Whamie

Agreed! Although it won't help you overcome your claustrophobia, CRW is the most fun I've had with multiple layers of clothing on (been jumping pretty hard this winter...) As for overcoming fear, I don't really have much useful advice. I'm currently trying to overcome a fear of spiders, and want don't want want to get a tarantula (Brachypelma Smithi to be precise). Other than exposure theory, I wouldn't really know how to overcome your claustrophobia. I used to be scared of spiders too...but after a recent trip to Thailand I decided to be adventurous and have one of them street vendor bbq'd tarantula...it was actually pretty damn good! So do you get like a whole spider on a stick with that, or just like some sandwich where you can't tell what meat it is or something? I'd try it... at least once! It was the ones on the sticks...they glazed it with sugar and honey (probably to mask the taste) but overall it tasted like shrimp but sweet. Definitely worth a try!

Agreed! Although it won't help you overcome your claustrophobia, CRW is the most fun I've had with multiple layers of clothing on (been jumping pretty hard this winter...) As for overcoming fear, I don't really have much useful advice. I'm currently trying to overcome a fear of spiders, and want don't want want to get a tarantula (Brachypelma Smithi to be precise). Other than exposure theory, I wouldn't really know how to overcome your claustrophobia. I used to be scared of spiders too...but after a recent trip to Thailand I decided to be adventurous and have one of them street vendor bbq'd tarantula...it was actually pretty damn good!

Check this link out too http://www.dropzone.com/safety/Gear_and_Equipment/A_Guide_to_Buying_Your_First_Skydiving_Gear_873.html

can I just ask a question? If your claustrophobia is as bad as it sounds how do manage to sit in a small, cramped jump plane for up to 20 mins on the ride up to altitude??? Easy..she holds my hand during the plane ride up

Thanks for the insight! The PD Storm I was looking into would have been the 170, which would have put my WL at 0.94 strictly according to http://www.flyfirebird.com/catalog/information.php/info_id/14

I'm on the same boat as OP. What do you think about the PD Storm?

I'm not a weekend warrior..heck, i'm a monthy warrior at best. That's why i dont mind flying a WL of 0.7

Oh..i apologize, good sir. Blue skies. I want to buy ya a beer

Da hell? I said im fine flying a 210 and im in no rush to get to a 150. I knew sky divers were adventurous but I guess some of them cant put the content of a paragraph together.

I do like your thinking...and i believe you've addressed some of my questions at some point, dthames. For me, it's all about keeping that deck stacked in my favor also so I can jump another day. I don't mind cruising in my 210 "cadillac" WL at a dismal 0.7,,,though i do have to watch the winds more and had to make the decision to postpone a jump because of winds. For me, swooping looks cool as heck, but it doesn't interest me. Would i want that "sweet spot" 150 at 1.07 WL? Sure, but i'm in no rush to get there. I gotta think i'm in the sport for the long run...just like the Air Trash Crew

You flew a 290? Man, for my progression i certainly do not want to move quickly to a larger WL...but similarly, i wouldn't want to fly a smaller WL too. I commend you for flying that 290!

My case is similar to the OP. I'm 5'6 and weigh on the lighter side at 130. I just have 30 jumps under my belt. Currently I am running the Spectre 210 which puts my WL at .76 (according to http://www.flyfirebird.com/catalog/information.php/info_id/14 and using a conservative estimate on equipment weight at 30lbs) When I downsize to a 200sqft the WL will be at 0.8. At a 190 the WL would be 0.84. At my targeted goal of a 170sqft my WL would be 0.94 My ideal (where considering a WL of 1:1) would be a 150sqft with a WL of 1.07. IF i had the money to buy a rig would going straight from a WL of .76 to 1.07 be ok (considering I have not taken a canopy course or have flown the 210 canopy to it's potential)? For me (and others might disagree) going from a .76 to a 1.07 and from going to a completely different canopy this would not be my course of action. Sure a WL 1.07 would be the ideal but I just think it is a big leap coming from a .76. And for me, taking that extra risk is not acceptable. So for the OP, let's first assume you can handle the 170sqft canopy (includes doing flat turns, flying in 1/2brakes, landing downwind, landing no wind, using rear and front risers, and avoiding unexpected collisions). Now, let's assume on your 150sqft demo you can do the same maneuvers as your 170. Let's take your total exit weight of 105 + 30 for the equipment (it could be lighter but let's just for argument sake err on the side of caution and make it 30,,,plus it makes the math easier) and get the WL for a 150sqft canopy == 0.9. When you strap on that 135sqft canopy your WL would be exactly 1.0. So now, I think the questions you might want to consider are: Can I confidently operate a 135sqft canopy as i did with the 150? Is moving from a .9 to a 1.0 wing load a drastic change? Regardless of wing load can and without taking a canopy course should I be flying a smaller canopy. Whichever course you take, those here in the forums are trying to help. After all you did ask for some advice. Sure you'll get some in the lot that will say other things but just like how i learned you have to grow some thick skin in this sport (well, maybe not since you are a woman

I just got licensed. The rental gear I am allowed is a 230sqft sabre. I am 130 lbs (minus the gear weight). I call my parachute "The Cadillac"

I've done my solo, coached jumps, and check out jumps during the winter months (between dec - february) here in CA. Highs here would generally creep up only to about 68. Ok, i know that's pretty warm for CA, but we're not used to 68 or lower degress. But during the morning it would literally be as cold as 35 degrees. Because I had to be current as a student (make a jump every 30 days) and because I loved to jump, i had no choice but to bundle up and just do it. I bundled up, but not to the point where i could not freely move, arch, or reach my hackey sack. Bottom line, if you're committed you can do..heck, the adrenaline alone will null out the cold and you won't even think about it. Plus I think the winter months are great since there are not alot of jumpers at the DZ, as compared to the spring - fall, which means I was pretty much guaranteed i was able to rent the appropriate sized gear. Good luck!

Good morning. If public transportation is out of the question i think you next best bet is to rent a car for the weekend.

So can i buy you a beer? Anyone?

Congrats man!!! If you're ever at Perris I'll buy ya a beer!

Oh, i forgot to mention, there are hotels located near the DZ too! let me know if you'll be there this weekend or next weekend..i'll buy ya a beer!

Welcome to Cali! Perris is my home DZ. It's best to give them a call or email them. here's their site http://www.skydiveperris.com/ You can rent a rig for the weekend but it's first come first serve at Square 1. Staff and people there are really cool!

My apologies..i'll check there. Thank you

Came across this article where a skydiver's body was not found for a week. (Blue Skies Mark van den Boogaard) http://now.msn.com/mark-van-den-boogaard-skydiver-dies-body-not-found-for-days So i was wondering if DZ have some sort of procedure where staff or manifest would do a roll call to make sure all skydivers from the last load would check in. From my experience at Perris, there's no procedure for a "check in" but was wondering if there is any out there. Thanks

Hullo,,,i live in the LA area...im looking for a group to split for a 30 min or 1 hour session,,,are you guys interested?

Throughout my course the largest canopy the instructors put me on was a 230 and the smallest I flew was a 200..and man, being a new guy, that 200 was coming in hot. I plf'ed the 200 but still took a dirt landing. So when I was cleared for solo I started renting and was put on a 210...i can only suspect because of the canopies i've flown and 210 was in the middle. I'm surely going to take a canopy course as well. on a different note, but on the same topic, I found a nice used jumpsuit (in size small of course) but it fits a bit baggy. It's no LiquidSky or Bev so my fall rate averages 120mph.

hi tmccann, I have 51 jumps under my belt. The reason why i was considering piecing together a used rig is because I work the night shift and my home DZ is 2 hours away. The rental opens at 7:30 on weekends and sometimes by the time i get there the gear is rented out and i'm out and about waiting until a suitable rental gear is turned in. Other times I get lucky and i'm there on time but i'm driving like a maniac to get to the DZ . So i figured try to see if i can get a used rig that fits me and go from there. Davelepka, hey man, thanks again for your input! You're provided great feedback on some of my topics since i've started. I selected a more conservative WL because it was one i was used to during AFF and felt more comfortable. I think the more I get the community's feedback and do some research I leaning toward rental until I can do a WL of .9 . Thanks all for your feedback. Though I do not have a definitive decision yet, it's certainly pointed me in the right direction!

Thanks for the advise fellow divers! 1. I'll definitely talk to my instructors about it. 2. Buying a new harness (to fit my size) and going with used main/res. canopies was actually a 3rd option i was thinking about, but wanted to get some feedback on that idea. My original idea was to first find a completely used system that fits me with the canopies i'm looking for (kinda hard but i'm hoping eventually something might show up). || keep on renting gear for a few years until I feel comfortable downsizing...rent for a few years...downsize again...and finally settle on a whole new system that i can call my own