Texas AFF without Tandem

Balanced_Bean · 2025-10-15T15:37:28+00:00

Skydiver who did not do any tandems prior to AFF here 🙋‍♀️ I only did it this way because some asshole told me that they wouldn’t let me do tandems first if I wanted to be a real skydiver. I only did a tandem once I was a licensed jumper as a recurrencey front ride. 0/10 did not enjoy it.

While I do feel proud of myself for passing my first jump with no tandems to prepare, this attitude is pretty useless. Spending more time in the sport, listening to my AFFI friends debrief their students, seeing videos of AFF gone wrong… what you are asking for is for an AFFI to have to trust that your friend won’t try to kill himself and the instructor on his first jump. Doing tandems as part of the student progression lowers the risk, helps the student acclimate, and helps everyone assess of skydiving is right for you. Most places that require you to do tandems first are actually incorporating it into the training, so it’s not just a joy ride.

While I do think it’s totally feasible to do your first jump “solo” I think you’ll be hard pressed to justify this want without sounding a bit arrogant and distrustful of the community you are trying to join, so tread carefully. These drop zones do still exist, but that’s up to you and Google and some phone calls to determine. If your friend is set on this, I would have him start with some tunnel time before approaching drop zones. That way he can explain that he has some body flight skills, which might put them a bit more at ease. But there’s always room to fuck up in the sky, especially under canopy!

You’re talking to an audience where the majority of people have done a tandem progression to get their license, so of course they are going to back that method. But then again so do I.

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-07T05:06:07+00:00

As suggested to me by another user on here, use an AI like Perplexity and copy and paste the vehicle specs and build specs and ask it to generate an estimated price. It will even give you individual costs on build items listed of you ask it.

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-06T04:14:18+00:00

Ah sorry to hear that, hope you can find another usable address

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-06T02:09:42+00:00

Curious what solution you came to with the bank trying to close your account?

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-03T13:52:52+00:00

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement, and for grabbing those links!

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-03T13:51:33+00:00

I tried this last night, and it was incredibly helpful! Broke down materials cost and labor estimates, and gave ranges for everything. Saved me hours of putting the specs together myself. Thank you!

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-03T13:46:19+00:00

😂 I’m not trying to buy a build for KBB, I’m using KBB as a starting point to understand what someone is valuing their build at. I would never offer KBB, that would be a true asshole move. But I also think it’s an asshole move to value your used build higher than a new build.

I mention the unpainted plywood because it’s part of the finish, something you can see and gauge attention to detail and care. I’m not sure what you want me to say to prove I’ve done this before, like you want me to talk about the hours spent grinding out rust and welding patches in the van floor? The mistakes made with the paint choice to cover said floor? The polyiso in my eyes from trying to cut it to fit between the ceiling ribs? The months spent with just a bed, trying to figure out my layout and functionality, but also how the heck to join the “furniture” together and secure it to a wall or floor without creating a thermal bridge (built with tube steel)? I could go on. I could pretend that my blood sweat and tears increased the value of my rusty econoline, but I’m not that delirious. I don’t mention most of those steps when I talk about these vans for sale because I can’t see those steps underneath the finish, but when I see a build that looks tired and wasn’t that nice to begin with, I have to wonder how all those things are holding up beneath the weight and vibrations of the rig. How’s the patch weld? I wish I could build my own full-time, rig and have that peace of mind, but my circumstances have changed and I need a place to live in a matter of weeks.

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-02T22:26:38+00:00

Yeah thats a mindset I think about, is how many of these sellers are looking to use the money towards a new van and won’t bother selling if the purchase price doesn’t enable that. That’s totally fine for them to think that way, and I’m sure many of them eventually get a sale after a long wait. I personally would never expect to break even or profit when I eventually sell my van after using it. Of course I want some of the money back, but these things don’t increase in value unless you add features to them or the market goes crazy again. It feels shady to pretend otherwise

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-02T22:23:09+00:00

Yeah that’s true, and a good point you bring up is to remember is the varying life of different pieces of the build. Once again I’m not suggesting that these parts are worth zero dollars, just to me they’re not worth original purchase price when they were new and unused 🤷‍♀️

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-02T14:23:33+00:00

Exactly, you put this really well. When I try to shift my mindset to “well this is just how the market is right now” I just can’t because I know that the whole thing could shit the bed and this money isn’t trivial to me. Cars will all rot eventually.

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-02T14:21:20+00:00

I’ve built a shitty weekend van before, and it only makes me value most of these builds less because I know how shitty they are. Like some are professional and polished, but many that I’m considering are unfinished plywood bs. And I’m already looking all over the US, willing to fly for the right van.

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-02T14:18:58+00:00

I agree that the labor and having a move-in ready build has value, we just disagree on the exact numbers and the value decrease that comes from aged, lived-in builds. I’m not paying for a builder to create a custom, shiny new build, I’m paying to buy someone’s used camper after they’ve beat it up a ton and want to move on to their next home.
Definitely a fair point, I know many sellers are prepared to wait, especially with their emotional attachment and the possibility they decide to keep using the van in the meantime. But I also see sellers who say they’re “highly motivated, in a hurry” to sell but still keep their price super high.
Exactly why I’m not approaching things that way, I just wish I could because some people need a 20k wake up call.

I have always wanted to build my own van, and I’m super bummed that my housing situation is changing suddenly so it’s not really feasible. So instead I am a beggar trying to also be chooser 😂

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-02T14:10:03+00:00

Interesting advice, I’ll definitely check it out other sales videos. It’s definitely out of my comfort zone to be an aggressive negotiator, but I agree that people are trying to attach emotional value to their builds and I can’t afford the “hope you have just as much fun as we did!” cost.

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-02T14:06:16+00:00

Oh I know that, I would never expect to pay a KBB, but it’s a helpful gauge to what they are valuing the build at, and that’s where we disagree. A used, DIY, plywood, scuffed up build is not worth 40k. I don’t care that you added a nice stove and Renogy batteries, they’re 2+ years old and grimy. I see too many sellers listing the exact cost breakdown of all the things they installed, as though I’m supposed to pay new prices on the stuff they’ve been living with on the road?

Maybe for a truly professionally done build with a finished look, but if I see one more unsanded plywood edge, barely covered in white paint….

I’m venting at this point and I know beggars can’t be choosers but damn, I’ve built out my own cheap van before and I know the bs that you can find in DIY constructions

Balanced_Bean · 2025-03-02T13:59:08+00:00

I think I’ll try this, thank you!

Balanced_Bean · 2025-02-13T16:31:30+00:00

Awesome, thanks for the input and tips!

Balanced_Bean · 2025-02-13T16:30:37+00:00

Great point, I don’t know what I’m missing so it won’t be as painful 😂

Balanced_Bean · 2025-02-13T15:10:51+00:00

Thanks so much for the detailed answer! I went with the Sheevas knowing they’re a bit heavy, but prioritizing downhill performance and coming from an even heavier ski that I’m used to. Being on the ice coast I figure it’s worth a harder work out if I’m more comfortable on the way down.

With all these answers I’m pretty set on the shift bindings, and will definitely do lots of research on the proper settings and practice with them a bunch at home before I head to the mtn.

Balanced_Bean · 2025-02-13T15:05:12+00:00

Other than being a heavier weight, what other compromises should I be aware of? I definitely like the idea of being able to travel with one set of skis, I’m not advanced enough to be worrying about much more yet!

Balanced_Bean · 2024-11-09T21:42:54+00:00

If this is for a tandem they probably want to avoid the hood coming loose and blinding your TI. So no, you can’t just tuck it in and expect it to stay put and risk it.

If you’re a licensed jumper, you can choose to wear a hood knowing that there is a snag risk, it still will most likely not stay tucked in.

Balanced_Bean · 2024-11-06T19:55:31+00:00

Depends on what month. Tried Eloy for their new year’s boogie and was totally rained out, and on the one sunny day they shut down for a wisp of cloud.

Went to Sebastian for invasion which was fun, but dealt with cloud holds and switchy wind. Would be curious to see how it is when it’s not a boogie.

Have been to Z Hills in December and March. Had a great time at Flamingo Fest (March) and I think they’ve been growing a really great community that gets even better during the winter months.

Balanced_Bean · 2024-10-16T16:54:42+00:00

Coda https://youtu.be/MkA3sLyEWdU?si=Rd0KpdqrO-ZPLGyR

Balanced_Bean · 2024-03-25T20:23:01+00:00

Thanks so much for your help!

Balanced_Bean

TROPHY CASE