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Muenkel

At what point do beginners buy their first rig?

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Seeing the pics of Chromeboy's rig has me psyched. (For all you people...Clay...with dirty minds, I meant his parachute). At what point should a newbie such as myself start shopping for a new rig?
Skydivers...they're just plain cool!
Chris

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I bought my first rig when I had about 18 jumps. I still have the whole thing except the main. If I had waited a little while I might have decided on a different main, but who knows. Anyway, I only had to rent gear one time.
Whatever you do, make sure the gear you buy is checked out by a rigger first if it is used, and make sure you know what you're buying. Safety first, not looks or coolness. ;)
Good luck,
Sis
Can you Trip like I do?

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I would say about the time you get an A license. I think it will take you 20 jumps or so to figure out what canopy/container/reserve you might like and will keep you entertained for a while. I didn't buy one until I had 48 jumps because I was spoiled with $25 to rent a rig all weekend, as many times as I could jump it by the Green Beret club. Then I got out of the military and realized how expensive jumping can be when you pay $20 or more per jump just for rig rental. A rig was the first thing I bought once I got a job. :)"It's all about the BOOBIES!"

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So I guess I will be in the market within a month!


Just keep in mind that if you buy ANYTHING new it will take AT LEAST 6-8 weeks minimum before you'll see it. It has to be the worst part of skydiving. Even worse than packing on a hot sticky day.
"It's all about the BOOBIES!"

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Well, I've got 115 jumps and I still dont have a rig, I'm not renting, I'm using the club's rig, but it still sucks. This summer my goal is to buy gear...
Don't be like me, get gear! :)A human cannonball, I rise above it all
Up higher then a trapeze, I can fly

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I bought my first rig used around jump 8 or 9, and was jumping it by jump 11. Kept it except for the main until I had over 200 jumps when I bought my new mirage. Current rig I figure I'll be jumping until it falls apart, but that is only cause I'm tiny and am already jumping one of the smallest rigs on the market.

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I would wait as long as possible, or when you have between 50 and 100 jumps. The reason is this. There is a huge learning curve between 20 and 100 jumps. Say you weigh 180 lbs and are jumping a 245 sq. ft. canopy as a student. By jump 100, most likely you will be jumping something around 190 sq. ft. or less. But from jump 100 to possibly 500, you could be quite happy under that 190. (I'm being conservative for a reason here). If you buy a container that fits great and holds that 245 sq. ft. main or even something a little smaller. It still might not hold that 190 sq. ft. in 50-100 jumps later. This is probably the biggest reason people jump canopies that are too small for them when they are still learning. Try barrowing gear, renting, demoing (be careful here too) as much as possible. While this is happening talk to as many people as possible about their gear choice. Some people may have an older rig lying around, and if you do enought talking you could piece something together for 50 or so jumps. Anyway, then when your skill is better, you will have a better unerstanding of what to buy and can keep it longer. Good luck!
-Rap

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I bought mine while I was still doing AFF. Being so new to the sport and not knowing anyone (I went by myself) I kinda got hosed and was sold a Dolphin that was WAY TOO BIG for me. I traded the whole rig in (except the Cypress, I kept that) at about 70 jumps for a new Javelin NJ, used Sabre 135 and reserve. I'm stoked.
I don't regret having bought the Dolphin. After all, I made lots of friends b/c everyone was always laughing at all the modifications I had made on it so I could freefly in it and so it wouldn't fall off my legs. I sold it easily and was able to buy exactly what I wanted after I knew what that was.
Much love and blue skies,
Carrie http://www.geocities.com/skydivegrl20/

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It'll be a year in July for me and I still don't own a rig yet..


Hard, isn't it? I graduated AFF in Nov 2000 and finally got a rig in Mar 02 and $1200 in rental fees (almost as much as the rig!!!!)
Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

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Conjunction Junction, what's your function?


Embarrassed to say, I remember that little ditty and the train that went along with it. I guess we watched the same Saturday morning cartoons.
Anyway, all you folks are great with your info. I am a little confused though...some purchased right away and some waited. Some say you should wait due to experience and others the opposite. Those who waited, was it due to economics or you felt you were going to grow out of what you bought very quickly?
Skydivers...they're just plain cool!
Chris

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I haven't bought yet but I'll tell you what I think anyway.
1. I really want to feel comfortable with downsizing before I do it. Check out "Don't Downsize Too Quickly" in the Safety and Training forum for a really good reason why.
2. I'm lucky enough to not have to pay a lot for rentals (only $10 cdn!)
3. I really want to know what kind of rig I want before I buy it and test out a bunch before I do. Seeing as I'm going to be spending an arm and a leg on it (a little pun there, buy the wrong one and you loose an arm and a leg :D) I want to be really sure I get what I want and will want to keep it around a while.
4. And finally, I figure by waiting I can save up and truly get what I want and not cut corners. I expect it to save my life after falling a few thousand feet, acme's bargin basement isn't where I want to buy it from.
That's it. Money and safety considerations. But that's just me.
Gale
Life's not worth living if you can't feel alive

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I expect it to save my life after falling a few thousand feet, acme's bargin basement isn't where I want to buy it from.
That's it. Money and safety considerations. But that's just me.


So very true..... I spent quite a lot of time just watching the classified and other loft's used gear sections to see what was being sold for how much. Asked a bazillion and one questions about this rig or that main, what to stay away from, if that is a good deal, etc... I had every intention of buying piece by piece til I had a whole rig, but luckily I found two really good deals for eqpt that was perfect for me.
If you have the patience and the resources, you can put together a good used rig for < $2000
Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

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Being so new to the sport and not knowing anyone (I went by myself) I kinda got hosed

I'm sorry to hear that, I was lucky to jump where the owner of Rigs and Things Paraservice jumps, and he could have hosed me just because I was new and ignorant and wouldn't know any better, but instead he took a lot of time evaluating my skills, letting me try on a bunch of Harness/Containers, and explaining (and re-explaining) all the different options, canopy selection, along with a million more questions I had.
In the end I got a sweet-looking, and comfortable container with a main (and reserve) that are good for my experience level, and if I could go back knowing then what I know now, I wouldn't change a thing.
--
My poor rig, all alone with no main...

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found out gear rental was $25 per jump instead of per day

That is one of the reasons I just bought used gear. I have 10 jumps ( 2 solos and 8 AFF) and just bought my rig last weekend. [PD210 <200 jumps, PD193 reserve, Eclipse FF container] Although the wind kept me from jumping it, I plan on putting several jumps on it this Saturday.
And yes,,, I am planning on bringing a case of broohaaha with me!
My reasons for buying a rig right now are pretty simple:
1. I have landed good the last 4 out of 5 jumps.
2. Jumping the rented gear at (25/pop - 20 rental + 5 packing) is too much to spend per jump.
I figure that I can put 50 jumps on this main (PD210) before moving down to a 190. Then plan on putting a couple hundred or more on that before I even think about downsizing. So by putting 50 jumps I am saving $1250 in the next 50 jumps. I bought the rig for $1200 + 900 for Cypres, so I figure I am breaking even at the end if I keep the Cypres when I go to sell the rig. Plus, I had two riggers look at it (unpacked main and reserve ) and said that it was in great shape and should be able to sell it for the same price I bought it for!
3. My last reason for buying now, is I want to learn on my own rig. I want to learn how to pack on my OWN rig. I don't want to have to be jumping a few different rigs in the next year. I want to be able to become very skilled and aware of my rig before I even think about downsizing.
Just my .02 for the day....
- Matt
__________________________________________
If first you don't succeed....skydiving is not for you.

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I bought mine right off student status -
1. Rental fees- Cheap here (20.00) and if you repack yourself it's 15.00- But add the price of the jump and a day at the DZ can cost a couple hundred if you jump more that once or twice-
2. I came across the right deal at the right time- A guy I jumped with was selling his rig to help pay for his new rig, and he happened to be exactly the same weight and build as I - (Actually I'm a bit lighter now- by about 10# - Those trips to the gym are paying off!)
3. I was able to jump the rig several times, and while I realize this isn't the case for everyone, if you can jump it before you buy it, do so!!
4. The colors are cool enough for me! (All black container- Plain and simple!)
I'll wait another year or two before buying a new container, but I will probably play with a few different canopies-
Just my .02 to overload you on information!
Life begins at 14,000' - Shut up and jump!

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