New jumper wing loading

[MarkM 0]

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Ok here's the deal I was talking with a new jumper at my DZ. He has 20 jumps and is thinking about buying his own gear. He weighs in at 185 lbs. without gear. He wants to buy a 150 sq.ft. canopy. Now I already gave him my opinion of this and asked him to come to this site and check out what some other folks had to say.

20 jumps + 205 exit weight + 150 canopy = see ya on next month's post at http://www.skydivenet.com/fatalities/

I got a 1.1 loaded Triathalon(probably the most docile canopy you can get) sitting in my living room depreciating in value because I don't have the skill to jump it yet.

But hey, it's his body.

[dove 0]

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I would be very interested in knowing the reasoning that these experienced jumpers are giving when they think it's ok for a guy to fly a 1.4 wing loading with just 20 jumps under his belt.

Probably what they told me: you'll be bored, it'll have no resale value, you'll just hve to buy another one in a few months. Fortunately the people who really cared about me got ahold of me and I went with a 1:1 wing loading. And that canopy was FUN!

If you ARE bored (and you won't be!) you can always downsize later. If you find out you are in over your head, you may not get the chance to upsize. You have the rest of your life to skydive. Why rush it?

[skycat 0]

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I understand you point and maybe what I should do is chat with the DZO.

Definately tell Jeff, he won't allow it. Well that is if he sells it to him, he can't stop the guy from buying it from someplace like para-gear though. Jeff and I might not agree on what the 1st canopy for someone my size (exit weight 120-125) as a student should be, he thinks 290 I think 190, but he does care about his jumpers safety, I mean he actually told me I had better not convince any of the girls to downsize or to switch to ellipticals. Which I wouldn't canopies are all about personal choices.

Fly it like you stole it!