Anyone skydive?

9integra2

9integra2

Well-known member
Thinking of doing the aff course, but my concerns are...

Now is not the time to be cheap, so if i were to buy my own chute thats a respectable and very reliable brand, how much am i looking to spend?

What type of maintenance do these chutes require? Obviously if something tears or breaks, i fix it immediately, but do they require some type of annual overhaul?
I think the reserve must be packed by an official packer, right?

Is renting for each dive a better idea if i only plan to jump once a month at most? Assuming i dont become addicted to the rush.

Basically, im looking for unseen costs after paying for the course and equipment cause paying $25/jump seems like a bargain!
 
Q

quicksparks

Well-known member
Hmmm, I can't answer all your questions, but now I can now say that I've done it once (tandem of course). I could see myself doing it again, and I highly recommend Skydive Hollister if anyone is wondering. The other highly recommended business in the BA is located in Byron. For now, I have plenty of hobbies and ways to keep busy.

But man, talk about bang for the buck. 0-120 mph in about 4 seconds. The way it was summed up to me, it was like $1500 to accumulate all the required training to get your license, plus another $2k - $3k for your gear. One of the instructors said, "Depending on how well you maintain your chute, it should last you between a few hundred and a few thousand jumps."

Hidden costs? Can't really think of any. Gas to drive to the drop zone. They operate on weekends, so it's not like you'll have to take time off work. Compared to maintenance on a motorcycle, seems like a bargain.
 
berth

berth

Well-known member
9integra2 said:
Assuming i dont become addicted to the rush.
Click to expand...

quicksparks said:
Hmmm, I can't answer all your questions, but now I can now say that I've done it once (tandem of course). I could see myself doing it again...

But man, talk about bang for the buck. 0-120 mph in about 4 seconds.
Click to expand...

As a corollary, I felt none of this. I felt a lot of wind, but hand no real perception of speed, as my only reference points were a mountain range 10's of miles away, and this flat checkerboard thing slowly approaching me from below.

I didn't even get that "stomach falling" feeling you get from carnival drop rides, because that's not what happens, since you're already going 80-100 miles per hour, and then you slowly accelerate to 120.

Not to be a curmudgeon, but it did nothing for me. Motorcycles are far better for me.
 
bergmen

bergmen

Well-known member
This thread is a bit old (just ran across it).

I have several decades of experience in sport parachuting (1st jump in 1971, USPA Jump Master and Static Line Instructor, about 800 jumps, retired from jumping).

A few points:

1) I would recommend getting serious about accumulating experience by jumping regularly. This sport should not be looked at as an occasional activity until you get many (50-100) jumps under your belt.

2) To do this well, ask for advice and shop for a used system in good shape. Expect to spend $2,500-$4,000 for everything (main, reserve, harness/container system, altimeter, jumpsuit, etc.), maybe more.

3) I would recommend including an AAD (Automatic Activation Device) on the reserve but this is not necessarily required (unless your favorite drop zone requires it).

Sport parachuting is one of the most (if not THE most) fantastic experiences on planet earth.

If you have more questions, I would be glad to help. PM me or e-mail me at bergmen-at-pacific-dot-net (@.).

Dan
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
You can do a tandem jump at Gnoss Field in Novato with Golden Gate Skydive. Tell them Jeff sent you.
It's freakin' hoot.
 
bergmen

bergmen

Well-known member
dravnx said:
You can do a tandem jump at Gnoss Field in Novato with Golden Gate Skydive. Tell them Jeff sent you.
It's freakin' hoot.
Click to expand...

I didn't know Gnoss field was an active drop zone. Cool, learn something new everyday.

Dan
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
It's not really an active drop zone. Golden Gate Skydive got a use permit restricting them to tandem jumps only. It looks like they are doing OK. Per a conversation with the owner, business has been increasing faster then they anticipated. I hope they make it. It's always great to see another small business be successful.
 
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