.

i like you, i also primary atm machine to myself . enjoy your life .

but one thing : i dont have any experience to advice you .. so, going for my bed

[Scott Halepaska]

fred rosenberger wrote:I now have a house, a wife, and a child.

This is the most common objection by far. I have only the house.

I would still highly recommend it to anyone, even if only interested in doing it once as a tandem. The freefall itself will not be what you think. There is no feeling of having your stomach left behind like on a roller coaster. The freefall will last probably 45 seconds but it will seem like 5 minutes. Try to look at the horizon, not just at the ground, see what is going on around you. When the main opens(which can be quite jarring) and you have completed your canopy and control checks, take a look around and enjoy where you are. You will never have a clearer view of the countryside. Just don't forget that you are basically in control of a glider and still need to land it.

Skydiving is something only a tiny portion of the populace ever experiences. Take pride and have fun.

[fred rosenberger]

don't get me wrong - i'm glad i did it.

But it did hurt a lot when the chute opened and I decelerated. It was thrilling, but I seriously think the risk/reward isn't there for me to do it again.

[J. Kevin Robbins]

I think you people are crazy.

I'm terrified of flying; I'm sure as hell not jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

[Scott Halepaska]

J. Kevin Robbins wrote:I think you people are crazy.

I'm terrified of flying; I'm sure as hell not jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

You are what is affectionately known as a 'wuffo'.

As in, 'Wuffo you want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?'

[J. Kevin Robbins]

Scott Halepaska wrote:
You are what is affectionately known as a 'wuffo'.

As in, 'Wuffo you want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?'

And I'm okay with that. I'll probably outlive the rest of you thrill-seeking maniacs.

[Amit Ghorpade]

J. Kevin Robbins wrote: I'll probably outlive the rest of you thrill-seeking maniacs.

Probably, if you are never out on the road or never get a bite from Anopheles mosquito,etc.

[Amit Ghorpade]

Scott Halepaska wrote: I have only the house.

I am on like close to zero obligations right now. So want to do it before I get married.

[Amit Ghorpade]

Scott if you are still looking at this thread, do you have any recommendations for a DZ in NY/NJ ?

[Scott Halepaska]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:Scott if you are still looking at this thread, do you have any recommendations for a DZ in NY/NJ ?

I have never jumped in that part of the country but here is a list of dropzones you can check out. You can use sites like dropzone.com (or just reviews from google) to find out what people are saying about them. Decided it was time to do it?

[Amit Ghorpade]

Scott Halepaska wrote: Decided it was time to do it?

Yes, found a DZ in NY. Excited!

[Scott Halepaska]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:
Yes, found a DZ in NY. Excited!

And how did things go?