How old were you when you made your first jump?

[pterodactyl1986 0]

My DZ has a nice mixture of young folks and "seasoned" veterans.
I did my first jump on my 31st birthday.

Just curious as to when everyone else started jumping, and wondering if it is mainly a young person's sport
(Obviously physical fitness is more important than age)

[Pobrause 6]

I think you're leaving out a few peeps in this poll that where fortunate enough to start before they turned 18.
At my Dz for example there are two guys that started when they where 14 and one that made his first tandem jump at the age of 9.

-------------------------------------------------------

To absent friends

[piisfish 136]

30 years, 2 weeks and 4 days
my first tandem was a gift for my 30th birthday.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[gunpaq 1]

20 in May 1976 @ Southern Cross.

www.geronimoskydiving.com

[pterodactyl1986 0]

Pobrause

I think you're leaving out a few peeps in this poll that where fortunate enough to start before they turned 18.
At my Dz for example there are two guys that started when they where 14 and one that made his first tandem jump at the age of 9.

Did not know that was legal

[piisfish 136]

pterodactyl1986

***I think you're leaving out a few peeps in this poll that where fortunate enough to start before they turned 18.
At my Dz for example there are two guys that started when they where 14 and one that made his first tandem jump at the age of 9.

Did not know that was legalnot everyone jumps under USPA rules

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[pms07 3]

Where is 17 in your poll, that's when I started (43 years ago)? I have multiple friends that started when they were 16 or 17, and two that were 14. Your categories exclude many.

Young person's sport? Go to a POPs, SOS, or JOEs event, it might give you some insight. Or just go to any FS record event, lots of people that you might not consider "young".

[medic0079 0]

I started at 16 in 1995 in Veedersburg Indiana. DZ was on a road named bonebrake road

[fasted3 0]

First jump at 56. I wanted to fly in a wingsuit.
It was not too late for me.
I did shut it down at 63 though, after getting injured in a zip line accident.
Should have stuck to skydiving...

But what do I know?

[tikl68 6]

I was 16. Back in 1986 the legal age was 16 with parents consent, and with my dad being a static line instructor and DZO he was my jump master for my first two static line jumps.

[Lightning126 0]

Pobrause

I think you're leaving out a few peeps in this poll that where fortunate enough to start before they turned 18.
At my Dz for example there are two guys that started when they where 14 and one that made his first tandem jump at the age of 9.

I know of a 6 year old girl who made her tandem jump with her dad. That was over a decade ago.

[CrashProne 4]

What better way to celebrate my 45th birthday?

[brwonder 0]

15. Aug 1993. In Rio de Janeiro

[thetreehugger 0]

36! Just back in April. (my 1st tandem) Never too late to start. :)

[unkulunkulu 0]

First jump with a round at 17, second at 20. Went for aff and started jumping actively at 24

[accumack 14]

I was 16 and 3 days. Weather delayed me January 12 1969.

[glh 4]

Did 3 stactic line jumps at age 30.Did AFF at age 45 and now have over 3400 jumps at age 60

[queiroz 0]

I did the theoretical course at 14, and the first jump at 18, with the t-10 s / l.
My parents did not give me permission (I had to wait until I was 18).
I jumped in boituva (brazil) by the clube de paraquedismo de são paulo.
in 1981.
I think it was much simpler than today.[;)

[dthames 0]

54 years old

Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

[thetreehugger 0]

glh

Did 3 stactic line jumps at age 30.Did AFF at age 45 and now have over 3400 jumps at age 60

Wow! You are an inspiration!

[Jaffacake 0]

Started my AFF just over a week ago, aged 46

[AlanS 1]

18 years old. It wasn't even my idea to go. It was the summer after a year on college, and I told my school classmate/lab co-worker I recently turned 18.

"He said you can now legally skydive. Want to go?"
The words "Sure, Let's go" escaped from my mouth before my brain could stop them.

I did 36 jumps while in college, the got married and took a long break from skydiving.

[RMK 3]

36 years old in 2002; still jumping. Did a tandem with my wife and went back a couple months later and did my AFF

My son just did his first jump at age 10.

"Pain is the best instructor, but no one wants to attend his classes"

[jimmytavino 16]

i was 19 years and 3 months of Age... First parachute jump ( static line ) AND First Airplane Ride...
I had almost 200 Take-OFFS in a Plane Before I had ONE Landing, in a Plane.
it was 9-16-72... Tomorrow !!!! is my 45th "skyBirthDay "
I think I will be AT One dropzone or another...
jmy A 3914 D 12122

[wolfriverjoe 1,460]

pterodactyl1986

***I think you're leaving out a few peeps in this poll that where fortunate enough to start before they turned 18.
At my Dz for example there are two guys that started when they where 14 and one that made his first tandem jump at the age of 9.

Did not know that was legal

Well, to be a bit pedantic, "legal" means within the FARs. No rule about age at all in them.

USPA currently has a minimum age of 18, but that is fairly recent (past 5 years?). Largely as a result of pressure from the manufacturers.
It used to be 16 with parents permission.

And foreign countries have different rules altogether.

The Nelson kids were doing tandems very young. Solo jumps pretty young too.

The Mullens boys were jumping pretty young too.

It helps when your dad is DZO. And those "kids" are some seriously competent jumpers.

At my original DZ, one of the "DZ Brats" was licensed at 16.
At my current DZ, the son of the DZO recently got his A at 16. They had to get the USPA BOD to grant a waiver. The RD jumps there sometimes, so doing it within the rules was both necessary and not terribly difficult.

My first jump was at age 37.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo