Hello, brave new students!
What We Offer - The Category System Course:
This is a SOLO course, not a one-off tandem jump. This is your chance to learn how to skydive all by yourself, progressing gradually until you can zoom around at 15,000ft, feeling and looking awesome. The course is open to all who meet the age and weight requirements to skydive, found on your medical declaration form and our drop zone's FAQ.
The course is called Category System, sometimes known as 'Static Line'. This is a static-line system that allows you to get jumping by yourself straight away, your parachute deployed automatically until you are ready to run the whole show.
The ground training takes a day to complete, and we spend the whole weekend at the dropzone together to squeeze in as many jumps as we can. We leave Edinburgh on Saturday morning with a full day of training ahead. Weather depending, you'll then be jumping out of a plane from 3500ft that evening or on Sunday! Follow this link to see what your first jump will look like: https://youtu.be/GYyGJldsRPc
After your first jump, you're able to progress through the stages of the Category System and become a qualified skydiver in as few as 20 jumps. You won't be pushed to progress any faster than you are comfortable with, but we find our members become quickly addicted to the adrenaline! Please note there are age and weight requirements to skydive, found on your medical declaration form and our drop zone's FAQ.
Necessities for the course weekend:
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a sleeping bag (the warmest you can get)
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plenty of cosy layers (never overestimate the temperature...)
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comfortable, sturdy trainers/shoes (without hooks around the laces)
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food for 2 days
You're also welcome to bring snacks, drinks and games!
Costs:
Our initial sign-up fee for the course is £140. This includes:
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student membership to the British Parachute Association (legal requirement) + 3rd party insurance
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transport and accommodation for the first course weekend
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full ground training required for you to jump by yourself
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your first jump!*
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inclusive of a £30 deposit that is non-refundable if you miss your weekend at short, or without, notice to the club**
Subsequent jumps are £40 until qualified. This cost is reduced as you progress in the sport and even more so if you learn to pack the parachutes yourself! A single tandem jump in the UK is at least £280, so £40 per go is not a bad deal!
You will also be required to hold a club membership. This is £40 per year for students and £65 for non-students, purchased at the same time as your course weekend booking. Membership gives you access to club kit, discounted jumps, event transport, and club socials.
After the first course weekend, transport is arranged between club members to return to the dropzone to complete your further jumps, this can be by car or by train. The dropzone is open every weekend throughout the year with the exclusion of 4 weeks throughout Christmas and New Year.
*We cannot guarantee that you will be able to complete your first jump on this first training weekend. Skydiving is a weather-dependent sport and if the weather conditions are beyond the student limits set by the dropzone staff and instructors, jumping cannot take place. Arrangements to return to the dropzone to complete your first jump must be made by you. We do not offer refunds for those unable to make it back to the dropzone to complete their first jump.
**This charge is by Skydive Strathallan and is not kept by the club
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CONTACT: If you have any questions with regards to getting involved with the club then e-mail us on skydiving@ed.ac.uk.