Skydive Perris

I just got back from five days in Perris (there for the swoop meet)and must say that I was pretty pleased with my experience.

The dropzone itself is very large but only has one grass landing area, so you better be landing there unless you want to trash your gear. When I was there the flightline consisted of three Twin Otters, all of which kept pretty busy the whole time the weather cooperated. This place gets very windy during the late morning-mid afternoon timeframe, so it pays to get up early and jump your heart out, then take a break and resume later. This is not to say that the aircraft ever stop flying, it's just that if you are a swoop purist like myself, then you are not going to like hooking it into the 20 knot wind. Anyway, why sweat it when they have that GREAT pool and restaurant to hang out in? The Bombshelter kicks ass! It's a very nice bar connected to probably the best DZ restaurant I have ever been in...Seriously! I am talking gourmet chow here. If you go, tell the "Food Nazis" I said hello.

If you are a person looking for specialized training, this place has it all: RW training, Freefly training, world-class canopy-flight training, skysurf, whatever. You could easily empty your wallet in a day if that is your bag. For you new guys looking to make a tandem or start your training, there are also two basic student-training schools. There are tons of packers running around for you LAZY people.

Gear sales and rigging needs are covered by the Square One store right on the premesis. Nice folks in there. A word of warning: reserve repacks are VERY expensive in California.

I stayed in the bunkhouse while I was there. Very nice, though there are no windows in the place. Clean bedding, cold airconditioning, good vibes. I could not bitch at all.

You swoopers will enjoy the TWO swoop ponds on the DZ: the old, rectangular one next to the grass landing area, and the new diamond-shaped one out in the desert. Unless you want to trash your gear, or are jumping the diamond pond because of a competition, I recommend swooping the one next to the grass. My wife had a shit fit when she saw my rigs after I got home. NASTY! They really need some grass out at the new pond, but doubt it will happen due to the great cost it takes just to keep the thing full. I was told that at least 300 gallons per day evaporate out of it.

All in all, I had a very nice time. Hopefully, I will be back in November for the next swoop meet.

Chuck Blue
D-12501
Skydive Raeford