SKYDIVING - A DIFFERENT KIND OF "HIGH"
Gather your friends and come skydiving with us to celebrate whatever you want.

THE SCHEDULE
This skydiving trip is planned for Summer 2008.

THE LOGISTICS
● Get your friends together, come, jump, celebrate.
● Bring your favorite tasty drinks and snacks as you want to stay hydrated and energized.
● We'll all meet together at the pre-arranged meeting-point (most likely at Columbia University campus 116th Street @ Broadway), in the morning, then drive off to the drop-zone, skydive, have lunch, throw some frizbees around while folks jump out of planes, then leave and head back to the city.

THE COSTS
The cost of this trip includes transportation from the meeting-point to the drop-zone, and all equipment necessary for the skydive (such as helmet/frap-hat, goggles, jumpsuit, etc.), and all for only the price of almost two months of unlimited MetroCards ($200).

DISCLAIMER
This trip is run on a cooperative-adventure basis. All group planning, leadership, and potential risks are shared by participants equally. Because outdoor adventures such as skydiving are highly exciting, physically demanding, and take place in an environment over which nobody has control, they are potentially dangerous. As a participant on a cooperative adventure, you personally accept these conditions and assume full responsibility for your own safety and well-being (liability release required), and agree to cooperate with, and adhere to, instructions from the organizers and staff, especially the jump-masters.

RESERVATIONS
A non-refundable $100 deposit will hold your reservation. The remaining balance is due before departure for the trip. I'm only taking 13 people on this trip so choose who you want to bring with you selectively. Contact me to alleviate any fears about heights or finances.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

Why do I want to jump out of an airplane, anyway?
Well, that can't be answered you, but for most skydivers, it's the thrill of flying through the air, the enjoyment of total control over one's body in flight, and the social experience of being in the air with other people. Of course, the feeling varies from person to person, but no two skydives are ever exactly the same.

How fast do you fall?
In a normal freefall, most individuals average 120mph (miles per hour) but this may be significantly slowed or sped up, depending on body attitude, clothing, air density, and other factors. Tandem skydivers fall at a fairly fixed rate of 120mph due to the drogue that is deployed during the skydive.

Can you breathe in freefall?
Yes. Breathing is highly recommended . If you're concerned about breathing, don't worry. You'll be trained breathing in the event that this is a concern. However, most people find they can breathe quite normally in freefall.

How long does freefall last?
About 60 seconds or so. You'll exit the aircraft around 12,500 feet AGL (Above Ground Level), and deploy the parachute at approximately 5,500 feet AGL.

What does freefall feel like?
Nobody can truly tell you. You'll have to experience it for yourself. What can be said, however, is that a skydive is likely the most exciting, exhilarating feeling you'll ever experience in your lifetime.

What happens after freefall?
Chute happens! The parachute is deployed, and you and your tandem instructor float to the earth in a fast or slow descent. You can tell your tandem instructor what kind of ride you'd prefer, and they'll do the best to accommodate your wishes, so long as they are within the bounds of conservative safety.

Speaking of instructors, how qualified are they?
The highly qualified staff have between 600 and 10,000 jumps each, and are USPA certified and rated. Most of the staff members have multiple ratings including AFF, Tandem Ratings, Rigger, Master Rigger, Static Line Instructor, AID instructor, and other ratings. The drop-zone operator is an active skydiver and may well be on the aircraft with you and your instructor.

Does it hurt when we land?
Most skydive landings are about as soft as jumping off the lowest stair of a staircase.

Can anyone skydive?
No. If you wish to tandem-skydive (typically, your first two skydives are tandems) then you must weigh less than 230 lbs, and you must be over the age of 18. You should be in reasonably good physical health. If you've had any recent knee or back surgeries or breaks, please let the staff know this prior to your skydive.

What should I wear?
Plan on wearing sneakers/running shoes or similar, and casual clothing. You'll be provided a jumpsuit. Shorts and T-shirts are recommended for hot days. If you have long hair, you'll want to tie it up, braid it, or contain it in a frap-hat that will also be provided.

Can we skydive at any time?
Yes, provided the sun is shining and VFR (Visual Flight Rules) are met. Visual Flight Rules are required for skydiving, so clouds, wind, rain, or snow can ground planes.

What if I want to skydive again, after my tandem?
You are invited to do a Tandem-2 skydive. If you wish to continue, you might want to check into ground school and our AFF program. Or, you might want to continue skydiving as a tandem passenger/student. There is some additional training involved for a second skydive, so be sure to indicate as such, if you're a returning tandem student.

What kind of training will I receive?
Prior to your skydive as a tandem student, you'll receive training on what you'll be wearing, how the parachute works, how you'll exit the aircraft, and how you'll maintain a body position in freefall. Your tandem instructor may have some additional training for you as well, depending on your questions and experience level.

What can I do to help make my skydive memorable?
A video is the first thing recommended. You'll be provided with a DVD of your skydive if you would like one of the videographers to jump with you. Additionally, it's recommended you leave everything you brought with you to the drop-zone, on the ground. Watches, cellphones, PDA's, loose change - all have a tendency to fall out and break or become lost forever (if not a fatally deadly falling object), so it's advisable to leave them on-site, preferably locked up in a vehicle.

Other than that, the most important piece of advice is to have fun!
Make sure your tandem instructor fills out your skydiving log book, as this will be very important for future skydives.