[Joekerr]

Any advice (first time)? Aside from making sure the chute gets pulled of course.

Is it pretty cold - I'm in Canada, so I figure maybe I should wear a heavier leather jacket rather than a windbreaker, but not sure how cold it is up at about 13,000 feet - much different or not so much?

Its about 9 degrees Celsius here I'd say on average if that makes any difference.

As its first jump it will be tandem so I figure the instructor will give me the rest of the info in terms of what not to do (is it true that sticking out your arms could throw you off balance up there - is it really a balancing thing?)

[bolinp78]

Don't jump from 128,000ft

[Nutballa]

Originally Posted by bolinp78

Don't jump from 128,000ft

^ Haha. Take a GoPro Camera with you.

[Joekerr]

Ha ha - I would if I had one.

Does anyone have trouble with their ears adjusting to depressurization / elevation change when landing in an airplane? I have trouble with this and am a little worried that a similar situation would happen only much faster.

Anyone find their ears pop when jumping?

[kyleb350]

Originally Posted by Joekerr

Ha ha - I would if I had one.

Does anyone have trouble with their ears adjusting to depressurization / elevation change when landing in an airplane? I have trouble with this and am a little worried that a similar situation would happen only much faster.

Anyone find their ears pop when jumping?

Of course... can't escape that.

[DSB335d]

Chew gum. Supposedly it helps.

[shah269]

Why are you going in the middle of winter?
I made 3 jumps this past sturday and it was 45F here in NJ.
I froze my facking ass off!
Is there anyway you can push it to the spring when it's warmer?

If not don't worry about it! Just relax have a good time and all will be well.
Make sure you go to the bathroom before you get dressed. Nothing sucks more than putting on all the gear and then having to take a piss!

[ddk632]

If you want to fly ....


GET OUT OF THE PLANE!!!


It's from a skydiving t-shirt I have.

Have a great time. The tandem instructor will tell you all you need to know.

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by shah269

Why are you going in the middle of winter?
I made 3 jumps this past sturday and it was 45F here in NJ.
I froze my facking ass off!
Is there anyway you can push it to the spring when it's warmer?

If not don't worry about it! Just relax have a good time and all will be well.
Make sure you go to the bathroom before you get dressed. Nothing sucks more than putting on all the gear and then having to take a piss!

Nope, its for my Dad's 60th - apparently this has been on his bucket list, so me and my brother are going to jump with him. He just doesn't know we're going yet. So we are going on the exact day...assuming weather holds up and it doesn't snow...not expecting it, but one never knows. I think I'll bring a heavier leather jacket and some leather gloves...be styling as I'm screaming during the free fall.

Actually I am looking forward to it, just worried that I'm going to burst an eardrum on the way down - I really have problems with altitude changes - use some ear plugs which manage the pressure during flight, so I'm going to bring those and hope they work in spite of falling much quicker than if I were in a plane...hopefully they are up to the task!

its crazy man but youll have a blast

[carogers86]

Just did it for the first time last weekend. Very loud wind noise and cold. I felt calm after I left the plane. Canopy portion was nerve racking.

[carve]

It'll be freezing up there. Layer up. Nothing to it- grab the straps on your chest, lean out the door, let go and spread your arms and legs while arching your back.

[swcc50]

dont wear leather, just wear under shirt/ over shirt / jeans or comfy pants/ and a flight suit they will give you. wear gloves, and maybe a balaclava for your face.

relax as said before and enjoy, its the most freeing feeling in the world.

[roastbeef]

skydiving is over rated. i get more of a rush out of thrashing my truck and it stays on the ground for the most part. it just wasn't as good as its hyped up to be.

[amanda hor$t]

[///Mandy]

Keep us posted! I was thinking of doing this too..

[shah269]

Dude it's going to be fucking freezing!
God I hope they take you up to 13kft.
When ever it's cold they tend to only take the tandems up to only 10kft so you get a solid 15seconds less of fun.
Layer up! Like 3 t shirts and two thermals and thick socks!
The wind blast will be at 125mph so it's going to be freezing!
If your ears hurt well....take some sort sinus clearing stuff otherwise it's going to hurt.
And no ear plugs, that just makes it wose!
What makes it better is screaming or openning up your mouth on the way down.
but at that speed and that temp you may freeze your mouth.

Either way it will be fun! Bring beer money!

[Nati Beastcat]

I've been 6-7 times. Never tandem though. After a few times, I figured I did it, I lived and not gonna roll the dice anymore.

enjoy and have a great time!!

[amanda hor$t]

there was this guy who recorded himself skydiving solo... halfway though he realized the parachute was stuck ("oh shit")

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by veloziROTHTOR

there was this guy who recorded himself skydiving solo... halfway though he realized the parachute was stuck ("oh shit")

Serious? Vid link?

So it was pretty cool I have to say, though I also managed to get a cold a few days before I went so I had some sinus congestion combined with my normal ear issues which had me on the fence as to whether I should go. However, by the Sunday I was feeling fairly good, not 100%, but some of the pressure was gone so I bought some nasal decongestant and went to the drop zone.

Instructor I got was a jerk, but my brother and dad both got good guys so that was best, I don't mind dealing with the jerk, glad they didn't have to. My guy was just in a bad mood I think, promised to try to make me vomit before we hopped in the plane, and then didn't bother to inform me that after we went under canopy that he would be loosening the harness a little (you'd think that would be something you would tell a first timer wouldn't you?). So he pulls the chute and then a minute later I feel him loosening my harness...at that point he had my undivided attention, as well as me wondering what part of him I could grab in time should he loosen the whole thing off. Anyhow, he was an idiot, but I'm glad I got him rather than having my brother or dad get him cause they had really great instructors. And yes, I'm sure some of you probably would've done something to the guy once on the ground, but this didn't push me past my point yet.

Overall, in spite of above, it was fun. Going out of the plane you have a point of reference so you actually realize you're falling, but after the first few seconds that feeling disappears and all you feel is the wind pulling at you, but you don't really feel like you are falling. Overall, good experience, recommended!

[amanda hor$t]

Originally Posted by Joekerr

Serious? Vid link?

i think it was a bar story, could be an urban legend lol

[UncleWede]

I screamed all the way to the ground. Never gone back. Can't even ride the carnival swings any more. ;(