shashes6 0 #1 December 28, 2009 Hi, I am completely new to this sport! i went on first tandem in November and have done 8 jumps and just past aff and now on to coach jumps! I am absolutely loving this sport! I want to eventually get my own gear but its sooooo expensive! Anyone know of a great way to weed through all these forums and the internet to really find out how to buy used equipment, sizing, brands etc??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #2 December 28, 2009 Welcome to our world (both the sport as a whole and this little corner of insanity on the internet). Don't worry about gear yet. At this point, you really need to rely on your instructors and riggers at your DZ. They have the knowledge (both about gear in general and your skills/needs in particular) to help you get what you need. Any advice you get from here will be very generalized, slanted toward personal preferences or just plain wrong. Read the sticky in Safety and Training. Read the Gear and the General forums to get some ideas of what is out there, but don't try to pick out specific stuff. Brands are usually a personal preference, although the different manufacturers have different levels of customer service. Buying anything off the internet without assistance from someone who knows what they are doing is highly risky. There are a lot of scammers out there, and there's also people who will sell you stuff that isn't right for you (like a canopy small enough to kill you) with no qualms about it."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
captain1976 0 #3 December 29, 2009 Ditto that. No rush for gear and you can rent it for awhile. WelcomeYou live more in the few minutes of skydiving than many people live in their lifetime Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #4 December 29, 2009 Welcome to the forums! She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mgregory 0 #5 December 29, 2009 Welcome to your life being taken over! I just bought my first rig in November off the classified section of this site. I had my rigger do most of the work for me. Have fun!AKA MG Hammer Flying Hellfish #834 Son's Of Bacon #1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shashes6 0 #6 December 30, 2009 Thanks for the Info! I know this may sound really really dumb but I obviosly have instructors but what is a rigger? I see tons of people around the dz and never really deal with anyone except the front office staff and the instructors.[:) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #7 December 30, 2009 I've said it before and I'll say it again. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.A rigger is basically a parachute mechanic. They inspect and pack reserves, and make repairs. Senior Rigger and Master Rigger are ratings issued by the FAA (don't ask where the Junior Rigger rating went, nobody knows), You have to meet certain requirements and pass tests to get these ratings. You don't have your DZ on your profile. If it's a bigger DZ and has a gear shop, the people working there are the riggers (maybe not the one at the counter but the ones in back doing the real work). "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
