The best way to enjoy a birthday & a holiday, I discovered this year, is from about 13 to 14,000 ft with Chris Miller giving you, what the pre AFF trained person might think are obscene hand gestures. The fact he’s doing this as the aeroplane gets smaller above you & the details on the approaching ground get larger below you puts it into some sort of crazy, but at the same time fantastic, perspective.
If you do one thing to kick start your skydiving hobby, do the AFF course in Spain with Chris.
He may shout at you, he may infuriate you – but boy will he show you how to fill 10 days!
Relentless sunshine, clear blue skies, a great support team & excellent facilities made the AFF course I did with Chris in Spain one of the best ‘holidays’ I’ve ever had & a birthday I’ll never forget.
You know you’re in safe hands with Chris & you know, no matter how tough it might get sometimes, he has the experience which means you accept he knows best.
Chris got me & Sam, another student who went with us, through the AFF in the minimum 8 jumps. It wasn’t always easy, & you do feel like you’re working all the time, but we passed…in 8 jumps, in less than 5 days. And that means, when you pass the course, you get yourself manifested and you get straight back in that plane & at 14,000 ft you jump out of the plane solo, on your own. No instructor, no work, just WOW, enjoy the ride, & I’ll guarantee you’ll do it again, & again.
What you don’t realise is how much it’s all sunk in, & it makes sense, all the ground schooling & all the in air coaching that’s been drummed in to you actually makes some sense now. You may not be the world’s best skydiver yet, but Chris has given you the know how to get you in the air & on your way.
You know you’re safe & you know you have the service & guidance to get value for your money. Because it seems like a lot to spend until you think about what you get for your cash, & let’s face it, you could spend the same amount on a fortnight in the Balearics, but would it be as good? No chance! The thrill of jumping out an aeroplane all day every day aside, the people at the drop zone are great – some real characters. Everyone speaks English & everyone will be supportive & helpful to you. Nobody looks down on you for getting it wrong, or because you’re a beginner, it’s like a family & everyone wants you to succeed & pass (not just because you have to get the beers in). Of course, on that very important subject, don’t think for one minute that it’s all work, work, work; you are on holiday after all. So when the ‘work’ jumping out of a plane is done there’s plenty to do to keep you entertained in the evenings.
I went into the AFF, not sure whether I’d continue skydiving after the course; thinking I may well be content just being able to say “I did that, I jumped out a plane, in Spain” & could tick it off the list. If you’re thinking the same, no problem, but don’t be surprised, if like me you get home after your 10 days desperate to get to your nearest drop zone to get in the air again (the British climate permitting).
So go on, treat yourself, like I did. Go & really enjoy the Spanish climate, from 14,000ft with Chris, get your AFF & start what’ll no doubt be a long & happy future skydiving!
Kev Day