Chrisky

Got myself a Rawa helmet, they are the best imho. Great fit and no handle needed, the straps they use can be released easier than a fumbling handle (just put two fingers on your chin) and if the pull is strong enough, they will come loose by themselves. Just do a search, you'll find the URL for them somewhere in the forums. Mail them for info in english. The price is unbeatable, service is very good and fast too. Audiblepockets left and right. If you want to jump a cameye, state that on order, as its a full enclosed camera setup. Also comes with a top-Cam mounting plate with drill-hole groves, all included in the base price of (i think) currently 325 USD. Did i mention they rock? The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Goes for anything in this sport. RTFM, check double, have double checked by a rigger if do-it-yourself.. The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Did you inspect the canopy and lineset along with the rigger? Shouldn't there be some visible cause for this? Do you know _why_ the line that didn't brake came lose? The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

See PM The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Hmm, seems like things like that happen more often recently? I remember another thread with a guy complaining about way too long leg straps on his new custom order. OTOH with respect to what their everyday output is, these might be the "tolerances" that have to be accepted in such a busy production line. Sunpath just hired a lot of people to bring the wait times down, might be that some glitches happened there. But, shouldn't they like counter-check the final rig with the order before shipping? Whoever screwed up should handle it, and fast. I don't want to bash them in any way and had ordered an Odyssey too if not for the long wait. Got a Wings instead and am waiting for it to be delivered in the next two weeks. I hope everything is as ordered, although it was one of the more complicated orders, lots of options, custum embroidery and such. But i had a good dealer (thanks diablopilot!) and the communication with him and the manufacturer went incredibly well, so i don't expect any trouble. Before of that, i had a Javelin which was more comfortable than pretty much all other rig i had jumped, except Mirages and Wings who were pretty much equal. The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Your rotating drill partners feet not running up your nose! The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

French link being bent open happened to a friend of mine, as he landed and lines lost suspension, they came off. Boy, he was as pale as snowwhite! The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Baking means that you can heat a carbon fibre helmet in your oven (Bonehead has a prezise manual i think) and they will become somewhat soft like chewing gum. Then you can form them and once cooled, they'll stay in shape. Good feat if you have some strange headform, as i do. The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Yep, and i hate it... The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Well, the harness should fit you really good if you wanna use it for a while. Thus, used might be made for someone else, but try it, if it fits, fine. Why not get a used reserve, the question is, second-hand, never actually used, or deployed ten times and then taken out for sale... No objections on a used Cypres, check out the ssk website, they even have a calculator for a used cypres resale value, so you know what you're looking at. Used Main, yeah, why not? Just got mine new because the model hasn't reached the used market yet. (My Canopies' serial # is under 500) The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

do you have any other silver handle for the third try? The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Same goes for me; but you'll have to decide yourself what your helmet can take. The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

I would replace that by: 34. Pack my canopy so i gain experience in packing gear that i'll be jumping. There's no difference in starting to learn to pack beginning at jump 1 or jump 100. The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Thanks for the info, though i doubt i'll be coming out there in a while, way too busy! Have fun!

It's not normal, its way too seldom! Now how do i fix that "rewind"button again? The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Sure do! Welcome to the forums! Always buy beer on a first experience, just to chat bout it with the older ones over a beer to have'em share theirs, that's how you will learn a lot. Not just on your FIRST topic, but also bout the people at the DZ!

Yup, gotta backup that observation, and you're right with the 190ish.

Actually, everything skydiving helmets are good for is exit protection (and that just a bit) and to protect your head from the collision with other jumpers during free fall. And as camera and audible-mount of course. They are not designed to protect you on a HP landing. If you take the time to read ANY Label on them, they don't protect you from anything, so don't count on it. Still, it's better to wreck the helmet first and then your head... I like wearing a helmet for the following reasons: My audibles and camera. Keeps the wind noise out. Looks cool. Makes me feel a bit safer thus more relaxed (I call it the turtle-effect) Might be DZ policy. But if you just want to do a hop'n'pop under your 260 Giantfoil, imho you don't really need one.

Hey Chester, just came to the Vancouver area myself. Jumping in Pitt Meadows, nice DZ with really nice and openminded people, Cessnas and a King Air. Where do you jump on the island? Just met a couple of people from *Darn, where was that again? Something with K, but not Kapowsin...* well, many new faces and places for me... But i really like it here! The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Did they have a stewardess too? I could think of several other active relaxation methods then.. o well, not so relaxing, but still fun... The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Well, i assume that if you say 1.0 WL range you mean something like a 170, not a 150. a 170 should be ok for you, depending on your proficiency. I would definitely do a few jumps on a 190, if a 210 is available, that one before. This will gradually lead you to the speed you will have to handle, and you can always go back up one size for reevaluation, which i did twice for afew jumps just to compare. Being at the same weight as you are, you should be able to handle a 190 and later 170 well, if your instructors give you green lights. The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

He wrote "probably", not "for sure"... The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Well, sorry i didn't do so earlier; Thank you everybody for your input, i have greatly appreciated it. I have decided to get a Wings, it should be ready in about three weeks from now. Will probably write a review in the gear section once i get to put a number of jumps on it. The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

Well, that is, because lots of people are asking for info on their new stuff without reading the gear reviews and doing a search. Aditionally, many come and say:My JM said (fill text here), is it right? No offense intended, but in terms of gear usually the my-car-is-best-effect kicks in. If money is not an option, i'd go for a Mirage or a Wings (just ordered a Wings myself, just can't wait these 3 more weeks...), but try them on if you can to get an idea. The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

There has been a lot of good advice around. Personally, breathing technique and concentration are the two key things to use to calm down. Concentrate on your breath, breath in through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Do inhale to your belly, not your chest. Concentrate on keeping it evenly and steady, close your eyes. Then (just like Spikes post, but from bottom up) start to concentrate on how your feet feel, your legs, etc. If anything is tense, relax that muscle intentionally. Try keeping a bit of focus on that part of your body so it will not tighten up right after that. Having done so (eyes still closed), you might want to imagine yourself in a comfortable place. To get out of that, take a countdown with a defined goal. Like:"I will be very aware of my surroundings once i open my eyes. 10... 9... ...0!" Open eyes, be aware! During all of that, your breathing should stay calm and steady. This way worked wonders on me, and actually works fine in pretty much every situation. Just focus. HTH