nael

My boyfriend has booked us in for a scuba lesson this Sunday and I want to jump on Monday (3 day weekend!). Keeping in mind that because it's just our first lesson we won't be going very deep, is it ok to jump the day after scuba diving? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks! www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

The only Australian skydiving magazine is the ASM (Aust. Skydiver Magazine). I'm not sure if you'de have to subscribe through the APF or Suzie McEvoy at Toogoolawah (Suzie puts the whole thing together), probably try the APF first. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

What does everyone who sets their audibles to remind them to do things do if it fails? I have my audible set for 2 heights, 3,500' and 2'500. At 3'500 I am in a track and know I should pill sometime within the next few seconds, 2'500 is 500' before my hardeck - it gives me 2 seconds to react before I hit my hard deck. I don't think 1000' or even 2000' is a good time to realise your audible failed and you should probably stop turning those points now and decide whether to get the hell away from the people you are jumping with and pull or just pull and hope for the best and deal with a pursuant wrap etc. Also, talking to instructors about this always gets the same sort of reasonses as on here - half of them say to set it to remind you (ie breakoff, pull and hard deck) the other half say don;t rely on it to remind you. Talk to your instructors by all means, but you need to decide what to do with what they tell you, because the chances of having even 5 highly skilled instsructors with the same opinion on this topic is rare. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

If any of my friends needed help I'd give it to them. Dont you think lying in a hospital bed in LOTS of pain is lesson enough for them? I dont care if the mistake was theirs or not, even if they had been warned, I couldnt just sit back and do nothing knowing my friend could really use my (monetary) support. As for the insurance issue. If you have private health insurance in Australia you pay a lot more for your hospital stay/surgery than you do if you tell them you dont have insurance. I have insurance, but if I'm admitted to hospital there's no way I'm telling them I've got insurance. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

My hard deck is 2000'. If I havent got a landable canopy over my head, do it now. My minimum cutaway altitude is 1000'. This is only if something happens to my main below my hard deck, the last chance sort of thing. Like a canopy collision. Some things you just cant control. If I'm below 1000', I'll just put my reserve out and hope for the best. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

Ditto. My parents have said they want to help me (within reason of course) while I finish school, so they're doing stuff like that. I agree this is also a good idea. You'de still be giving them access to cheaper insurance than if it was in their own names, plus you would be saving some of the $6k that you are wasting on their insurance. Both sides win. It may not upset them so much either. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

I can't believe you are even considering that you are being unfair! I am 24 years old, so yes, I am basically your kids age, and if I expected my mum to pay anything by way of auto insurance etc she'd laugh at me and tell me to get a better job! I still live with my mum (bless her!) and pay minimal rent. I have it very easy, but I pay for everything for myself. Plus, if my mum told me I need to pay more rent etc, I wouldnt argue. I'm getting it easy still living with her and I know it. Tell your kids to take some responsibility and pay their own way in the world. You don't get anything for free in life, it's time they learnt that! www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

Well yeah, but what about other 90% of rigs? Do you expect to have your reserve pin checked too if you ask for a "pin check"? I always specifically asked for my reserve pin to be checked also, up until I was shown how to do it myself. I'd rather do it myself, it's easy to feel that the pin is in place, and with my Javelin people tend to bend the reserve flap up to open it, as oposed to opening it from the side of the flap, which isnt good for the flap. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

I check all my gear before I board the plane. Just prior to jump run I check my own reserve pin and get someone I trust to check my main pin. I also like them to check that the PC is cocked at this point although since I've already checked it on the ground it is just a back up for my piece of mind. Never be worried to ask someone for a pin check, it's your life on the line, and that's gotta be worth more than being embarrased or nervous to approach someone. I was asking for full gear checks every time I jumped up until about 25 - 30 jumps just to double check I knew what I was doing. It never hurts to double check. When I trusted myself enough, I no longer asked for gear checks as I could confidently do it all myself, but as someone else said - no one will ever refuse to give you a pin or a gear check. No one wants to see you hurt. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

I'm glad there's other people like me out there! I've never actually fallen over whilst putting my rig on (thank god for the pole within arms reach!) but I have been told many times that I have "not yet perfected the elegant way of putting my rig on" hehe....and I thought it was just me! www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

Not many Triathlons in Australia, but from what I have heard the Spectre is very similar. Jenny, you'll find a lot of Sabre's, saffires, PD's and a few Spectres around. Talk to Adrian Lloyd too. The best thing is to know what you want. Have a look around at what people are generally selling things for and learn what a good price for certain gear would be. That way, when someone tries to sell you a PD 170 with 800 jumps on it for $1500 you will know they are ripping you off! www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

lots

shipping from the US isnt actually too bad. I had my canopy shipped to Australia from there and it cost around $100, so Jenny dont be scared to look at whats in the US too, but as always check with as many instructors as you can, different instructors often have different views so decide the ones whose views you would put more weight on. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

Hi Jenny, I jump at Picton too. Are you sure the instructors are happy for you to jump a 170 with an exit weight of 180? As for good second hand gear sites, you can check out the APF site which lists some second hand gear, and a good one is http://www.totalcontrol.com.au. On a side note, I may be selling my 170 soon, gotta speak to some instructors about downsizing first though, then I can let you know, if you havent found one yet. By the way, is this the Jenny who's dating Pauly now?? www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

Done. Let us know the results when you're finished. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

Ugh, that's horrible. Poor snake, what a horrible way to go. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

Wow, closing pin nazis. Some people have way too little to worry about in the world if they're concerned over who wears a closing pin. I've worn one since about 100 jumps when my boyfriend gave it to me, so its special to me for a few reasons, just like yours is to you. Wear what you want, tell them to shove it. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

How can an RSL fail? As long as it's connected it should work, right? Obviously I'm missing something here, can you explain it to me? www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

I'm 24, I want kids one day, 2 maybe 3, but definately not any time soon. Probably not even before I'm 30, I want to have my own fun first. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

She's in Canada! Welcome to the forums and to skydiving. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

I don't get a rush as such with skydiving, but I do get the addiction, but only as long as I am having fun. After some non fun competition jumps I did over new years skydiving lost a lot of its appeal to me. I was jumping weekly up until then, since then I have done 10 jumps! It's only in the past few weeks that I have really started missing it again and cant wait for the weekend so I can jump. People get different things from skydiving. Obviously there's something about it that you are drawn to or you wouldnt have spent money on your own gear. It doesn't matter if you feel what others do, as long as you are happy. Forget about "the rush", just have fun! I was doing a 'serious' 4 way last weekend and got my foot stuck on the step on exit, thus funnelling the exit with great precision. It's all fun, no one is gonna yell at you, people make mistakes and learn, that's what life is all about. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

I find that long breaks (for me a few weeks) between jumps makes me a lot more nervous before my next jump. Jumping more regularly may help you with your fear. Any instructors should probably answer the rest of your questions. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

I've kept mine. In Australia we get a little book like a passport book thing from the APF to put all our licences in. I would have kept them anyway, I'm pretty sentimental. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

As many others have said, if she plans on sitting down, she shouldn't wear that skirt. I love wearing short skirts, but damn they're a pain in the ass if you want to sit down..........or if you drop something. There's definately a knack to bending over in a short skirt. Other than that, she looks great in it, I don't see any reason why she shouldnt wear it. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

This is how I feel. Plus, other than all the wonderful things I would leave behind, I imagine being in freefall less than 1500' would be extremely frightening! As ccowden said, it's an awesome sport, but it's not worth dying for. www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store