The USPA had about 18,500 members in 1989. It's something people don't generally think about during the day. But they see it in the media and it makes them want to go. The equipment is getting better and safer, but it's getting so expensive that not all people can afford to do it. The more demand, the higher the price.
Most people rent.
Only hard-core divers lay down the big bucks for their own parachutes, jumpsuits, helmets, goggles, etc. We take 'em and put 'em in a plane and let them jump out of it. That's exactly what sisters Jill and Lauren Merriman had in mind last weekend. They traveled with some friends from Garden City to Tecumseh to tandem jump. While Skydive Tecumseh caters to first-timers, it has plenty of regulars.