Tonto

I've seen risers significantly out of trim with as few as 500 dives on them. The wear isn't a grit issue at all. Having said that, I'm moving this thread to G & R. Slinks and riser wear have nothing to do with Swooping and Canopy control. t It's the year of the Pig.

http://www.dropzone.com/dropzone/ shows a total of 884 DZ's listed. There are over 300 in the US, and nearly 400 in Europe, the remainder scattered across the globe. t It's the year of the Pig.

Yes. Our DZ has a "Staff deal" with a US Manufacturer that offers a 40% off base price and 15% off options. Most staff at our DZ are consequently equipped with safe, modern gear. t It's the year of the Pig.

Do you have Foreign Exchange regulations in the US? For example, would someone as rich as Bill Gates only be allowed to spend USD 20 000 outside of the US per year? t It's the year of the Pig.

Well, lets look at a couple of things. 1. Cost. For the benifit of those who are American, lets talk in US dollars. At my DZ, a lift to 11000ft AGL costs ZAR185, or about $26.50. That's not cheap. If we're spending money on jumps, we have less to spend on anything else. Currency is safety. Now if we take that same exchange rate and we buy things that are from the US, (Like rigs) or the EU (Like AAD's) our 3rd world currency doesn't go very far. 2. Logistics. It's not uncommon for an AAD sent away to the manufacturer for it's 4 year check to be gone 6 months. It's happened to me. During those 6 months.. you are without an AAD. Same goes when it comes to competition, boogies or courses. Going to any kind of boogie on the scale of the DZ.com boogie is going to cost 3 days travelling and $1200 more than any American would need to spend. My BMI course - a near requirement to get the wingsuit disipline off the ground here, cost me $1500 in plane tickets and course fees. Relatively routine items like risers, PC etc are often the age of the harness they came with, even for senior jumpers. 3. Availability. When your Flex-z's wear out, or you need a new visor for your Oxygen, or you drop a reserve handle or lose a freebag etc, you'd better have planned a month in advance, paid Square One, added 50% import duty and 14% VAT on top of that. Sure, you can rush down to the ONE gear store in the country - but without competition, you'll either buy it yourself, or pay what's asked, which can be daunting sometimes. There was a South American fatality caused by a notch in a "$5 ripcord." We see issues like that often that many US citizens simply will never comprehend. 4. Choice. Mostly, people will buy what's available. Many, many local skydivers don't see the US as their local gear store. As our currency slipped against the USD, the Euro and the GBP, the local manufacturers like Chute Shop (Now Parachute Systems) PISA and later Aerodyne pegged their prices to the international market even though that equipment was made in South Africa with South African labour and material. Every weekend I see Naro's, some Invaders, Vulcans (Vector 2 knock-offs) with shoddy pin and riser protection and knackered spandex and velcro pouring through the door. I see SSE Altimaster 2's that have done the rounds longer than I have been jumping and have never had a service - doing the rounds from jumper to jumper as they start and stop every 3 - 5 years, never knowing the history of the gear. I've spent enough time on enough US DZ's to know that this is seldom the case where you live. It wasn't at Eloy 2004, or Perris 2005, or Crosskeys 2006. It's the norm here. Apart from maybe 50 South Africans with enough International exposure to know what they want - regardless of cost, the other 700 odd jumpers in the country are happy with locally made gear with riser covers that don't cover - or some mid 90's Jav that a visiting jumper left here. I see people from the US complaining of the weakness of their currency against the Euro.. and I wonder. How many of you would boogie if Europe was the closest and cheapest boogie spot? If you think the dollar is weak against the Euro, ours is 10 to one. t It's the year of the Pig.

You're doing it again. This 90 toggle on a diablo... Is it a fast toggle turn, or a slow one? What's the wing loading on this diablo? What's the surface elevation of the DZ it's being jumped at? Is there a density altitude issue? The advice you're giving to people who don't know enough to factor in these issues is dangerous. There is no other word for it. t It's the year of the Pig.

Sure. I use my phone to take pics and videos, send text messages and MMS. Through 3G and GPRS I can use it either as a modem to hook my laptop up to the net, or access the net directly. It's also an MP3 player, and best of all, it even makes telephone calls. Of course, as others have said, it's free - on a contract from my SP. t It's the year of the Pig.

No. Currently there are "swoop ponds" at 3 SA DZ's, none of which are full time. Only one of these ponds meets any kind of international standard, the others being long, thin gutters in which to trail your foot. This thread covers some of the 1sts at the pond at JSC (www.jsc.co.za) http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2575371;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread t It's the year of the Pig.

As someone living in Africa, I'd have to call bullshit on that. t It's the year of the Pig.

I have a Safire 1 119 that's really a 109. It's one of the finest canopies I've ever jumped, and it easily outswoops my Stilleto 107. (But I think we've had this conversation before..) t It's the year of the Pig.

There are and have been several digital alti's on the market. Both replies to my post have been about Neptunes. My experiences with digitals going off go back to the Digimaster in the early 90's, and later the Digitude. I never intended my post to be replied to by everyone who has had a Neptune issue - because we've all had them. A stuck analog is SURE to give you a wrong reading when broken - and that reading will ALWAYS be higher than you are. My post said Digitals TEND to go off. (They obviously have other malfunction modes.) t It's the year of the Pig.

"Top Gun" was our "Team movie" until it was replaced by "Pulp Fiction" in 1994. (With a short bit of competition from "Good morning Vietnam!" inbetween) We knew almost every line and could chat dialog for hours. When we were being coached by the French team they never understood the "team movie" thing. When I asked what they did for entertainment, one guy commented, very dryly - "We have readings from the Nuremburg trials.." t It's the year of the Pig.

I don't think it's that specific. I think jumping a rig that was designed before freeflying was as main stream as it is now may mean that pin or riser protection is less complete than rigs designed with that in mind. There are no "bad" rigs out there, but the possibility does exist that you may be paying for features you may never need - or be paying less for something when a little more may be a bit more comfortable or better suited to your style. Some people really like stainless. I've been jumping over 20 years, and dispite a season in the Carribean, no hardware rusted. Stainlesses "slippery" qualities increased cutaway forces and required serious redesign of legstrap hardwear. Articulation means many are now buying harnesses "that move with you" and then tying the leg straps together with bungy to stop the rig "moving with you." Articulation can also make the harness do *very* odd things in a High G spinning mal. Me? I'm probably old school - but I like a regular harness. I know I'm outnumbered and I'm fine with that. Mains are like cars. What are you going to use them for? CRW? General commute back from the dive? Accuracy? Swooping? Reserves are pretty simple. Make sure it's big enough for you to land safely if you're unconcious and injured if you have an AAD. if you don't have an AAD, make sure it can put you down safe - anywhere - if you're injured. No one I know ever wished they had a smaller reserve as the rings clinked. All this stuff is just rambling opinion. YMMV. t It's the year of the Pig.

When thinking about gear as a new student, it's best to think about personal items 1st. Putting someone else's sweaty, ratty helmet on is no fun. Same with goggles. Having your own alti is nice too. I think the gear's not right for you. Non - ZP canopies don't handle well at all beyond wing loadings of 1.0, and the "200 dives" I think you can take with a grain of salt. You will be loading both the main and reserve beyond 1.0 wing load. Read some of the reviews and see if they have the Raven 2 in there. Thing is about reserves is that everyone who has been saved by one thinks theirs is the best. I've had over 20 reserve rides, and all reserves are not created equal. If memory serves - the Raven 2 has a very abrupt stall point. This is common with non ZP canopies (which all reserves are) but by comparison to some other reserves the sweet spot is tiny. Very tiny. DOM is also important - as reserves tend to have a shelf life. I'm not a fan of Javlins, favouring a completely covered reserve PC. I also see you want to freefly in your profile.. and older Jav's don't do that very well. The important thing to realise is that you're looking for gear. Read a lot. Listen to many different people. Ask why they like or don't like something. Beware those who push only what they jump. There is a lot of very good gear out there these days. What's best for them may not be best for you. Good luck, and feel free to PM me anytime. t It's the year of the Pig.

If you have a time machine that goes back to mid 2004 it is - or if you're listening to people who have not learned that things have changed somewhat. Re digi vs Analog. I think a unit like the Galaxy is about as reliable as things get for analog altis. Problem with ANY analog (even digital "Analog" displays) is that when they stop working - they still lie to you. Digital tend to go off. Then you know you're on your own. I see the people who jump with flat batteries are the same people who break closure loops when they pack. I've never understood the benefit of trying to squeeze every dive out of something till it fails, and then bitching when it does. t It's the year of the Pig.

What do you weigh? t It's the year of the Pig.

I think he may be talking about a mal, etc. t It's the year of the Pig.

Chuck, you old dog! Roll over and die already! (Says young dog T coming up on 22 years in the sport in 24 days..) Clearly you never read this post.. Here the opinions are very subjective some of you old timers ( and i am 38 ) i mean jump numbers learned of the old school way. getting an objective opinion is very hard most of you are stuck in your mind set and your experience and your canopy progression. See? We can't help. We're too old, and our experience simply isn't valid anymore. Ah well. I guess I'll just keep trying to learn a few new tricks this year, and maybe help one or two people who don't mind listening. t It's the year of the Pig.

Stayed dry on all 4, apart from my feet that is. With 120m full length, and on my old Stilleto, I've only been playing with the 60m width, and some "diagonal" adventuring. I'd expected to delay any pond involvement since the coming change to crossbraced will create enough variable for a while, but Saturday was such a perfect day, and since I was doing AFF and was under a very familiar canopy... I thought... "What the hell.." t It's the year of the Pig.

As described, the new "mylar" serves the same function without the care/wear issues of mylar. Small pic attached. It's been in use on the S6 for some time now. t It's the year of the Pig.

My turn to buy beer... On Saturday, I managed to swoop the pond on 4 dives. It's been a long, long time since I needed to buy beer. (or tequela..) t It's the year of the Pig.

Is that like the bluntest sharp knife? Or the lightest 1 ton truck? Or the slowest fast bike? I think it's more about the pilot than the canopy. Although the OP has thanked you in a PM, I think they could benefit more from a more structured progression. Any advice I give on this forum is aimed at being a little conservative. I've never seen the skill set that either you or the OP have. I do know that jumpers with 300 jumps in 3 years, in a geographical region prone to uncurrency, who weigh "around 200" and are going to a 135 - any 135 - are going onto my "watch list" for the incidents forum. Sorry I'm conservative. Sorry I'm old and crusty. I really like skydivers who are alive, and who don't limp. Blue Skies, t It's the year of the Pig.

The OP has 300 dives in 3 years. They are downsizing. They weigh "about 200" out the door. The Crossfire they are contemplating is a 135. How do you work that out as a wing loading of under 1.4? Your opening paragraph in this thread says I cant emphasize enough about taking your time and forcing yourself to go slow. I think you're giving very dangerous and conflicting advice. I think your opinion of your flying skills at 650 dives is statistically likely to be higher than you will think it is when you have 2000 jumps. I think you like the Crossfire, and because it's a good canopy for you, you think (incorrectly) that it's a good canopy for someone else. There is a reason there are other canopies on the market. Feel free to respond, or start another thread. Maybe you're right. Maybe you know more than Ian, and maybe you know more than me. After reading a thread in incidents I suspect I may not be a "real" canopy pilot anyway. t It's the year of the Pig.

Far too many skydivers worry about what other people think. Jump your new Sabre 2. Learn what it needs to give you great flights and great landings. More than any other factor, it is the jumper who makes a canopy what it is. The Sabre 2/Safire 2/Pilot remain the benchmarks of their mid-range class. They are good for general jumping, wingsuits, intermediate swooping etc. Your profile doesn't list your jump numbers, and has a 245 sq ft Main. I hope a 135 is not the next step without an appropriate progression. Enjoy your new gear.

I'm jumping a Safire 109 loaded to 1.8. I have had line twists occasionally, but can attribute all of them to poor body position or a bad PC pitch. All linetwists have come undone easy, with no altitude loss. t It's the year of the Pig.