Basejumper.com - archive

Hi everyone!!!

Totally new to all of this so please bare with me! I've been looking into Skydiving and Base for the past few months and i'm totally struck by the bug!

I know i have to learn to skydive first and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction for a good place to learn in the south west of the UK?

Also, if there is anyone that would be kind enough to let me help with their next Base jump in my area of the UK as well who i could maybe partner up with once i am skilled enough to consider my first Base.

Many thank and sweet site

There's almost certainly a drop zone within an hour of you, and it's probably not difficult to find with a little Googlin'.

Try and do an AFF course, and just skydive a bit. It's a great sport in its own right, so have some fun with it. If you still want to get into BASE after that, there are a number of articles in the 'Articles' section on getting into BASE.

1) Google "British Parachuting Association", find your nearest DZs from there, decide which one to go to.

2) Don't bother trying to tag along with active jumpers until you have enough jumps to think about starting BASE. There's no point and no-one will want you there (unless maybe you are an excellent photographer or have very large breasts or other tradeable skills).

3) When it does come time to think about starting BASE, you shouldn't need to ask on here for people to help you, you'll have met them at the DZ.

Thanks jakee & ThePirate

i'm a fella so i don't have large breasts but i suppose my man boobs are getting there!!!!

Thanks for the advice buddy and i'll report how my progress towards my first ever Base jump go's.

For the mean time i'll start jumping from planes asap! After learning!!

Just found a place in Salisbury, Wilts which is near Bournemouth where i am. £250 for a tandem jump, is this what i should start with?

Hey Ant,

Welcome to the first step to some wondefull new addictions.

Dunkeswell Airifeld is in the south west.

I will be there 24th Sept - 26th SEPT inclusive. So if you want to buy me a beer for that hint... ;)

If you're sure you'll enjoy skydiving then there is NO POINT in going for a tandem jump.
Look for some training program like AFF or Static Line Progression.

AFAIK tandem jump is a requirement as a first jump to start AFF anyway. My first free fall jump was tandem, and it was so intense, that I doubt I would have remembered anything instructor would have asked to do. Just do it, and enjoy.

A Tandem Jump is not a requirement prior to AFF in the UK.

FWIW, you're wrong.

 
Hi there

as the others have said - Dunkeswell or Netheravon are both in your neck of the woods.

If you are planning on doing AFF then you might want to put your money straight into doing AFF rather than spending money on a tandem (although a tandem can be a great first jump if you want to relax and enjoy your first jump rather than having lots to do).

Give Jason / Dawn a call at Dunkeswell if you are interested in AFF on 01404 890222 and they will talk you through the options ...

And mine's a pint as well

Hi peeps.

Thank you all for your great advice, i'm starting to get the idea of which road to take to progress in to the sport

Watched a sick video on a very well known video hosting site yesterday and the skill of some of the guys and gals featured in it where insane!!!

One more thing, can you jump as many times as you like during your visit to the DZ as long as there is light

also can someone tell me how to add a avatar on here?? lol

It will all be dependent on the availability of rigs, instructors, spaces on the plane etc. and those things will vary from DZ to DZ and day to day.

Phone the DZs nearest you (their names are in this thread already) and get the info direct.

+1

to repeat something stated earlier as well...
if you are a natural, calm & relaxed, destined to BASE jump, go straight AFF.
if you are average and get overloaded and overwhelmed on your first jump, tandem can be a better route.

the critical element is YOU. the best judge of that is YOU. BASE is not about what is right for anyone else, but YOU. the earlier you develop critical thinking, the better prepared you will be for BASE.

why not start developing it now?

if you are a natural, calm & relaxed, destined to BASE jump, go straight AFF.
if you are average and get overloaded and overwhelmed on your first jump,
tandem can be a better route.

I disagree... & to beat the haters to the punch,
yes, my exits are hit or miss, which means my
sub-terminal skills are probably below average.

Nonetheless, the best way for "Skippy" to start
skydiving has nothing to do with some ultimate
goal to be rad, extreme or BASE jump.

The instructors at the dropzone would be better
able to make the decision than a virgin jumper.

The DZ's landing area, equipment, wind patterns,
and available instructor(s) would be smarter criteria
to influence the decision than some future goal.

that first line was meant as tongue in cheek.
most new students think they will be naturals, but it's virtually impossible to tell. no one really knows how they will react until they get into the air.

it's easy for folks here to suggest that AFF is a better route, especially if they are not an AFF instructor dealing with someone who just went fetal. plus the lengthy ground work can be grueling. a quick tandem let's everyone know if the student will freak, and will enable the student to understand the ground work better.

I think we agree that it's not really a great subject for internet chat. newbies need to call around and investigate their options, then make the call that works for them. (and it might turn out wrong, just like in BASE!)

I think RAPS is the best method. It produces totally RAD and hard to the core skydivers such as myself.

Is it possible to be "struck by the bug" before you even get in the plane? Is that what youtube does to people?

Either way, start with skydiving. See if you still want to BASE after your first jump out of a plane, and if your pants are still dry, go from there!