michalm21

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The Ranch is a very friendly, opened 7 days a week, 2 Otter + Porter dropzone.
Great people, great vibe, lots of organizing and cool events.
Great place for team training. New Hangar needs to still be finished but is a huge improvement over the "old setup".
Awesome views, but place can be hard to spot if you're new to the area.

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Landing area is long but narrow (comparing to any other DZ), uneven at certain spots with ditches, and sucks when wet (gets muddy quite easily)

=
I recommend this DZ and will be back whenever I get a chance to.

My review from last year is below.
Although I haven't spent much time there this year (08) I have to admit the place is noticeably getting better. I've seen more fun jumpers, more loads, more smiles :) Thumbs up.

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Let me start with positives, as I have a sentiment for this place.
It is a great place for a beginner looking for wide open spaces to land and great views. Most of the staff is good, friendly people, rigger is pretty good, and they're now flying King Air.
That's about it.

Comparing to other places around NYC area, this place
-lacks vibe (no parties,no bond fire, etc, same small group of regulars, some friendlier than others)
- lacks facilities (no place to eat, no lockers, awful packing area)
- gets you to only 10-11k 50-60% of the time. Lifts are $24 to 13k and $22 for 10-11k, quite pricey if you ask me.
- no organizing of any sort, no RW people to jump with
- everything is focused on # of tandems per day

My recommendation is to go and check it out by yourself, do a jump or two, enjoy the view. Then compare to places within similar distance from NYC like The Ranch, Sky's the Limit, or Cross Keys and you will not want to return to SDLI.