taylor.freefall

That's the beauty of older gear. We aren't talking stuff that looks like some student containers. Most of the time older gear has been in a closet for the majority of it's life. It usually only has a couple hundred jumps on it - if that. It's clean... and because it's no longer fashionable, it's cheap. Besides, you're probably gonna drag it through the dirt a bit yourself. You can pick up decent condition Reflexes (which are freefly safe), Vector 2's and original Talons for less than $300. Add a $300 reserve, a $400 Cypres and a $400 main and you're in the air with your own complete rig for the same price as that Micron with reserve. Save fashion for when you're out of school and you can afford it. I have absolutely no problem with used gear. My first rig will almost certainly be used. I just dont want a used rig that has had the shit beat out of it. yeah I think the same way and not gear that is from 1980 or something, even though it might be in good condition, I cant help but think something 20 years old must have deteriorated to some degree, especially as my life is depending on it.

Buying used gear isnt all that easy depending on the sizes you want and I found in my experience that when something decent comes up it doesnt seem to hang around, theres a definite shortage of beginner gear for sure, decent gear anyway.

Jeeeez never a truer word spoken, I've been down the credit card path myself on the past, NEVER again, theyre the devils work they really are.

Ah yes that makes sense - I have done that thing where it takes you back up in the air and then just drops you from a great height - then I flared later, scraped my ass across the ground and back airbourne again. Thats why I was pulled to one side - they saw my late (very late) flare and thourght I was going to squish on the floor. Oh well pratice makes perfect.

Congratulations. The way the weather is around here, it's gonna be March before I get there. Hey thankyou I'm hopefully going to go for a beer tonight haha! Lucky I did it yesterday - it's pouring down now

Just a quickie - I got my A license yesterday and, due to not using student canopies anymore, was told rather than to flare between 8 - 12 feet above the ground all in one go gradually flare to shoulder height then when coming into land bring the toggles all the way down and run it out. Anyway who is right, the one who says flare all at once or flare gradually and run it out?

All the instructors say "dont forget to pull", to be honest I never found it that funny. bah humbug : )

dont be a dummy - put it on her tummy.

I started in Oct as well and got my A license today

Perris has on site wind tunnel plus you have the rest of Cali/LA to play with, scuba, ski or surf all within easy reach not to mention all the rest of it, no contest

mister tickle.

It's happened to me three times this year, absolute pain in the arse to get sorted out and I still need to do sort stuff out. Bloody nightmare, I can understand how you are feeling, dont ya just hate people who steal?

I dont think this is anything more than a portable, emergency kit that would be used as part of a first aid kit. I dont see how its been adapted for skydiving. It just looks like the usual thing you would see at a dentists or on a cruise liner etc etc?

christ I nearly fell off the chair I'm laughing that hard.

Just let it heal up naturally, once healed fully get the whole thing gone over, or a nice cover up. It doesnt look bad enough to go to the doctors over, oh and dont put any cream on it. People suggest zillions of lotions and potions but natural healing is best. If you must use lotion less is more, too much can be worse than nothing. Hope that helps.

If you cant remember which is the reserve and which is the cutaway Id say metal or pillow is the least of your problems, pillow is way cooler. metal looks shite but I'd probably agree with the above poster in that if you put metal there now you can always put pillow later. I cant see it as hugely important, I'm sure, should the need arise, you will pull in the right order and hard enough to release the velcro. and dude you are one lucky *astard, thats all I can say.

I dont remember to be honest, all I know is that he had loads of tattoos, a big black anchor on his right forearm. and a compass, or at least I think it was that.

I met a bloke at skydive Hawaii who was in the navy also. Anyway good to meet you

Dont worry about being scared, I am, and I mean a lot, most beginners are, I've heard it takes a while for it to fade. I thourght tandem was more scary than solo for some reason. If you do a search on the subject you'll see yourself what I mean, and good luck!!

I just had a thourght, you could try a wind tunnel first, thats the same as jumping. Well it feels the same anyway, jumping is slightly scarier as it feels "real", if that makes sense, but the wind tunnel is definitely the same sensation, hey and bloody good fun!!

You lucky so and so

I'm in exactly the same position as where you are now. I was looking for a used rig but theyre either too old and crappy or too expensive. I've decided to just rent until I get to a point where I can stick with a set up that will last me a while rather than buy now and in six months need to buy again. Also I've been told by a couple of people that its harder to resell canopies over 200 than it is 190 and below, so sod it I'll just hang fire for the mo and see what happens, anyway hope that helps.

I would say it's Perris seeing how the plane has "Perris", written underneath it.

I just did AFF and I get scared more than poop as well. I hate the plane ride up and landing, more the plane ride. As for AFF I found it way easier when the instructors do let go, it just makes everything more fluid and easier to do. Once out of the plane I'm not too bad as there's no going back at that point so I make as much out of it as I can, also I think it's easier when you pass AFF and go solo as there's no one scrutinizing your every move. I still get scared just as much though and so far I cant see it passing anytime soon.

GOOD LUCK to Ricky Hatton on tomorrow night