flyinghonu 0 #1 December 12, 2003 Okay, I'm getting ready to start my AFFs and I'm a little nervous about being in freefall alone. My question is does size matter? I'm a fairly small female (5'1" w/ a proportional weight ) and was wondering if any experienced instructors noticed problems w/ stabilization/control and/or heading control w/ the smaller individuals they have taught. Another question for instructors, (just out of curiosity ? "Excuse me while I kiss the sky..." - Jimi Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #2 December 12, 2003 QuoteMy question is does size matter? Size does matter when it comes time to matching fall rates, but size will have no effect as to whether or not you can fly your body in the sky. Plus your instructors are talented and experienced people who will know how to adjust their flying styles in order to fly with you. Quotewho tend to be better students: men or women This likely depends on the individual, but as a group one would think that women may be a little better in free fall because they are more flexible and they usually don't have the same sort of need to live up to an ego like a man would. But men might have an easier time jumping as they may not be as scared when first starting in this sport. And men tend to be better in terms of advancing as canopy pilots. But of course men are much more likely to screw up under canopy (the whole ego thing-a-ma-bob). Of course what do I know? I haven't been in this sport all that long and I am not an instructor or a USPA coach. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #3 December 12, 2003 QuoteOkay, I'm getting ready to start my AFFs and I'm a little nervous about being in freefall alone. First off, you won't be in freefall alone for your AFF jumps. Up to Level three, there will be a jumpmaster with a "hold" on you. Quoteexperienced instructors noticed problems w/ stabilization/control and/or heading control w/ the smaller individuals they have taught. Size of the student doesn't really matter. Being tiny, you should get hooked up with a Jumpmaster that can handle your fall rate. Just take some nice deep breaths and relax.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyinghonu 0 #4 December 12, 2003 What kind of a JM would best be able to handle my fall rate? "Excuse me while I kiss the sky..." - Jimi Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,108 #5 December 12, 2003 >My question is does size matter? During AFF, here are the problems you may see: -JM's may have trouble staying with you; you'll likely have to stick with some of the smaller/lighter JM's. -Equipment may not be sized well for you. Jumpsuits may be baggy and your rig may be too big for you. In a few cases we had small, flexible women that could arch so much that their knees would hit the bottom of the rig and the top would hit the back of their head; that made it harder to arch and it "felt" wrong. After that experience we bought a small rig specifically for small students; your school may have something similar. Once you graduate BTW you'll have no problem getting gear that fits you. Jump Shack, for example, does a great job fitting smaller women. -You may experience some rig effects. Even if you can get a harness that fits you well, the rig will likely extend around you. This can cause unusual reactions in freefall, like a backslide even with your legs out. It is definitely possible to compensate for this; your JM will likely give you feedback on body position etc to correct any freefall problems whether caused by rig drag or not. >any input on who tend to be better students: men or women ? I've found women to be, on the average, more aware of their bodies in freefall, and more able to take instruction. They also seem to have a bit more problem learning to land well. Not sure why that is; their considerably lower loading (overall) might have something to do with it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #6 December 12, 2003 I don't know about san diego, but I do know for a fact that Perris just put together a rig with smaller canopies for the smaller students. They've had a lot of smaller females there recently, and someone finally decided they needed a smaller rig. The container is a bit smaller than the average student containers, and its still totally adjustable, and the canopy is smaller too. They have both a 170 and a 200 available for really tiny new jumpers, as well as the usual 220 and up for folks that are slightly more than featherweights. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harksaw 0 #7 December 12, 2003 I'm really surprised there haven't been any dirty jokes about that question yet.__________________________________________________ I started skydiving for the money and the chicks. Oh, wait. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DShiznit 0 #8 December 12, 2003 QuoteI'm really surprised there haven't been any dirty jokes about that question yet. Size doesn't matter, or at least that's what my wife always tells me.......... Is that a hint? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #9 December 12, 2003 For AFF1, being small won't matter. It might matter later on though. I'm also a small person. Before my first jump, I got suited up with a 190 sq ft canopy. The instructor came over, took a look at which rig I had been given, and said "nonono...you'll fly away like a kite with that," and he handed me a container with a 170 to put on instead. Switched DZs for the rest of AFF, and the smallest canopy they had was 230s, which I thought was way too big for me. Turned out not to be something to worry about. The first DZ happened to be right on the ocean, and so they're afraid of someone being blown out to sea. By the time I reached AFF 3 and 4, I discovered that my fallrate was way too slow for some of the instructors. They really struggled to stay with me even though I was wearing weight. Solved that by continuing AFF with the skinnier jumpmasters. I'm still a slow faller, but with the right jumpsuit, a little weight, and better technique, I rarely have problems anymore with falling too slow. So size matters a little, but not much. Better off being too small than too big. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyyhi 0 #10 December 12, 2003 I am in AFF, not exceptionally small but still wingloading at .68/1 wingloading on the current student canopy I am flying. I have jumped with the littlest JM at Elsinore and the biggest JM at Elsinore, none of them had trouble staying with me upon release. They know what they are doing and you only need to worry about you. Good luck to you on your AFF. . .________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjf98 0 #11 December 12, 2003 This was too good to pass up QuoteI have jumped with the littlest JM at Elsinore and the biggest JM at Elsinore, none of them had trouble staying with me So who's the biggest? Better yet... who's the smallest? Can't wait to bring that up at the 0800 meeting tomorrow morning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
