Jump Start FAQs

What is Jump Start ?
JUMP START is a charity event which asks skydivers to help raise money to sponsor a Teenager from CanTeen or Project K.  The skydive Tandem Masters, Camera flyers and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)  have donated their time resources and aircraft to this event.  Jump Start has been incorporated as a ‘not-for-profit’ company (Jump Start NZ Ltd) to manage the finances and liabilities associated with organising such an event. The directors are Tim Fastnedge and Lars Bojsen-Moller.  Each year (after an amount has been set aside to ‘kickstart’ the following year), surplus funds will be distributed to CanTeen and Project K.

How much do I need to raise?
This year, we’re asking you to raise a minimum of $300 for Jump Start, with at least $100 coming form you personally. We think that’s a pretty good deal for getting on the ramp! Slots will be allocated to the highest fundraisers, whether they are jumpers or observers! Participating tandem masters and videographers donate their services, and are not required to donate. However, they are welcome to get onboard with the fundraising effort.   

You don’t have to donate all the money from your own pocket. We have set up a new fundraise web page to assist you with raising the donations. We give you the tools to help you. Once you have set up a fundraise web page, email your friends, family, employers and colleagues – in fact, anyone you know who might like to donate to Jump Start.  Click this link to set up a fundraise web page.

We would encourage you to raise as much money as possible. The more that skydivers get behind Jump Start, the more likely that we will be able to repeat it and develop our partnership relationships in future years.

Do I have to be a skydiver to sponsor a teenager?
No. You can sponsor a kid to do a tandem and not make a jump. You can’t give the sponsor slot away or be a tandem passenger yourself (corporate sponsorship packages avaiable on request), but you can support a skydiver’s sponsorship effort by being a donor through that person.

How do I become a sponsor?
Raise the money, either by CREATING YOUR OWN FUNDRAISE WEB PAGE,  This is the easiest option and is all done online. It uses a secure payment gateway for instant c/card donations – or  – if you are used to the old fashioned way and collect in person –  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE POSTAL SPONSORSHIP FORM.  Enter your own details as sponsor, including the potential number of students you wish to sponsor. Post the form with a cheque or cheques for the total amount of sponsorship to:

Jump Start
PO Box 84 354
Westgate 0657
WAITAKERE CITY
New Zealand

If sending cheque donations etc, please make cheques payable to “Jump Start”
DO NOT SEND CASH
(note: Jump Start donations are not tax deductable, however receipts will be issued for all donations made over $10.00)

If you are using the postal form, forms and cheques must be received on or before 1st March 2010. You will receive confirmation by email or post of your status as a sponsor, and your allocation of sponsor jumps. 

If using the CREATING YOUR OWN FUNDRAISE WEB PAGE, everything is automatic with no messing about with forms, handling money etc. This is clean, simple and most of all FUN !

It will not be possible to apply to be a sponsor at the event. Extra places in the aircraft will not be available.

Where does the money go?
Surplus proceeds go to the charity beneficiaries (Canteen, Project K) . 
The Jump Start  organizers, tandem masters, camera / photographers,  and participants of Jump Start do not stand to benefit financially – providing their time & services free-of-charge.  Each year (after an amount has been set aside to ‘kickstart’ the following year), surplus funds are to be distributed to CanTeen and Project K.  Funds are used for Equipment Hire, Tents, BBQ and Catering, DVD & Stills production, Contingency Aircraft.

What else can  I do as a sponsor?
On the day, it will be your responsibility to help meet and greet the tandem passengers, and stay with them during their orientation to the dropzone. You will be “buddied up” with one or more passengers, and you will jump on the same load(s). You should make him or her feel included in the whole experience on the dropzone, the way you would with a friend that you bring for a tandem on any other day of the year. You will not be responsible for them at every moment, as they will have family, mentors and each other to interact with as well.

There will be a large hanger where everyone involved with Jump Start will gather, wait for emplaning, and generally hang out when they wish. Passengers’ family groups will set up their picnic spots in the area around provided.

When you are called to gather at the Hanger, you are responsible for rounding up your “buddies”.

You will also be expected to catch tandems for one or more of the loads.

Do I have to belong to the NZPF to jump at Jump Start?
No. The RNZAF will not require participating skydivers to hold NZPF membership. 

_____________________________________________________

TANDEM MASTERS, CAMERA FLYERS

Tandem masters
We are asking tandem masters and camera flyers to donate their services again for 2010. That’s the way you can best show your support for Jump Start, as a member of the skydiving community. And of course, you get to jump out of the Herc with your passengers. 

What do camera flyers have to do?
The purpose of having camera flyers is to provide the students with a quality DVD of their tandem experience, including ground shots, a group shot and possibly a shot at the presentation of certificates. So you must have commercial experience to be a camera flyer. Be prepared to be on call all day, documenting the jumps and the ground activity. Sony camera tapes will be provided and will be returned to the Jump Start organizers at the end of the day.  Jump Start reserves the rights of photographs & film footage shot during the event. Such footage/photography will only be used for promotion of Jump Start events. We will provide a brief for all camera flyers on the day. 

Packing
We ask that the Tandem Master to take care of packing their own equipment.

If you wish to be part of Jump Start as a tandem master, camera flyer 
If you wish to be part of Jump Start as a Tandem Master or Camera Flyer and you have not yet registered your interest, please register here.     You must have your own gear, be experienced, and Tandem masters must also have current ratings.   Places cannot be guaranteed.  You will receive confirmation of your inclusion in the tandem team by return email.

_____________________________________________________

THE C130 HERCULES

Why is the RNZAF supporting Jump Start?
RNZAF is making the plane available for the kids, not for skydivers. The deal is that if you sponsor a selected teenager to do a tandem, you are in with a chance to jump too. You won’t be able to jump out of the Herc unless you are part of the tandem/camera team donating your services to the event, or unless you have sponsored a student. Spare slots on the plane will not be made available.

What about bad weather?
A weather call will be made prior to the event, and participants will be able to check a telephone message for confirmation. This will also be posted on this website as well as advice by email. Notices will also be posted on this website and at the ASC Parachute Club dropzone manifest. In the event of postponement, the weather day is Sunday 7th March 2010. It could happen that the C130 may not be available at the last minute, due to war, natural disaster or maintenance difficulties. In that case, the event may either be cancelled or rescheduled after consulation with RNZAF HQ and the Jump Start committee.  

If I sponsor a teenager, and the Herc doesn’t come, do I get my money back?
No. Jump Start is about the kids. Jump Start will confirm if there is a cancellation. This would be beyond our control.

If I am a sponsor, do I have to jump?
No. You can sponsor a teenager to do a tandem and not make a jump. You can’t give the sponsor slot away or be a tandem passenger yourself, or make an observer flight. You can also support someone else’s sponsorship effort by being a donor through that person, eg by donating through their online web page.
Due to safety requirements, it will not be possible for the sponsor to jump together with the tandem pair.

Where is the location of Jump Start 2010?
RNZAF Base Auckland, Whenuapai Air Base, Auckland - view location map below -View Larger Map