SkydiveKZN - PPC

I went back home to South Africa to do my aff course.With the high costs of doing aff in the UK I decided to do it there.I had been to the drop zone before,yes it was for my first jump,a tandem.A year after the tandem I went to do the aff.I thought I knew loads.My research over the previous year had proved that you can't run before you can walk.The ground school training was a one on one with the ops manager,Gerry.This went great and I was ready.The aff instructors were Gerry and Mark.Mark was over from the States.The training was great,and Marks words of wisdom in the plane helped me relax.All was going well up until level three,when Mark became my right hand instructor and Dale my left.I had no problems with this.I started getting excited on the way up.But when I reached level four and was down to one instructor it was Dale.Dale is a great guy,but I didn't think he knew me well enough to train me,but hey I just thought nerves.So we went up and on exit I hit my chin on the step,Dale went flying and I was left spinning on my back.We stabalized just before 6000ft and I pulled fine at 5000ft.I decided to take a break from skydiving after that.But the support from everyone at the drop zone that afternoon was like I was finally accepted,beers all round.The instructors are very experienced and a great laugh.Friends and family have done jumps there and found the whole experience awsome.The low cost of the jumps with the exchange rate is also a bonus.So for anyone in the area,give it a try.Remember its not the size of the aircraft or the drop zone that counts its what you do in the air.Blue skies.

PPC is a huge part of my life. I personally battled with student progression, and one of things that has really stood out in my mind, is that from the word go, I received active encouragement and support from my jumpmasters and fellow skydivers. Sure there is always good-natured teasing, but that just makes you feel included. PPC members spend a lot of energy making students and younger skydivers feel welcome and the senior skydivers are always willing to answer endless questions.
THen there are the club go-aways, and coaching weekends which inject constant enthusiasm.
From a safety point of view, the landing area is huge, the gear is well maintained, and saftey standards are adhered to.
Views in freefall are awesome, stretching all the way to the Drakensburg on a clear day ...
But it's not only about the skydiving. It's about the people. Pop into the PPC pub any weekend, and whether there's 5 or 25 people in there, you'll have a good time.

PPC rocks, and I'll miss it.

As a member of the Pietermaritzburg Parachute Club(the oldest permanent dropzone in the world) i find our club as being the safest and most accomadating club around. We do regular go aways to the valley of the 1000 hills where you get a beautiful view of the hills and of the Kwazulu Natal coastline in free fall. The video footage and still pictures that tandem passengers recieve is of a very high quality and is a good reminder of there mind blowing experience.There is also a club house where most meet after the days skydiving for more often then not a braai and a couple of drinks.We have an excellent bunkhouse and camping facilities. So there is no need to even have to leave the drop zone.We are also nicely situated close to popular malls and other entertaining activities such as movie cinemas and popular restuarants.We are celebrating our 50 years with easter reunion boogie April 2004.Hope to see you all there.