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Hey guys!
So I'm completely new to all of this, and I realize I have a very long way to go before I'm ready to do any of this. However, I just turned 20 and have plenty of time to get into it. I've done a lot of reading, and I know skydiving is a must. Any advice here would be great. The problem is I live in Nebraska, USA. Yes the flat, grassy middle of bumfuck egypt. Where to start? I'm a college student at UNL, yeah go Huskers and all that good stuff, but I really want to make something of my life. I'll try pretty much anything, I just need a direction. I'd appreciate ANY advice I can get pertaining to this, and I'll do everything I possible can. Thanks guys,
Peter

Try this. Thats all the DZ's within 200 miles of Lincoln Nebraska.

Start skydiving, get a few hundred jumps, and a couple of years in the sport of skydiving, Hang around... after a few hundred jumps, and a few years in the sport, find a local jumper, talk to them... bullshit, joke, and converse about base jumping... They/We love to talk about it... ask questions (Without being over bearing) and then after months of talking to them, getting to know them, and the sport (other then youtube/tv/and magazines perspective) offer to ground crew for them. after ground crewing on a few jumps and seeing if this sport is really for you, find a nice first jump course, Tom Aiello/Apex/and alot of B.A.S.E. Manufacturers have first BASE jump courses. Take one. Learn. Then go back to your friend and bring up a VERY delicate subject for some people, Mentoring. ask him to mentor you. if yes, start jumping under his guidance and supervision. If no. repeat the find a base jumper and start hanging and then ground crewing, until you have several jumps under your belt.

Wow, this is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks guys. It's honestly nice to hear something positive rather than "hey you'll just kill yourself". I know it's dangerous, but I'm not really the type that's put off by that. I'm into a lot of other "high-risk" sports, and I love it. My biggest question I suppose is..you say a few hundred jumps. Isn't that thousands and thousands of dollars? Seeing as I own neither a plane nor the gear I figured I would have to pay my way every single time, and usually people charge hundreds of dollars a jump. Advice? Yeah I know I'm a total "noob" at all of this, but I figure..I better start sometime or I'll never get the chance.
AND THANK YOU for the drop zones. That's friggin sweet.I'll start spamming their phones tommorow

Skydivin will cost a bit of money... but perhaps not as much as you think. Most dropzones (once you have your A license) you can get a jump ticket for 20-26$ It will take about 2500-3000 to get your license and perhaps a handful more jumps... Check out dropzone.com or USPA.org to learn more about it. a skydiving rig will cost you anywhere from 1500-6k depending on if you buy new, used, type, etc. get a second job. sell your plasma.. whatever... once you skydive, if youre hooked you will do what it takes. but really check out those two sites... you will learn a lot more on there about skydiving than on here.

I haven't paid for a skyjump in well over 50 jumps. Most DZ's are tandem factories and have a lot of student jumpers. Look for one that is light on packers, and start packing like crazy. Your motivation will pay off, you'll learn a lot about ram air parachutes, jump for pretty much no out of pocket expense, learn basic rigging skills, and a shit-ton of other things. Plus, if you do a good job it will open up doors to other things as well. Plus you are for sure to meet people who do other canopy sports too (speedflying, paragliding, BASE jumping, kiting, and whatever other homo sports that are out there. Goodluck Dickhead, I wish you well on the fun and exciting journey ahead. Have fun with it.

I know it's dangerous, but I'm not really the type that's put off by that. I'm into a lot of other "high-risk" sports, and I love it.

Could you give CPR to a WDB?? How would you feel if that WDB (Warm Dead Body) was your friend? Are you put off by watching your friends and fellow jumpers die, or get hurt or paralyzed from a BASE jump?

I've been in this sport for a little over a year, and these have been my own personal experiences. Im not making this up. Your results may vary. BASE jumping is much more than what you see on any You Tube video.

Pulling off special jumps with friends is awesome!!
Finding out a close friend is dead or paralyzed
sucks and watching it happen is even worse!!

As for the cost, nothing in this world is free!
Used SKY rig can be had for $1200 to $2500.
Hop & Pop jumps can be had from $15 to $20.
Used BASE rig can be had for $800 to $2500.
Packing pays you to learn how to pack well.

I know it has been said a 1,000 times but so
has the paragraph above so I guess it is
worth repeating...

Please stick to SKY jumping till you are good
at packing, rigging, and flying a parachute.
Like so good you are almost bored, really.
Then think long and hard about the costs
and lows of going over to the darkside.

Read the Great Book of Base. It will help put these into perspective a little bit, although nothing like the real thing will.

Skydiving is expensive, yes. I work three jobs and whore myself out to any cute girl who will pay for my dinners on the side in order to afford the shit.