skybytch

What could they be discussing?

:2:0 I'm going to claim the sunset/moonrise 5 way belly zoo dive from Tuesday. Got to do Jessie's grad dive on Sunday. He's gonna be a damn good skydiver. I am so lovin' this AFF stuff.

You should set your sights higher than being a glorified amusement park ride operator.

No, but I could sure use a beer.

And the dog says "I much prefer Calgary, but she feeds me so..." I love me some Sharks. And to think that only 4 years ago I thought hockey sucked...

The best way to figure out what you want in a container or main is to jump a variety of them. Any of us can tell you what we like - personally I love my Infinity container and Spectre main - but that doesn't mean that what any one of us thinks is the best for us will work out best for you. As far as containers go, at your size and with the size mains you'll be looking at, you really do need to at least try a few on (preferably with the same size canopies as what you think you'll end up with) and ideally jump a few to see which ones fit your body best. Some containers are built longer top to bottom than others; this may be an issue for you since you probably don't have a long torso. As an example, the Infinity has a longer planform than the standard Wings does (the standard Wings is shorter top to bottom but fatter front to back than an Infinity built for the same canopies). For the main, demoing is the best way to figure out what you like and don't like. There's a thread buried in here somewhere with information on how to get demo canopies from manufacturers. I'd suggest putting some jumps on at least one suitably sized "entry level" 7 cell (Spectre, Storm, Triathlon) and at least one suitably sized "entry level" 9 cell (Sabre 2, Pilot, Safire2) before you buy anything.

Don't know about the newer ones (since the sale of the company) but as I recall the ones built when Troy owned it did have at least two different shell sizes. If it's an older helmet, pull the top liner piece off. There should be a letter written on the inside.

The owner is correct. RI didn't start using T's in their sizing until the mid-90's.

What hurts the sport are people who won't take 100% responsibility for what might happen to them if they throw themselves at the ground at a high rate of speed, trusting only some fabric and lines to save them. The good thing about this thread is that those of us who do take 100% responsibility for our choice to jump out of an airplane can see who we don't want to jump with, and dzo's can see who they might not want jumping out of their airplanes. The sad thing is that so many people apparently think that someone else should pay for their choices if shit should happen to them.

I'm sure the dzo at Hollister will be pleased to read this...

How do you know that?

Any well written waiver includes protection for gear manufacturers. I am responsible for what I put on my back when I choose to leave an aircraft in flight. Period. If you can't or won't say the same thing, please do the sport and it's gear manufacturers a favor and stay on the ground.

Happy b-day Nick! Hopin' you have a very safe day.

A Diablo is a 7 cell and is not particularly docile. A Sabre2 loaded at 1.0 is not radical. The biggest difference between a 7 cell and a 9 cell is in glide angle - generally a 7 cell has a steeper glide angle and a 9 cell has a shallower one. Has nothing to do with docility. Yeah, because no instructor would ever tell a novice to buy something that is too small/fast for that person's ability or risk tolerance... Now for some information that may actually be useful to the OP - a wingloading of about 1.0:1 (that'd be the OP under a 190) is considered to be conservative and is a good starting point for someone just off student status. You've still got a LOT to learn about flying a parachute. Better to learn under something that isn't likely to cause pain when you screw up (and you will). You're planning to buy used, right? You can buy a used 190 main, put 100-200 jumps on it, learn a crapload and then sell it for about what you paid for it. Then you can buy a used 170 main and put it into the container you already have - you don't have to get a whole new rig.

Yeah... same here. I did sooo many jumps that weekend...

The Parachute Manuals by Dan Poynter are great references.

1) WFFC '02. My first big boogie. Met loads of people I'd been chatting with for a couple years. 2) WFFC '03. First and second wingsuit jumps. The sober reverse golf cart tour. "I'm the Bytch and I'm everywhere." Big Cheezits. Joe. 3) WFFC '04. The good parts were really, really good. 4) DZ.com Memorial Day at Perris, '04. Did my 1000th. 5) Star Farms/Paso Reunion Boogies (both of 'em). 6) The Bytch Boogie at Sebastian, '03. 7) Lost Prairie. All four of them that I've been lucky enough to attend. In every case, it wasn't the place, the planes, the skydives or even the parties. It was the people that made them special. It's all about the people...

2:0:0 The Sharks beat the Kings twice. Yay! Stupid wind kept me out of the air all weekend. But it was a great party at the dz Saturday night. Disco ball, stripper pole, keg o beer, booze luge, lotsa far out costumes, and the power was only out for an hour or so.

Negative. It's Star Crest Recipient.

Some of us don't consider that money to be wasted. I'd much rather spend that 15-20 minutes doing things other than sweating over nylon; it's well worth $6 to not have to do it. But then again, my pack job numbers still exceed my jump numbers so... And there are good reasons for someone to not pack - some jumpers have physical issues that can make packing downright painful.

My love and thoughts are with all at Perris today, most especially Janna. Harry was one of the very, very good ones. I always looked forward to seeing him, at LP and at Perris. He was always happy and gave such great hugs. With tears in my eyes, I am lifting a big red cup to you now, Harry.

Nevermind. There's no way this weekend could be perfect now. RIP my friend... Some days I really fucking hate this sport.

Neither. That's what I have a boyfriend for. Although he usually makes me close the container for myself. I started packing for myself and others the day I got my first rig, which was the day after I got off student status. I quit packing and started using packers in 1996.

Some of this thread might be helpful.

Somehow I just know that sending him some ((((VIBES))))) would make him feel SOOOO much better. LMFAO!