fudd 0 #26 December 13, 2002 Heroin would be cheaper and less addictive There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #27 December 13, 2002 Cost...???It costs you one of the DEEPEST commitments you can make in life ( if in fact you go PAST the student phase of the sport)... For some of us, it costs....the loss of acquaintances.For some it costs.. the loss of some of our family and even spouses....and for some the cost is a MAJOR change to their entire (former) lifestyle. But NOW the PAYBACK.... The rewards, the return on investment.....Well most of you do not need me to tell you that the return is a life ALTERING ,, and amazing... Catharsis,,,or rebirth... For some it comes at a young age in their lives,, when they didn't even think they NEEDED to be "reborn",, For some it comes at a later time in their lives,,, when maybe they WERE looking for something new, and exciting.. But for ALL of us... the rewards,,, are SO significant,, that the cost,, is minor,, in comparison...Remember also... there are other ways to "finance" your skydiving passion,, besides the "almighty dollar".....If you are creative, gregarious, inventive, and willing to work....skydiving, can be paid for by everything from becoming a staff member, to packing for tandems and experienced jumpers, to working a deal with the DZO to "run a pushbroom every so often" or to find a niche at the DZ where you can generate, a few $$$$ or a few lift tickets,, each time you visit the DZ...Cost????? It has cost very much,,, yet very little.. compared to the "Rewards"....Try getting that kind of payback ... from your 401K....This year my IRA contribution can "go screw"... I'm going shopping for a Sony VX-2000.!!! hahaha.Skydive softly, Skydive often, Skydive with friends. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chriswelker 0 #28 December 13, 2002 QuoteQuoteI think people should know exactly what they are getting into. Ok, I was just kinda joking in my previous post, but . . . if that's the case and in the interest of full disclosure, what else should we tell a student walking on the DZ for the first time about the sport? Hook turns? Drugs? STDs? Broken homes? Living in a van down by the river? When it comes to talking to people about the full impact skydiving -could- have on their lives, I think the financials are probably the -least- important thing to be worrying about. Paul, I stongly disagree with that point. Skydiving is a very dynamic sport in the fact that we need to stay current to stay alive.If new skydivers can not afford to jump enough to stay current they are a danger to everyone including themselves. An a current AFF and Tandem instructor I get to have first contact with potential skydivers. When asked questions regarding skydiving I attempt to give the best information possible. When people ask me how much skydiving costs I do tell them that it is expensive, but that it is no worse than most other hobbies like boating, bass fishing, scuba, or owning a horse. I also tell them that if they do start skydiving they need to stick with it and stay current by jumping 10 times a month.Last but not least I tell that skydiving changed my life and that it is a sport that has to be experienced and not explained. I just want them around to be able to do so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #29 December 13, 2002 I'm down about 14k. Yeah I'm keeping score, tho it kinda scares me to think I skydove away a nice little car in 1 1/2 years That includes: SL course (8 jumps) 247 jumps (including some RW and CF coaching) 3 tandem jumps pro-track+ jump-track 2nd hand time-out altimeter pro-tec 2nd hand frap hat 2nd hand Z1 fullface with bag artwork on Z1 (now got a purple helmet with Garfield on it FF helmet (wanted 2 audibles, and my Z1 flew open once ) bunch of goggles (clear, amber, mirror) 2nd hand freestyle suit 2 2nd hand RW suits 2 stock FF pants, 2nd hand FF suit warmsuit (this was custom made, expensive but definitely worth it) 2nd hand style suit bunch of gloves (summer, winter, thermo, webbed, some 2nd hand, never jump without them) gear rental for 91 jumps (student stuff, downsize chutes, CF chutes) 3 hook-knives (yeah... I know) 2 logbooks 2nd hand gearbag my own gear (2nd hand but with new stock canopy, with cypres, had some work done on it later including softlinks, new risers, new kill-line pilotchute) repacks and stuff one extra 2nd hand main I still have to sell Not included: packing, travel costs, thermo clothes/underwear, place to sleep, etc. And I am definitely NOT color-coordinated: If I gear up for a typical FF jump I have white, neon yellow, forest green, teal, black, pink and purple This is mainly Icarus' fault for letting me demo a white&neon yellow Safire when I thought I was perfectly happy with a sorta-matching-my-rig Spectre Oh well.... I still need to find out if I can get my hands on one of our DZ's tandem coveralls, which are a matching neon yellow, for a FF suit ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #30 December 13, 2002 QuoteSkydiving is a very dynamic sport in the fact that we need to stay current to stay alive. You, of course, are talking only about the actual act. I was speaking in the larger sense of the lifestyle. I absoltuely agree that when it comes to the actual act, yes, currency, both frequency and cash are huge factors. That said, I don't think it's the actual number of jumps a person makes per month that makes them current, but rather how much thought goes into each jump and what the person takes away from it. For instance, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me to have somebody just go out and bang off a batch of hop-n-pops if they're not learning anything from it.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Antithesis 0 #31 December 14, 2002 I look at it as "how much money can you throw out of a plane?" ... The only limit is how much money that you actually have. I travel the land, Work in the ocean, Play in the sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #32 December 16, 2002 Here's another one. I hope you, as well as Dave in another thread, meant "want".... Quotesave $ for things you need.....New CypresIt's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCoonce 0 #33 December 16, 2002 Quote I'll tell y'all something else: I don't have the nerve to hit the button that runs a total. The exact number lives in fuzzy obscurity while the rest of me enjoys the world's most rewarding and best sport with the coolest people. Harry Yeah, my husband and I started skydiving in August.... we now both have our own gear... and have kept all of our expenses in Microsoft Money... We hate to think about the total (especially when multiplied by 2)- all we can say is it is worth every penny! I had no idea that "just one jump" would change our lives completely! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildWilly 0 #34 December 19, 2002 I spend 90% of my money on beer and skydiving, the rest I just waist. Blue Onesgrowing old is inevitable, growing up is optional. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #35 December 19, 2002 QuoteI spend 90% of my money on beer and skydiving, the rest I just waist. I thinkin' the beer goes to your waist and you just waste the rest of it.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,623 #36 December 19, 2002 Quote For some of us, it costs....the loss of acquaintances. This wasn't emphasized enough, so I'm repeating it. If you stay in skydiving for a few years, you will be attending wakes and funerals for friends.... 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
jimmytavino 16 #37 December 19, 2002 Quote Quote For some of us, it costs....the loss of acquaintances. This wasn't emphasized enough, so I'm repeating it. If you stay in skydiving for a few years, you will be attending wakes and funerals for friends. My thoughts here,,, were absolutely referring to the people with whom skydivers,,, formerly spent their time..... and not referring to fellow jumpers...... as your post seems to indicate..... Yes you are correct to bring up this subject,, since it is valid.....but it was not EVEN on my mind as I responded to this thread...I was talkin' about the "whuffos you might leave behind"...... My personal experience has been,, that of all the dozens!!! of such services,, I have attended for fellow jumpers and/or their families,,, over the Decades,,,, very FEW of them,, very few,, were the result of a skydive.....Still the loss of anyone is difficult. kallend you make a good point , that all jumpers must be aware,,, that because of the seriousness of our sport, such a possibility exists... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
