rendezvous

How difficult is it for a beginner to pack a ZP specially if it's a used one, let's say a Sabre with 300 Jumps on it. Also does it make sense to go with a F111 for the first 100 or so jumps in order to get use to packing and then may be switch to a ZP later. Another question would be, normally how many jumps is a F111 canopy worth before you need to start thinking about retiring it. Thanks.

How difficult is it for a beginner to pack a ZP specially if it's a used one, let's say a Sabre with 300 Jumps on it. Also does it make sense to go with a F111 for the first 100 or so jumps in order to get use to packing and then may be switch to a ZP later. Another question would be, normally how many jumps is a F111 canopy worth before you need to start thinking about retiring it. Thanks.

can a talon rig for a 175 main accomodate a 190ZP. Is there a general range on containers designed for a specific size. thanks.

It depends on how busy the dropzone is however I think 8 days should be enough to complete the course if you do your jumps everyday consistently.

Appreciate everyones reply. Have another question. Lets say I can negotiate the price of the talon gear to 1900 ( without the cypres ) do you think it would be a better buy over the Racer, considering that the racer cannot be packed by all riggers. Also, would $650 be a good price for this falcon. How much would it's resale be with about 400 Jumps on it if kept properly. How is a Sabre 190 with 300 jumps on it and new lines at $750. Thanks.

What do you think about a talon with ( < 50 jumps on it ) a pd 160 ( new ) and a falcon main ( < 150 jumps ), for $2150 and 3200 with new cypres. The size is appropriate for me I just want to know if the price is decent for such a gear for someone like me with 11 jumps after the AFF. Also what do you think about the gear itself. Also what are your views regarding a racer ( with 500 jumps ), a pd 160 ( no jumps ) and a Sabre 190 ( 500 jumps with new lines ) and a new cypres for $2650. Which of the two would be a better buy for a beginner assuming a budget of about $3000 including cypres. How is talon as a container, specially at this price. Thanks.

Which of the two, fly like a pro or Skydive 150 - Basic Canopy Flight is a better instructional video. I already have fly like a pro. Does this other one from Skydive University offer anything more substantial that would make it worth buying. Thanks.

How do I list out all the posts that I've put over the past few days in any of the forums here.

What do you think about the deal that is available at rigging innovations regarding the Genera container and with Gen X main. By the way is the Gen X main. How good is it. I'm going to be getting off the AFF student status and was looking around for something affordable yet good for under 3000 and came across this deal.

Hi, Any one here seen any of the following videos: 1st Base, BaseClimb, Good Stuff and Over the edge. Are any of them any good. I'm basically looking for a video that is a good mix of Skydiving and BASE jumping action and worth the money in terms of running time and quality of coverage. Also are there any good dvds on the subject. Any other recommendations would be a great help too. Thanks in advance.

Hi, Any one here seen any of the following videos: 1st Base, BaseClimb, Good Stuff and Over the edge. Are any of them any good. I'm basically looking for a video that is a good mix of Skydiving and BASE jumping action and worth the money in terms of running time and quality of coverage. Any other recommendations would be a great help too. Thanks in advance.

Hi, I'm doing my AFF too and right now I'm at level 5. Not much experience here but I sure would like to share my thoughts and the thoughts of my instructors since even I experienced some spins on level 4. First of all if it was my instructor he would have been very pleased with the fact that you where aware enough to pull. From what has been emphasized to me all through, your ability to pull under stress is a big plus in your favour and that alone should suffice as a confidence building measure. After all the priority in skydiving is outlined as firstly to pull, then pull at the right altitude followed by pull stable. So thats alright I guess. As for moving on to the next level, well I agree, if you aren't confident you can repeat it. However there isn't much difference between 4 and 5. I was loosing my arch a bit in level 4 and spining around, so my instructor decided to make me do a sort of a semi level 4 and 5. Instead of doing the 90 degree turns that you do on level 4 he asked me to do 360 degree turns. His argument was that since I've already experienced spinning and have awareness for heading I might just want to try and control the spin. So I tried to control 360 degree turns on level 4 which is essentially what you do on level 5 and now will be doing a clean level 5. Point being, level 4 and level 5 are both very closely related in nature. Doesn't make that much of a difference if you repeat level 4 or move on to 5 and repeat level 5 a couple of times. The idea behind the two levels is to be able to contol turns and have heading awareness while you are turning. Whether you call the jump you achive this control on level 4 or 5 makes no difference. If you call this 5 then once you are confident about your ability you can move to 6. If you do this on 4 and you are confident you'll have to repeat it once again on 5 before you move to 6. Thats your choice. Go with what makes you feel comfortable. As for loosing the jumpmaster, well, if his/her reasons are sound then I guess it can happen and you seem to have done fine under the situation. But talk to them a little more about it. A little about the arching just in case it helps, in my case I was spinning because even though my arms where squared my legs where not symmetrical. I was focusing so much on my upper body that I forgot I had legs too. It wan't until my jummaster told me that i realized that the spinning was happening not because of the arms but because of the legs. Something for me to give a little thought too when I jump again. - rendezvous

Well, let's just say that the sport does have a level of risk attached to it, and it is important to accept this reality because our survival depends on it. Having said that, I think the risk is a highly managable one if we try and understand it well enough. It's obviously not a walk in the park. You are, after all throwing yourself out of a plane, into the arms of gravity, and then depending on a parachute to break the plunge. In the process you are subjecting yourself to human and mechanical error to which there is no second chance or another day. However through a discplined and mature approach both these errors can be contained. By managable risk I mean, how much risk are you prepared to take before you feel the risk is not worth it. Thats a personal opinion. In may case I feel through proper guidance, an informed approach, good training and the right kind of attitude the risk of total failure falls well withen an acceptable limit. Once again it's not an absolutely risky sport as long as you understand the elements involved and have respect for the sport. The idea is to try and harness the risk not to play with it.

What is the ASTRA ADD like. Is it as reliable as the CYPRES and how does it compare with it on other fronts.

I'm looking into buying my first gear ( just about to finish AFF ) preferably second hand. Wanted to know whats the deal with buying a Cypres. Should I get a new or a second hand. What do I need to look out for when buying one.