IanHarrop 37 #26 August 15, 2011 Quote The answer to this and all questions is 42. too true... it is the answer to meaning of life, the universe and everything"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mchamp 1 #27 August 15, 2011 QuoteThanks 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! That's seriously impressive and you seem VERY fit! Go get that license of yours! I can only imagine to have that many dives(only 30 at the moment) and also hope to complete an Ironman later on......and I'm 23!For info regarding lift ticket prices all around the world check out http://www.jumpticketprices.com/dropzones.asp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #28 August 15, 2011 Quote The BPA has identified 55 as the maximum age to learn to skydive. Well, it's a good thing we told the Brits to piss off in 1776 then; ain't it? quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,619 #29 August 15, 2011 QuoteThe 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). The BPA has a lot of weird ideas.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Divinfool 0 #30 August 15, 2011 Great stats...thank God I have never limited myself to doing stuff I'm passionate about by statistics! Fear is the thief of dreams..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 0 #31 August 15, 2011 QuoteQuoteThe 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). The BPA has a lot of weird ideas. Like sending as many people as they can to spend money at DZs in Spain. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 35 #32 August 15, 2011 Quote airtwardo ,,, not Deland. It would have surprised me if it was, Deland is full of old people! Now, which dz do I have to go to in order to lay the smackdown on someone for saying 40 is too old? She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisL 2 #33 August 15, 2011 Quote 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). Thats just fucked up. __ My mighty steed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Divinfool 0 #34 August 15, 2011 I'll keep the Dropzone name to myself until I get to know everyone better I'm still in the probationary period on this forum.. Fear is the thief of dreams..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #35 August 15, 2011 Quote I'll keep the Dropzone name to myself until I get to know everyone better I'm still in the probationary period on this forum.. I've been around the block twice, and I've never heard of a US dropzone with that age limit~Let me know WHAT DZ it is, I'll give them a call to ask about that policy...What does knowing 'everyone better' have to do with it?? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #36 August 15, 2011 QuoteThe BPA... 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. Does the BPA kick experienced jumpers out of the sport when they reach the age of 55? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #37 August 15, 2011 Quote ......born in 1962....... Young whippersnapper. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jverley 0 #38 August 15, 2011 No, they just think that at 55 you cant teach a old dog new tricks. The figure you can still do the old tricks you already know.John Arizona Hiking Trails Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
obelixtim 100 #39 August 15, 2011 QuoteQuoteThe 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). The BPA has a lot of weird ideas. The BPA is the most incompetant organisation in world skydiving. This is exactly the sort of nonsense that illustrates that point. Any injuries suffered by older individuals in the UK can be directly attributed to the incompetance of their training systems and antique equipment they still have in service.My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 24 #40 August 15, 2011 QuoteNo, they just think that at 55 you cant teach a old dog new tricks. The figure you can still do the old tricks you already know. mmm.. I dont remember there being any runners and sandmen when we lived over in the UK...Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,619 #41 August 15, 2011 QuoteNo, they just think that at 55 you cant teach a old dog new tricks. They may think that, but they're quite wrong if they do.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kimemerson 7 #42 August 15, 2011 Dead. Dead is too old. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trae 1 #43 August 15, 2011 in reply to "Dead. Dead is too old. " .................................................. This is the real truth. The only thing making me feel old are the injuries I collected in my youth. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PiLFy 0 #44 August 15, 2011 Screw 'em. Go across the channel to Spain, & get your licenses there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Divinfool 0 #45 August 15, 2011 Thanks for all the great responses and encouragement.... in retrospect, the fact that they told me I was too old only makes me want it more. Time to quit screwing around and get up there. Maybe a stupid question, but should I do another tandem so I can actually get a better feel for what's going on...or get right into the course? (my first was such a rush I couldn't concentrate on anything but the buzz I was feeling lol) Fear is the thief of dreams..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 24 #46 August 15, 2011 QuoteScrew 'em. Go across the channel to Spain, & get your licenses there. Who are you replying to? The guy in Arizona, or the guys in Florida?Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,619 #47 August 15, 2011 QuoteI 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. Hi elltee. A certain lady that we both know was, I believe, 55 when she made her first jump. She has since won a medal at Nationals, been on the womens' world RW record and just this last July on the US women's wingsuit record.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kd5xb 1 #48 August 15, 2011 I saw a bumper sticker a few years ago -- "I don't know how old old is, but old is older than me"I'm a jumper. Even though I don't always have money for jumps, and may not ever own a rig again, I'll always be a jumper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brucet7 0 #49 August 15, 2011 55 was a great age to make that first jump. 5 years later I am still at it, but haven't won anything cool. Just enjoy learning.POPS #10623; SOS #1672 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PiLFy 0 #50 August 16, 2011 QuoteQuoteScrew 'em. Go across the channel to Spain, & get your licenses there. Who are you replying to? The guy in Arizona, or the guys in Florida? BPA's agism. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
