mdrejhon

They recently had an amazing Mission 100 big way event, the Canada Record big way Skydive event, (happened to be Friday 13th, July 13, 2012). I participated in the big way attempts, and the dropzone vibe has changed significantly. This 102-way successful record blew past the old 59-way record.

In the past, they seems to have had a somewhat high priority on tandems, but it seems to have changed, especially with the recent rise of Skyventure Montreal (first Skyventure in Canada, very closely affilated with the Lemays -- Canada's 4-way Team Evolution from Nouvel-Air) and the growing pool of experienced skydivers. I'd give them a try, it's a lot of fun during a good boogie event or big way camp that they do more often now. They have now become the big way central of Canada.

Hello,

Before, I had to wait 3-4 hours to manifest myself on a Cessna in Ottawa, because of a single Cessna and a backlog of tandems!

Now, I've jumped 2 times in less than 3 hours, moments after arriving, thanks to the 10-person Navajo that has arrived.

I am VERY happy the Navajo has come to Ottawa. Plenty of room to squeeze in a few experienceds, and even a 4-way, while still paying the bills with three tandems simultaneously. We experienceds may just be filler sometimes, but the improvement in Ottawa is like night and day -- no longer have to wait as long to get on a load. It's totally understandable that tandems have to pay the bills. Three Canadian dropzones are recently getting the Navajo - I now know why they are so attractive.

I have done three tandems (1997, 2002, 2005). I am about to start the Progressive Freefall training there (Canada's version of AFF) sometime in May.

I went to Gananoque in 1997 because they were the one with the best website. It was still the early Internet days. The information on that site answered more of my questions than the others of the time.

My first tandem was in 1997, and I had a great cameraman film my first jump there! The first TI was a real hoot, and did a real exciting jump - I have an edited version of my first jump at http://www.marky.com/misc/video/yes-i-did-it.mpeg (make sure you download to disk first before playing, or it cuts out before the actual jump)

This is not a brand new hanger building -- it is an old World War II building, so it does show it age, but it keeps the airplanes perfectly dry. It's more a neighbourhood feeling, rather than feeling commercial and a "prepackaged, manufactured" of disneyland-like dropzones, the more cozy atmosphere can be very helpful if you are a beginner who's very shy around people (just make sure you drum up enough courage to say hello to others! I didn't until my third visit though, but I'm glad I introduced myself to a few!)

The in-the-air experience shows the runways are a very unmistakable diamond-shape from the air, and you can see all the beautiful farmland, and still see Kingston from the distance, as well as the river that separates USA and Canada. Probably makes this a safer DZ for beginners who might land off-zone on a windy day.

Several of the people running the place there have thousands of jumps, and I had plenty of chance to speak directly to them. There is a campsite, haven't camped there yet, but that will afford additional social opportunities during the evening to get to know the DZ people.

I'm still only at 3 jumps going onto 100? in 2005 (hopefully!), can't wait to start my PFF course!