gear knowledge

[mark135 0]

I was just reading the "attaching canopy to rig" thread and found it amazing that
1) she has 100 jups and doesnt know this
2) someone mentioned that an aff instructor doesnt know how.

Reminds me of the last year in quincy, It was so hot my wife and I broke down and had used a packer. The guy did a great job, he had a tent near the alt. landing area opposite the main landing area (e,n,s,w,?) anyways our camper was just across the road. As he was packing a storm started coming in, high winds and all that fun stuff so we ran over to give him a hand ,he had 4-5 rigs laying there and they would get wet if the rain started. a buddy of mine jumped on my rig to finish it and i asked the packer if i could help with somthing, he asked me to close up this beutiful new javelin, as i was closing it a girl came up and stood next to me and asked if i had packed it, i said no and explained i was just helping to close it due to the storm. she said it was her rig. I promptly slid the rig next to her feet and said that in that case you can close it. She said she didnt know how. It took me a sec to let that sink in as i shook my head and finished the rig.

Is this even more common than i think?

My run on sentances and rambling are a whole nother topic!!

_______________


"It seemed like a good idea at the time"

[scotts 0]

Unbelievable but true.
I know a few people who want to know no more about their gear, than too tighten up the straps and get on the plane. And some aren't even too good at that.

[dkpbxman 0]

Was she blonde? Seriously, maybe she just said that so you would do the work.
I agree that a lot of people don't know enough about their gear, but that's really bad.

[riggerrob 643]

Yeah!
That attitude is really bad, but it is also really common.
Big DZs promote that attitude because it means quicker turn-arounds and more money remaining on the DZ.
I may be a Master Rigger, but rest assured that after I win the lottery I am never going to pack another main!
Maybe our sport becoming like scuba diving, stratifying into three different classes: professionals, capable amateurs and wealthy amateurs. I have to laugh at the people who call themselves scuba divers, but only dive one week out of the year in the Carribbean! How can they call themselves scuba divers if they cannot handle frigid water, cold winds, dry suits, etc. in their home waters?

As for the wealthy amateur skydivers, I do not care if they only want to jump a few weeks out of the year, PROVIDED they do it under the supervision of professional packers, spotters, load organizers, bone-setters, etc. And I expect those professionals to be paid for their time.

[Remster 30]

Was at a boogie in Europe, and 1 girl on our group, who came from one of the 3 largest DZ in the US (if not the biggest) did not know how to pack either, and she had to stay on the ground when she couldnt find a packer one day...(we were doing pretty intricate 20+ ways, so she wasnt a beginer). She skivived quite well, and a real nice girl, but it makes you wonder in deed....

Remster

[VectorBoy 0]

Coming from a bigger DZ I know what you mean. There are a fair amount of people that are almost proud that they don't pack, and don't have too,ever.
Some just don't have faith in their abilities for others its knuckle bustin work if you are not fluent at it.
For me its about the trial and error of little changes in my gear for constantly dialing in the perfect opening. This can only be done if I pack and note any difference. We do have a lot of really good packers and I do use them if I'm involved with something and need a fast turn around or am running a two rig weekend. But to be proud of never having to pack and being fairly new to the sport does sound a bit wrong.
And Rob I know what you mean about the tropical only divers. Some have all of their ratings but can barely lift 95 cu, in. tank up a beach and to their cars without some resort deck hand helping. They are not Divers, thats a tourist. When I'm on the DZ the last thing I want to be is a tourist. Glen

[wonko 0]

Quote

There are a fair amount of people that are almost proud that they don't pack, and don't have too,ever.

Yep. They are still amateurs. The real proffesional wealty-skydiver would let his/her rig not only be packed but also jumped, for money.

villem
life is what you make it to be
http://www.youtube.com/villu357
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skybound

[skycat 0]

Well I'm not surprised at all that someone with 100 jumps doesn't know how (or trust themselves) to hook a canopy up to riseres. Off student status when you get your 1st rig, it is either new or used. If used it probably already came with the main hooked up, or the jumper took everything to their rigger to check out and put together because it was used and they wanted to make sure everything is ok. If they bought new, they either had it assembled at the factory, had everything shipped to their rigger, or brought an arm full of boxes to their rigger. Then a lot of people downsize at ~100 so this is the first time they have change a component themselves.

Most people don't think about things until they have to do them, I know I didn't until I downsized and swapped out my own main. Only thing that saved my butt was that I had seen the rigger at the DZ, suspending mains to do line checks when he hooked them up.

As for people no knowing how to pack. I think it's bull, but it puts more money in our pockets, since the rigs that come threw us that packers have packed need more work due to wear than rigs that jumpers pack. So please continue using packers.

Fly it like you stole it!