Joellercoaster

ObPedantry: "Kit" is closer to "gear" than "rig". We say "rig" over here when we mean "rig", but "kit hire" when we mean "equipment hire" including jumpsuit, alti, whatever. Good grief, I just said "we" when I meant "they". I'm going native -- "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?

Because the silver handle is an SOS - as long as it is done correctly (ie., pulled all the way out) it wil first cutaway, then deploy the reserve (does this also interact wih the RSL, giving, like, triple-protection?). This sounds like a neat idea, but sounds very complicated gear too. Two handles, each of which do the same thing different way. Are many places doing that? [edit: speling] -- "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?

Fair enough. All I can say is, it helped me and some friends a lot, and now my accuracy is fine without the alarms. "Dependency" is a dirty word around here, but it only happens if you let it. -- "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?

I'm not knocking your choice (hey I want an Alti-track too) but: canopy alarms are great - I think the term "swoop alarm" is a bit misleading. I know a couple of other novice jumpers who bought Optimas at the same time as me, and we each had our setup and accuracy improve hugely at a time when we were struggling with it. -- "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?

Was that a "no"? -- "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?

Ahh, got it. But then, from the Indian Navy's point of view, the APA's freefall time requirements and jump numbers would have been irrelevant since the rating counts for nothing - all they really wanted was the training. -- "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?

This may sound like a silly question, but: What good does an Australian AFF rating do an Indian Navy instructor? -- "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?

I had it explained to be that "canopy type" meant things like "Pilot 188" :( If it's not, that's definitely better - but still mighty bureaucratic. Anyone tell me the packing differences between a Spectre and an Omega? Triathlon? Omni? Right. -- "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?

Nice for some. Here (in the UK) you have to get signed off on the canopy/container you will be packing :( In theory this also means that when you downsize, you have to get signed off again even if it's the same kind of canopy. If you want to pack the same mains into a different container, you need to get signed off on that container first. And so on. Not many places seem to actually check your packing certificate against your container/main combo, but I've been to at least one DZ where they did. -- "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?

Yes. Yes, it does -- "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?

And yet more wisdom from Sparky. I, Mooch, do solemnly swear and attest that I will crank out a few hundred more jumps, partly just so I can be That Guy. Sounds like he has a pretty sweet deal. -- "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?

This is indeed helpful to me. Decision made (and at least Ryanair, for their other faults, are up front about being able if necessary to fit another bag in the hold, provided you cough up a (known) amount of cash). Now, QANTAS... -- "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?

Haha, I do feel your pain dude, but keep at it. Once you have learned to pack your shiny bundle of snot new ZP canopy, everything else will be a doddle. Until yesterday I had only ever packed mine, and it was definitely a struggle (though I have it under control now). I packed a friend's ZP.EXE with many hundred jumps on, and I was shocked at how easy it was to bag. Learning to pack on your own brand-new canopy breeds character -- "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?

It's not foolproof (you don't have signatures) but JumpTrack is starting to seem like a better idea to me suddenly. -- "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?

Wow. that really is a fantastically annoying way to deliver videos. Incredible though, once you get there -- "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?

I think I'm going to get another hook knife. Watching that made me think about trying to undo my button-up Aerodyne knife with my left hand, while being spun voilently, and the first thing I thought of was dropping it. Got a Jack The Ripper pocket on my suit, I should really put something in it. -- "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?

Funnily enough, I may be in the position of owning one of each fairly soon. Go figure. (FWIW, in answer to the original question, my profile obviously says I went with the Pilot first. But I know nothing about canopies compared to pretty much everyone - I just bought the one I liked the most out of those available to me, but couldn't even articulate why at the time I did it.) -- "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?

No, but it does appear to depend on some dodgy Internet Explorer feature. YouTube clicky goodness for the rest of us. -- "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?

Optima: 4500 (generally but depends on who I'm jumping with) 3500 (I like to pull high) 2000 (hard deck - heard it twice now ) I jump a Snivelmobile 188, which is my excuse -- "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?

The first time I read this sentence, I thought, "how did she hit the tree twice in one go?" Never mind, I get there in the end. Was it the same tree? -- "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?

Is there a website for Boogie Man? Google turns up a link for DZ Sports, a dealer I like, but no real information on the company or (most importantly) what their suits look like. -- "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?

I concur with pretty much everything ChrisL says about Sabre2 vs Pilot, plus: Sabre2 seems to dive more in a turn and stay in the dive slightly longer. It also opens a bit harder (but then that's no bad thing; my Pilot tends to snivel quite a bit). I have about 60 jumps on my Pilot 188 now and it's only just becoming more manageable to pack. This will be true of nearly all brand new canopies 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?

If it's any consolation, us giant folks have our own set of problems. We can flake it no worries, but I generally get a few laughs once it's on the ground and I'm trying to contort myself and flatten out the top again after the first S-fold ;) (I'm 6'5" and I'm the only jumper I know who uses their nose routinely as a packing implement ) -- "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?

It may be that black and white for some, but not others. I gave up skydiving for two years, first because it was conflicting money-wise with my SO and I saving to travel, and then because she had other problems with it (some money-related as well). It probably contributed some small amount to our breakup, but our breakup contributed to me getting back into jumping - which is where I realised my heart and mind had been the whole time. A year later, she and I are still in touch, and she says that had she known what a profound effect it would have on me she never would have stood in the way of my skydiving. She's even come out to the DZ to hang out (leading of course to all my jumper mates thinking she's wonderful, trying to get her to do AFF/get back together with me/whatever). I still don't know if I would unilaterally rule out leaving skydiving for a woman again, but I think it's pretty damn unlikely. Dating jumper girls, though, that's a whole 'nother proposition and a whole 'nother thread... [edit: Mostly 'cause I'm with BannanaGirl on the "Happy Place" thing. The DZ is mine too, and I need it to stay that way.] -- "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?

The FFA "sponsored student" rigs are brand new Aerodyne kit; there won't be quite the same need for rigger instpection (at least not if you're hoping to talk them down on price due to wear