What does RW stand for?

[Jimchamp1 0]

What are "RW skills"? Like, what exactly does that entail? What kind of things do you learn as a freeflyer, and where do you learn this? Also, (Sonique) mentioned my first rig should be used because I will out grow it quickly . . . I know that I will buy from Perris Valley and they have this deal that if you put down a $4000 deposit then you test whatever gear you want for free and just pay for the jump 'til you find what you want. Should I still buy used first . . . Lastly, how much should I expect to spend on gear (everything I'll need)? Some people said theygot everything for like 4-5 thousand and others are tellin me to save up to like 7???
Jimmy

[AggieDave 6]

RW stands for Relative Work. FF would be FreeFlying. Another one of my replies gives a simple explaination of these. As for learning, you're learning RW right now by doing AFF. FF will come later. Ask your JMs (jump masters), they'll give you a better explaination/maybe show some videos of both to give you an idea.
You might want to lurk throw some of the older threads in the forums, you'll find a wealth of knowledge that may answer your questions. Otherwise, do ask, better to ask then not to ask, ya know.
The amount you spend on gear is up to you. Your first rig should *probably* be used because you will more then likely out grow it in a few hundred jumps. That is said since you can save quite a bit of money by buying used.
Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.-General George Patton-

[lazerq3 0]

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Should I still buy used first

To me when it comes to buying gear its what deals you find on equip you can fly I bought my rig with a brand new container, brand new reserve and a used main. The reason I bought brand new was because I got a great deal on it plus I figured my container is FF freindly, and I fly a pd 170 and my rig I know can easily hold a 149 if not smaller. So for me there is PLENTY of room to down size and at the rate I jump it will ba a long time before I get smaller. Therefore There is no need for me to have to get rid of it. however , I do plan to downsize my main so I bought it used. I paid 2250 for it! (saved 1300) for the manufactors!! so to say 4000 for a used rig.............i think thats a little steep!!!!
jason

[skybytch 273]

New or used? It all depends on what you decide you want and how much cash you have to throw at it once you're off student status, Jim. The demo program at Square One is a great deal if you have the cash and know you want to buy all new equipment, but there's a lot to be said for buying your first rig used - that's what I did and considering my (lack of) canopy flying skills and lack of money when I bought it buying used was a good thing for me.
My son is kind of going through the same thing you are right now - he did his first jump on Sunday (an AFF level one) and is now madly looking for a job and trying to figure out how he's going to finance getting into the sport for real (Mom only paid for the first one, the rest is up to him). He's lucky in that his mom works in the skydiving industry and has friends who have used equipment available that might work for him. If the harness fits him one of my friends has an older used rig for under $900 that will do him fine for a couple hundred jumps - no Cypres, not a zp main and it's not really "freefly friendly" (an older Talon) but for the price and considering his lack of money it's looking pretty good for him.
I'd really recommend putting away as much money as you can before you start doing your AFF jumps, then when you're ready to buy gear you can go either way.
pull and flare,
lisa
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[freeflir29 0]

"Mom only paid for the first one, the rest is up to him"
Just like a crack dealer!!! "I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"
Clay

[PhreeZone 20]

RW- Relative Work. Flying relative to other skydivers. Normally done from a belly to Earth position.
FreeFlying - Flying in varied positions while in complete control. Positions include, sit, Stand headdown, backflying, and anything else you can think of.
Square One is a great place to get gear from.... once you know what you want. Square one likes to sell new gear, so keep that in mind before you give any money to anyone. They do sell used gear too. Talk to Lisa from Square 1(SkyBytch) before you buy.
I payed $3700 after shiping/insurance for a Javelin, Spectre 170, PD 160 reserve, and a new Cypres last year. The entire rig had 75 jumps on it when i got it. Retail Price new was ....... $5500. I kept the Spectre for 150 jumps and sold it. The rest I still use. I could have talked the seller down, but it was exactly what I wanted in colors that I could live with. I'm the odd ball and kept the main longer then anyone else that graduated before me for like 6 months. Most people got something different at about 75-100 jumps. A new canopy is like 1600-1800. A used canopy with 100 jumps is only like 1000-1200. Is it worth $600 for custom colors for 100 jumps?
I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique

[skybytch 273]

***Square One is a great place to get gear from.... once you know what you want. Square one likes to sell new gear .[/quote}
Actually, I spend a lot of time on the phone and by email helping people figure out what is going to fit their budget, experience, body weight, location, risk tolerance, etc.. I've helped literally hundreds of new jumpers decide on what's the right gear for them, and not all of them ended up buying it from me - sometimes all they can afford is used and we don't always have the right gear for them on our used gear list.
We like to sell gear, period... new or used. pull and flare,
lisa
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[Kelly 0]

lisa can answer the technical parts as far as how many jumps per month/thru the cycle, how many months you can be on the demo program and all...
I went thru Square 3 (its a 'baby' of square 1, the gear company @ perris). A friend of mine did over 100 on square 3's demo gear while buying brand new gear. it took about 3 months before she even ordered it. so they give you a good amount of time.
me~ i work @ my home dz. I was able to go on the demo program in the middle of july and just finished up in December. I was billed $99 monthly (after i had paid off my rig, waiting for it to come). So i got 5 months and about a week worth of demo gear. During that time I got hurt. so i guess i technically came off the demo program for 7 weeks (maybe that allowed me to still fit into the max. time to demo gear?). In any case, they worked it out with square 2 in eloy arizona and i was able to demo their gear w/out any costs.
i really liked doing buisness with "The squares" (i almost pissed myself laughing when mary called it that!) The good things are that you can demo gear at the other 2 locations. The even better part, all three dropzones are biggies as far as DZ's are considered, so youre not loosing out (going from a turbine dz to a cessna dz). They work well with you, are very informed, offer additional discounts.. the list goes on and on. I love my new gear and was very pleased that the squares were able to help me out when i decided to go out to eloy.
http://kel197.tripod.com/skydivefriendsTRIPOD/html Updated!!

[riggerrob 643]

Would you like another blatant boost for "The Squares" from someone who left the Square One payroll in 1995?
I have worked "behind the scenes" of Square One on and off since 1994. While working in the loft behind the Perris DZ store, I inspected, repaired and repacked hundreds of used rigs that Square One sold on consignment.
Every used rig was thoroughly inspected, and I wrote out detailed inspection sheets on the main, reserve, and harness/container. Can you believe 7 or more sheets of paper by the time the rig was out the door? All service bulletins and airworthiness issues were brought up to date.
The biggest advantage of buying used gear from a major dealer is that they want to sell you a new rig two years/200 jumps down the road. In an effort to retain your trust/business they will go out of their way to ensure that any used gear they sell is airworthy and appropriate to you weight, skills, style of skydiving, etc.

[Zennie 0]

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We like to sell gear, period...

OMG this gave me a flashback to an Indianapolis gun dealer who'd get on TV and say "I don't wanna make any money, folks. I just luv to sell guns!" (Don's Guns in case you were wondering)
Lisa: "I don't wanna make any money, folks. I just luv to sell rigs!"
"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense."

[packman 0]

old Don is still making those commercials !