How I did it: Took a 9 hour class for my Class A skydive certification at a location that was recommended to me by a friend who used to skydive often. I jumped with 2 instructors, one on either side, who hang on to you until your parachute has been deployed. They are with you during the free fall portion from the time you leave the plane to the time you deploy the chute, giving you hand signals about how to improve your jump (check arm position, leg position, remind you to check altitude etc).

Lessons & tips: For one, I would HIGHLY suggest that you do a tandem jump a weekend or two before jumping Class A with the 2 instructors. I feel like I would have done much better on every part of the jump I did, if I had just gone and been attached in the harness with an instructor. Often the instructor in a tandem jump will let you pilot the parachute after they have deployed it, that experience would have been VERY beneficial to me (I failed the landing, was only injured minorly- I have a bruise on my armpit from the rig) but if I'd had any prior experience whatsoever I feel that I would not have forgotten to flare completely at the end.

Another MAJOR thing is: they don't tell you about the insurance. I went in there expecting to pay $300 for the Class A course and first jump, but in reality, they make you purchase insurance. You can purchase temporary (I think 3 month) insurance for $35 or 1 year for $65. I opted for $65 because I am planning on going again several times this year, but I really wish I knew about that instead of spending $65 I had not planned on.

Also, if you do the class, you MIGHT NOT get to jump that day. We were grounded due to wind conditions for 2 1/2 hours and half of my class had to reschedule their jump.

Another thing is, if you live near one of those indoor "skydive experience" wind tunnel things, go do it! I am an hour from one and I am going to go multiple times between now and my next jump, in order to practice the free-fall sequence of Circle of Awareness and practice touches, repeat Circle of Awareness, and HA-HAs. You can look online and read and watch videos of Class A jumps on Youtube. They want you to make these actions muscle memory, so if you spend several weeks doing them prior to going to class, you are going to be SO far ahead of the game.

Resources: skydivepalatka.com
youtube.com
my buddy Richie!

---

Apr 11, 2011, 02:29PM PDT | 1 comment | 12 cheers