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nchlswtsn

Anyone know of any "Find people to jump with" websites? If not, I'll make it.

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Hey! I don't know if this is exactly the right thread (Although this is entirely about creating "Events & places to jump) but here is what I'm shooting for:

I was curious if there are any outlets besides your local DZ or jump forums where you can find strangers to jump with.

Essentially a skydiving meetup/facebook setup, just a simple profile and a system so you can lookup by location and maybe experience level other jumpers and organize a jump with people.

This could also be a huge opportunity for meeting jumpers if you are going on a trip somewhere and want to meet a few people for a one time visit jump session. Also for new jumpers who don't know many (any) other jumpers yet.

If you know of any, post it! If not, I'm a programmer/web designer and would love to get ideas on features you would like to see.

Current features I'm thinking:

- Simple profiles.
---- Jump number.
---- Your gear if interested in showing it off (who isn't?)
---- Location
---- Jump pictures
---- Whether or not you have a couch you could host a visiting jumper on.
---- Reputation maybe? (So a hosting jumper feels safe hosting you).
-Open discussion forum? Or possibly just link to dz.com forum with permission


It will be a non-profit simple resource for jumpers.

Let me know!

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Well, used to be that people who were traveling would post in Bonfire that they were going to be at X DZ on X date, and ask for people to jump with them.

Wendy P.
There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

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Most dz now also have a FB page for the local jumpers or State, AZ has a few and it's a good networking, shuttle etc system.

Better never to have met you in my dream than to wake and reach for hands that are not there.

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Sounds cool to me. I would use it if it was out there. Cool idea!

Also it would be pretty cool to have a check in function so a visiting jumper could easily find out the relevant people at the drop zone with the experience or ratings they want to jump with. Or at least a search function so you can find people at the DZ with the criteria you are looking for (FF, RW, coach rating, WS, etc)

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The issue with the method of "just show up" is if you are visiting a dropzone on a trip there might not be many people there, or many people in your experience range on that given day, so being able to reach out beforehand could make for a much more enjoyable visit being that time is limited. Not to mention, even if it is your local dz, you might never meet certain compatible people that jump different days than you, but if you could connect online you might adjust your jump days to meet up with new people.

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nchlswtsn

The issue with the method of "just show up" is if you are visiting a dropzone on a trip there might not be many people there, or many people in your experience range on that given day, so being able to reach out beforehand could make for a much more enjoyable visit being that time is limited. Not to mention, even if it is your local dz, you might never meet certain compatible people that jump different days than you, but if you could connect online you might adjust your jump days to meet up with new people.



The one thing you absolutely need to do to jump is to show up at the DZ.
Remster

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Perhaps I'm just getting old, but I don't think anyone needs ANOTHER social media website, regardless of how specialized it is.

As others have stated, just show up. If it's on the weekend and the weather is good, there will be people there to jump with.

When you are new to the sport and start traveling to visit different DZs, there may be a little apprehension "going in blind", but you'll soon learn that the people in this sport are welcoming, and I have yet to visit a DZ where I wasn't openly welcomed and made to feel at home.

Don't try to limit yourself to jumping with people in your experience range. You will often find very experienced jumpers who enjoy jumping with beginners. It's part of how we give back to the sport. Everyone has to learn, and much of your learning will be outside of paid coach jumps.

Just show up, check in at manifest, tell 'em what you're looking for or interested in doing, and they'll help point you in the right direction.

Have fun
When making the decision to downsize: It's your life, don't spend it all on one canopy

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Cool idea, but will likely end up in the graveyard of other specialised "social networks" that never take off as it were.

Just use the existing tools at your disposal - Facebook DZ pages (where probably every skydiver at that DZ will get notifications and check their FB every 5 seconds like most people). And there are regional Facebook pages that cover a geographic area that I think most jumpers will be members of in their given area for the same reasons as the DZ pages. Post in the DZ or regional FB page of where you're planning to go, and I'm sure anyone relevant will reply.

But if you still want to create the next MySpace for skydivers, here's some website name suggestions:

Plentyofjumpers.com
Skinder (like Tinder for skydivers)
Skitter or Jitter (like Twitter for skydivers/jumpers)
Instajump (guess)

....... [:/]

He's doing his Superman thing.

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Hi nchlswtsn,

I think your idea is great and the criticism that the world doesn't need ANOTHER website does not hold ground - just think what creators of all other successful websites must have heard ;) I do think, however, you will need to be very very careful about execution for this to be successful.

I also disagree with the "just come out" argument. There are all levels of jumpers - from professional, to people for whom skydiving is the only hobby (so it's obvious to come out and hang out even if weather is bad/there aren't enough jumpers in your discipline). But there are also people who balance skydiving with other activities and professional life, and try to avoid "wasting" time sitting at the DZ weathered out, when they could spend that time, for example, making money for more jumps. This idea would obviously mostly cater to the needs of the third group, that I feel, is a pretty large group actually (I don't have stats, so it's just a gut feeling based on how mainstream skydiving has become).

I've had a very similar idea for a long time but have not executed on it yet due to lack of time (very demanding full time job). Plus it's not very motivating to work on a project like that alone.

My idea was a little different than yours, but I think it would align with your idea very neatly:
- list of dropzones with basic information (address, airport code, elevation, aircraft, hours of operation, services, disciplines, student programs, rental availability etc etc)
- if possible, pull weather information for at least selected DZs (using airport code to find the closest weather station, similar to what the metar app does)
- you could set your home/favorite/local DZs and compare weather conditions - useful for jumpers who have a choice of several DZs within driving distance
- review system separate for tandem students, AFF students & licensed jumpers, because these customers have very different expectations and not all DZs excel at all the aspects
- at a glance comparison of DZs in the area - if you are visiting and have 5 DZs to choose from within driving distance, would let you see which one will be the best bet for you
- ability to see people check in at the DZ, so you know which DZ your friends are at / whether it's a low or busy day
- if DZ manifests were willing to cooperate, you could get notified when the DZ starts turning loads / gets on weather hold
- log your jumps and tag people in them, they could then "sign" the jumps with you with 1 click, maybe add a comment
- if possible, find a mechanism to pull logs from your digital altimeter and log jumps for you in batch (this one will be tricky, I know altimeter makers like using proprietary protocols & have exclusive deals with software makers, but maybe, just maybe would be willing to cooperate)

A lot of ideas and I think they align beautifully with your ideas. Definitely would need to be scoped down to start simple first.
It could also be extended with features infinitely: add info about events, local competitions etc. I think it would have much more value than the same information scattered all over forums/facebook (in fact, I have in the past missed out on events or paid a premium last minute flight price just because I learned about the events too late :()

I also see why you would like the online meetup for skydivers. I like traveling solo, and when you first visit a new DZ, it is very intimidating. Even very friendly DZs like Eloy, that have load organizers, can be intimidating at first. Took me 3 visits to Eloy to start feeling semi-homey there :) Also when you're an experienced skydiver, you most likely know everyone in the sport. I'm a newbie (2 years in sport), so that feeling of being a new kid on the block is still fresh in my memory, and I would love to build a support network for those fresh off AFF who start to travel to other DZs. It would by no means replace the existing forums, just supplement them.

So yea, I think your idea is valid and thank you for sharing it. I'm also a programmer. If you'd like to team up with someone to try to put a website together, I'd be up for it. If anything, having someone else working with you is a great motivation :) I was thinking of teaming up with a non-skydiver programmer but I feel like they would not get the whole idea of why this is even useful.

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I am in that third group. I have a wife that just does tandems and I stay busy so when I come to the DZ I don't hang around all day or weekend. I like to do my jumps and then go look for work or do more work to pay for more jumps and gear. I also play music and fish but skydiving does come first. I do love hanging out with the people at the DZ but I live 45 minutes away and don't drink and drive. So when the weather is bad I go home or when I am finished with my jumps I load up and go home to my beautiful wife. I would love a website/forum to meet up with other skydivers. I also have property in Ga and when I am there I would love to meet more people to jump with. I think it is a great idea!

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