Skydiving...

[BillyGalbreath]

I've always wanted to do it. Every since I was a little kid playing with my little G.I. Joes with parachutes.. I used to make parachutes out of plastic grocery bags (ALOT of them tied together somehow) and jump off my grandmothers house pretending I was skydiving.

If someone was to point a gun at me right now, or any point in my life for that matter, and asked me "If you could go back in time and do the thing you wanted to do most just once before you died right now, what would you do ?" I would look him in the eye and reply "Skydive." Plain and simple. It is my life long dream. I want to skydive more than I want to get a g/f.

I like skydiving so much that in these hard times of solitude and weirdness of my surroundings, I've decided to escape. And no I am not going to turn back to drugs. No way no how. I am going to become a licensed skydiver.

I've been searching the net all morning on the prces and places and training schools for my area and I have found some pretty decent results. The price is pretty expensive, but isn't everything worth doing expensive ?

I am going to have to go to this one place that has really spiked my interest either saturday after i get my tat, or sunday and spend the whole day there. I haven't really decided yet. I was gonna go for doing first three jumps on Saturday after i get the tat, but I thought about it, and I am pretty sure I wont be up for it that day. But ya never know..

Hell, I might not even jump this weekend. I am at least going to go talk to the people and take a few classes on it, and get further information about the training processes, the gear (i.e., if i have to buy my own, or do they let me use theirs with no extra cost), how much I will have to spend/train/jump before i become a certified licensed skydiver. And once I become licensed, the jumps will be like $15 each. WAY better than the $200 each for first 7 jumps...

And after awhile of doing this if I still like it, I may try to get a job as a trainer or something and do it as my job. But first I will make it my hobby - a very expensive hobby - but a great hobby that will help me to escape from this reality and maybe even start a whole new life - new friends - new experiences - new everything.

But then again - this is just a dream of mine that I've had since I was like 4 years old. It may not even happen and it will forever be a dream of mine. But hey, dream BIG, right ?

[PandaCivic]

what are the odds of death for a skydiver now? a thousand to one? i know it's slim but there's that chance. i so want to skydive but not every parachute is made the same way twice. i'll jump off a two story building with a cape, that's all you'll get from me.

[MVPlaya]

Billy,

You don't become licensed that quickly, generally you need to take a lot of jumps at their standing rate, which can be anywhere from $50 to $200 a jump. When you begin training you will generally be renting their equipment to jump. All in all, skydiving is awesome and not all that frightening. I've gone skydiving with 6 friends, two of whom had a REAL fear of heights, and the loved it. As for safety issues? Dying on a jump is a near nil chance, the biggest worry tends to be breaking your leg on the landing, and even that is extremely unlikely. You first jump will almost certainly be a tandem jump so you have nothing to worry about. Once you do get certified and are allowed that $15/jump rate, keep in mind that that $15/jump doesn't cover gear. A friend of mine is certified, he pays $14/jump, but he owns $7,000 worth of skydiving gear to make his jumps right. Anyway, do the research, check the places out, you'll have a fun time. Sky diving is an awesome experience.

[BillyGalbreath]

...You don't become licensed that quickly, generally you need to take a lot of jumps at their standing rate, which can be anywhere from $50 to $200 a jump...

I read on the site of the best place in houston (skydivespaceland.com) that it is like 20 or 25 jumps until you are licensed. First tandem jump is $189. Second tandem jump is $149, or $99 if you do it the same day as your first tandem jump. Solo jumps 3-18 are $139 each. Jump 19 is $59. And the 20th jump is free. All these prices include the training classes. After 25 jumps i think (it's not too clear on the site - thats why i want to talk to someone up at the place) they give you a class 'A' License from The United States Parachute Association. If I am not mistaken I believe with that license the jumps are at a $20 rate at this exact place - but I found another place that is a $15 rate for licensed skydivers.

[blue_moon2]

i would love to skydive, but im afraid i can't because i have a problem with my breathing it could kill me before i even hit the floor parachute or not.

[BillyGalbreath]

I want to get married while skydiving - that would be so ****ing awsome !

[blue_moon2]

lol... a moment to remember alrite.

[BillyGalbreath]

**** yeah ! Could you imagine ? Standing there next to your partner - and the preist says "You may now kiss the bride." Then you look at each other, run for the door, and jump, holding hands, pulling each other in for a big passionate kiss as you both fall down to earth from 14,000 feet at 120 miles per hour for about 65 seconds, until finally you both pull the cords and float there with the most beautiful sites to see talking thru radio contact for 5 minutes as you float down to the ground. Thats one way to "fall" for each other. LOL !

[sfalexi]

Jumped 6 times. Five times solo. Keep in mind that the "solo" jumps 3 - 18 are not REALLY solo. They are with someone hanging on to your leg and arm (at least for the first few). Not until you are licensed can you jump SOLO.

Rentals are usually around 35 - 50 for the day (renting a parachute). A USED parachute could run you about 3 grand. Not to mention that reserve parachute that has to be packed specially by certified people (once every few months unless you have to use it). Jumpsuit needed, altimeter, helmet, goggles, can be an expensive investment just starting out. But once you have the equipment, and your license, all you need is one jump a month to keep your license current and up-to-date.

I say go for it. I LOVED jumping. I myself will be getting a license when I get enough money. It's pretty much one of, if not THE ultimate thrill.

Rod Steele

[Innova]

I want to get married while skydiving - that would be so ****ing awsome !

Yeah, my ex and I used to have a plan like that, to skydive right into our wedding.

[meremale]

I say just go for it, I've always wanted to get my pilot's licence. Still saving for the lesson fee's, but I'm getting there.

[blue]

make your dreams a reality billy.

[Kiechi]

Skydiving would be cool. To me experiences like that are memorys that stay with you for the rest of your life. Then you look back on your life and you can say well I did that. Go for it. Don't do it when someone puts a gun to your head and offers you time travel. Do it now. Like Blue said... "Make your dreams a reality". Heh.

[LucidDream]

Im scared of heights, lol.
But whatever floats your boat

[webfish]

Skydiving is awesome! I have done it many times and will do it again

I love the extreme!