Joellercoaster

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Everything posted by Joellercoaster

  1. I dated an Olga once... definitely high performance and with a tendency to get a fella in the corner and digging like hell. I hope NZAero's test pilots are on their game -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  2. Depends on which way your head is long. If front to back, like mine, then try Cookie. The only full-face which has ever fit me well is an XXL G3. I can't even get into the biggest Phantom. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  3. I have a lot of jumps on a Pilot 132, and some jumps on a Sabre2 135, loaded around 1.7 (I also have some comparison jumps on a 168 vs a 170, and a few on 150s but they were a long time ago and I don't remember them so clearly). Overall the Sabre2 opens more firmly (and I prefer it, though you are obviously after something different). The Pilot opens in about 800ft for me with a long snivel step. I feel like Sabre2s open less reliably on heading in big sizes (compared to Pilots) but that it goes away with load. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  4. I'm 6'5" and 200lbs, and I would rent the occasional wingsuit. But I live in the UK, so I might not really be a useful data point to you. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  5. You're right to be cautious, but this is an opportunity to stretch your coaching brain. You can use the dives before swoop and dock to give them an idea of how powerful the forward drive will be, and how best to account for it and slow down in time. If you just go up with them in their never-before-used booties and say "come at me bro" then it will probably not go well, but you're the coach - so coach
  6. That is a fantastic photo! Love it love it love it. (Also congratulations ) -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  7. It's interesting that you put those words into their mouths. Neither of them said any of that stuff - they just (bluntly) said you were talking crap, and suggested you back it up with facts. One of them pointed out that this thread was about tandem ratings and that you were not contributing to the topic. In response, you resort to name calling and cheap rhetorical shots. Truly, this is the way to change the world. You're on the right track mate, I can feel skydiving getting better already. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  8. BAD INTERNET ADVICE. Unless you are willing to recommend someone wait 300 jumps to buy gear. Stick to a 1:1 wingload for your first canopy. 1.3:1 is an aggressive wingload. I have nothing more to add, but a guy with 200 jumps recommending a canopy he himself should not be on, is worth double contradicting. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  9. Yeah, what everyone says. Wind tunnels are for sure useful and very nice to have, but totally unnecessary for learning to skydive, and your instructors won't be assuming you've ever been near one. By the way, ignore the dropzone.com reviews rating score - by all means read the reviews and see how people feel about a place, but the number you end up with at the end is not worth the paper it's printed on Have an amazing time! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  10. Woo and pseudocience at best, dangerous misinformation at worst. Literally none of the things you just described actually exist, outside Cosmopolitan magazine. You might as well be discussing chakras and realigning the flow of qi energy. Drinking juice and eating helathy stuff is probably still a good idea for all of us though. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  11. This is by far the most useful post in this thread, so I'm quoting it. The raw statistics may or may not be interesting, but thinking of skydiving as merely rolling the dice in this way hides important truths. We are certainly taking some kind of risk on merely by exiting a plane, but we are far from passive participants in the gamble. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  12. ...and countries. Maybe you never want to travel to the UK, fine. But what about Dubai? Australia? Lot of places require you to have an active AAD, so you can't just jump with it switched off. I don't actually have an opinion on the safety or otherwise of jumping Argus - I suspect it's probably about as safe as the others, within my tolerance - but there are very good reasons not to own one that aren't just some guy's opinion on the internets. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  13. This is such a pile of utter claptrap I don't even know where to start. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  14. Banned entirely in the UK. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  15. Think about this question a little bit. In what position does the slider start? What is it doing to opening speed when it's there? In what position does the slider end up? What is it doing to opening speed now? So... if twists trap the slider close to the canopy, what is the likely effect (if any) on opening speed? -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  16. I strongly recommend the one that is the same shape as your head. They're all good, but they aren't all the same shape. Try! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  17. I don't think anyone anywhere is making canopies out of that Gelvenor any more (or in quite a while). -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  18. My opinion is worth what you paid for it, and I don't know you. But you did ask, so: based on the other information you have given, that is very aggressive. You haven't shown any other signs of wanting to be that aggressive, so I would say it's just too small! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  19. Just Aerodyne, as far as I know. Pilots are brilliant novice canopies, this is one more reason why -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  20. Ring. I like the fact that my two handles look and feel so different. It's not a huge preference (the possibility of confusion seems small); I'd be fairly happy with a pillow as well. But why not have them different, since I can? Less big, but I lean towards the arguments of people who want to be able to get a reserve out with a digit. Again it's a tiny chance, but since the choice is available, why not take it? The cutaway handle being a pad is not subject to the same argument IMO. If all you have is a flailing finger or two available, I'm not sure cutting away is going to be what saves you unless you are one of those people experimenting with canopies at 3:1 and up. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  21. Don't forget the weight of jumpsuit, altimeter, helmet, shoes... I was surprised at the difference in my actual kitted-up weight (thank you, DZ scales) and what I had come up with for me plus rig
  22. This. Definitely this. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  23. We have a winner. (And if you're an experienced jumper thinking about maybe taking yourself off and feeling 50/50 about the whole thing, think about the newer skydiver you might be about to send a useful message to as well.) -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  24. Damn right. I can't believe they wore jumpsuits on your naked skydive. There are rules! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?
  25. Exactly. I can point you to some nudity-friendly UK DZs if yours is humour-impaired -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?