darrenspooner

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Everything posted by darrenspooner

  1. darrenspooner
    I was just reading the string about the guy who cut his chin and couldn't seem to reply to it. I just wanted to say, I got a bonehead mindwarp, but I bought on online and when it arrived it was a bit too tight. So I baked it and moulded it and now I can barely get it off my head once its on there. SO I barely need a chin strap at all
  2. darrenspooner
    I got my A license and went through the same agonising obsessions about what to get. Ended up buying used gear til I got more jumps under my belt. Err on the side of caution, don't get too small too soon. Don't get something high performance or eliptical. Buy from, or have the gear properly checked by, someone you trust. Don't try to be too cool!
  3. darrenspooner
    I bought a Hornet 150 when I had done about 50 jumps. I load it to 1.25. Its fantastic, flies and handles like a dream and surfs like you wouldn't believe. Only thing is, it opens hard as hell. Tried loads of things but its very eratic. I'd test jump if you can. I decided I will change my canopy next year and looking at a Paratec Faqtor. I would reiterate what everyone is saying on here though, don't downsize too much too early. I had a stepping stone to 150 via a 170 and rented a 190 for a while. My current canopy is great, but with my limited experience (now 100 jumps) I know I'm walking a tightrope and have to be very careful and very safe. If you buy a 200+ canopy it will be easy enough to sell once you are ready to move on.
  4. darrenspooner
    Let's not forget that some students are made to feel stupid by their instructors. I jumped at Byron Bay in Australia a while back and their safety officer was so offensive I felt like an idiot for having done nothing wrong
  5. darrenspooner
    I guess packing's got something to do with it, but I packed my ZP 50 times and had nothing but velvet. I;ve packed my hornet, in accordance with the manual, as well as every other conceivable trick, and I get spanked 3 out of every 4.
  6. darrenspooner
    Thanks for that. I will endeavor to demo the Sabre2. Does anyone have any experience of the new Aerodyne canopies?
  7. darrenspooner
    been reading lots of posts about Sabre 2s diving on opening. I also like the look of Paratec's 'next' container. Anywone had experience of this? Someone, a very experienced chap. has one on my DZ
  8. darrenspooner
    I've been jumping a rig that's made up from lots of other bits. Good fun, but now I can afford a new rig. Done 100 jumps, last 30 on a Hornet 150. Spanker openings but the surfing and handling is fantastic. Didn't want to go any smaller or more radical at this stage, but want something that fits nicely and handles as good, preferably with more gonad-friendly openings. Don't know where to start. By the way, I'm 13.5 stone fully loaded, which wing loads me to 1.25:1 Any ideas on the dream rig if money were no object?***Don't have sex with retarded dwarfs - its not big or clever
  9. darrenspooner
    Pocket on the slider? A packer told me about that a few weeks ago. No doubt will be a possibility. Thanks
  10. darrenspooner
    Stows I think are okay. All the same, nice and tight. Same bag and everything as last canopy. I have been have 2.5 inch bites, but the nice man from Aerodyne just found me a Hornet packing manual and it suggests they should be short, so I'll try that next. Pilot shute unchanged.
  11. darrenspooner
    I'm a clinical psychologist with a good amount of experience with depression. Its not the skydiving causing the problem here, its the rest of your life outside of skydiving. It might squirt you with serotonin and dopamine, but it can't change the fact that what happens when you get back from Empuria is nowhere near as cool. If only life were that great that we could fly in the heavens every day! Answer - become and instructor
  12. darrenspooner
    Got a lovely slippery fast surfing sexy Hornet 150, but the openings are significantly compromising my ability to sire further children. Any tips please? Tried rolling the nose, sticking the slider out the front, stuffing the nose into the centre cell, leaving it sticking out the front (ouch, ya bugger), blah blah blah. I love the ride but cringe on openings. Its got to be better that that surely