Going skydiving next weekend. Don't want to get bored with tandem.

[fuzzybabybunny]

This will be my second time going. The first time was on a tandem dive in Hawaii. This time it will be in Indiana, and again, tandem.

I don't want to go tandem again. What do I do to not go tandem? As in, what do I do to start training for non-tandem dives? I want to pull my own chute, steer myself, land by myself, etc.

 

[SirStev0]

Headline in two Monday's

"Inexperienced Skydiver Falls to Death; Family Blames Skydiving Group"

 

[Bootprint]

Ask the company what is required?

Looked up one Indiana company and they do 3 methods, static line, tandem and free fall with 2 instructors. These are for first jumps.

Was your first jump in the last 12 months?

 

[daveymark]

best to let Darwin's law come to fruition.

 

[KK]

If I was to do that sky diving thing, I sure as hell wouldn't want to do it tandem unless it was with a hot chick with some big knockers.

 

[johnjbruin]

I don't think this is something you want to do on your own the second time.
Don't they have rules or something for 'x' number of dives before you go at it alone?

 

[Descartes]

I went about 10 years ago, and I didn't go tandem. It was just one of the options you had to choose. It cost more and there was more training involved (I think about 6 hours).

For others in this thread that are concerned about this: It's not like you're going entirely alone. You have two instructors right next to you the entire time. The only difference is you have to watch your altimeter and pull your own cord; of course, if you don't, the instructors will do it for you.

I would definitely go for the free fall. I don't see much point otherwise.

 

[KeithTalent]

I only did it once and it was static line, which seemed like a nice balance between tandem and doing everything completely on your own (I mean the only thing you don't do is pull your chute).

I can't imagine they will force you to go tandem if you really want to go on your own, you just may need to do some extra training.

KT

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: Bootprint
Ask the company what is required?

Looked up one Indiana company and they do 3 methods, static line, tandem and free fall with 2 instructors. These are for first jumps.

Was your first jump in the last 12 months?

Yeah, the first jump was at the end of summer. I remember that we got some kind of certificate, but I have no idea where it went...

I just wasn't sure if there was some kind of nationally accepted procedure for doing skydiving training, like need X amount of hours in the classroom, Y amount of dives, etc.

Static line is meh. I want a good period of freefall.
Free fall with two instructors is what I'm probably going to try and do.

 

[Baked]

Bring 3 backup chutes w/ you. And don't look at bridges, because you'll fly right into them if you do.

 

[ScottMac]

Sign up for Independent Free Fall (IFF) classes.

I don't know if they still offer them, I can't imagine why they wouldn't ...

The basic idea is that (for more money) you get one-on-one training, then when jump time arrives, you go up to ~12,000 ft (versus ~3000 for static line) and one or two jumpmasters go out the door with you. They hold your harness from the sides and stabilize you while you practice your spread-eagle and pulling technique (I'm sorry if it sounds a suggestive, but that's what they call it).

You end up with 1 - 2 minutes of free fall and a couple minutes of (independent) canopy time.

At the end of ~six IFF jumps, you're (if you're "normal") about the same level as someone that started static jumping has after 12 - 16 jumps.

Talk to your center about learning IFF.

The levels (when you advance to the next stage) are always based on proper performance of specific techniques, usually "three in a row": Once you've demonstrated proper pulling and SE technique three times in a row, you get to "Hop & Pop" (no static line, jump with an immediate pull), once you show proper H&P technique, then you get some altitude and you work on free-fall techniques, working up in altitude.

IFF speeds this up by getting you used to longer free-fall and extended time periods to practice your techniques.

Edit: I kept saying IFF ... of course it's AFF as mentioned later .... "It sucks to be old"

Good Luck, avoid the whufos.

Scott

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I have looked into this, and went tandem last year had a blast but wanted to do it all myself.

The place I went to had static line, tandem, and AFF (accelerated free fall). AFF is basically 6 hours or so of in class training, $100, and you do it all on your own. To get certified (A-class if I remember right is the first certification you can get) is 25 jumps with instructors. So if you don't want to deal with tandem you have 2 options A) is AFF/IFF which will most likely cost more plus have a few hours of class time B) is to start on getting certified for A class certs (it costs ~$2k to do).

 

[ajskydiver]

You'd be much better off asking people who know what they're talking about...

Try HERE.

Or better yet, call the dropzone you're planning on going to and ask them. You won't be able to do anything other then a tandem without making plans/signing up for their First Jump Course and arranging it through them.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: johnjbruin
I don't think this is something you want to do on your own the second time.
Don't they have rules or something for 'x' number of dives before you go at it alone?

Why? The first people to do skydiving obviously didn't do it in tamdem. Why is it necessary now?

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: SirStev0
Headline in two Monday's

"Inexperienced Skydiver Falls to Death; Family Blames Skydiving Group"

**Skydiving Group whistles innocently**

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: rasczak

Originally posted by: SirStev0
Headline in two Monday's

"Inexperienced Skydiver Falls to Death; Family Blames Skydiving Group"

**Skydiving Group whistles innocently**

and points finger at internet forum..........

 

[ScottMac]

Well, yeah. People that are standing on a ledge generally don't consult the forums first ....

JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

j/k

Good Luck!

 

[Gothgar]

my first time skydiving was solo, they did an all day class, about 6 hours of instruction, then sent me flying out of the plane

 

[foghorn67]

Some policies forbid it unless you have more training.

 

[Evadman]

remember, the ground is not mushy or soft.

 

[jorken]

Call and ask if they do an AFF program. Otherwise you can ask about an AFP program, but that still requires 3 tandems before a solo(ish) jump. The whole point of doing tandems before solo'ing is to get the "sensory overload" out of your system so you can actually function while in freefall.

 

[coldmeat]

The skydiving place around here gives you two options for your first time. You either go tandem with a long period of free fall, or you go solo, but have to take extra training and pull your chute almost right after you jump.

edit: it seems like they changed it since last time I checked. You can't go by yourself first time anymore. You have to go tandem.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: johnjbruin
I don't think this is something you want to do on your own the second time.
Don't they have rules or something for 'x' number of dives before you go at it alone?

Why? The first people to do skydiving obviously didn't do it in tamdem. Why is it necessary now?

I'm sure if you own your own plane and parachute, you are perfectly free to jump by yourself the first time. But most people have to pay some company to provide those things, and due to the incredibly sue-happy nature of your average American, they simply don't do it due to liability.


If you're referring to johnjbruin's implication that skydiving is some mysterious art which you are unable to perform adequately until an official organization issues you a certificate, well, I agree that that's crap. So many people hold themselves back with that line of reasoning..."just leave it to the professionals, you can't POSSIBLY do it yourself."

 

[yours truly]

oh you lucky thing! i'd love to go skydiving.

do u need to pass a medical or anything beforehand?

i dont think i'd like to go tandum tho. the thought of some guy with his piece next to my bumhole would put me off 8(


i'd go tandum with you tho

*you're a chick right?

 

[ajskydiver]

Originally posted by: jagec
If you're referring to johnjbruin's implication that skydiving is some mysterious art which you are unable to perform adequately until an official organization issues you a certificate, well, I agree that that's crap.

What exactly are your qualifications for making such an asinine statement?

Yes, you will probably kill yourself without any training. Experienced skydivers with 100's or 1000's of jumps sometimes make fatal mistakes. To imply that some official organization is impeding just anyone from skydiving for some reason other then safety is ridiculous. Unlike many sports, you can do everything correctly and still get killed.

I'm a licensed skydiver with only 85 jumps; I am still a novice.