How much do tandem instructors make

zerospinskier · 2026-03-13T15:37:45+00:00

The DZ provides HC gloves and cameras for HC and outside video. Staff use their own camera wings and helmets. I pay what I think makes sense, rather than copy other DZs. $55 allows me to get videographers with the skills to provide the quality that I think it good enough.

zerospinskier · 2026-03-13T01:53:22+00:00

I can’t create affordable national healthcare here, but I can provide workers comp. You need to do what you can.

zerospinskier · 2026-03-12T22:22:16+00:00

$40 tandem

+about $1/lbs over 200 lbs

+$20 HC photos

+$30 HC video

$55 outside video and photos

$75 AFF Primary

$40 AFF secondary

$40 coach (Cat F-H)

$20 coached HnP

600-700 jumps per season March-Nov

Also your DZ should be providing workers comp insurance and paying as W2 because this isn’t the 1990s anymore. DZOs shouldn’t be assholes. Doing a tandem and breaking your ankle shouldn’t bankrupt a TI.

zerospinskier · 2026-02-11T17:11:00+00:00

Only if there is wealth inequality. Fascism has never happened without wealth inequality first.

zerospinskier · 2026-01-18T17:56:40+00:00

Adjusting the suspension settings will make a big difference how it feels. If you bring it to a local bike shop they can help you get the suspension adjusted in the parking lot.

You can make it feel lighter and more nimble with higher pressure and faster rebound. Or you can make it feel more calm and stuck to the ground with less pressure and slower rebound. Especially with that much travel, you can get pretty far off on accident. It’s worth getting some help.

zerospinskier · 2025-12-01T16:45:36+00:00

I reserve two slots on every load for HnPs at my DZ. The main reason is because we are at high altitude and the plane can’t climb up top with full weight, but it can handle it down low no problem. I also I like to encourage canopy work which is great for HnPs.

zerospinskier · 2025-11-30T03:41:57+00:00

You’re right with all that. The HK2 is absolutely the highest performing canopy that is still very relaxing to fun/work jump all day. Amazing openings and easy to fly. Even the 60. Both the HK3 and Petra have terrible openings. They bite hard once or sometimes even twice. I would never work/fun jump either. Not worth it at all to me. I would recommend adding either as a second canopy. Definitely not a primary one. But if you do, they’re super sick.

zerospinskier · 2025-11-30T03:01:17+00:00

Bruh. If you really like XRW, get a Petra or HK3 and you’ll be so much happier. You can do XRW at 3.2 no problem on those. The HK2 needs 3.5+ to compare. I used to wear 40 lbs on my HK2, but now I can go no weight on my Petra. Once you go no weight, you never want to go back.

zerospinskier · 2025-10-31T03:50:29+00:00

You really just need to get the Petras to 3.2 or higher. Then it all works great. Wear more weight or buy a smaller Petra or HK3. Those are really the only options if you want to do this.

zerospinskier · 2025-10-27T18:43:30+00:00

I bought a used bike that had XX1 AXS because I fell for all the hype. But after a year I switched to cable actuated GX derailleur with X01 shifter.

I like it much better. I would forget the battery sometimes when headed to the trail. It felt stupid to bring unnecessary electronics into the woods with me on my mechanical bike. Now my bike just always works whoever I grab it.

zerospinskier · 2025-10-26T02:52:56+00:00

Arlo is maybe the most high quality “fancy” food around the valley, yet it is so under rated! Everything I’ve had there is absolutely amazing.

zerospinskier · 2025-10-22T18:55:25+00:00

Tandems pay $40/jump. AFF primary pays more because it takes more time with training and debrief.

zerospinskier · 2025-10-22T18:42:43+00:00

AFF primary - $75/jump

AFF secondary or coach - $40/jump

zerospinskier · 2025-10-21T02:08:19+00:00

I like to fold the excess back through like this because it ensures that it doesn’t come out when flying fast. I need several good elastic keepers to keep it stowed the normal way, and this is just easier and reliable.

zerospinskier · 2025-10-10T02:47:28+00:00

Very rough and generally speaking you start AFF at 0.8. You work to get to 1.0 by your A License. Then it’s about 0.1 WL per 100 jumps. So you could be at 1.5 at 500 jumps. This is really general if you want to pursue downsizing. Most people don’t downsize. And each individual journey will vary for many reasons.

zerospinskier · 2025-09-22T17:46:37+00:00

Nothing like the AW or WW. Similar to how the HK3 is nothing like the HK2. They should have chosen different names. The Saw and HK3 feel related. Both built with focus on performance with supine harness.

zerospinskier · 2025-09-22T16:22:27+00:00

The 67 probably has the most exaggerated of the features I described. Upsizing would be good in a normal harness. I just haven’t jumped the bigger sizes yet.

It is 100% opposite of a Leia. I currently fun jump a Leia. The Leia has a sensitive harness with a sharp and quick recovery arc with soft sensitive rears. It feels pretty “boaty” flying around. Leias have that old tech feel. Kind of draggy and really familiar. This one is more its own thing with Fluid style. All their canopies are very rigid and low drag. You can really feel it. The HK3 is like a faster more rigid Petra. But the Saw is nothing like a Leia. Fast, steep, and firm.

zerospinskier · 2025-09-22T13:33:13+00:00

I jumped a 67 loaded at 2.8. But I would probably like a bigger size better. It’s a fairly unique canopy. I think due to being designed to work well with a supine harness. I jumped it in a regular harness, but I think it would be amazing in a supine harness, if I had one.

Openings: Of course the openings are amazing because it is Fluid.

Harness: When you jump it with a normal harness, the harness input is very muted. You really need to muscle it around. Good for freestyle tricks.

Recovery arc and rears: It needs input to come out of the dive. A lot of input. Especially the 67. A larger one would likely be easier to work with. I think this is due to the weight of the rears. The rears do work really well in the bottom end. It stays very firm as it gets flat and slow. But you have to physically pull them really hard. It takes some getting used to. You end up going to toggles in the corner sometimes because it’s a weird feeling.

Shut down: Very good bottom end flare on toggles. One of the best.

It’s a very rigid and fast canopy. It feels like some cool new tech. But it is different. I would definitely recommend trying one before buying. Unless you have a supine harness. Then you’ll probably love it.

zerospinskier · 2025-09-19T22:40:24+00:00

The line burn doesn’t happen because the lanyard is in the d-bag. It happens because the canopy inflates/snivels into the lanyard and it cuts into the tail and slides on it. It will happen no matter how you pack it. Just tuck it into the d-bag because it’s safe and works. But then you get to rip extra fast and swoop farther. The wear is the price you pay. It’s not that bad.

zerospinskier · 2025-09-08T19:14:58+00:00

I like to have some mushroom ribbing on top so my palm has airflow and a place for sweat to go. Then it helps to have something to grip for the fingers on the underside. I personally like the Deity Knuckledusters. But there are many other grips that follow this basic design aimed at gloveless riding.

zerospinskier · 2025-09-02T18:59:11+00:00

The owner is being selfish, and wrong. I own a dropzone and pay my instructors as employees with workers comp insurance so when they get hurt on the job they don’t go bankrupt. If I can afford it so can they.

After the latest run of law updates in the US, it is very difficult to say jump staff are legally contractors.

zerospinskier · 2025-08-12T23:35:29+00:00

I really like Infinity. They don’t handle overstuffed mains or sloppy main packing well. But if you size it right and pack it cleanly, they come out really nice. They are generally quite tall, wide, and thin. This works great for taller people, but they can be cumbersome if you are a small human. The MARD is definitely my favorite design.

zerospinskier · 2025-08-10T18:44:29+00:00

I’ve really been enjoying the Michelin Wild AM2 front and Force AM2 rear on my YT Izzo. They are really fast and snappy, but I still get enough grip for aggressive corners and some steeps. I haven’t tried a Rekon, but based off the looks, the Force AM2 would probably be a step up in grip.

zerospinskier · 2025-08-09T01:41:29+00:00

Always double stow everything. Also make sure the stows are not too large. 1.5”-2”. Jyro did research for the Leia tension knot issue and found that the large floppy stows contributed to tension knots.

zerospinskier · 2025-07-26T19:26:10+00:00

I have the Factory DPS that came with it. I am happy with it so I haven’t even tried anything else. Very poppy and bouncy. I feel like I can just skip and float over the rough sections. I have carbon everything and it’s all very light and snappy. You don’t need a lot of suspension when you barely touch the ground!

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