How old is too old?

[Divinfool 0]

As a newbie around here....I'd like to post a question. How old is "too old" to begin skydiving? I got into a huge discussion concerning this last week and would like some input (I'm no troll). As always, smart-arse comments will always be tolerated

Fear is the thief of dreams.....

[airtwardo 6]

As long as one is physically and mentally able to perform the required tasks what difference does age make?

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[muff528 3]

Quote

As long as one is physically and mentally able to perform the required tasks what difference does age make?

That's what she said.

[labrys 0]

Quote

How old is "too old" to begin skydiving?

What Jim said.

If you're mentally and physically capable, you're young enough.

Owned by Remi #?

[airtwardo 6]

Quote

Quote

As long as one is physically and mentally able to perform the required tasks what difference does age make?

That's what she said.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[ManagingPrime 0]

31

[Divinfool 0]

That was my thought as well....but I had a dropzone tell me that they cut off their training at 40....I thought it was strange. Wouldn't that be an individual issue?

Fear is the thief of dreams.....

[quade 3]

Quote

That was my thought as well....but I had a dropzone tell me that they cut off their training at 40....I thought it was strange. Wouldn't that be an individual issue?

Although I've never heard of that before, an individual drop zone may do because they had some legal issue in the past where some individual jumper got hurt and sued the drop zone for some stupid assed reason.

I've NEVER heard of a drop zone turning away a person in reasonable physical and mental shape regardless of age and have seen several go way the hell out of their way to accommodate some that aren't.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[jrmrangers 0]

Maybe they just don't like you and looking for a way to get rid of you!

Wait , I pull what first?

[dragon2 0]

We don't have a set max age, but our FAQ says there are not that many people that are over sixty and want to sign up for a skydiving course

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[elltee56 0]

I started jumping at 53. That was 14 years ago and I now have over 3000 skydives. You are as old as you feel and act. My life has been so much better due to the great group of friends I have made.

You are only as good as you think you are.

[jclalor 12]

Quote

31

Quote

Quote

That was my thought as well....but I had a dropzone tell me that they cut off their training at 40....I thought it was strange. Wouldn't that be an individual issue?

You think 31 is too old?

[DarrellM5 0]

I just turned 45. I had my first tandem in May and just finished my AFF last weekend. I participate in a lot of sports/hobbies with people 1/2 my age.

Occasionally, people ask me why I spend so much time hanging out with young people. I just tell them "because most people my age are too old".

[jonstark 8]

Quote

That was my thought as well....but I had a dropzone tell me that they cut off their training at 40....I thought it was strange. Wouldn't that be an individual issue?

Elitist jerks! Fuck 'em.

jon

[SkyPiggie 0]

Quote

I had a dropzone tell me that they cut off their training at 40...

There's no basis for them to do that.

Sometimes I think we should turn away from student training anyone under age 25...

[mds5118 0]

The answer to this and all questions is 42.

[airtwardo 6]

Quote

That was my thought as well....but I had a dropzone tell me that they cut off their training at 40....I thought it was strange. Wouldn't that be an individual issue?

Which dropzone was that, you're 1/2 an hour from Deland...I don't remember them having such a policy.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Divinfool 0]

Thanks for the replies....great answers btw. I'm 50 and have tried to stay fit my entire life. I've been a bit of an extremist (ironman finisher, 3 marathons, hiked a large portion of the Appalachian trail, 2600 logged scuba dives and avid spearfisherman etc etc). I have consistently worked out with weights three times a week as well as 3-4 days of cardiovascular exercise since I was a teen. Skydiving was one of the things I always wanted to get involved in and I constantly talked about doing it with my kids...well last month I finally got to do my first tandem with my kids (both in their early twenties)... we had a blast and I don't think we have come down from the high yet lol. Naturally the next step for us is getting trained to skydive "solo"....but I was stunned when one of the representatives said I was "too old"...that was a first for me...I felt like showing them what an ol' guy arse whipping felt like! (maybe they just want me to keep doing tandems until I run out of money!)
Luckily I have 6 other dropzones within 75 miles of where I live and have heard great things about all of them. Anyhow... I'm in at another Dropzone and am stoked to finally get trained. Thanks again for the candid comments!

Fear is the thief of dreams.....

[riggerrob 558]

Good attitude!

Your ability to skydive should be measured by a short physical fitness test ... similar to the military method. If you don't pass the fitness test - the first morning of the course - you get sent home.

After the King Air crash, I p!$$ed off some young lads (half my age) by challenging them to do more chin-ups than me!
Hee!
Hee!
The last time I challenged teenage boys to do more chin-ups - than me - it took THREE of them to equal my ten chin-ups!

[Divinfool 0]

Only 10?

Fear is the thief of dreams.....

[riggerrob 558]

Quote

Only 10?

......................................................................

Remember that I am 54 years old, tore my right shoulder three years ago and only count full-stroke chin-ups.

[Divinfool 0]

airtwardo ,,, not Deland.

Fear is the thief of dreams.....

[Divinfool 0]

Quote

Quote

Only 10?

......................................................................

Remember that I am 54 years old, tore my right shoulder three years ago and only count full-stroke chin-ups.

Ok....that would explain it.

Fear is the thief of dreams.....

[jverley 0]

The BPA has identified 55 as the maximum age to learn to skydive:

From their website: (http://www.bpa.org.uk/yourfirstjump/)

Maximum age Analysis of statistics compiled over many years indicates that incident rates tend to increase as student jumpers get older. This may be due to slowing reaction times and sometimes less acute senses as the years go by. Risk assessment suggests the tipping point to be when a person reaches their mid-fifties. On this basis, to avoid increased risk, the maximum age at which even a hale, hearty and healthy person can be admitted to start training for solo parachute jumping is before they reach their 55th birthday. This restriction does not apply to tandem students, where the descent is in harness with a qualified instructor (although health requirements continue to apply).

John
Arizona Hiking Trails

[jumpsalot-2 2]

Quote

Quote

Only 10?

......................................................................

Remember that I am 54 years old, tore my right shoulder three years ago and only count full-stroke chin-ups.

Quote

I think most of the kids born after 1970 have got thru life only being required to do half strokes of anything in life...........and it still took three of them to get to ten full stroke pull-ups....Yes I am from an older era......born in 1962.......






.

Life is short ... jump often.