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Counted for me and my tandem was done three years prior at a different DZ - I also didn't log it! But, a call to the old DZ resulted in them pulling up my waiver and that was good enough.

http://www.reddit.com/r/skydiving In short - Website where users submit content (funny pictures, interesting links, etc etc) and other users give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Content with more upvotes gets pushed higher up the page so more people see it. The website is broken into categories (called "subreddits") and whenever you submit anything you have to pick which subreddit to submit it to. There's a skydiving subreddit.

Did they know there are/have been over the years many DZs in the area? Without knowing that, it is not surprising they would make the wrong assumption about a generic name like Skydive XXX. That's exactly the case and exactly what happened. Non-skydivers don't keep up with the times, don't check DZ.com, and mostly operate on hearsay. Before I came to the forums to ask what was up I googled, dug around everywhere, and found nothing but positive reviews. I appreciate you all helping clarify. It's unfortunate that this thread is getting kinda testy. My question has been answered, I've informed my family that no, there's no great danger of them dying if they do a tandem at Skydive Oregon, and now the question has been answered if anybody in the future tries to figure out why they're hearing negative things but can't find any news articles. So . . . thread over? TL;DR - Heard rumors about Skydive Oregon, rumors ended up being about another (and totally unrelated DZ) that was shut down in 1995, Skydive Oregon is super safe and everybody loves it.

I'm not trying to be malicious or anything, I just think that a title like what it was (mods have since changed it) is actually more helpful when looking to answer the question I had. I specifically wanted to know why people I knew thought that Skydive Oregon was sketchy. I wasn't looking for opinions on Skydive Oregon (there are plenty already posted in the forums) or to know more about it. Sorry if people are offended by this, I was just trying to get a question answered, not badmouth a dropzone that everybody says is lovely.

People have mentioned the title several times but each time I reread it it seems totally fair. I don't say "why is it sketchy," I say "why do people think it's sketchy." The comments and even my initial post are full of nothing but praise. The rumors really are out there, three unique people all told me the same thing. I'm surprised there wasn't already a thread about this and anybody seeking to research the subject later will find this subject very helpful. If a mod wants to change it, fine, I won't fight that battle, but I plan on leaving it.

You, sir, are the exact same size as me. I too went and am going through this process. Allow me to share with you what I have learned. First things first, if you spring for a new 210 canopy you'll end up downsizing almost immediately and then you'll be right back where you started. I'm flying a 190 for another 30-50 or so jumps and then plan on flying a 170 for my next several (5? 6? 7?) hundred jumps. Canopy size will depend on your comfort/skill level but you'll be downsizing pretty rapidly on your way to 100-200 jumps so I wouldn't buy new just yet. I'd piece-meal things together if I were you, the full package for a 6'0 190lb guy tends to sell out immediately after it's posted on DZ.com. Seriously, I've emailed about rigs 4 minutes after posting and somebody else had already grabbed them. It's insane, primarily because it's such a common size for a normal guy right off student status. Wings stock containers are almost always 40% off on their website and various free/included options will change on a monthly basis. http://skydivewings.com/ I got mine when it had free cut-in laterals, it was a smokin' deal. I don't regret it at all. As for AAD, I'd buy it new. Why risk it with a used one? That's up to you though. Canopies, well, there really are plenty of used canopies on DZ.com. There's not reason to buy new unless you really want to. I check frequently and there are always 170s, 190s, and some 200-210s. Good luck!

Skydive Oregon is about to be my home dropzone and is also where I did my first tandem. I've been doing research here on DZ.com to see how reputable it is and what I should be expecting and it has positively glowing reviews. Everybody seems to love it - great views, cheap flights, great landing area, awesome hanger, fun people, etc etc etc Why then, when I mentioned Skydive Oregon at the DZ here in MA, did somebody say "Oh man, that place is a death trap. Or, it used to be, don't know about it now." When I mentioned Skydive Oregon to my dad he said something very similar - "Oh yeah, that place killed people all the time." My aunt, who was going to do a tandem here in MA now refuses to do one at Skydive Oregon because she heard it was dangerous. I've googled my heart out but can't find a single incident other than a guy a couple of years ago dying while swooping. What the hell happened there to make everybody think it's so unsafe!?

This seems like a really dangerous idea.

N/A

Has anybody/do people ever get their tandem certification, buy their own tandem rig,and use it just to take their friends skydiving? Would a DZ allow this if they paid for two tickets instead of a tandem ticket or would they prohibit it because of the loss of tandem ticket sale?

Steering lines themselves, not sure why other than to do a really hard turn without pulling a toggle all the way down to your side.

I have a Phantom X and Optima II as well and don't have issues hearing it. Make sure the speaker (side without screen) is facing your head and make sure that when it's in the pocket it's pushed up against your ear. Head shape will determine where in the pocket that is - for me it's right at the top, not shoved all the way down deep like other people are advising.

Tandem sunset load?

Not a rigger and I've only got 55 jumps, but having just gone through this process I think I can offer some help. Feel free to correct more-wizened-jumpers. Helmet - Open of full face is completely user-choice. I assume you've been jumping with an open-face during AFF, see if you can borrow or try a full-face. In general they reduce noise and wind smashing against your face. Some people dislike that aspect of skydiving and go for the full-face, others love it and stick with open. It's up to you. As for jumpsuits, there are two primary types that you'll see most often around DZs - freefly suits and RW (relative work) suits. RW suits are likely what you've been wearing during training. They have grippers (handles) on the arms and legs that are used for grabbing and making formations during skydives. They're designed for flying on your belly and doing things with other skydivers who are doing things on their belly. Freefly suits are designed for freeflying (makes sense). They typically fit looser/baggier than RW suits and lack the grippers. Other suits out their include wingsuits, tracking suits, and other variations (freefly pants, etc etc). Most peoples' first jumpsuit is an RW suit. All of the recent A-licenses at my dropzone got RW suits (and coincidentally we all got Bev Suits). Before you pull the trigger on ANYTHING, talk to the people at your DZ. I chatted with well over a dozen people asking about different suits, helmets, altimeters, etc. I had people show me the different suits, examples of different materials and gripper sizes, etc etc. Use the internet for cursory research, but there's nothing quite like seeing the real thing and getting advice from people in real life.

Once. I checked the spot and there was just white as far as the eye could see, loooooow white. I said "no way" and backed away from the door. The two free flyers looked out and were like "LET'S DO THIS!" and jumped. Turns out the ceiling was at 2k and there was a big push at 2.5k. They nearly landed out, I got a lot of "good choice" pats on the back when I got back down.

I didn't tell my parents when I went. It was during the summer between sophomore and junior year in college. I was home for the summer and went out with friends to do it. Best part? I had a malfunction and a reserve ride, so when I got home the first thing I said to my parents was "Guess what the phrase of the day is!" "What?" "Well, it's a good thing we have two parachutes!" They were good natured about it and generally of the mindset that, at this point in my life, I can make my own decisions so long as it only really affects me. If your parents are less like that then I'd tell them beforehand.

Alright, so you get two of them, and then you spread a giant cargo net between them. We're talking 2x football-field size. You get lifted into the air already in formation and you climb to altitude holding everybody's grippers. Then, when at altitude, they cut the net (with a lot of weight attached so it falls faster than the formation), and VOILA! 300 way! Don't even need oxygen!

It doesn't offer jumps in each stop it goes to. Whether or not it does a jump run, I imagine, depends on a variety of factors. 1) Is it at a dropzone? 2) Are there at least 8 people willing to pay the $4,500 total cost to ride to altitude? 3) Other things? As for making the connections, I'd say relax and wait until you start AFF. You'll meet plenty of people without even trying. If you're in a part of the country that has winter then spend the next several months stockpiling cash and getting excited.

Well, $170, but yeah. It was almost an impulse buy, so I waited a week. During that week it sold out and I found myself upset. Now it's back in stock and I still want it, so I pulled the trigger.

No load bearing at all, just aesthetic. I don't have a machine myself, nor do I have skills worth trusting when performing surgery on a $200 backpack, otherwise I'd do it at home.

I hope this is the right place for this. It doesn't quite fit in "Classifieds." Tell me to go pack sand if it doesn't belong here. I snagged the Stratos Rig Backpack today http://www.redbullshop.com/redbull/en/rb-stratos/rig-backpack-mission/v/M-109044?ctcCategory=rst-accessoires&pi=2 but the three-ring system looks a bit dodgy. http://i.imgur.com/d73Wa.png I'm looking to have a rigger (or somebody far more competent than me) replace it with a real three-ring release. Whether it actually has a handle/cable housing is dependent on whether that'd actually be possible/feasible. At the very least, I'd like the three rings to be correct and to actually have a loop go through the small ring and the grommet. This is the three-ring hardware combo I'm looking at, H3800B on paragear, and it's corresponding rings. http://www.paragear.com/templates/base_template.asp?group=244#H3800B I'd buy all the hardware needed and ship it to you and you'd do the modification. I can't afford to pay for the modification labor, but I'll gladly trade you labor. I work at a shop (machine, woodworking, general purpose) and can build you things. Similar deal as with the rig modification, you tell me what you want, get me the materials (or give me money to get them), and I'll build it. I've got a CNC router (great for custom creepers, signs, etc), CNC mill (great for engraving, hollowing out power tools so you can put ash in them), and all sorts of other stuff. http://5witsproductions.com/index.htm Anybody up for the trade/challenge? Thanks a ton guys!

Ah, gracias.

Nice video :) You guys got around 5k ft? Yep, got out at 5k. The pilots are NOT skydivers. Their briefing was "We'll fly over the drop zone, open the doors, and you guys do what you do." The "spot" is what you make it. It's tricky, though, because you can only see straight down, so I'd try to find somebody who's familiar with the DZ and recognizes the surrounding area.

Get enough separation! I jumped it in September and we didn't have nearly enough separation. Jump in pairs (two at a time) and leave 5 seconds between pairs and it'll work great. Have a BLAST, it was awesome. I'd do it again (and pay the $450) in a heartbeat. Here's the jump I did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SsUa_sWf9A

Alright, hands up if you didn't have friends to begin with . . . *waves hand* Everybody I hung out with scattered after college. I spent the first year of the real world with very little social interaction with anybody. Started skydiving because I wanted to jump out of planes, I had NO idea the social aspect was such a big part. Now I actually have people to do things with and hang out with on the weekends.