bigfritz 0 #1 August 9, 2003 Hi, I just turned 16 and made my very first jump yesterday at the Parachute Center in Acampo, CA with my bro and my dad. We all loved it! Me and my brother would like to start skydiving with my dad, a long time skydiver just getting back into the sport. Me and my bro are taking the static line (10 jump) course to get off student status so we can jump solo with our dad. Once we're off student status, we'd like to buy our own gear so we don't have to keep renting gear. I was wondering what type of gear we should buy? We're looking for 3 sets. 2 for me and my brother who are beginners, and 1 for my dad who has a couple hundred jumps under his belt. Like I said, I am a complete novice. I was talking to Bill Dause and he said to get intermediate gear. What's the difference between intermediate gear and other types of gear? Thanks for the help! =] -Tom ------------------------ Freefly, baby. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #2 August 9, 2003 Triathlon main, Spectre also one of the 2. Triathlon I would recoommend first. PD reserve, Cypress, RSL, Good coaching.. Rhino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 1 #3 August 9, 2003 PMed. If you wonder what that is... look up the page and you'll see a red number under the word Messages... Click on it. Cheers.My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigfritz 0 #4 August 9, 2003 Yup, I'm a computer nerd. =P PMed you back. =] ------------------------ Freefly, baby. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RippedCord 0 #5 August 10, 2003 Can I have the same PM? AMDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rocket 0 #6 August 10, 2003 16? uh ..... I don't ...... ? I,32 years old, have 50 jumps and am just beginning in this sport. So this is an older rookie talking. You are getting ahead of yourself right now. Not only are you young, you have not made any 'real' jumps yet. I was a 'dope on a rope' for 5 jumps then to freefall. Before, during and even still I go through daily, and I mean daily training in this sport. Part of this training is knowledge of your gear and what you should and should not use. There are safety concerns, height and weight concerns, experience, skill level, abilities (either natural or not), decision making skills, and many others. It is nice you are thinking about down the road, but don't get carried away. Start the sport and see if YOU fit, before you find gear that does. I am currently looking for my first rig, and I am having a difficult time finding things. But I recommend having a veteran, or rigger help you. I have a master rigger helping me, and not only does he know a lot about equipment and what to look for, but he has networked and hears people who might be selling things. Be patient, That's my advice. Along with a lot of other stuff you probably didn't want to hear right now. Blue Skies, rocket "Make your plans dark and as inpenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt" -Sun Tsu rocket Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 1 #7 August 10, 2003 QuoteCan I have the same PM? I sent it because he's a local.My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamjenner 0 #8 August 10, 2003 you may want to wait before dishing out cash for a rig. it may or may not be the sport for you...usually people down here stay on stundet gear and wait maybe 20 - 30 jumps before going out and looking for rigs. It's just you wanna know it's something you'll do...plus listen to everything rocket told you above. he knows what he's talking about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigfritz 0 #9 August 11, 2003 So, I'm 16 and that means I'm not wize enough to skydive? Can you tell me why exactly that is? You're never too young. From what I've experienced so far, skydiving is a blast! And from what I hear, it will only get better. There's nothing I'd like more than to spend time with my Dad skydiving and praticing RW. As I was leaving the DZ today somebody said "Aren't you a little young to be skydiving?" That just makes me want to jump and pratice more to get better and show him what I can do. And I will. =] I made my first solo freefall jump from 5,000 ft. today and I absolutely loved it! Next Sunday I will return to finish out my 10 jumps. I will probably just rent gear until I get my A license and then I'll look at the classifieds and talk to people from my DZ and see if they have anything for sale. ------------------------ Freefly, baby. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooknswoop 19 #10 August 11, 2003 He did not say you are not wise enough to skydive or not old enough to skydive. Suggesting that someone wait until they have at least an "A" license before buying gear is common, good, advice. Some people decide after 10-20 jumps that in spite of their initial enthusiasm, the sport, for whatever reason(s), is not for them. Buying gear too soon can result in buying the wrong gear, over-paying, or buying gear that won't get used, or finding a much better deal a week or two later. It is a big purchase that you will probably have for a while, so getting it right the first time is important. There are many choices and options that take a while to wade through and understand with the help of someone that has your best interest in mind and knows what they are doing. With the help of that qualified and your best interests in mind person, write down what gear would be suitable and then try to find it. Too many people get into the wrong gear by looking for what is available without a good idea of what they want and is suitable for them first. A great deal on a high performance rog, isn't a great deal right now. 10 student jumps in a day isn't very realistic. Quality over quantity. The most I've seen a student in great shape do is 5 in one day, and they were mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the day. Don't worry about what others think, and don't try to impress them. The best way to end up in the Incidents Forum is to try and impress someone. I was upstairs at a DZ when I heard what sounded like a car driving through the hangar wall. I ran out side to see a jumper sans helmet and shoes, climbing out of the hole he had made in the hangar wall (sheet metal) after his first hook turn close to where his girlfriend was standing. He was very lucky with only a very deep (4 inches +/-) 6 inch long cut in his side from the jagged edge of the sheet metal. I don't think his girlfriend was impressed. Buying your first rig is difficult. It is probably the most important rig you will buy with the least amount of experience to make the decisions. You are also on the steepest part of the learning curve. A common request is advice for gear "That won't hurt/kill me, but that I won't get bored with in 500 jumps." Because of a new jumper's inexperience and steep learning curve, generally that rig doesn't exist. The good news is that the rig "that won't/kill me "doesn't have to become boring in 500 jumps, as long as you challenge yourself to learn everything you can from it. Derek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigfritz 0 #11 August 12, 2003 Ah, I see what you mean, okay. I made 4 jumps last Sunday, that leaves 6 for next Sunday. I'm goin to the DZ at 9am, so I think that'll be plenty of time. But if I don't make the rest of the 6 jumps, that's fine I'll just come back another day. I'm not trying to rush anything. I'm learning more about rigs every day...I think by the time I have my A license I'll know enough and have talked to enough people to choose a good rig. Thanks for you concern, though. =] ------------------------ Freefly, baby. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #12 August 12, 2003 Maybe, learn to pack. Then when people are talking about stuff, you may have already dealt with it and have some experience. When you do start to buy stuff, get goggles, then maybe a helmet or altimeter. Think about what kind of skydiving you want to do. Your Dad is an RW'er... but what if you want to freefly? Your choice of disipline will also affect aspects of your rig, such as velcro and tuck tabs. Spend as much time at the DZ as possible. Listen, but talk too. When people are really enthusiastic - it tends to rub off a bit, and you may find a mentor that way. As for the dudes who think you're too young... they're just comparing themselves to you. I started at 22... and I wish I could have got going at 16! tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent 0 #13 August 12, 2003 Hi Bigfritz, I started two years ago, ordered my own rig after 150 jumps, and received it new at 200 jumps. Before ordering, I practised under supervision to improve my skills under canopy, and demoed several "intermediate" main canopies (progressive downsizing from Electra 230 to Electra 170, Silhouette 150, eventually a Sabre2 135) and harnesses (Atom, Javelin). You're not in a hurry. Why not demo different gears before buying one? Laurent, autrefois sur l'ile de La Reunion http://perso.wanadoo.fr/windsurf/skydive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #14 August 12, 2003 Mullins 12 year old has 200+ jumps Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigfritz 0 #15 August 12, 2003 I started out with a chute just a little smaller than tandem's size. For my first freefall I used a Triathlon 175 and that thing went a lot faster than my previous chute. It was kinda scary at first coming up that fast, but I made a smooth landing so it was good. It was pretty windy that day, so I'm hoping I can make that smooth of a landing at 9am when it's not that windy. Wish me luck! =P ------------------------ Freefly, baby. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
