I’m a regular skydiver at Peterlee Parachute Centre. In saying that, I should perhaps explain that I am as regular a skydiver as I can be bearing in mind my lifestyle. Like other skydivers there are hurdles in my way, that prevent me from participating in my chosen sport. Not only am I married with children, but also I have a job that involves working every other weekend. The work is a necessary evil that allows me to pay for jump tickets, so I shouldn’t really complain. On top of that every Sunday morning is taken up with my youngest son’s football (yet another passion of mine). So “me time” out of the home, is pretty much limited, a situation I am sure many skydivers appreciate.
I’m approaching the magic 100 jumps soon, and hope to progress beyond it as soon as time and money allows. My other commitments (namely family and home) mean the amount of free time out of the home to spend on skydiving is limited. However I do have limited time in the home, to spend online, on my other interest, my computer. Web design has been a passion of mine for quite some time, and Ian from Peterlee Parachute Centre spotted the opportunity to utilise my skills, hence the creation of his website www.skydiveacademy.org.uk
Well it soon became clear to me as a skydiver, is that what I needed, and I presumed other skydivers wanted, was an online drop zone. It would be open no matter what day it is, and unlike other DZ,s the weather couldn’t affect it either. So even if there is a gust of wind above 20 mph, or low cloud cover there would be somewhere to hang out. Hence the creation of www.JustSkydivers.com
So at the latter stages of 2008, the idea was conceived. I thought about what I would want to see on an online DZ. I wanted videos, photos, the opportunity to ask for help or advice, the chance to speak to other skydivers about their experiences whether good or bad. It had to be friendly, with no elitism. It needed to allow me to create areas that I wanted to talk about even if they didn’t currently exist. I wanted to know what was going on at other dz’s not only my local one. I realised at this point that I wanted a LOT! So I spoke to other skydivers about what they wanted, what sources of information would be of benefit to them. What they would like to see. How much control would they want over the website? The consensus of opinion was pretty much that for all of this you had to visit several sites, and even then it was not all available.
A goal was set – to help promote skydiving in the UK. To let skydivers have an online DZ to help them progress their skydiving no matter what their skill level or discipline, even when the weather was unsuitable for jumping. To make them feel welcome and a vital part of the community. To listen to their opinions and modify the environment to meet their needs.
In December 2008 www.justskydivers.comwas first launched into the wind as a metaphorical widi. After a lot of research and time (when Peterlee was closed and I had free time available) JustSkydivers.com was deployed onto the World Wide Web to see what way the wind was blowing. An online DZ to provide skydivers with what they wanted – all in one place.
This wasn’t an easy task, and reality had to be taken into account. Some features would possibly encounter a “mal” before they were sorted, the “opening” on some plug-ins would be a bit hard! However I was determined to overcome these problems during the beta test. With the help and support of some of the Peterlee regulars we ironed out the creases so to speak, and arranged the site into a neat package that “ticked all the boxes” to what was required from an online DZ.
The site is on a constant cycle of development. We are continuously looking for improvements to enhance users experiences of the Online DZ. We encourage feedback from skydivers, and listen to all that is received.
This in short is JustSkydivers.com.
So this is what I say to all skydivers – Come on – Jump into the online DZ – www.justskydivers.com
As an additinal service to our members at www.justskydivers.com we have launched a website which shows all skydiving related items currently for sale on Ebay.
www.onlinedz.co.uk quickly scans Ebay and shows all items that contain the word Skydiving. These are listed in the order to which they are due to finish. Earliest first. The site is constantly refreshed to ensure that all skydiving items are listed. In short if the item isn’t showing on www.onlinedz.co.uk then its not on ebay either.
This service is of course FREE, just like all the other services offered by www.justskydivers.com. If you do bid and win an item, JustSkydivers receive a small percentage of the final valuation fee. This revenue will be used to help towards the costs of the current server.
Remember when buying from Ebay to ensure that you do all that you can to ensure that you are not falling victim to a scam. Check the sellers feedback, see what other items he has bought or sold, read his feedback, check its been left by several different Ebay members. Read the description several times so as to make sure that you know exactly what is for sale. Email the seller to get any quentions you have answered. Next check what payment options are being offered. As a buyer – paypal is ideal. Paypal certainly doesn’t protect you as a seller, but it certainly does as a buyer. In that if your goods are not received, and you believe that they may not arrive, you have up to 30 days to reclaim your money via Paypal.
Remember if something looks to good to be true on Ebay, then it probably is.
What does skydiving feel like?
In short, it will probably be completely different to what you were expecting. In freefall the sensation is similar to the floating sensation you get in a swimming pool. People expect it to be similar to that of riding a rollercoaster. This is not the case. Skydiving is relaxing and most exhilaration you can imagine.
How safe is skydiving?
Skydiving is a highly regulated sport. There is a strict set of safety practices in place to make it as safe as possible. Skydiving has far less injuries proportionally compared to other adventure sports such as skiing, snow boarding, white water rafting, rock climbing, etc.
What happens if my parachute does not open?
This is a very common question and is quite simple to answer. In the unlikely event that your main parachute fails to open correctly, there is a reserve parachute that acts as a backup. The reserve parachute is only allowed to be packed by a qualified rigger. There is also an Automatic Activation Device (AAD) which is a backup device that will open your reserve at a lower altitude.
Can I breathe in freefall?
Yes, of course you can. Even though you will be falling at up to 120mph. We skydive at a maximum height of 15000ft which means there will also be plenty of oxygen.
I am scared of heights, will I still be able to skydive?
Lots of people who start skydiving are frightened by heights. This has not stopped them from enjoying their skydive, or from progressing to becoming a licensed skydiver. Your instructor will put you at ease so as to ensure you get the most from your skydiving experience.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If the weather is not within limits for a safe skydive, then I’m afraid you will have to jump a different day. This can be disappointing, however its for your safety.
Where can I go skydiving?
There are quite a few locations around the Uk where you can participate in a skydive. To see a map of available Drop Zones visit Skydiving locations or alternatively ask at JustSkydivers.com
If you are serious about taking skydiving up as a sport then this is the option for you. After an intensive training course you get to jump from approximately 12,000 ft with the assistance of 2 qualified instructors. You will soon be progressing through the 8 levels en route to becoming a qualified skydiver.
This vide shows Five of the first 7 jumps when doing an AFF course at Langar, Nottinghamshire, UK. Instructors Ian ‘Milko’ Hodgkinson and Chris ‘Can Can’ McCann. Filmed by Milko.
AFF is an intensive course, more expensive but allowing rapid progression in skydiving. Your first descent is from 12,000 feet accompanied by two highly specialised instructors who will guide you in freefall by way of hand signals and under canopy with radio communication. You will experience 40-45 seconds of freefall before you open your own, ram-air canopy at 5,000 feet. This is the real sport!
Your first AFF jump is part of a week’s course of 8-10 jumps which will qualify you as a skydiver in your own right. If you know you want to take up skydiving, this is probably the quickest and most motivating method by which to do it – although of course it is not cheap.
This is good for a one of experience if you wish to have full control yourself or if you wish to get taster en route to qualifying as a skydiver. In short you will jump from approximately 3,500ft with a static line attached to the aircraft which will deploy your parachute for you.
More Info:
A static line jump can be done just as a one off experience or as part of a course to progress on to freefall and skydiving. If you have time but want to spread the cost of learning to skydive over a longer period of time then the RAPS course may be just for you.
It is also a good way of seeing if parachuting is something that you would like to carry on with without the expense of an accelerated freefall course. A single static line jump can also be done as a sponsored event for charity.
The Ram Air Progression static line (RAPS SL) course requires a minimum of 6 hours instruction. Courses normally last a full day allowing for coffee, lunch & tea breaks and normally take place on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, although other dates can be arranged for group bookings, with the jump normally taking place the next day weather permitting. Occasionally during the lighter summer evenings jumps may be undertaken on the day of the course.
Courses can be run on other days for groups of 5 or more if arranged in advance. With the RAPS SL method the parachute is deployed by a static line secured to a strong point within the aircraft. Progression is possible to freefall on later jumps.
Your first freefall can be as early as your sixth jump and will usually be a five second delay. The time you spend in freefall will be gradually increased and you will start to learn body flying skills such as turns and forward movement. About 30 jumps and you can qualify as a fully fledged skydiver. From here, all the different avenues of the sport are open!
This is perfect as a one of experience. You get the maximum thrills with the least amount of training and is therefore the quickest way to get you in the air. For this jump you will be attached to a fully qualified instructor. In freefall you will attain a speed of approximately 120 mph. Once under canopy the instructor will get you safely back to the ground, landing at the DZ.
Get more info at JustSkydivers.com.
There are a wide range of Drop Zones around the UK where you do a Tandem Skydive.
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a tandem skydive is unlikely to be forgotten! Many do tandem jumps for charity or simply just for the thrill of falling at speeds in the order of 120 mph.
A minimum of 10 minutes instruction is required before a freefall descent attached to an instructor, however with Documentation, Orientation and a Video/DVD presentation the preparation for the jump normally lasts 40-90 minutes.
JustSkydiving.co.uk is a skydiving resource for all UK Skydivers and potential Skydivers. Find out where you can jump and see some of the frequently asked questions..
