I was driving from San Francisco to Denver, and Decided to take a break on the second day of driving to get some jumps in. I called the number from their website to make sure that they were jumping on Thursdays. Even though I called at 9:30PM (expecting a recording to tell me what the weekly schedule was), but the DZO answered and asked me what I was up to. When I told him my situation, he then asked if I knew how to get there. I thought he was just helping me out with directions, but when I told him that I had directions already, he told me "well, come on out tonight, and sleep in the packing area. Thick carpet, nice weather."
That totally floored me. I mean, he has no idea who I am other than that I claim to have a B-license, and he's telling me that he'll leave the hangar open for me to drop by? Phenomenal.
When I arrived the next morning (I was calling from my hotel room already...) the friendliness didn't stop. The DZO's wife (I think?) came up for the gear check formalities for a jumper new to a DZ, and then hunted me down later to ask if I wanted a jumping buddy. When she found out I was going to be sitflying, she admitted that it wasn't her thing, but that the DZO might want to come along.
Does friendliness like this happen everywhere? It was great.
Anyway, I wanted to get those things out there. The DZ was nice, the King Air was super fast (and pretty damn new). They just resurfaced part of the large tarmac, which is only bad because if you land on it, beer. The views of the salt lake and surrounding mountains is awesome (even for a Colorado skydiver who gets to see the Rockies/Front Range from the plane. The packing carpet definitely was thick and clean. They also have these carpeted "cots" for lack of a better word. Plywood sheets up on 4x4 legs... for sleeping? Or maybe to extend the packing area.
Wind was a bit funky, but the DZO was extremely knowledgeable about the local wind patterns/cloud formations, and what to expect. I felt safe, even as a first time jumper with low numbers in a new area (and I'm not a cocky guy).
Thanks for a great day, and for making the drive back to CO so much more enjoyable!
Skydive Utah
in Utah
That totally floored me. I mean, he has no idea who I am other than that I claim to have a B-license, and he's telling me that he'll leave the hangar open for me to drop by? Phenomenal.
When I arrived the next morning (I was calling from my hotel room already...) the friendliness didn't stop. The DZO's wife (I think?) came up for the gear check formalities for a jumper new to a DZ, and then hunted me down later to ask if I wanted a jumping buddy. When she found out I was going to be sitflying, she admitted that it wasn't her thing, but that the DZO might want to come along.
Does friendliness like this happen everywhere? It was great.
Anyway, I wanted to get those things out there. The DZ was nice, the King Air was super fast (and pretty damn new). They just resurfaced part of the large tarmac, which is only bad because if you land on it, beer. The views of the salt lake and surrounding mountains is awesome (even for a Colorado skydiver who gets to see the Rockies/Front Range from the plane. The packing carpet definitely was thick and clean. They also have these carpeted "cots" for lack of a better word. Plywood sheets up on 4x4 legs... for sleeping? Or maybe to extend the packing area.
Wind was a bit funky, but the DZO was extremely knowledgeable about the local wind patterns/cloud formations, and what to expect. I felt safe, even as a first time jumper with low numbers in a new area (and I'm not a cocky guy).
Thanks for a great day, and for making the drive back to CO so much more enjoyable!