It looks to me like a good deal on flight time since it includes coaching from 2 former Airspeed members. They are advertising 2-day FS camps, night time coaching and weekend day sessions - plus a couple of nights of two-on-two 4-way with the coaches.
Aug 21, 2005, 11:01 PM
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Re: [UKFSChick] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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Hi im thinking of doing this camp, are they any good for low-timers? I have around 120 jumps now and really keen to improve FAST! I live in London so sounds like could be a good way to imrpve quickly and easier the going to America again!!!!!
Aug 23, 2005, 12:51 PM
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Re: [UKFSChick] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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Am i the only one here who thinks this is damn expensive? After shelling out a ton of money on AFF there is no way i'd fork out for this. I would love to be taught by the experts in the wind tunnel but i cant afford that kind of money
Aug 23, 2005, 1:27 PM
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Re: [eeneR] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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I knew it wasn't cheap, i just didnt know that i'd have to sell my spleen, a kidney and possibly an eyeball while butchering my parrot and selling it as bush meat! lol this sport is beyond expensive
I feel like a crack addict thinking of things i can sacrifice to pay for my next jump!
Aug 26, 2005, 2:37 AM
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Re: [Andy_Copland] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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ill second that motion as much as some people would like to claim that the cost of goods and services is higher in the UK is due to intrest rates, VAT etc... its more to do with anti competitive behavior and not being motivated by trying to find savings in efficiency. Ill give you an example, in eloy if you arent at the plane on time, it goes, delegating responsiblity to the lowest level, I routinely see planes in the UK throtling for 10+ minutes while they change loads around and people have a long chat about the latest football scores. We've all known for some time that price fixing is a real problem in the British economy and I wouldnt be too surprised if the dropzones and in the future, tunnels subscribe to the notion that its easier to set prices in a captive market than strive for greater efficiency.
On a similar note, if these prices are to believed about Skyventure UK, I dont think too many skydivers will be there, as motivated as i am to go there because the British womens formation team will be 'Training there exclusively'(re:sarcasm).
Do the math, if you want to do any serious time, go to the states. I think Uk skyventure is being incredibly unrealisitic due to financial pressures about the uk market.
Aug 26, 2005, 3:22 PM
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Re: [fedykin] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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I wouldn't be too hard on the Uk tunnels. We all know that it's cheaper to buy big blocks of tunnel time in the US - but I don't think it's because the evil British tunnel owners are planning a price-fixing scam, or that they don't give a damn about efficiency. Land and other costs are higher in the UK than the US. It would be great if all British skydivers could do all their training overseas, but time off work and cost of flights are also an issue.
As far as the cost of these camps go...I guess it's like anything. If you want to get better quickly, get coaching. If you don't, then don't. They still work out cheaper than non-coached skydiving in the UK for equal airtime.
Since you want to compare with the US, similar camps in the States are currently being advertised at $1200 for an hour of coached time http://www.tunnelcamp.com/...amp;cursection=04.03 - which translates to around 670 quid. I've done both the Airspeed camps (at Orlando) and these camps with Gary Beyer and Mark Kirkby (when they were running them in Perris) - anyone will tell you they're both excellent. With the UK camps, you're getting the coaches flown over to you from Arizona, rather than having to fork out 400 quid for your flight out there.
So I think GBP795 still makes a pretty good deal for most people, if you want to do the math.
(This post was edited by UKFSChick on Aug 26, 2005, 6:22 PM)
Aug 27, 2005, 12:53 PM
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Re: [fedykin] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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The UK is a damn expensive place, i dont think there is any need for the prices to be this high. I respect that people need to earn a living, but they need to understand that some of us are spending our living and going without beer for a few weeks
Aug 27, 2005, 12:53 PM
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Re: [PurpleBadger] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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Badger - as I said, similar camps are $1200. Majik don't do camps in a format comparable to the ones offered by Airspeed and these in the UK/ Perris.
Andy:
In reply to:
I respect that people need to earn a living, but they need to understand that some of us are spending our living and going without beer for a few weeks
If you're referring to coaches...I'm sure they do understand, you don't get to be a World Champion, whether on Airspeed, Majik or any other team, without going without beer and / or a few other luxuries for several years in pusuit of your goal. It just depends what your priorites are.
There are cheaper ways to get coaching in the tunnel, but you get what you pay for. If you don't want to pay for top coaching you can always get basic instruction from the tunnel flight instructors, who are very helpful and usually very good. Christy Frikken at SV Perris is a good example of a great tunnel flight instructor (she could give you more than just 'basic' instruction now though - she and her team, Fury, are among the top in the US. But she got to that level in part through doing lots of camps like this.)
The Airkix tunnel in the UK will also have flight instructors and other FS coaches you can work with if you feel like incorporating beer back into your lifestyle again. Rusty Lewis would probably be worth speaking to about that, a really nice bloke and great skydiver.
If you want to advance more quickly, I think these camps are worth the money, and it actually ends up being cheaper in the long run as you get more value from each second of flight time with a one-on-one coach like this. But then again I am always trying to find ways to justify my addiction... Just glad it doesn't leave track marks...
(This post was edited by UKFSChick on Aug 27, 2005, 1:24 PM)
Aug 27, 2005, 1:44 PM
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Re: [UKFSChick] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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Personally i hate golf but nice analogy. Say what you will but its still too expensive, no disrespect to the coaches. I'm waiting to see what the prices are for experienced skydivers to just get some tunnel time. Then i'll be able to argue lol
Aug 27, 2005, 2:05 PM
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Re: [Andy_Copland] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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I hate to tell you this...but judging from the hourly rates on Bodyflight (600 quid - and I'd guess that Airkix probably won't be cheaper) - I don't think you're going to save much unless you can buy in bulk. Which you probably don't want to do, unless you have a couple of grandmothers to sell...
The Night Flights and Weekend Coaching is sold in smaller blocks though, it might be worth having a look at that. I'll probably try and get in for some two-on-two 4-way.
Aug 28, 2005, 8:32 AM
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Re: [UKFSChick] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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i dont know about that FEDY whatever has a point the latest trade and industry report labels price fixing as being a fixture of the UK economy and being partly responsible for the lower growth rates
to think that UK jumping is immune to this is naive in the extreeme
are you the girl that was caught on tape fly fishing in the catch and release stream outside of wyoming? Dave Hearals said he talked to a highway patrol officer who caught you?
Aug 28, 2005, 1:33 PM
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Re: [Andy_Copland] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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I shouldnt have said the UK is too expensive really. Because the truth is its expensive in America to, can you justify the prices?
It really isnt hard to understand why time is not as cheap as a plate of chips. Some very easy sums on the kind of money needed to construct and operate a tunnel will give you an idea that each facilitiy you visit isnt making extreme profits... to work it out ask for a figure on a £2-3m mortage and see what it costs you
I have said before - Starting a wind tunnel is not the easist investment choice or the best paying one. For me a good percentage of the risk is worth it becuase of what we create and not the size of the payback.
I can understand the desire to fly more and for cheaper... but there is also a need to cover the cost of providing what has to be one of the most expensive tools for any sport!
Aug 31, 2005, 5:36 AM
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Re: [Paulipod] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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Quote:
Starting a wind tunnel is not the easist investment choice or the best paying one. For me a good percentage of the risk is worth it becuase of what we create and not the size of the payback.
Sep 1, 2005, 8:03 AM
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Re: [Andy_Copland] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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Quote:
Do the math, if you want to do any serious time, go to the states. I think Uk skyventure is being incredibly unrealisitic due to financial pressures about the uk market.
It does seems expensive when you convert into US$ (especially when it costs $600 per hour in the Eloy tunnel), but electricity prices, staff wages and VAT (boo, hiss) are higher in the UK - it's all relative.
Upcoming Camp:
To everyone out there, if you don't have any plans on going to Eloy, Perris or Orlando, or you can't afford a week off work, totally grab a slot on the Mark Kirkby/Gary Beyer camp in the UK.
It is a bargain to get that level of coaching at that price!!! How often do world champs come to Blighty and hold camps of any kind?
You never know, if their camp is successful, then we may see more of them holding future camps in the UK which can only be good for those skydivers who can't afford/take time off work to travel abroad.
Sep 12, 2005, 11:32 AM
Post #24 of 24
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Re: [Andy_Copland] Prices are up on Airkix (SkyVenture UK) website for FS tunnel camps
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Am i the only one here who thinks this is damn expensive? After shelling out a ton of money on AFF there is no way i'd fork out for this. I would love to be taught by the experts in the wind tunnel but i cant afford that kind of money
A lot of people have commented about the prices of the UK tunnels but both of them are cheaper than Aerokart and they will both have better airflow. Going to an American tunnel is great if you are going there on holiday but if you want regular sessions and to build your skills these UK tunnels are your best alternative. Part of the US price advantage is down to exchange rates but if you think back two years when the exchange rate was worse the £ rates were about 20% higher than they are now. If the $ strengthens then the price difference will reduce again.
Course Rusty might be a wee bit better than I.
