UKFSChick

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Posts posted by UKFSChick

  10. Quote

    airtwardo, did you skip the part where she said the jumps are LESS than normal price for NZ citizens? That would be badass if we were 18 and could get CHEAP jumps and all we'd have to do is drive a bus a few hours AT SOME POINT.



    Aussies too, as I understand it. Also there is some sort of living allowance the NZ Government gives to Kiwi permanent residents while on the course. Not sure of details on that but it's around $165 a week. You don't have to pay it back.

    In addition, all the jumps at the school are supervised directly by the current Course Director, and/or he jumps with the students. When you consider the cost of even the most basic coaching, that is a big bonus.

  11. Quote

    I question the economic logic of attending what's basically a trade school in order to get a shot at a position that offers little security, no benefits, questionable income opportunity long term in regard to depending entirely on other peoples expendable income for a leisure activity.



    Many parts of the world do have state healthcare provided so the 'benefits' point is a little moot. :P In NZ it is not uncommon for course graduates doing camera to earn NZ$22k - $55k per year. A tandem master could earn from NZ$35k - NZ$90k, and manifestors are on around $15 per hour. Packers get $10 - $12 per pack job, which at a busy DZ is a solid income enabling you to save, buy a home, invest, if you want to. Also, much of the time these jobs are formal positions of employment, subject to the usual rules, protections and regulations. This is before you start to consider the other doors that start to open when you're doing 500 jumps a season. For students who may have no other formal qualification, no college, and no real desire for office-based employment, these are very good opportunities.

    As far as the uncertainty of the market goes, NZ does more tandems than any other country in the world apart from the US. Population 4m vs 300m. Adventure tourism is actually a growing sector, and the very existence of this course is a result of that.

    But I think what it really comes down to is that a skydiving career is a lifestyle choice. Not everyone is cut out for the Matrix, and no amount of 'job security' is going to change that ;)

  12. Have you looked at Bodyflight, or are you definitely keen for somewhere warmer? If you have a tandem or AFF instructor rating and 1000 jumps,you might be able to get a work visa for New Zealand. No tunnel but a lot of very busy commercial dropzones, so the employment opportunities are very strong. Huge difference from trying to get a US green card... Best of luck with cutting away. Done right, you will never look back :)

  13. Quote

    My exit weight is about 154 lbs (I'm a thin, tall woman). I want to do RW with a guy who is 215 lbs. How much lead should I wear? Is it preferable to put on a belt or a west?



    I'm in your shoes. As others have said, definitely build your lead up slowly and make sure you feel okay with your wing loading on both main and reserve. I've always worn a belt over my jumpsuit. On the hips seems to be the best option for efficiency in your moves as it keeps your centre of gravity where you want it. I'd also consider getting your jumping partner to slow down as much as he can with the right suit - although it seems a lot of bigger jumpers tend to put the onus on the small guy [sigh]... Lead can be pretty uncomfortable above 5 or 6 lbs wherever you put it, especially if you're running for a load or if you have a long walk back. The shape of the belt is also a factor as some have deep pockets and if your waist is long-ish this lets you load most of it on the front (ie not between your back and the rig).

    I've regularly jumped with 20lbs or so but frankly it's not a preference, just a fair exchange for slots/ jumps/ skydives I wanted to be a part of :) I also like to think it's a good workout... :S

  15. Quote

    How much is the course? They teach students with well under 200 jumps how to shoot video and stills on tandems?



    You'd need to contact the school for pricing. www.nzskydivingschool.com. [email protected]

    The flying component of the course focuses on building the skills needed to shoot camera, such as shot composition, angles, timing, framing and so on. When they have reached the appropriate level of awareness and skill, students practice on each other. All the jumps are either supervised directly by the Course Director (full briefing/ dirt-diving and video debriefs) or the CD jumps with them.

    I understand that most of these students are using a helmet-mounted GoPro. Only those students with sufficient jumps and skills in accordance with NZ regs and as determined by the CD and approved by the TI will jump with an actual tandem. I understand the limit is 200 for NZPIA.

    @ Airtwardo:

    Quote

    So if I understand this correctly, the 'student' is basically paying someone so they can 'work' for them...or in some cases the government is paying.

    As a business operator wouldn't it be somewhat more beneficial to the bottom line to keep a steady stream of 'interns' paying me for work experience than it would to have actual employees? Sly

    Interesting business model.



    The course fees are paid to the School which delivers the Diploma Course (NZSS). The school is in liaison with various DZs worldwide who provide placements for students. It works well for the placement DZs as they have an extra pair of hands on deck. In exchange they provide 30 jumps, exposure to various aspects of DZ operations, supervision and quite possibly a path to employment. They don't receive payment, but provide an opportunity to learn, as is common for interns in most lines of work.

    I can see why you would ask about the business model...lol..however do bear in mind this is not the same experience you'd have as a DZ bum hanging around a dropzone, packing a few rigs and picking up a free jump here and there. They have formal course modules to complete, and their training on the prior 20 weeks of the course prepares them to be very proactive and involved at every level. The path to a paid flying slot (usually camera) is very real for these graduates, although variables include the individual's attitude and the opportunities available at that specific DZ.

    Do also bear in mind that there is a very limited sport scene in NZ, so hanging around a tandem operation waiting for an 'in' is not really an option.

    A lot of this comes down to how you feel about education and training. Some people will choose to do a course in computer programming; others will tinker around writing code at home and learning as they go. Some will do a tunnel camp, others will buy time here and there picking up coaching from whomever is happy to provide it for free. Some people do a BA in journalism, others write a freelance piece here and there and try to talk their way into a gopher slot on their local paper. This is a formal course of study, the only difference is, it happens to be in commercial skydiving, a field which for many people is also a sport/ hobby. If you believe in the value of education and training this is a solid course which, when delivered correctly, provides a very broad basis for people wishing to work in skydiving as a career.

  16. Sorry for the ambiguity. :)
    During the placement students have additional written course components to complete. Also, depending on how many jumps they have and their skill-set at graduation, some students use the free work placement jumps to polish their videography capabilities. Many will start placement having already filmed a few commercial tandem jumps and have the DVD to demonstrate their skills. This means they are well-placed to fast-track to a paid jumping slot on payroll shortly after completion of their work placement.

    Coming from the US, I found it a bit hard to get my head round this at first :)

  17. Your IC also needs to get their hips through the door to enable tail to go on time. Right now your OC is doing a great job, but your IC is rolling out the door over his/ her knee, and tail is still on the step with OC already flying. This is where your rotation comes from.

  20. Quote

    Are you getting paid real money? Or are they just giving you a free jump now and then like the other guy?



    She's on work placement. 94% of graduates get a paid job in skydiving immediately on finishing their course. After 32 weeks and with around 200 jumps, that's not bad.

  21. As mentioned already, I'm sure the individual is a factor. The course modules are very thorough and for many it's a great stepping stone. Life is what you make it :)
    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/212685/career-came-out-blue

    Career came out of the blue

    By Olivia Caldwell on Mon, 11 Jun 2012

    In January last year, Matt Schreurs was attempting his second tandem skydive in Queenstown as a customer.

    Now, he has joined the NZONE skydive team.

    The Invercargill man became a skydive photographer this month after being inspired to join New Zealand Skydiving School in Methven last June.

    By January, he was ready to start working as a freefall cameraman with NZONE Skydive in Queenstown, where he made his only two tandem skydive jumps, the first back in 2006.

    Mr Schreurs chose to live in Queenstown for the relaxed lifestyle, outdoor sports, nightlife and "the best scenery in New Zealand".

    He had been looking for something to get him out of the "nine to five grind" and was considering an overseas trip, but on on a flight from Queenstown to Christchurch, he thought about the rush of jumping out of a plane.

    "I couldn't be happier with where I am right now."

    The possibilities in skydiving were endless, he said.

    "There are a lot of different aspects to skydiving, with freefall, canopy flight, rigging, plus the different disciplines within them."

    His job as a freefall photographer involves taking pictures of customers who are tandem skydiving at a speed of 200kmh.

    On each job he jumps with two cameras on his helmet, one for video recording and one for taking pictures, and uses a bite switch in his mouth to operate them.

    The company is celebrating more than 21 years of skydiving, having taken more than 180,000 customers on jumps.

    -----------------

    I understand Kiwis and Aussies pay less for the entire course than a retail price for the jumps alone. UK residents can I believe get a government loan to pay for it - including rig, helmet, suit etc. That is a big factor for many people looking to break into the sport.

  22. Quote

    Hand around long enough, acquire enough skills along the way, and opportunities arise.

    Quote



    "Hang around long enough" being the issue? :)
    I don't know of many 200-jump skydivers doing tandem ground camera at a busy commercial dropzone in their first year, although I guess it may happen once in a while. FYI, I am commenting on the US market, the NZ market and the European market. It's virtually impossible to even get a packing slot at any of the busy DZs unless you know the right people, never mind being on the payroll.

    Additionally, these students have a relatively vast, in-depth knowledge of DZ ops that makes it easy for them to fast-track once they have their foot in the door. They can edit freefall video to a saleable standard, the understand aircraft economics, meterology, DZ marketing, they are experienced manifestors, they can pack whatever you throw at them, they can hot fuel an aircraft, facilitate DZ trauma first aid..pretty much whatever the DZ needs to get done, they can do it. You don't get that just hanging around a DZ, even if you are in with the in-crowd.

    I have certainly never come across a situation where a jumper with 200 jumps (or sometimes fewer) would be employed and remunerated (highly) for commercial tandem videography. Again, I include NZ, the US and the rest of the world in that comment. According to Jumper156 that's exactly what a lot of his friends have managed to achieve. They'll be doing +/-500 paid video jumps per season in their first year. Jumper156 will probably be in the same position pretty soon.

    I think that's pretty special, to be quite honest.

  24. Quote

    45 points, lol. Yeah those points looked SUPER difficult. So difficult you don't even have to move...you just touch and retouch 45 times :-)

    Everyone I have talked to says the same thing...most boring thing I have ever seen.



    It's true. You don't have to move that much, it seems. Simply touch and retouch 45 times. God knows why it takes so many years of jumping and hours in the tunnel to learn that little fact :) I've been spicing up my own skydives with a lot of unnecessary movement for years, maybe this is where I have been going wrong... :-s

    Bloody boring world records, it aint fun unless you are GEEKING OR FUNNELLING, everyone knows that. You should have a point docked if you fail to pull a face on exit. (And while we're at it, what's with the boring black or navy suits and predictable white gloves? Where are the go-faster stripes, and Hawaiian or cow-print suits? How about some flames or bikini babes on the helmets? Dull, imagination-free, athletic purist, competitive ba$tards!)
    ;-)