I'm Sixteen and a Complete newbie

[manyquestions 0]

I've always been interested in extreme sports, but I've never tried skydiving (my mother wouldn't let me). But this year I'm serious about it. I got my own job and I'm going to pay for my lessons by myself, and my dad is going to be the one driving me to the center.

Do you guys have any advice for my first jump?

Oh, and PS- I'm afraid of heights, lol. Good way to get rid of my fear?

[BillyVance 34]

Do a search on drop zones that offer static line training (earliest age to start is 16). All other training methods mandate that you be 18.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Ugali 0]

go down to the DZ before you start jumping. Look around, have a chat to the people, the instructors.
You'll learn more there than here.
oh, and congrats on deciding to becone a skydiver

Tom, Tom Tom, Tommy, Tom Love

[manyquestions 0]

Yes, I've already asked about my age while talking to a secretary on the phone. I'm paying $175 for the jump and $30 for gear. It seems pretty steep.

BTW, are there restrictions for getting a license?

[BillyVance 34]

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Yes, I've already asked about my age while talking to a secretary on the phone. I'm paying $175 for the jump and $30 for gear. It seems pretty steep.

BTW, are there restrictions for getting a license?

The price for the first jump includes the ground class. It sounds reasonable. I think every jump after that will be something like $50 or so, maybe a little more. Been a long time since I did the S/L course, so my guess may be off. Go to www.uspa.org and look for the online Skydivers Instruction Manual (SIM). It'll have all the requirements listed for each license.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[cocheese 0]

We are all afraid of heights.... unless it's really high and we have a parachute on.

[howardwhite 5]

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Do a search on drop zones that offer static line training (earliest age to start is 16). All other training methods mandate that you be 18.

I know a 16-year-old who went through AFF in 2006 at a USPA Group Member DZ and earned his A license.

HW

[jeremy_o 0]

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Yes, I've already asked about my age while talking to a secretary on the phone. I'm paying $175 for the jump and $30 for gear. It seems pretty steep.

Seems about right, 170 +/- 20 is about what i have heard/seen for SL training. The jumps after should be about 30-40.

http://planetskydive.net/ - An online aggregation of skydiver's blogs.

[Amazon 7]

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Oh, and PS- I'm afraid of heights, lol. Good way to get rid of my fear?

Worked for me... Getting up on my roof to clear leaves from the gutters still scares the heebie jeebies out of me...its not high enough to wear a RIG...

[SkymonkeyONE 3]

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Do a search on drop zones that offer static line training (earliest age to start is 16). All other training methods mandate that you be 18.

Not accurate any longer, Billy! You can train any method by USPA doctrine at age 16. They do at Raeford anyway.

[BillyVance 34]

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Do a search on drop zones that offer static line training (earliest age to start is 16). All other training methods mandate that you be 18.

Not accurate any longer, Billy! You can train any method by USPA doctrine at age 16. They do at Raeford anyway.

When did that change? Didn't know it... what about tandems? still 18? or has it changed to 16 too?

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[SkyDivinRyan 0]

up in canada 16 for tandems and 18 for solo.

[Squeak 17]

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up in canada 16 for tandems and 18 for solo.

Here in OZ 14 for Tandems and 16 for AFF/

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[darkwing 4]

The $30 gear charge raises an interesting question for us. What DZ did you book at? Did you find it via the internet? Can you give us the name of the place?

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[howardwhite 5]

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up in canada 16 for tandems and 18 for solo.

Maybe some places in Canada, but I know a guy from Massachusetts who got his Canadian B license at 17 and had ~150 jumps before he turned 18 this month. He jumped (and packed to support it) in Quebec.

HW

[matthias 0]

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Do you guys have any advice for my first jump?

Its already been said..go to the dropzone, and ask the instructors whatever questions come to mind. The biggest fear is the fear of the unknown. Having questions answered tends to alleviate that.

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Oh, and PS- I'm afraid of heights, lol. Good way to get rid of my fear?

Well, your not alone. Take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt being a beginner myself; but I'm going to post here what I usually say to people who say they won't jump because of a 'fear of heights':

Have you rode in a plane? Ever looked out the window? Did the view bother you? Chances are...if the view you had from the airplan did not make you fearfull, chances are, the view you will get in skydiving won't either. At 14,000 feet, our minds don't accept the fact that we are up that high. With the exception of an altimeter, there is nothing to reference us being that high (no tall buildings).

During freefall, and above 5-6K, you can't perceive the ground rushing up at you. When you start AFF, you won't (or shouldn't) be looking at the ground anyway. I still get a tad nervous on jump run, but it helps focus the mind and will keep one from getting complacent.

Best advice I have: Do your tandem jump, have fun and enjoy the view. Chances are you'll be hooked like the rest of us, but if not..well, the sport isn't for everyone. Good luck.

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