mac2501 0 #1 March 3, 2006 can anyone tell me the best DZ to get tandem ratings and AFF in the US cheers Mac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #2 March 3, 2006 Skydive Spaceland in Houston Texas Check them out at: www.skydivespaceland.com Tandem Ratings full time. AFF Cert course this April. Flight School Opening very soon with another close by. Huge Landing area with outs galore. Very well maintained Otters, Cessna’s and student/rental gear. Immaculate grounds and amenities including bunk rooms, campgrounds, restaurant, showers, etcetera... Great weather climate. Great people good vibes. National Champion skydivers available for coaching. Very Close to a major Metropolitan area, Houston Texas and beaches along the Gulf Coast. Incredibly friendly and competent staff and training programs. www.skydivespaceland.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Floats18 0 #3 March 3, 2006 http://www.skydiveratings.com/ Bram is the coolest--- and give them wings so they may fly free forever DiverDriver in Training Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 March 3, 2006 QuoteBram is the coolest I got to watch Bram teach an AFFI course at Aggieland a couple of years ago. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. So it comes down to any DZ in the US is the best to get ratings at, as long as you get Bram to come to that DZ.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aironscott 3 #5 March 4, 2006 Eloy“God Damn Mountain Dew MotherFuckers!” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
timuuu 0 #6 March 6, 2006 Bram & Elly will teach you what you need to know! www.skydiveratings.com They go to different DZ's in the summer, so they may be coming to one near you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matt91078 0 #7 May 2, 2006 Yep. Bram and Elly Rock! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NelKel 0 #8 May 2, 2006 Sorrrrrrrrrrrrrry AFF-I Bram and Elly have it nailed! Everyone either go to MO during the summer OR go to Z-hills during the winter to jump with the best. Skydiveratings.com_________________________________________ Someone dies, someone says how stupid, someone says it was avoidable, someone says how to avoid it, someone calls them an idiot, someone proposes rule chan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #9 May 3, 2006 QuoteYep. Bram and Elly Rock! I triple that! I am a loyal fan. I have attached a photo of Bram - which makes me ask... How many students smile when they are on their back? Also - for those who have been around Bram - you know his accent... On the first day, we asked what his accent was... He said in the PERFECT AUSTIN POWERS GOLDMEMBER DUTCH accent, "Holland, ye know; Amsterdam; Wooden Shoes". He also said, in a way you will have to use your Goldmember imagination of a Dutch accent to make it funny as it was: "Ye never know, you might have a schmart cookie, but by the end of the day the cookie might crumble." He is just such a cool guy. Nothing but respect from me... For an example, I lost the dummy ripcord (I stuffed it in my jumpsuit and it fell out somewhere over zhills). I demanded that I pay for it... He looked at me and said when I make $100,000 a year he will accept half of everything I make, but until then, he would cover the loss. His sense of humor is great... Another candidate left a tandem rig out unpacked. Bram and Elly had to run to the hospital to visit a friend and I did not want to leave it out. They walked up as I was trying to put it away, never handling a tandem rig and all that fabric myself before. They watched in silence for a good minute as I was fumbling around with all the canopy and lines - getting a good (silent) laugh as I was trying to keep it super neat... Another candidate finally could not resist - and started quoting the movie Goldmember by the end of the week... I think Bram even replied to us once, "Schmoke and a pancake." He just made the rating evaluation course the most fun I ever have had in skydiving - it was truly an awesome experience. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #10 June 8, 2006 They ARE the best ... everywhere they go. Their dedication to sharing the knowledge and the way they deliver it...with the constant attention to detail and safety....is just the best. Maybe there's a reason Bram is the AFF course director?????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
klingeme 0 #11 June 9, 2006 Kip Lomiller at AirRage does both courses. You could contact him about a course. www.airrageskydivingservices.com Mark Klingelhoefer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #12 June 11, 2006 Why do you need another rating before you can do AFF? Quotebe a USPA coach or instructor from another discipline(IAD, S.L or USPA tandem) 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? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 3 #13 June 11, 2006 I don't know of any AFF course directors who are also not Coach Course directors. This is not the "old days" where we only had one person travelling around running all the AFF courses. All these people want your business. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #14 June 12, 2006 it's a USPA requirement, why would you need it in another disiplineYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skymonkey2 0 #15 June 28, 2007 If you come to Start Skydiving for your ratings, we have excellent facilities, you will not be bothered by outside distractions, and you will get a discount for coming here. Contact Kip at the Start Skydiving DZ.AFFI-E, Tandem I-E, S/L I-E, IAD I-E, Coach I-E Students are our future teach them well Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #16 June 28, 2007 Bram is in europe this summer check the dates you may not need to come the the states, he rocks! http://www.skydiveratings.com/you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jheadley 0 #17 June 28, 2007 Quote Quote Yep. Bram and Elly Rock! I triple that! He just made the rating evaluation course the most fun I ever have had in skydiving - it was truly an awesome experience. I quadruple that. Bram and Elly are awesome. I recommend them to anyone who wants a rating. You must watch Goldmember before taking a course from him. The entire course I was fighting back laughter listening to him talk. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #18 June 28, 2007 Quote You must watch Goldmember before taking a course from him. The entire course I was fighting back laughter listening to him talk. He said the first day, in a perfect goldmember accent: "You never know, you might have a schmart cookie, but by the end of the day, the cookie might crumble." It still makes me laugh in a good way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #19 June 28, 2007 Ya da is goud. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #20 June 29, 2007 I suggest Utah Steve Webb at the Ranch in NY for a tandem rating. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #21 June 29, 2007 Quotecan anyone tell me the best DZ to get tandem ratings and AFF in the US Is the question - who you take the course with or which is a good DZ in which to take the course? It does not really matter who conducts the course that you EARN your rating from. Don Yahrling taught the course I took, some liked him, some did not but it was not who gives the course that makes a really good instructor, it is the person acquiring the rating. If you endeavor to be the very best instructor you can possibly be and work hard at it, you will be a good instructor. And it does not matter if the best course director in the history of the universe conducts the course you take, that person will not make you a good instructor, only you can do that… So if you are looking for a good DZ to take the course at, I stand by my previous recommendation (www.skydivespaceland.com)because they have well maintained planes, very good gear and 130 acre landing area surrounded by fields for off landings. If you are looking for someone to make you a good instructor, then you do not have to travel farther than the nearest mirror… -Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat… Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #22 June 29, 2007 Quote...It does not really matter who conducts the course that you EARN your rating from. ...it was not who gives the course that makes a really good instructor, it is the person acquiring the rating. ...And it does not matter if the best course director in the history of the universe conducts the course you take Gotta disagree with you here Mykel...some course directors cannot teach worth a shit. Some have ego problems. Some have really bad attitudes. Some have only $$$ as their main concern. Some are still living in the dark ages of skydiving.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #23 June 29, 2007 QuoteGotta disagree with you here Mykel...some course directors cannot teach worth a shit. Some have ego problems. Some have really bad attitudes. Some have only $$$ as their main concern. Some are still living in the dark ages of skydiving. Disagreeing is cool, very… So you are telling me that of all the 8 candidates that took the course when I did, all of us are equal to one another in terms of how well we teach? How well we communicate with students? How well we take care of our duties around the workplace? And that the only reason I am at the level of quality as an instructor that I am is due to the way that Don conducted his AFFCC? Are you saying that if I had taken the course with someone other than Don Y (don’t get much more dark age than him with a huge ego who loved making $$) that I would be a better (or worse) instructor? So I would be a better instructor today had Jay Stokes been my course director? I am left to wallow in the throws of mediocrity because I got stuck with Don???Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat… Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #24 June 29, 2007 QuoteGotta disagree with you here Mykel...some course directors cannot teach worth a shit. Until I took a course with Jay Stokes, I didn't think course directors taught at all. Their function has usually been to test, not teach. Having Jay help me get ready for the tests was a pleasant surprise. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #25 June 29, 2007 I agree. Kip will; teach you how to teach, test you in your ability and ensure you earned your rating and will be safe in the Instructional Filed. MattAn Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
