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I had an awesome time while I was at the Freefall University . My feedback is pretty much ten out of ten apart from the fact that no one warned me in time to avoid the ridiculous tan lines that I have ended up with. My Instructor was top and I think how relaxed he was rubbed off on me during my first few jumps and inspired a lot of confidence. A big surprise was how much free info you can pick up.

Anyway, I think this is the longest e-mail I’ve ever written and I’m getting bored and pissed of the more I think about not being in the FFU . Hope you are getting some jumping in and not working too hard. Hopefully see everyone at at the end of June and I may even have persuaded a friend to come and do AFF…

I kick myself for not doing this years ago when I didn’t make the time……..

From first setting foot on the DZ you are instinctively struck by something quite surreal….and something doesn’t seem right. Is it the angst, is it the escapism from the toils of English life & weather, replaced by the picturesque landscape of Spain….well this may be part of it but your still perplexed as to what it is that you can’t put your finger on….and then it hits you. I for one have never been to a place with such a pleasant vibe; the atmosphere is almost inexplicable.

There’s no snobbery here, no segregation between the novice and the pro. People from every walk of life, residents of most European countries and beyond congregate here, courteous and welcoming from the outset….it could be a linguistic nightmare but fear not fellow ignorant Brits, the primary language on the DZ is English. It’s relaxed, it feels like home for a week (or how ever long you stay (some don’t go home!)). The diversity is ever present; you have people such as myself having never jumped before, those doing formation skydiving (FS1), canopy control, swoopers, teams practising their routines, the freestylers and of course the odd national champion here and there; there’s something to learn from everyone.

I can only liken it to a monastery, a world within a world; a haven for seemingly dysfunctional souls; only instead of monks you’ve got adrenaline junkies bound in unity, itching for their next fix!….compelled to jump out of a perfectly functioning aircraft!! The FFU itself is imbued with a natural dichotomy of professional, safety conscious instructors when at work and chilled out, laid back approachable people at all other times. It may be one on one instruction but all the instructors (and everyone on the DZ as is happens) are more than happy to address any qualms or offer guidance.

I can’t see how the ground school could be any better in preparation from having never jumped before to ‘taking the plunge’. Your safety is paramount throughout (you’ll practise every conceivable contingency and do drills until they are ingrained upon your mind). Furthermore, the PowerPoint lessons aid as a great illustration to putting the theory into practice. Of course the real fun starts when you graduate, when you’ve got the bug and the world of possibilities open up to you, but you’ll have to find that out for yourself.

If your considering doing an AFF course with the FFU then stop thinking about it….you’ll only be disappointed like me for not doing it sooner….transcend your inhibitions! And remember….If in doubt, arch!

p.s.

Beware; the sport has a major flaw; keep your victories quiet; your forever obligated to buy a crate of beer at every milestone; graduate level 7, level 8, completed your consoles, 50th jump, 100th jump etc….even your birthday!

Muchos Gracias see you all again soon.

The dropzone overall has a fantastic and friendly supportive atmosphere. It didnt matter if you have one or one thousand jumps. People here chat and offer genuinely friendly advice and support.

It cant be overstated enough that the Atmosphere in the Freefall University makes it a truly great place to learn.

Why come to the FFU ?

1) Great Instructions

2) Truly Great Atmosphere: Friendly, Professional and Supportive.

After having done a Static Line course in Ireland in early 2004 I was eager to progress to skydiving. Hampered by the Irish weather (low clouds, high winds, flooded runways) I only managed to do 7 (SL) jumps (incl 2 DRP’s) up till November. Totally frustrated with my lack of progress I contacted the Freefall University on recommendation of some Skydivers back in Ireland.

As I couldn’t take a week off early this year I suggested to split the course over 2 long weekend. This was no problem and they were more than helpful in the booking of car hire and arranging accommodation. In Dublin I worked till lunchtime, before being dropped off to the airport. By 8:30 that night I had arrived in FFU and was met by my Instructor . After a couple of beers they showed me the accomodation and we started the course the following morning. These guys really made me feel welcome and at home. Over the next few days and my second long weekend I met lots of other students, instructors and skydivers from various nationalities. The bond between students is fantastic and all instructors are very professional and yet easy going at the same time. In the end I needed a couple of extra jumps to complete my Level 7. The support and advise from so many people (students, instructors) determined to see me succeed has really made an impact on me and is an experience I will not likely forget. On my final day I graduated and got 2 solo jumps in before leaving the dropzone at 5:20 pm and arriving home at 9:30 that night.

I can’t wait to get back to the dropzone next month and meeting up again with that wonderful bunch from the FFU University.Oh, did I mention the skydiving was awesome ?

Thanks to everybody and see you soon.

Paul Ancker

Ireland

See Bens complete AFF Course Account in diary format here

I was picked up and taken straight to the Drop Zone (DZ) and into the bar where another student Martina was celebrating graduation of her AFF course in the traditional manner, the video of her skydives was playing and she had bought a crate of beer for everyone to share. I was introduced to my instructor immediately and several other people. Everyone was so nice, friendly and welcoming. Most people seemed to know just how I was feeling….nervous about the whole thing!. I say most as some people seem born to skydive but for the rest of us mere mortals, who have a fascination, an interest or have just decided to step outside their comfort zone….way….way….way out!!! The emotions are powerful, and can swing wildly.

My First Freefall:

I’m actually pretty relaxed at least in part, I feel at one with the sky, like somehow I’m meant to be there, that it was always part of me, it just took me 28 years of life to discover it. I felt free, freer than I ever have before, I was flying.. kinda, it felt incredibly exhilarating and also somehow it just felt right !

My Instructor:

It’s all about personality. My Instructor was definitely a perfect instructor for skydiving. He’s doing the right job. I was very lucky to be taught by him. Regardless of the testimony of the other students I’d met and talked to the night before, this became apparent to me very quickly. One to one instruction, all the other students where at different levels throughout the course, really helped me feel confident. No question went unanswered. His calm confident professional and friendly manner helped put me at ease. The other instructors here are all very experienced experts too with thousands of jumps and qualifications to boot not to mention British team members or ex team members, cameramen and even James Bond doubles and film stunt advisors! None of this you find out from them, only through word of mouth by the other students or friends of the instructors. I’d picked the right people to do my AFF with but I’d already worked that out. My Instructors instruction is first rate. The school, the attitudes, the organization is all safety conscious and I soon have complete confidence and trust in my instructor. That’s essential as I will follow his every word and direction throughout my training.

The First Jump:

I feel a great togetherness on the plane, there’s 9 of us on the plane. Just before the first lot exit I am inaugurated into the clan by the skydivers handshakes, the music’s on in the plane (something I now love and always ask for as we ride to altitude) but I don’t really here it now, I focused, I’m going through with it, I’m nervous but I’m ready.

Afterthoughts:

I’d done what I came here to do I had set myself free, free and into what is now a much better world. Personally I now feel I can do anything I put my mind to. “If I can do this I can play to 70,000 people at a festival or Wembley stadium” I told myself before doing the course. Well I don’t know if I’ll get the chance to find out if I can but I know one thing. If I ever get the chance I’ll take it. Skydiving is a bit like gigging. I get nervous before hand, The getting up on stage bit is the Exit but you just have to do it because like skydiving, when you play that first chord or sing the first note and its all going well, that’s what its all about, that’s the rush of the skydiving part, and when you finish, in between songs, that’s the quiet beautiful canopy bit. So gigging is a lot like skydiving, its all Mental, you just have to go for it and Relax. Skydiving has shown me that I can conquer my fears and paranoia and be who I want to be and live my dreams.

A great big thank you to all the staff, students and fellow skydivers that helped make my 10 days so good.

Thanks to the FFU for taking care of one scared student skydiver! The friendliness and helpfulness of the FFU team, the solidarity between students and the spanish coffee from the DZ cafe was spot on (who needs red bull?!).

Special thanks to Brian who really helped to get me in that plane door and get over my fear. Six months ago, after my birthday tandem, if you had told me that I would be jumping solo I wouldnt have believed you. If you had told me that i would be laughing and poking my toungue out at the camera whilst getting video’d on a consolidation jump…i would have called you crazy!

Spot-on instructors, spot-on support , spot-on location, spot-on weather…..I’ll be back…”

I had an exellent time and i couldnt have wished for anything more from everyone at the Freefall university. I had the best time of my life there,I knew it was going to be an unforgetable experience but my time there surpassed any of my expectations.

From the moment I arrived I recieved a warm welcome from every one at the dropzone. It is a very chilled out place and the people there are great and the atmosphere is very friendly. Every one is there to enjoy themselves and likes to see everyone else enjoying themselves to.

As for the skydiving course its self it couldnt have been more fun, my Instructor was an exellent teacher and a great guy. The relationship between you and the coach is far from a teacher/student thing. Its more like a friend trying to teach you their experience in a way that will bring out the best results in you,and believe me it works. They know how nervous it can be and they have all been there, so first of all they get you comfortable so you can relax into the learning process and thats the key to relax and enjoy the experience then everything else becomes easy and seems to come to you.

Before you know it you are soring through the sky like a bird ,the experience is exhilerating and no one should have to miss out on that. So if your like me and lucky enough to be able to have the chance to go skidiving look no further than the Freefall University.. It is for you. Stop thinking about it and just do it, you never know whats around the corner.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!P.S I cant wait to come back next month.

c u soon !!!!

Shane.

(There is a video of shanes level seven in our video library)

Wow! What a week! After a tandem in the UK I knew I had to learn to skydive. The AFF course gave the prospect of a holiday in the sun- and the sun did shine every day. After checking out the Freefall University I thought I’d take the plunge, as it were! Brian and Lamorna make an excellent team and really know their stuff. Everybody on the DZ is so relaxed and it’s easy to fit in. All the instructors really enjoy their work and their enthusiasm is infectious. 48 hours after my first (very nervous) jump, I was flying solo, confident in the knowledge I was prepared for anything. I won’t try to describe the euphoria of skydiving because I couldn’t do it justice, safe to say it’s been the most awesome week and I’ll probably be on a high for months. Just get yourselves out here and give it a go. Thanks again to everybody.

The Freefall University provided everything I expected and more. Fantastic location, friendly people and great weather for January. I Managed more jumps than expected and will definitely come back for more training.

What feedback can I give really except all positive! Seriously, after getting the flu’ the first time I think it speaks for itself that I was only home 8 days before I got online and booked the tickets to go back and get the course finished. And when I bought Vacher dinner to say thanks I did tell him he was the best AFF instructor ever – but I was slightly biased seeing as I’ve only ever had one!!!What more can I say really, I’m already living for being able to afford to go over again and to see everyone. And even now that I’m back I’ve just been emailing the shopkeeper about advice on gear to buy or to avoid and he has been a world of help. If you were looking for some negatives I do hate to disappoint, I couldn’t even make some up if I was a novelist.. It’s a fantastic set up and everyone is doing a great job even Sydney for the entertainment factor…!!!See you around the DZ sometime and once again thanks for a unforgettable time with some great people..

Slan go foill, ( Irish for best of Luck for non Irish visitors )

Martina.

Freefall University? Is it the place to go do your AFF training? What can i say? Having had a little experience jumping ’rounds’ many years ago, i still wanted the freefall experience, now was the time. I scoured the internet and listened to many recommendations for skydiving schools at home and abroad, for various reasons, no-one could (..or indeed wanted to!!) cater for all my needs in teaching me to skydive. Cost was one main concern among others………. One compay in particular caught my eye

I felt most welcome and indeed everyone i have met here in FFU , with no exceptions, have been very warm, friendly, impartial and very informative ….usually though for the latter, a small bribe in local currency (BEER!!) is necessary. Also having spent much time and patience sourcing and providing me with my first ‘rig’, at a great discount, FFU enabled me to take part and complete the excellent and well worth while canopy course with Brian Vachers ‘Safe Flight School‘ flying my own canopy. You would be surprised at the amount of people who still cannot fly a canopy safely (i am!) and having learned an enormous amount from Brian (also my AFF instructor), i am safe in the knowledge that i will not be going down the same road as them. I am currently being coached through to my FS 1 qualification, having some of the best and most experienced skydivers at my disposal here in FFU , no doubt i will train further into other disciplines such as Freefly, CRW, etc

In a nutshell, FFU has all the experience, skill and resources to take you from a mere ‘landlubber’ to an utter skygod without having to rob any banks along the way!! Many thanks to all the people from FFU who are making this possible……… Dave Cowman, Luci Boella, Brian ‘the Tart’ Vacher and a big up for the ‘secondaries’… Danni Guerra, Ulli Bulli Mike Carpenter and Andy Guler.

Follow your head and stay rude………”

Earlier in the year I had booked a week off work with the intentions of going lads holiday to Ibiza, the plan went a bit pear shaped though so I though I would have a wasted holiday week in the uk.. I was currentley doing a student raps course in the uk and had progress on the static line sytem in 15 jumps up to a 10 second delay. I had no plans to go anywhere on the week off work so i went to the Tilstock airfield as nomal on the Saturday, one for my freind there suggested i should get myself too Spain !! So after a short while of phoning around i got in contact with David. it was like……….’hi im richard i would like to do an aff course please’…..’not a problem when do u plan to come out’……….’tomorrow’!!!!!

David managed to arrange everything and the next day I flew from Liverpool airport to Madrid. After a short car journey to FFU , I met up with David and my instrusctor (a top geezer!)..we started off at level 3 because of my raps experience and from there sailed the way though to level 7 then did my hop and hop a few consoles later…

Baryy was easy to comunicate with and a superb aff instrucor……when i look back at my week in FFU , it was probably the best last minute desision i ever made, not only did i manage to complete my aff course , i met some great people too…hope your doing okay guys Paul, Liam, Danny and Steve top lads we had a laff!

Back here in the uk i have continued skydiving and have increased my overall jump number to around 70, i also went to Cyprus boogie and plan to visit FFU as well as russia later this year. This is an excellent course to go on i recomend it to all……Hope to see you all skydiving in the future

Richard.

My self and my friend Ditte went to Spain as we had 3 weeks off from work so why not spend them on skydiving. We found freefall university on the internet and called David who arranged almost everything.The 25th of November we were doing our ground school and the day after we were jumping out of a plane in freefall. That’s is the best experience we have tried yet. The DZ is a cool place with nice people and very professional instructors. We don’t think this will be our last time cant wait to get back to Spain.Say hallo to Sid and David you next year.

Wow! This is one truly amazing and completely unique experience, that has the ability to turn even the strongest of stomachs to complete mush, before taking your body on the most exhilarating ride of its life.The one-to-one tuition is second to none: In 3 days Luci has transformed me from a plummeting heap of spinning flesh and bones into a confident, almost relaxed ;)) skydiver doing half-controlled backloops and barrel rolls at 10,000feet as I hurtle towards the ground at over 200feet per second! It will send your friends and family into a state of shock and awe as they contemplate what it is that you have done; while they quietly wish they had the guts to get up and do it themselves!Anyway, I think you get the idea of how much I have enjoyed the 10days I spent at with the FreeFall Uni and what a truly unique and amazing experience this is. So stop reading these repeating messages of the amazing experiences that all these people have had with the FreeFall Uni and get on the phone to Dave and book your flights! I will see you all in a few weeks when I come back to do my FS1 and bring my dad along to do his AFF course. Cant wait to go up with him on his level 1 – we shall see just how many shades of white his face has in

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If you like adrenaline with a side serving of beer & laughs, this is the experience to have, and the Freefall University is a great place to do it. I woke up scared every morning and went to bed buzzing every night and experienced everything else in between – it was awesome. Brian Vacher taught me how to fly, the angel on my shoulder, a big friendly face in the sky 50 seconds of freefall from the earth, and everyone else was there with plenty of support on the ground – other instructors, jumpers and students alike. I went out there with my brother and met three other guys that we jump and drink with back in England, and returned to FFUwith two months after our AFF – one little skydiving family. This year will see the completion of our FS1 and canopy control courses.I am a Freefall University DROP OUT, and proud! Now if I’m feeling down or frustrated, I just think “I was just in a cloud, a month ago, I was a cloud, alone. Wicked!” and suddenly everything else is alright again.Cheers all of you for a life changing week!

Hello there hope everything is all well and good over there in lovely FFUespecially the weather. Just thought i would email u to say thanks for everything while i was there and the unbelievable experience that i had. The only problem now is that i am totally depressed as i am back in england and cant do any more jumps, so no need to worry i will definatly be back as soon as i have managed to save enough money.Could u do me a favour and thank Brian for everything for me as i think that without there professionalism and friendlieness (cant spell) i think the experience would not have been half as good. As well as the fact that they made me feel very at ease and confident with the whole experience, as i felt that the physical jumping out of the plane would be the hardest part of sky diving but they made it the easiest. Simply by the confidence they had installed in me. (plus the fact that i got to jump with a bond stunt man how cool is that?)As well as the instructors everything was spot on and i was generally very impressed and will be back soon.

Just writing to say thanks for the few day’s that i was there. I had a great time and hope to go back again in Feb. Barry, your a top instructor and i’m glad you were the one doing my AFF. You were right, all i needed to do was chill out.Lamorna, i hope you passed Barry’s tip on to him and not spent it on a pink snowboard or something (only joking). Thanks for all the help and advice. “Danny broke the glass not me”. Hope to see you in Feb. Best wishes from Baggers.

Just wanted to say thanks for the crazy times at Freefall university. I truely loved jumping. You have a rad staff, and an awesome school. When I fully realize how much skydiving is good for me, like breastmilk or vitamins I will be back, with my friend too. Expect another message sometime soon then, punk.Good luck in the near business future and with the new pad in Madrid as well. Also good luck with dirt bikes and snowboards and remember to buy a flashy cape.

Brian

I was sitting at work one Friday lunchtime. I had the following week booked off work and was wondering what to do with the time. I was considered blowing a grand on a “Drive a Formula 1 car” day. A colleague came over and I was discussing it with him. He said “for that kinda money you can learn to skydive for a week”. This prompted me to contact The Freefall University web . After reading the site for a bit I sent a mail to David Cowman asking him about course availability. He promptly called me back and we discussed the AFF course. Two days later I was there at FFUsitting with my instructor going through the ground school. The following day (Monday) I was kitted up (shitting my pants) about to board the Pilatus Porter Turboprop aircraft. I can honestly say that I have never been so nervous or excited in my life. The hardest part was manoeuvring myself in the plane when it was my turn to jump, but once out of the plane all of the nerves just disappeared. The feeling of achievement when landing safely on the ground was indescribable. That week I completed my 7 jumps to go solo plus 3 more. The come down of going back to work the following week was so bad that I immediately booked up another 4 day weekend for 2 weeks later. In that 4 days I completed another 14 jumps which included my level 8 hop & pop and 10 consolidations. I can honestly recommend anyone considering learning to skydive to go to the Freefall University and to put your trust in David Cowman’s team. David puts the safety of his students above all else. The parachute quipment that is supplied is all new and this is very reassuring to know as you are climbing to 13000 ft to throw yourself back to earth! I’ll be going back to FFUagain in the new year

I would thoroughly recommend the AFF program for learning to skydive and in particular, the FreeFall University in Spain as an ideal place to do so. The location and weather really facilitated jumping, while the instructors created a friendly and supportive atmosphere in which to learn and enjoy skydiving.

Niall