fell4skydiving 0 #1 April 25, 2013 I will be turning 33 in about 2 weeks. I did a tandem jump for the first time 2/15 and fell in love with the feeling of freefall so I signed up for AFF and did my first student jump 3/16.. I've completed through level 4 and plan on completing 5 and 6 this weekend <--- excited, yes!! I'm just curious about how many others have started this sport past the 30 mark. :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fencebuster 3 #2 April 25, 2013 51. CGCharlie Gittins, 540-327-2208 AFF-I, Sigma TI, IAD-I MEI, CFI-I, Senior Rigger Former DZO, Blue Ridge Skydiving Adventures Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 0 #3 April 25, 2013 I was 32 I think. To lazy to do the math. 1800 jumps and one crushed vertebra later here I am at 46. Not active in the sport now. Still jump once in a while and run a boogie once a year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fell4skydiving 0 #4 April 25, 2013 Crushed vertebrae?! Is this why you're not as active in the sport anymore? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjsgrlsx3 0 #5 April 25, 2013 I did my first tandem at 35 started AFF at 36! 42 now and almost 500 jumps! It has been a fun ride! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bader 0 #7 April 25, 2013 Quotehow many others have started this sport past the 30 mark. :) Thousands. Not unusual at all. Many people who want to get into the sport earlier in life can't, because they don't earn enough money yet. So it comes later in life when they're more secure financially. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 29 #8 April 25, 2013 I started at 25, but the majority of my jumps were made from 28 to 33 years of age, and I'm 45 now. The last 10 years have been sparsely populated with jumps here and there with a few long breaks. Being a home owner, husband, and father of two girls tends to get in the way. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fell4skydiving 0 #10 April 25, 2013 Lol. As new as I am, I can relate with that with being a single mother, homeowner and being full time employed.. The time and the cost are both in the way! ;) Why can't I win the lottery? Oh, there is no lottery in AL :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dthames 0 #11 April 25, 2013 Several months ago on a different thread the question was asked by someone 50+. Many answered that were 50 or older when they started. 54 for me. Mid-30s, you are in the prime of your adult life. Keep your eye open for the first jump students at your DZ. Empty nest adults are not uncommon.Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!” Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TsunamiGilligan 0 #12 April 25, 2013 QuoteMany people who want to get into the sport earlier in life can't, because they don't earn enough money yet. So it comes later in life when they're more secure financially. ^^^This And I was 35 for my first tandem and got my A at 37. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_Don 0 #13 April 25, 2013 First tandem... 41. Welcome to the fun! I am NOT being loud. I'm being enthusiastic! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mistercwood 5 #14 April 25, 2013 Had my first tandem last August, turned 32 in December and started AFF in January. Pleasantly surprising to see so many started later than us... I was mildly annoyed at myself after my first jump for not having done it a decade earlier, but hey at least I didn't start a decade later, right? You are playing chicken with a planet - you can't dodge and planets don't blink. Act accordingly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 3 #15 April 25, 2013 I'm flabbergasted! Skydivers actually waiting until they can afford to jump... What is the world coming to? lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 3 #16 April 25, 2013 QuoteI'm flabbergasted! Skydivers actually waiting until they can afford to jump... What is the world coming to? If I'd have waited for that - I'd STILL be waiting! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neflier 0 #18 April 25, 2013 First tandem in college at 21. Life got in the way. Last year did tandem #1 again, all the way through "B" at 42/43. Looking forward, not back!!Life is too short to drink cheap beer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikeal 0 #19 April 25, 2013 I was 18 when I did my first tandem. Had to wait until I was 19 to start my license progression because of state laws. Been 2 years. Being a poor college student has slowed me down sure, but I have my license, a bunch of jumps, and all my gear. It gets cheaper from now on right? :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingRhenquest 0 #20 April 25, 2013 QuoteLol. As new as I am, I can relate with that with being a single mother, homeowner and being full time employed.. The time and the cost are both in the way! ;) Why can't I win the lottery? Oh, there is no lottery in AL :/ Just open a bank account and every time you would have bought a lotto ticket, put a dollar in the bank account instead. If you planned to buy 1 lotto ticket a week, at the end of the year you'll have $52 more than you would have if you'd done that. If you have other bad habits (Smoking comes to mind) you could kick them and put those funds into that bank account, too. It adds up pretty quickly. Spend a buck a day on a vending machine soda? That's a really good candidate for that, too (And another $365 at the end of the year.) I did my first skydive in July of last year, at 42. I'm 100 jumps in now. Making up for lost time. I did try hang gliding back in the 90's, so a life of adventure wasn't completely unknown to me.I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 3 #21 April 25, 2013 Quote ...at the end of the year you'll have $52 more than you would have if you'd done that. Yeah...gas to the DZ & one jump! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spage 0 #22 April 25, 2013 I had just turned 30. Skydiving really does make you feel younger! My bank account & diet are just like when I was 21! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Napalm_C 0 #23 April 25, 2013 My old man started his AFF 2 months shy of his 60th birthday. 28 jumps so far so yeah - 33 is not late at all Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingRhenquest 0 #24 April 25, 2013 QuoteQuote ...at the end of the year you'll have $52 more than you would have if you'd done that. Yeah...gas to the DZ & one jump! Better than just giving it away, and that's assuming you stop at one $1 ticket a week. Kick a pack-a-day smoking habit and put that $5 for the pack of ciggies in the bank instead, you'd be $1800 richer at the end of the year. Once you actually get in the habit of doing it and realize how quickly it's accumulating, it gets to be easier to sqirrel a little more away every now and again. Pretty soon you have enough for a new rig (Or a down payment on a house...) 'Course if I had $1800 sitting in savings, I'd start thinking maybe I should make that money work harder for me than it would be in a savings account, and start looking for under-valued stock. Maybe get in on the ground floor with some diesel powered nuns!I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willi91 0 #25 April 25, 2013 I was 13 years old on my first tandem. Did another one when I was 14. First solo jump December 31st - 5 days after turning 16. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
