bigbearfng

As I understand it-you should make sure that the non rsl side releases first; thereby ensuring that the reserve will not deploy until both main risers are released. So the non rsl side should be shorter-is there a "standard" difference in lengh that folk use? 1/4 inch? One inch? Thanks for all info!

If USPA were to add on a requirement on CC for A license; there might be a little grumbling...(as in much higher CC requirements than it is currently). But as with the recent increase to 25 jumps for A license-hey, it's for us newbies-yes it cost me more, but who was I to disagree with it!? And I really didn't mind anyway. So I could see that working. But talk of requirements for folk that have been in this sport for a while....I just don't see how it could happen realistically.....which is probably why most folk say the S&TA should address most "problems". Maybe increased CC requirements with each license, not just A? But again-for folk already with a current license.......

OC-first as part of training when issued, then several times since after spraying a suspect and getting a bit back from wind and or "crossfire".....and big word of advice.......after using it and wrestling a suspect into cuffs....it's all over your hands......wash your hands well before you take a piss........

Perris-Yup!

You must mean acceleration injury or it can also be expressed as a negative acceleration injury. It was pointed out to me in no uncertain terms a short time ago in a different forum here that deceleration is just a layman's term and that from a Physics perspective they are the same thing, with no real difference. Apparently it has something to do with relative movement. I was fairly well called a fool and/or a common troll for suggesting that one does not accelerate up to a stoplight. In reference to head injuries-it's actually called a "contra-coup" type of injury-the brain con't in it's direction of travel as the skull stops-then the brain bounces back.......maybe sudden deceleration would cover it...... Helmet ratings-Snell and Dot....been a lot of controversy over the two ratings-Dot was the original and supposedly absorbed slower impacts better; using the "crush" effect, while Snell will withstand a higher velocity impact, but will transmit more force at the slower speeds that dot does better at....So it doesn't seem as if you can have both....but agreed 100% that A helmet is better than no helmet. Does anyone know what/if any testing standards there is now for any helmet used in skydiving? And best wishes sent for a full recovery.

Thanks for all the above! And don't worry-I realize getting coached is the way to go...I'd just like to at least be familiar with the basics, so as not to waste much time when I'm paying for the coach!

I've got a lot to learn....and would like suggestions on the best book/books for info on everything from terms (star, catepillar, etc.) to exits and more. Thanks! (And yes-I plan on getting coaching too....)

I've seen/heard a few different things about wave off time-even a barrel roll to check above! But I'd like to get an idea of common/safe practice regarding wave off time. Best to look up and down? Wave off twice? Just seems that to really do all, I'd need to start wave off at least 500ft above actual pull altitude.... And do ya'll change technique depending on how big a way? Thanks for all input, I'm still in "sponge mode", trying to soak up everything that I can learn!

Thank you....I was startin' to worry 'bout you.....healthy paranoia is a good thing....

Hmmm, if it was just an "English challenged" person...seems that they would have folk from their DZ to help them with a "translation".

Just wondering if they're grounded due to smoke/low visibility. Not that I could could jump this week anyway.....packing and evacuating.....

I've begun to seriously shop for a used rig; I'm still renting now. In looking at different containers I've run across mwl #'s, but it seems that there must also be a width? Kinda like shoes!? I know that actually trying it on is best, but I'd rather have a good idea if it's going to work before I ask someone to ship it to my rigger for an inspection. Also if a container has been made custom-should there be an indication of what size body it would then fit somewhere on it? Thanks for any info!

How many/if any/ reserve rides have you had? Personally after just one....I'd never go with anything except a nice, easy to grab silver D .....

I've been renting demo gear, and I'm starting to seriously consider what to buy soon....Trying diffent containers for comfort; and have only jumped a Spectre 230 so far.(Other than student gear) So a Spectre is the only thing for me to compare with for now. I've seen Sabre/Sabre2 also recommended for newbies, so would like to know the diff between these two canopies, and is Sabre 2 just a later model of the Sabre? The only thing I havn't cared for on the Spectre is the slow openings....and yes, I've taken a packing class, don't roll the nose....Is a Sabre also a "slow opener"? I plan on being in this sport for a good long time, so I'd like to stay on the conservative side.....Thanks!

Hmmmm, I think that to reference the original question-it's more a matter of deceleration force injuries.....OK, now take it from there!

Once you start to rent demo gear instead of jumping student rigs it gets much better....3 aff jumps on student rigs in a day and I'd have more than a few bruises....none now-except from the occ'l plf!

Lead dislodgement-I really feel this possibility is negligible- even a 10G pull on a wire that light....just can't see it-if you've ever handled a pacer lead-it is very light. The device itself moving....it would have to displace a lot to pull on the leads! And some actual movement in the subq space where it sits is normal. Skin has to be able to move around a bit....Once the area is healed, it shouldn't shift-even under some significant forces.... As previously mentioned-if the pacer ends up being under the harness-pad the jumpsuit for comfort, and I would try to adjust things so that it isn't directly under. I've never seen a pacer damaged by an airbag....so I really don't see a pacer as being an exclusion to skydiving! If your Doc tries to say no, I'd really like to know his specific reasoning..... Blue skies!

I'm surprised that a manufacturer would give someone with 15 jumps a demo rig that didn't have an RSL option at least. But what do I know? This was from Square One-as I understand it, they recently got a waiver for no rsl's due to the many differnet gear combo's they put together/incompatability? As to the Q about student status and using demo gear-I've graduated from aff, now I must rent gear, and prefer to find something comfortable before buying while I finish the requirements for A license. The beer...the rigger who packed the reserve doesn't drink! So I bought her jump tickets instead! Oh yea-the last thought before cutting away-"I don't want to start dicking with this and then find it's too late." Thanks for all the replies-after reading here, and much more thought (hell, havn't thought about much else since!), I figure I shouldn't try to relearn; I did find the handles-and I'll work on more practice!! Thanks again!

Hmmm, where do I start.... Jump #15, (first 4 10yr ago, recently back and repeated aff level 5 twice) , today, first solo, took packing class, first my own pack job....and first cutaway. I know-I screwed up-didn't set brake correctly on one side-then didn't try unstowing brakes to attempt correcting the turn/spin. First jump on demo gear, not student gear, and I had no idea that a canopy could turn/accelerate to what I perceived as a spin.... Don't worry, I've already beat myself up on this one....keep replaying it-don't plan on a repeat!!...(plus in the back of my mind was that it was my own first pack job!) Anyway-once I said to myself "this ain't landable" and I pictured stories of other folk spiraling into the ground without doing anything and altitude rapidly going down....I grabbed red with both hands, looked at silver and pulled (as taught)-and got tossed; tried to keep looking at silver and grab silver-with being tossed there was no way I could con't to see silver! It took me a couple seconds to grab it and pull. (no rsl, but yes aad-didn't fire). Now I've heard of folk grabbing both handles, one each hand, instead of both hands to one at a time....I can now see the merits! As a real fng-I welcome any comments/suggestions regarding merits of either method! BTW-after this-I would never consider anything other than a d-ring for the reserve handle; I really doubt I could of found a pillow very fast.... Thanks for any input!

Being an aff student still myself..... Even if you are passed by your jumpmaster-if you felt shaky with it-don't hesitate to request to repeat a level! Then you're repeating something you've already done-may just help you too with decreasing that stress level and improving skills/awareness......