Jackpunx

Man! How cool is that.. My daughter is 17.. she begged me to wait until she was 18 so that we could jump together for the first time.. I told her I couldnt wait..lol.. I cant wait to take her when she's 18.. we had our 6 and 10 yr old in the wind tunnel.. Now all they talk about is skydiving..

What did they say? I work for Yahoo! I also race boats.. I have sent them a sponsor sheet before and got no reply..although I think it had something to do with the marketing chick in the sales dept is dipsh*t I sent the same sponsor sheet to my local DZ and they ended up sponsoring me, it was a 300 mile enduro and we won.. so I got my AFF in trade.. I don’t know if its a conflict of interest to have a branded logo on a race boat or a parachute where if there is an injury or death.. Especially if the person works for the company.. I will talk to them and let you know what they say.. Im in the market for a new canopy

what is the protrack and how does it work?

reply] When I purchased my first rig I went new. I did it for a couple reasons. First I'm a big guy and it is very hard for me to find used gear that would fit acceptably. The second was I just wanted new. With new you don't have to worry about the condition or how it has been treated because, well, it's new. However, if I could do it over again I think I would have spent more time looking for a good used container. The reason is I only used my first container for about 100 jumps. While I was able to sell it quickly you still take a bit of a hit of depreciation. For someone of an easy to fit body type, like you it sounds, I would recommend looking for a good used container as a first rig. As for the reserve size I would direct you to a canopy coach who you trust to have that discussion with. Your canopy coach should be able to guide you towards an appropriately sized main and reserve and you will then know what size container you need to look for. What did you buy new? What was your wing load on your first rig? and how long before you decided to switch? what did you switch to and why sorry for all the questions.. but I want to make the most educated decision I can when buying gear.. I have been jumping and doing very well under canopy.. (no repeats on aff and downsizing now) but I never paid much attention to the gear as I just trusted them and wanted to concentrate on jumping. there is a program at my DZ (Perris) You give them 1k towards the purchase of new gear.. and then you pay them 99 a month.. they call that a maint fee.. with this they give you demo gear as you downsize and figure out what you want.. when your comfortable making a decision they start building you a rig. I think if you give 3k you don’t have to pay the monthly fee.. it makes it sound so easy.. right now im renting and its 65 a day.. On the other side.. everyone I have talked to said I should buy used.. I agree.. but its really hard to spend 2-3k with out knowing what Im doing.. I need a consultant..lol I have different instructors every time for the most part.. the ones I have talked to said based on my current skill and learning curve that I will probably want a 160-170 main.. Im leaning towards the 170 as its just below 1.1 for me.. Im in the middle of learning and downsizing so Im in no rush.. Can I fit a 190 into the same container that a 170 will fit in? if thats the case I can buy the 170 now and demo a 190 until im ready to bump it down again does that make sense? thanks Mark

Thanks all.. I started filling it out with as many details as I can remember..

thanks for the info.. I will tip my rigger well.. I have been looking.. I have no idea what Im looking for and why.. Makes wonder if i should just bite the bullet and purchase new.. (what are your thougts on that?) I would love to save the money.. but I could find it somwhere if I needed to. Another question I have.. should your reserve be the same size as your main? I see lots of peopld with smaller reserves.. In an emergency situation.. shouldnt your reserve be a bit more docile then your main? thanks

LOL.. Ok.. its no where near 6-8" .. so Im cool.. I never felt like I was going to wiggle out of the back.. over all it was an infinity and was comfortable, smaller and lighter.. I liked it a lot.. are they all the same for the most part?

I did 10 min tunnel time between level 3-4.. Didnt have any repeat levels.. It was awesome!.. I wasnt sure until I was through AFF and passing the other students up. even in the tunnel.. keep an eye on your wrist.. I felt a bad habbit coming on by being able to fly for 2 min wiht our checking Altitude. have fun and smile a lot.. it makes it easier

I’m just off of AFF .. I was using student equipment.. I didn’t realize it until I got rental gear.. but it was pretty uncomfortable.. so when I got the rental gear.. after I pulled.. I felt like my shoulder straps were at least 1" off of my shoulders.. didn’t feel safe.. I had the leg straps as tight as I could get them.. Are they adjustable? or is that the way they are supposed to be? or should a rig be custom fitted.. Im pretty normal size.. 170 5' 10" right now Im jumping a spectre 230 .. worked my way down from a 260.. I want to try a 190 .. but I think Im going to want to buy a 170.. any suggestions? If anyone has one.. Im looking for a full rig thanks

My buddy gave me some advise.. Im an over thinker.. if you don’t let your head get in the way.. our bodies already know how to fly.. Just relax and it will happen.. I’m new.. and go over and over again in my head what I needed to do to get through each level.. and EP's and this and that and what if.. as your going through AFF they teach us the stuff repeatedly that hopefully becomes seconded nature.. When I shut my head off.. I thought left.. and there I went.. I thought right.. there I went.. I just had to slow my head.. I only have a few solo's under my belt now.. but something happened when I stopped trying so hard.. its all about relaxing, smiling and listening to your instructor's I was able to get through aff with out any repeats.. but.. I would have been ok if it hadn’t worked out like that.. Another thing I did was the wind tunnel.. I did it between level 3-4.. level 4 was a trip.. but level 5 is when I was able to turn off my brain and really enjoy the jumps.. every jump gets better and better..

LMAO.. they showed me the international hand signal for buying beer for my instructors..lol I wasnt able to stop by the store on the way there yesterday.. but I got a couple cases on the way home.. I'll bring it next weekend..

I did wind tunnel between level 3-4 it was great.. but.. I lost a little alt awareness as a result of flying in the tunnel for a couple min at a time.. try to make a habit of looking at your wrist while in the wind tunnel.

Hi all, just started filling out a log book.. I fill out the top section and in the bottom (notes) section Ive just put in what I did, where I landed and where I pulled. what are some of the details you guys put in your log book. thanks

WOOOO HOOOOO!.. I took the afternoon on friday off and did level 6.7 and 8. Im a couple hrs from Perris so the drives down there give me a lot of time in my head.. Getting kicked out of the plane messed with me a little.. but.. it ended up being a huge confidence builder and tons of fun.. So I took my family to the DZ yesterday.. I wanted them to see what I have been so strung out on. I put the kids in the wind tunnel... I was so proud of them.. then I wanted to put my other half on a tandem.. but we lost her spot as it was pretty busy.. My experience from here out was amazing.. I was very nervous about renting gear, where to sit on the plane, first jump, where to pull , what to do.. when I was aff student I felt a little like a nuisance to most of the other divers. after I got my gear they took me outside and introduced my to my packer for the day.. she was really helpful and showed me how to prepare the rig for her. then I was off to manifest.. Told them I was a first time solo and didn’t know what to do.. they were way cool, explained how to read the monitor and tried to hook me up with someone on the plane to help me with my spot as there were no instructors from the school on this flight. I’m not sure if they talked to someone or not.. but this is where I saw the community come together for the new comer. I was walking towards the plane.. and a guy stopped me.. Said " hey.. is that an RW suite? wanna get in on a 4way?" I told him it was my first solo.. He introduced himself to me and told me not to get stuck jumping alone.. then he told his buddies and they introduced me to the organizer.. these guys/gals took me under their wing and showed me what it was all about. My first jump was really long.. I think I was more nervous about this one than any other. I was the last person on the plane.. I went to spot.. The DZ was right there... I felt good and jumped.. I was stable and could see the DZ I just watched my alt. it was the longest jump I have been on. I pulled at 4500 and had a great ride down.. Dropped my gear with the packer and was ready to jump again in 20 min.. it .. I made new friends.. got a comfort level that I needed to get through my solo's ..got to watch some other divers do a formation from the air.. Perfect landings, practiced a little delta tracking. Its a new sport to me.. and totally different from AFF.. Im excited to say that you guys have a new member. Thanks Mark

I used to work out.. And my shoulder always hurt... I tried to work through it but it never got better.. after I stopped working out.. it got better..Long story short.. Now that I started jumping.. My right shoulder has been hurting again.. I have no idea from what.. Im hoping that its not trying to tell me that its getting ready to give out on me..

Somone on this thread mentioned Balacne..lol.. Im at work.. cant stop thinking about jumping.. Im setting up some jumps for thursday.. then taking the family on saturday.. I just figure.. I got to get them out of the way so I can get some work done around here!.. lol

LMAO.. good one! Your instructors should know you and your abilities.. but keep in mind.. lots of more experienced jumpers ie. 200+ jumps dont jump 1.3 wing load..

during my AFF they are downsizing me. I went from a 280 to a 260 and my next jump will be a 240.. Let us know what he says

I did the wind tunnel between 3-4 It was awesome.. It threw me off a little when I did 4 as it takes less input in the tunnel and I had a slight left turn. With the experience in the tunnel I was able to correct it and get my heading back. My level 5 was total bliss.. I got some advice from someone that worked for me.. I’m not sure if your thinker.. But.. I am.. I was going over the jump in my head over and over.. I found that I was over thinking it.. I was told to go over my EP's and not so much the task. The bottom line is this.. for the most part.. I think our body already knows how to fly.. When we release our minds and allow the body to do its thing is when it happens.. When I did that.. I looked where I wanted to go.. and I went.. when I wanted to stop.. I just thought stop.. and I did.. It was amazing.. I also gave myself room to be held back on a level with out disappointment.. Every jump is perfect if we land safely.. Just have fun.. and try to let go.. Everyone’s journey is different.. the destination is the same.. Take the drive to the wind tunnel.. It helped me a lot... it was tons of fun.. don’t consider it a hold back.. Just consider it part of your journey.. I’m no spiritual giant.. and not the preachy type.. But this is how it has been working for me Good luck and keep us updated

I say keep the rig and make some time for yourself. You'll need the break from your duties as husband and father, to stay sane. The first 12 years of my jumping career I only jumped one day every-other weekend. That was "Dad's day" to go out and have fun on his own. It kept me going. The other weekend days were the usual Dad stuff, maintaining home and cars, taking kids fishing and to soccer games, etc. You can still jump, but you have to accept that it is going to be somewhat limited. Then when my kids grew up and were out in the world on their own, Dad went crazy and started jumping every weekend. I earned it, and I've been having a heck of a lot of fun ever since. That's my perspective. Good luck with your choice. Oh, and allow the wife to have a day off too. Great post

Thanks to all who posted Somthing clicked on this last jump and its got me even more excited then I was before

Im not looking to get you to sell your rig.. But if that crosses your mind .. Keep me in your thoughts.. Im starting to look for gear. thanks Mark

Um, how do you check the spot? I dont have a problem while in the plane .. I spotted and climbed out .. its after I jump..I look at the plane as Im leaving and then at my my alti.. Not down.. I have been reading on alti awareness and as I look at my alti to look down and get a reference.. I think Im to new right now... My next dive is unstable front loop exit.. so... I guess I'll be looking down no m atter what on that one..lol

I havnt looked down yet

congrats.. Im right behind you