Kbone

Newbies have to pay dues. Expect to be told a number of things repeatedly for the next 100-200 jumps..... 1)Track away from the jump run 2)Don't spiral down over the landing area 3)Don't land "here" (swoop grass) 4)Don't take so long to spot! It gets easier with experience. When you are ready, try jumping at some different dropzones and maybe you will find one with a better vibe!

I don't mind listening to newbies give each other advice. I used to get annoyed but now I just laugh. It's like listening to a 12 year old tell another kid how to drive. At the end of the day, I really don't worry about it. Every skydiver is over 18 years old, which makes them a legal adult capable of making their own decisions. They can choose to listen to the guy with thousands of jumps or listen to the 20 jump wonder that just got off student status. It is their decision to accept their advice as fact or opinion. If a rookie skydiver wants advice from a seasoned vetran, they will ask! If he just wants to "shoot the shit" with the low timers, let them have their fun!

Not sure what country you live in, but in America we do have a right, It's called the first amendment. They selectively break the rules. Not everyone who jumps at a USPA Group dropzone has a USPA membership. Usually a logbook is enough. I'm not encouraging JP or anyone to boycott the USPA. I'm simply suggesting the most aggressive approach to solve JP's problem. Frankly, I don't give a shit what the USPA thinks of me. I doubt JP cares either.

This is the best post you have ever written. I'm impressed. The most simple solution to your problem is to cancel your USPA membership. Someone with your jump #'s and time in the sport will have no problem boycotting the USPA. Most dropzones in the area will still allow you to jump at their facility because they know you and are willing to bend the rules for you. Now, what is the more typical jumper to do? Every DZ in California is a frekin Group Member. If you don't belong, you can't jump period. The solution is this.....If enough jumpers cancel their memberships, DZ's will have to let non USPA members jump at their dropzones, assuming they want to stay in business and keep their circle of upjumpers. Trying to reform the USPA is like beating a dead horse. Just move on and prey that enough people will follow. Only then will you see a real change. Kbone

A lot of jumpers do nothing but RW so their freeflying skills need work. It works the other way also. Most freeflyers couldn't turn points on a 4 way to save their lives. It depends on what disciplines people have worked on. There are no wasted jumps. If you are doing solos, then practice your transitions.

People type like that all the time on DZ.com, It's not Typoglycemia. It's lack of proof reading before a post!

No. I took off before anyone got back so I don't know if anyone is angry about it. I hope they would just see the humor in it? Hopefully they all got a discount since it was only the pilot chute and bridle rather than a complete repack. Who knows what the rigger policy is in this situation. The DZO probably got his Tandem and Student rigs repacked for free since he is tight with the local riggers, but as far as the regular jumpers gear... I just don't know. That is why I am so nervous about going back! They may just laugh about it or they might be gunning for me right now. I definatly don't want to get stuck with the repack charges on all those rigs! I hope I can use that "We're one big happy family" line on 'em and they will forgive me. I don't even think they know yet, that I did it!

You shouldn't bring kids to an adult party. Maybe he was just blowing off some steam! If you were asked to leave, wouldn't you be offended? One time, I got so drunk! Everyone had gone out to dinner and I was all alone. Just for kicks, I walked around and pulled everyones reserve handle! When everyone returned from dinner, the floor was scattered with reserve pilot chutes and bridles coming out of every single rig in the place! I hope people didn't get to angry about this, since I didn't technically damage anyones equipment. I'm thinking about going back next weekend, hopefully, everyone has forgotten about the incident. I hope! Not cool! because it had nothing to do with other dropzone. You can't boycott a jumpers like that. What ever happend to "NO RULES, SKYDIVING RULES!"

And he got banned because of this?

Ahh, she looked pretty cute if you ask me! Who cares if she can't sing. Nobody seems to mind that Britney, Janet and Madonna can't sing! So why pick on poor Ashley! If I were Ashley, I would just laugh if a bunch of blue collar, joe six packs were boing at me! Boo Hoo yourself! Shes obviously living large, dispite her lack of talent. I'm sure shes got more cash than anyone in that crowd and she is probably driving off in her Limo w/ champaign saying "Ha! what a bunch of dorks!" I'm sure any musician would trade in their talent to be as sucessful as her. Period!

I'm relieved it was only her teeth. I thought she was going to barf on the TM!

A while back, I was complaining about the "Parachutist" cover pics not being as top notch as they should be. http://dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1192740;search_string=cover;#1192740 Everyone totally flipped out..... "how dare you" they said! I just got my January Parachutist and to my delight! I cover photo of Luigi on his VX39 pocket rocket! Just as I suggested! It's nice to know that I have a voice in this community and that my complaints are promptly acted upon! I rock so hard! Try not to thank me all at once! Kbone

My original message was not complaining about costs!! Please re-read the original post. It was about the impact of Tandems, and the pros/cons of their presence in our sport.

Thanks F1shlips! See! I told you it used to be $400 for AFF level 1!

I don't think anyone has confronted them about it. It's easy to give someone an award and a pat on the back but I doubt anyone has really asked them any tough questions in a long time.

Has anyone asked them why they did it?

Wow! you are better at this than I am. You just nailed all my concerns in one paragraph. All feedback is constructive, weather you chose to accept the suggestions is up to you.

LOL I knew this would happen. All of the hardcore zealots would flip out at any form of constructive criticism towards the skydiving industry. It seems that many of you are happy with the way things are and that is fine with me but I feel that there is always room for improvement. We are not in a cult and there really is no need for the sheep mentality.

It was on their website, the same place you posted your link. They just changed it.

It's $260 now but I remember a few months back it cost almost $400. They must have gotten a lot of pressure to bring the price back down.

Perris has just opened a wind tunnel. It is mostly experienced jumpers that support this wind tunnel. They also have a DC-9 Jet which they will definatly never use for Tandems or AFF. Obviously there is money coming in from somewhere. If funjumpers never turned any sort of profit, do you think they would have invested all the time and money to get these new toys running? If you build a proper business model, anything is possible. Just ask the owners at Perris.

But I thought AFF level 1's cost $299 at Perris? They even cost $400 at Eloy! Thats $275 of pure profit.

Not true, I have in fact been to a couple of dropzones like the one I described and they did quite well and had a good vibe.

I agree but the overhead with most dropzones is pretty low. They are located in far out rual areas where the land is cheap. All you really need is a Manifest booth a dirt airstrip a very old plane a tandem rig or 2 an outhouse that is about it. Skydivers are not picky about their facilities. The airplane is the only real expense with fuel costs. How can dropzones not handle these costs? edited to add: assuming the DZ owner and his girl live at the dropzone, the DZ owner can fly the plane and the girl can run the ticket counter. Damn! It's just that easy!

As a DZ owner, you should never be concerned with the bottom line. It's not about the money. It is about love for the sport. You can't get rich off a dropzone. Most DZ owners realize this. However they are rich in other ways. They are looked up to like Gods for what they provide. They get a lot of attention, especially from chicks, if you know what I mean. A dropzone is like a monastery and the DZ owner is the caretaker. It seems like some DZ owners have forgotten about their roots in exchange for the almighty dollar.