View Full Version : Anyone here know about skydiving?
My kid has talked about this before and now that he's almost 18 I thought I'd consider getting him a jump for his birthday.
For anyone who has made a jump, do you have a favorite company here in the Denver area?
Is there anything I need to know beyond what's published on the websites?
Is a Tandem jump the only affordable way to start? I'm only interested in paying for one jump, not a weeks worth of classes. I'm also pretty sure this will probably just be a one time deal, and not the start of a new hobby.
Let me know what you know.
sneakerd
11-28-2012, 09:09
Did quite a bit of it in the early 80's. I believe that they only do the tandem jumps now for first -timers, instead of the class and static-line intros. I am not familiar with CO schools, but I'm sure someone here is.
Bailey Guns
11-28-2012, 09:14
I've got a whopping 1 jump under my belt. It was at a school near Canyon City...don't remember the name. Fantastic experience. I did a static line solo jump. Highly recommended.
I've done a few jumps and i am licensed to jump on my own. My favorite place here in CO would be here: http://skydiveco.com/ they are very friendly and pricing is very reasonable. they will only let you do tandem since your not licensed to jump on your own. if you have anymore questions let me know!
SuperiorDG
11-28-2012, 09:16
I don't know shit about skydiving, but I wanted to chime in and let everyone know this.
Happy Hump day.
Yeah, Happy Hump day to all, we're half way to the weekend.
I really think the tandem would be great because you're on your own, but no freefall to speak of. Not sure if that's even an option for a first timer now, I need to research further.
Thanks for the SkydiveCO recommendation.
Yeah, Happy Hump day to all, we're half way to the weekend.
I really think the tandem would be great because you're on your own, but no freefall to speak of. Not sure if that's even an option for a first timer now, I need to research further.
Thanks for the SkydiveCO recommendation.
yeah they wont let you jump by yourself anymore because some people black out for a second when they first jump. but after your first tandem they will let you do a static line jump by yourself which deploys your chute for you.
rockhound
11-28-2012, 09:47
i know that you definitely want your chute to open if you decide to jump out of the plane>>>>>
mys sister and brother in law did a one day class and jump with an instructor earlier this year. they enjoyed it a lot
BPTactical
11-28-2012, 10:10
If at first you don't succeed, it isn't for you.
I have exactly one jump (static line, many years ago), but I did this about a year ago and really enjoyed it: http://www.skyventurecolorado.com/
You actually get to do some maneuvers, which is pretty cool.
Of course if you're just looking for the thrill of jumping out of a working airplane, it won't cut it.
O2
Ps. If you've ever dislocated your shoulder, reconsider. I dislocated mine probably more than 20 years ago and have had zero problem ever since until I went to skyventure. Hurt like the dickens after two flights and didn't do my last fly for fear of dislocating it again.
rockhound
11-28-2012, 10:12
If at first you don't succeed, it isn't for you.
now that is funny right there, i don't care who you are
My son went down to Canon City on his 18th birthday for a tandem jump. He loved it and it appeared to be safe - at least as far as jumping out of an airplane can be called safe. Most of the guys I work with have hundreds of jumps made when they were on active duty. Almost all of them have been injured at one time or another. Everything from broken backs/legs/feet/ankles/arms to compressed spinal fractures. Sounds like a blast to me!
I've got over 400 jumps but I jumped down south. I hear there is a nice drop zone in canyon city. I'm not sure about up in denver. If you wanted to for fun there is sky venture in denver you can do the wind tunnel too. No replacement for skydiving but it is fun. For his first jump I would do the tandem jump unless you want to get into it and do the full classes to get licensed.
Just to clarrify I would never do a static line jump and if I'm not mistaken I don't even think they do them at all out of the military. With a static line there is no free fall and the percentage of injury and malfunctions is very high.
A tandem jump will have 60sec of free fall with about 10min of parachute time with an instructor. Highly recommend this one for the first time (gotta do this once in life) person.
If he wants to get into it it is a great sport but be warned it is the only hobby I have more expensive than guns...
here is the official website of the us parachute association and you can use their drop zone locator to find a good/safe place to go as well as information.. http://www.uspa.org/FindaDZ.aspx
http://ameliaislandskydiving.com/wp-content/gallery/amelia-island-skydiving-photos/skydiving-in-amelia-island-florida.jpg
Great-Kazoo
11-28-2012, 11:05
the wife jumped a few times says on of the most adrenaline pushing hobby's you can have.
Myself all i know is this. It's a Big Planet and Never Misses.
Didn't someone post some pics from a Hawaii trip? Jake?
DSB OUTDOORS
11-28-2012, 11:14
^^^ Yup, TriggerHappy aka Jake did the jump. Had some cool pics too.
Thanks for all the responses, I could have done without hearing about all the injuries though.
Anyway, if anyone still can recommend other companies to do business with or companies to avoid, let me know.
HoneyBadger
11-28-2012, 11:57
A tandem jump will have 60sec of free fall with about 10min of parachute time with an instructor.
Good luck getting 60 seconds of free fall here unless you have oxygen and lots of experience. I've got 5 solo jumps. If you jump from 12,000ft MSL, in most of Colorado you can assume this is about 7000ft AGL. If you open at 2000ft AGL (which is a safe and fun amount of time under canopy), that will give you 31 seconds of free fall, max. In my experience, the time under canopy is way more fun than the time spent in free fall. 20 seconds of free fall didn't ever feel more exciting than 5 seconds of free fall, but having several minutes under canopy to fly yourself around was a lot of fun. This is just my limited experience, so YMMV.
Also, I've spent about 2 hours in the tunnel at SkyVenture in Denver and this is a lot of fun. You can learn to stabilize and maneuver yourself around in a safe environment. Keep in mind though, that this skips out on the best part of skydiving: jumping out of the plane.
I'm used to jumping at sea level , I never really thought about that since I haven't jumped here in altitude. Hhmmmmm. We used to jump at 14000 and do a 16000 sunset jump.
soldier-of-the-apocalypse
11-28-2012, 13:03
I know its dumb to jump out of a perfectly good airplane
I tell people I've flown over 400 times but only landed once or twice
I know its dumb to jump out of a perfectly good airplane
This is a common false assumption.
There is no such thing as a perfectly good airplane.
HoneyBadger
11-28-2012, 13:25
I'm used to jumping at sea level , I never really thought about that since I haven't jumped here in altitude. Hhmmmmm. We used to jump at 14000 and do a 16000 sunset jump.
I'm probably wrong here, but I thought you had to have oxygen to go above 12,500?
I grew up in OK and did about 48 jumps in '80-'82. Most fun I ever had! This was before tandem was common, we started with static lines and old surplus T-10 round canopies, and jumped from a 1956 Cessna 182. Not necessarily a "perfectly good airplane", but it went up and came back down in one piece reliably.
Anyway, I highly recommend it! Never done a tandem jump, but I hear that's the tits way to do it these days, especially for someone that just wants the one-time experience.
Place? Got no recommendations, but I've heard there's a large drop zone north of Denver somewhere, shouldn't be hard to find info.
Injuries? Yeah, they happen, but are rare with tandem jumps because the "driver" knows what they're doing and the liability is huge. Solo jumpers are the ones that get hurt (like me).
Definitely a "must do" on the list of someone with any adventure in their spirit at all. You'll never get me on a pair of snow skis, but if I could skydive again without wrecking my spine or knees I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd have to make a water landing though to avoid injury, so fawk it. I'm on the right, circa 1980-81.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/skydiving/img006.jpg
Geology Rocks
11-28-2012, 13:53
I jumped every weekend for 7 years. What do you want to know?
Where down south did you jump spd? Having jumped at altitude and sea level you get less free fall time here and less canopy time due to elevation. However you are going to 14,500agl here typically and no oxygen needed. If you can get a girl, or more than one is better, to flash the pilot I have even been at 16,000. Exit is 14,500ish, pull is 3500-5000ft. Never ever go to 2000ft as a parachute will snivle for 600-800ft and that only leaves you 1200-1400 to deal with any issues.
Love the picture ron! Classic right there!
Ps- there is some stink in this thread.
I'm probably wrong here, but I thought you had to have oxygen to go above 12,500?
It has been 13+ years since I did any HALO, but...
Depends on the Military or civilian side of the house and how long you are above 12,500 ect.
In a nutshell (civilian) above 15K everyone must be on the hose. Military, crew must be on O2 above 10K and jumpers above 13K.
Above 18K you must prebreathe O2 for 30 minues before depressurizing.
And tons more rules like it.
Geology Rocks
11-28-2012, 14:02
Also....if you saw some of the airplanes And crap I have jumped from you would jump too. No way I was landing with some of that crap people called airplanes. All i cared about was not crashing before 4000ft. Haha
TriggerHappy
11-28-2012, 14:12
Didn't someone post some pics from a Hawaii trip? Jake?
^^^ Yup, TriggerHappy aka Jake did the jump. Had some cool pics too.
Yep, that was me. It was BA!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e156/jake82/85b957f4.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e156/jake82/93e76262.jpg
jerrymrc
11-28-2012, 14:16
Ps- there is some stink in this thread.
If ya want some stink come talk to my ( now ex Boss). I had a thread up but it died during the crash. Last person to be involved in a fatality here in Colorado and he lived. http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=737280
He is still AD and your welcome to come talk to him, Or what is left.
Geology Rocks
11-28-2012, 14:27
Sorry to hear about that. I lost a few close friends while jumping. 100% was from swooping and all could have been avoided.
Great pics trigger happy!
If ya want some stink come talk to my ( now ex Boss). I had a thread up but it died during the crash. Last person to be involved in a fatality here in Colorado and he lived. http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=737280
He is still AD and your welcome to come talk to him, Or what is left.
Wow, BOTH canopies deployed at the same time? That's rare as hell, and VERY bad ju-ju. So sorry for the guy that died and your friend/boss as well, but I'd have to say there's a 3rd person carrying some blame as well, for not doing a good pre-jump inspection of their rig. Even us unwashed Okies back in the 80's would look over each other's rigs like monkeys looking for fleas, and sometimes a potential problem WAS found.
Snowman78
11-28-2012, 14:34
I'm probably wrong here, but I thought you had to have oxygen to go above 12,500?
Well, I hike 14er's with out oxygen so I think its okay. Unless you mean 12,500 AGL
Geology Rocks
11-28-2012, 14:42
Wow, BOTH canopies deployed at the same time? That's rare as hell, and VERY bad ju-ju. So sorry for the guy that died and your friend/boss as well, but I'd have to say there's a 3rd person carrying some blame as well, for not doing a good pre-jump inspection of their rig. Even us unwashed Okies back in the 80's would look over each other's rigs like monkeys looking for fleas, and sometimes a potential problem WAS found.
Bad things do happen, but it makes me wonder what happeneD and if it was use error. Did he deploy the main then have a problem? Did he Not cut away the main and deployed the reserve? I wonder what the reserve repack date was? Did he free fall through the hard deck and have his Cypres fire which would deploy the reserve not taking into account the main? Either way its horrible.
HoneyBadger
11-28-2012, 15:06
Well, I hike 14er's with out oxygen so I think its okay. Unless you mean 12,500 AGL
You can walk as high as you want, but there are lots of regs for flying and jumping.
It has been 13+ years since I did any HALO, but...
Depends on the Military or civilian side of the house and how long you are above 12,500 ect.
In a nutshell (civilian) above 15K everyone must be on the hose. Military, crew must be on O2 above 10K and jumpers above 13K.
Above 18K you must prebreathe O2 for 30 minues before depressurizing.
And tons more rules like it.
Sooooo when I said you needed O2 above 12,500.... I was pretty far off. Thanks for the correction and added info.
Where I jumped in missisippi 14000 was the standard jump altitude, no oxygen needed. For the sunset load they would climb and everyone exits at 15-16 but we didn't hang out up there. I would imaging circling at that altitude would be a bad idea. We were also a little below sea level if I remember correctly.
Geology Rocks
11-28-2012, 16:16
Spd...i just out of Gold Coast Skydivers for a bit and went to the Mardi Gras boogie a few times. One of my favorite DZs in the US.
jerrymrc
11-28-2012, 16:29
Bad things do happen, but it makes me wonder what happeneD and if it was use error. Did he deploy the main then have a problem? Did he Not cut away the main and deployed the reserve? I wonder what the reserve repack date was? Did he free fall through the hard deck and have his Cypres fire which would deploy the reserve not taking into account the main? Either way its horrible.
Main did not deploy. Pulled the reserve and well, ya know what happens when you take the tension off something? What happened next is still somewhat up in the air but you can be the best bomb De-fusier in the world but try it with a panicked person strapped to ya. Burned in with just a drag.
Geology Rocks
11-28-2012, 16:54
Main did not deploy. Pulled the reserve and well, ya know what happens when you take the tension off something? What happened next is still somewhat up in the air but you can be the best bomb De-fusier in the world but try it with a panicked person strapped to ya. Burned in with just a drag.
Got ya. I was under the impression that the main deployed as well as the reserve and they got tangled.
Thank you for clearing that up.
You guys are totally bumming me out here.
What's "swooping?" Sorry to hear about friends lost.
TheBelly
11-28-2012, 17:33
i will echo those that say there is no such thing as a perfectly good airplane.
What's "swooping?" Sorry to hear about friends lost.
Swooping is coming in fast and just skimming the ground while you get slower. Looks cool, but eventually you will get hurt doing it. Not if, but when.
HoneyBadger
11-28-2012, 17:39
"Swooping" is when you come in to land at really high speed and pull back really hard so that you coast along, very close to the ground at high speed... can be upwards of 40 mph. The most dangerous variation of it is to swoop over water. If you touch the water, the drag will pull you in and then sometimes your parachute will land on top of you and drown you. Very exhilarating, but very dangerous. Most skydiving accidents are the result of bad decision making.
ETA: Hoser beat me to it.
Geology Rocks
11-28-2012, 17:58
You guys are totally bumming me out here.
What's "swooping?" Sorry to hear about friends lost.
dont be bummed out. Skydiving in the grand scheme of things is safe. The sang in skydiving is "remember when skydiving was more dangerous than sex?" Parachutes are designed to open. They are designed to catch air and they want to open. My friends and I did many dumb things in skydiving. Fastest pack and jump contest? Throw it in a trash bag or cut away your main and jump with just your reserve...it will open! haha. Its over all safe, but you can still die doing things right. Get it for him and get the video. He wont remember the jump details and the video will help him remember it.
Badger...the safest type of swoop is over water. You do that because water will give a bit and you can survive mistakes where as the ground doesn't give at all. Swooping can reach speeds of close to 80mph depending on your parachutes sqft size. I had friends flying 60sqft canopies that couldn't swoop with their cypres2 on because it could activate their reserve thinking they were still in free fall. skydiving is as dangerous as you want to make it.
Spd...i just out of Gold Coast Skydivers for a bit and went to the Mardi Gras boogie a few times. One of my favorite DZs in the US.
That's our home dropzone. We've been jumping there even when they were at the old airport. Haven't been out there in a few years I'm sure things have changed.
JM Ver. 2.0
11-28-2012, 18:16
I wish I could go Skydiving... Sadly.. I'm too big... :(
I wouldn't jump out of an airplane unless it was about to crash. But that's just me.
Some of the skydiving planes I've been in would make you wonder if it was :)
jerrymrc
11-28-2012, 18:59
You guys are totally bumming me out here.
What's "swooping?" Sorry to hear about friends lost.
I am really not trying to but this subject is kind of close to home. I will say they have not given his license to drive back to him. I do know they were doing a one day class and then you could do a single static line jump the next. We had a shop day the week before and some of my co-workers jumped by themselves (first jump).
Its the best thing you will ever do!!
I've jumped from 20,000 ft before.
Anyone that says "why jump from a perfectly good airplane" like Hoser said, there is no such thing. Another good statistic for ya, you have a better chance of dying in an automobile accident ON YOUR WAY to the airport than you do of jumping out of the plane.
If at first you don't succeed, it isn't for you.
http://www.fuduntu.org/forum/images/smilies/user83559_pic43268_1255723460.gif...[ROFL1]
I wish I could go Skydiving... Sadly.. I'm too big... :(
Define "too big". If you can get in the airplane, you should be able to jump. And not all jump planes are stripped-down Cessnas.
Granted, you may be too big for a tandem jump, but the canopies used for tandem jumping are big enough for two people, yes? And there are canopies made for large folks too. So, there ARE parachutes and rigs large enough. You'd probably have to go through some different training and end up paying more money, but unless you're like, 400+ lbs., or have some serious health/back/knee/feet issues, you "SHOULD" be able to do it. Landing the canopy is the worst part, and I believe most places now can talk you in via 2-way radios. You might be a good candidate for an Accelerated Freefall Course, where you're trained to make your first jump as a freefall, along with a couple of experienced escorts for safety.
Go to a drop zone and talk to 'em about it. Google skydiving in CO, or just call these folks. http://www.mile-hi-skydiving.com/
Now, the "indoor skydiving" place by Park Meadows Mall, yes, there IS a weight limit there. But that has more to do with the size of the suits they have and the lifting power of the air machine, so that doesn't count. And that's not "skydiving" anyway. That would be more like having sex with a rubber doll.
Man, there ain't NOTHING like flinging yourself out of an airplane a couple of miles above the ground!!! Best jump I ever did was out at 11,000 feet and immediately opened up, and then just flew around until it was time to land. Gotta pay attention to where you are though, so you can actually land where you need to and not several miles away. That sucks when that happens.
JM Ver. 2.0
11-28-2012, 21:15
Define "too big". If you can get in the airplane, you should be able to jump. And not all jump planes are stripped-down Cessnas.
Granted, you may be too big for a tandem jump, but the canopies used for tandem jumping are big enough for two people, yes? And there are canopies made for large folks too. So, there ARE parachutes and rigs large enough. You'd probably have to go through some different training and end up paying more money, but unless you're like, 400+ lbs., or have some serious health/back/knee/feet issues, you "SHOULD" be able to do it. Landing the canopy is the worst part, and I believe most places now can talk you in via 2-way radios. You might be a good candidate for an Accelerated Freefall Course, where you're trained to make your first jump as a freefall, along with a couple of experienced escorts for safety.
Go to a drop zone and talk to 'em about it. Google skydiving in CO, or just call these folks. http://www.mile-hi-skydiving.com/
Now, the "indoor skydiving" place by Park Meadows Mall, yes, there IS a weight limit there. But that has more to do with the size of the suits they have and the lifting power of the air machine, so that doesn't count. And that's not "skydiving" anyway. That would be more like having sex with a rubber doll.
Man, there ain't NOTHING like flinging yourself out of an airplane a couple of miles above the ground!!! Best jump I ever did was out at 11,000 feet and immediately opened up, and then just flew around until it was time to land. Gotta pay attention to where you are though, so you can actually land where you need to and not several miles away. That sucks when that happens.
Guess I should have been specific... Every site I've looked at has a limit for a tandem dive. I'm 275-280 pounds depending on the day. The accelerated freefall thing sounds good though. I might have to look into it.
NightCat
11-28-2012, 21:51
...Army, lots of static jumps...dont know anything about free falling/sky diving..
Definitely want to try it.
Mile high in Longmont is good to go. Experienced, safe, fun group of guys there. Do a tandem first. Still good weather for jumping, just jumped there Friday. Take a pair of gloves and a beanie to go under your helmet. You'll exit from 12,500 ft (AGL) and pull at 3500. With a normal fall rate of 1000 ft per 5 sec, you'll free fall for about 45 seconds and fly 3-4 min under canopy. Go do it with your son, you won't regret it.
On a side note: if you don't know an answer from experience, then don't answer. Save that BS for arfcom. If you have less than 100 jumps or so, you are still a cherry and probably should sit back on this one unless talking about a tandem experience.
Geology Rocks
11-28-2012, 22:29
coloccw. do you jump out at Milehi? I jumped there from 2005-2007. Fun place just too much of a tandem factory for me.
spd: I loved Gold Coast. Were you there when Scotty(mike) died?
here is where you need to go:
www.mile-hi-skydiving.com/
My buddy in college flew the jumpers out of their king air and twin otter and 206. I flew with him a few times and really enjoyed it! We always tried to beat them to the ground! tougher than you think.
all the instructors there I met were really cool, very professional and they did a great job as a company. It's been almost 6 years since I've been around that type of flying but they are still in business so that has to say a lot.
People can do tandem dives no problem. usually about 1/2 your day taken up. if it is a one time deal I would get the video or see if they will let you bring along a camera or gopro or something. you can record it from the ground too, all the one from tiny speck out of the plane to watching them pull the chute to the landing on the south side of the airport.
that is your closest and best option.
I also know the one down in canyon city is great as well. I didn't get signed up in time in college for our fun-fly down there to go skydiving. I've never been before so no experience with the actual dive, but I think it is what I want to do for my 30th birthday....got 3 years to go!
Well, I hike 14er's with out oxygen so I think its okay. Unless you mean 12,500 AGL
there is a difference between taking a long time to get acclimated to altitude and climbing in a plane at least 1000 fpm depending on which one they are in. plus, you are probably in better shape than some of the people doing a once in a lifetime skydive.
typically I think they will take people to 12,500 MSl (about 9,000') above the ground here in CO. a lot of it here depends on the weather/clouds and the pilot.
I know they will take people up to 18,000 MSL if the weather conditions are right.
I wouldn't jump out of an airplane unless it was about to crash. But that's just me.
even then...you would want a chute. if not, you are a lot better off hoping the crash works out!
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