hackish 8 #1 October 18, 2007 Just about everyone I've talked to so far has "their rigger" much like the way people have "their doctor" or "their mechanic". How does a newbie rigger actually get into the business when everone seems to want the work done by a rigger with years of experience? Is it the sort of thing where in the big spring rush the newbies end up getting the overflow from the experienced riggers who are then too busy to do the reserve on time for the DZ's opening? -Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllisonH 0 #2 October 18, 2007 My rigger had just gotten his ticket when I started using him. He was one of my instructors when I was a student, and when he heard I had gotten new gear the next spring, he mentioned that he had gotten his rigging ticket over the winter and said if I needed someone to assemble my stuff he would be happy to do so. I already knew and trusted him, so I decided to give him a try. Turns out he's pretty good too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #3 October 18, 2007 Go work in a loft and sweep up the crumbs, rigger Rob loves to have crumb sweepers give him a call..... you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #4 October 18, 2007 So, you want to be a rigger?. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #5 October 18, 2007 Quote Go work in a loft and sweep up the crumbs, rigger Rob loves to have crumb sweepers give him a call..... 'bout 3000 miles apart though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glitch 0 #6 October 18, 2007 Where's the dedication? Randomly f'n thingies up since before I was born... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hackish 8 #7 October 18, 2007 Quote Go work in a loft and sweep up the crumbs, rigger Rob loves to have crumb sweepers give him a call..... I don't think there are any actual lofts around here. I wasn't really considering it as a fulltime position - just something to do part-time and satisfy my thirst for the fine technical details most people don't care about. It takes a long time to get the rigger "a" so I may as well get the basics figured out now. -Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fast 0 #8 October 18, 2007 One of the people at my DZ just got his ticket. He ended up getting work from people who needed their rig packed "right now" because they just had a cutaway or something. Eventually he got some other work just cause other people were busy.~D Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #9 October 18, 2007 oh young grasshopper, you so miss the point.....let me clear it up for you in laymans terms, go find you a crusty anal retentive grumpy old fuck like RiggerRob who will let you hang your FNG hat in his loft a few days a week and keep your mouth shut and your ears & eyes open and take notes and take it all in for as long as you can if you really want to learn sumtin, all the books in the world are great and all, but it's the indian tricks you can only learn in person by those who know the fine art of rigging from years of ed-u-ma-cation in the hands on learning enviroment and who have learned from the old crustys before who have long passed on, GET IT? Goood! you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 279 #10 October 18, 2007 QuoteI don't think there are any actual lofts around here. While opinions will vary, here's one way that I think riggers may gain experience: Most DZ's have some sort of a loft / rigging room. There may be a chief DZ rigger one can do some work for, or maybe the DZ could use another rigger to help out when the regular one(s) are too busy. Rigging for the DZ, at the DZ, seems an easier way to "get known" than trying to start off with taking experienced jumpers' rigs home to pack -- unless you already have a good circle of friends a the DZ who trust you. Besides, you have to get a bunch of repacks done under supervision to get your rating. So unless you go to some all inclusive American-style rigging course, you need to form some sort of relationship with a local rigger. Years ago, I got my required repacks in by apprenticing essentially free at a local rigger's shop. A newbie rigger may be more likely to be trusted if he's been checked out on say just a couple types of student gear, which are often less demanding to pack than the greater variety of experienced jumper gear. (An experienced jumper with a PD 113 in a Javelin is more likely to complain about bulk distribution and loop length than a student renting a Vector II with a PD 235 in it.) Slowly he'll get more chances to pack experienced jumpers gear, with ideally some supervision at the DZ. Being in some sort of a rigging loft with exposure to more equipment and other riggers' knowledge is also a lot better for skills development (and customer safety) than being alone at home with your shiny new seal press and not much else. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hackish 8 #11 October 18, 2007 Quote oh young grasshopper, you so miss the point.....let me clear it up for you in laymans terms, go find you a crusty anal retentive grumpy old fuck like RiggerRob who will let you hang your FNG hat in his loft a few days a week and keep your mouth shut and your ears & eyes open and take notes and take it all in for as long as you can if you really want to learn sumtin, all the books in the world are great and all, but it's the indian tricks you can only learn in person by those who know the fine art of rigging from years of ed-u-ma-cation in the hands on learning enviroment and who have learned from the old crustys before who have long passed on, GET IT? Goood! Everyone who knows said grumpy old fuck didn't call him that they just said "you'd better do it exactly the way he says or else you'll never pass." If rob is an anal old fuck then we'll get along just fine because I'm an anal fuck who just hasn't gotten old yet. I also have the two local riggers who've probably both been rigging since I was in elementary school who've both encouraged me to take up this profession. The supervised repacks shouldn't be a problem... Ideally I'd like to learn square reserves plus rounds but one step at a time. I may take the course with old crusty and find I don't like it. pchapman - I think that is good advice because I was in fact concerned as one of the TM's was complaining about the reserve distribution and I was afraid that my first 50 reserves may come out a little lumpy. Nobody wants the newbie to pack if their rig isn't 100% comfortable. -Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,452 #12 October 18, 2007 Hi hackish, Part of an email recently from RiggerRob: remember that I will be in Quebec 1 - 13 November. I think that he is doing a rigger course there. Anywhere close to you? JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
