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Learning to Skydive

• July 2013
• Hi Steph Climb Fly Training

Hi Steph

Hope your well and life’s sweet for you.

I’ve got an itch that I need to scratch and I’m hoping you might be able to help!

I have always wanted to take up BASE jumping and the Wingsuit but apart from a few parachute jumps many years ago I have no experience so I was thinking that I probably need to complete a skydiving/freefall course that could hopefully lead me on to BASE/Wingsuit jumping.

Based in the UK and our unpredictable weather patterns is probably not the best scenario for learning and possibly not the most economical either so I was wondering if you could recommend a good skydive school in the States and also some advise on the best way into BASE/Wingsuit jumping.

My grand idea would be to incorporate the skydiving/BASE into a trip through North, Central and South America and hopefully if I can sort this arthritis in my fingers by then get some climbing done at the same time.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Take it easy!

Regards
Gary

Hi Gary,
The UK is incredibly expensive for skydiving, as is most of Europe and Quebec. The absolute cheapest place to learn is the Parachute Center in Lodi, California. You will also find that skydiving is relatively cheap(er) and closer to home for you in Spain. Skydive Moab has been training a lot of skydiving students recently, and it is a really good place to learn because of the individual attention you receive, and of course because Moab is a pretty fun place to base out of for a couple of weeks through your A license phase.

You’ll need to do 200 skydives before you can start flying a wingsuit at most drop zones. We (Mario and I) offer a First Jump Course for skydivers who want to learn to base jump through Moab Base Adventures. Our minimum is 100-200 skydives to join our first jump course at the Perrine Bridge in Idaho. Once you have mastered wingsuit flying as a skydiver, and have also become an experienced base jumper, you can take the next step into wingsuit base.

The good news is that jumping will not contribute to your arthritis 🙂
Maybe we’ll see you in Moab!
Steph