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Posts posted by rss_v

  1. I'm a <50 jumps novice and get better every time I jump even if it's only once every six weeks. As in every other skill or set of skills, the lower a level you're at (i.e. more of a beginner) the less stimulus is required to induce progress and gains in ability. Like when someone starts physical exercise they need only do a very small amount to see dramatic improvements, compared with a more seasoned athlete whose training has to be much more often, higher in volume and "harder" to squeeze out any progress.

    It's winter here and I plan to jump at least once more (meaning 1-4 jumps on a day) in November, hopefully some time around the new year, then maybe in February. I'll be fine with that and next spring I'll be a much better skydiver than I am now.

  2. Quote

    so you are the one buying ?
    would this be a "second rig"/wingsuit rig/water rig ?



    I'd be buying, yes.

    I really don't want to get into the "what rig is suitable for me" are - I have other threads like that and it's not what I'm asking right now, the thread will easily get derailed.

  3. Quote

    One thing to consider about that rig is that the reserve is noticeably smaller than the main; that's not a terribly desirable configuration.

    Wendy P.



    Indeed - it's very common, though, unfortunately. I can fly a 190 so I'm not too worried. It it was a 170 or something then it would rule out this rig for me.

  4. > 1998 Fury 220, 86 jumps

    > 2004 Techno 190 reserve, 0 rides

    > 1992 Vector II, 500 jumps - with new velcro, new risers, new leg pads, new chest strap, elastics, and possibly some other bits

    All checked and serviced.

    No AAD.

    Can I have some estimates as to its value? The colours are fairly plain and neutral, I should add!

    Thanks,

  10. Quote

    Quote



    ...Damn the vendor for being so awkward, it took several of us pestering him to get any info about the harness, container or canopy sizes. It only sold for £320 in the end, no doubt could have been double that if it was advertised properly and through the normal channels. Quite strange, it was on eBay but the guy claimed to be an "advanced rigger" or something, but seemed to have little knowledge of what he was selling...



    You do realize that that's a hell of a red flag, right?

    Scam or stolen are what come to mind first.
    It's possible it was a "yard sale find" or something like that, but if the guy is claiming a rating that doesn't exist, I'd be very suspicious.



    I think it's a legit rating in the UK, it seems. Under the BPA.

    The guy had about 150 transactions on his eBay account including a handful of skydiving-related items. I reckon it was probably legit but he just couldn't be bothered to give much info, considering that it was a £300 rig he was selling on behalf of someone else, maybe getting a 10% cut or something.

  11. Quote

    It depends on how much of your height is in your legs versus your torso. Without an inseam approaching 36" it won't as another poster noted.



    Hmm I just measured and got 36" for my inseam! Might be an over-measurement, though.

    Damn the vendor for being so awkward, it took several of us pestering him to get any info about the harness, container or canopy sizes. It only sold for £320 in the end, no doubt could have been double that if it was advertised properly and through the normal channels. Quite strange, it was on eBay but the guy claimed to be an "advanced rigger" or something, but seemed to have little knowledge of what he was selling...

    It would have been worth the risk, I reckon, at that price. Next time some shit kit comes up I should just buy it, it will be incredibly easy to sell on if I want to.

  13. Quote

    Before you buy any second hand rig: Try it on!



    Of course - not possible in this situation, unfortunately. It's being sold cheap and the vendor is unwilling to send it to my DZ to try on before I buy it. Probably not worth the trouble for that amount of money.

    It makes it a risky purchase but it's cheap and fewer people will be interested...

  14. I have the option of purchasing a crappy old rig that might be just right for me, except the container (Javelin, DOM 1994) has a harness size of C16 which fits 5'7-5'8 according to:

    http://sunpath.com/old/web_en/index.php?menu_level1=3&menu_level2=4

    I'm just about 6ft and of a medium to slim build. Is there any way this would fit me, realistically? I've been jumping random rental rigs and I've never even checked their harness sizes, I must admit.

    Thanks for any quick responses!

  15. Thanks for the advice. I will be about 210lbs exit weight.

    I just want any kit to get me off rental gear, which ideally I could sell on in 100 jumps time - but who knows where I'll be then?
    I've now been looking for kit for well over six months and it's only a few times I've seen a 190, let alone a 200+. Very rare.

    I've been jumping rental Nav 240's mostly so far, so as long it's not worse than those (they seem fine!) then I won't notice or mind.

  19. I'm too slow and shy so I let all the other guys go first and then all the good ones are taken, so I pick up a huge, dirty old thing that just had its flaps tucked in for the tenth time that day by a pothead in the corner.

    I try to ignore the depressing fact that I have to pay to rent one and can't just get my own, and remind myself that many people would love a chance to do this.

    Then for 20 minutes we sit around awkwardly in a cramped, crowded and incredibly noisy environment, as I try to get to know her a bit. I feel envious of the confident chaps laughing and joking about their exploits - some sick bastards are even going to film each other.

    Then I can delay things no longer - the lights come on and they fling the door open, and it's time for everyone to leave. I give her one last grope and then get going. What happens next is between me and her - it's not a pretty picture and I'm glad no one else is around to see it.

    The next day I wake up with a sore back and chaffed thighs, and my wallet suspiciously empty.



    True story.

  21. Quote

    And while I am a very low time jumper who hasn't had a chop, what in the world FJC rules are you referring to that shouldn't be applied in practice? I'm just curious. My understanding is that everything in the FJC is based on more experience than any one person will have in this sport. As are the emergency procedures.

    And what is your alternative to those things? Those rules are drilled into you so you have a plan hopefully without having to waste altitude thinking about what you should do. Are there "fixes" like trying to free the bag manually, sure there are, with a fair amount of added risk in most cases - not the least of which is loss of altitude awareness trying to "fix" a malfunction on the part of a low time jumper. An experienced jumper might feel comfortable and have the skills required to do something like that, but it's a different ballgame with low time.




    What I mean is that if you did everything by the book, you'd never fit in with the DZ "machine" as it runs day to day, commercially and socially. No time for formal gear checks, hurry up and get your fucking kit on - someone will eye it over for you in the pen. Want to check the spot? Fuck that, we've got 14 people behind you so hurry up and get out. Wind's picking up a bit, feeling nervous? Don't be a pussy, you're on the manifest so get on the plane.
    Decide to cut away? No matter what, you didn't need to.

  22. I've never had a cut away but another relatively new jumper (<50 jumps, afaik) at my DZ has. Apparently he got his pilot chute out but nothing else followed, and after a certain amount of time he went for his reserve. He apparently got a lot of stick for it on the ground, with staff saying he should have "tried harder" to free things up, tilting to get the pliot chute into clean air (if that was the problem). He was a bit annoyed at the reaction he got to it, understandably.

    A lot of what we learned in AFF groundschool doesn't apply in practice, or is unofficially unofficial, if you know what I mean. Anyone following the guidelines and rules exactly would quickly make himself unwelcome at the DZ.

  23. I'd like to have even a few seconds to spot and look around before I have to get out, but on a commercial DZ with tandems waiting behind a handful of club jumpers, we have to just GTFO when we're told to. Usually the jump master (often a camera man since he's not engaged with the tandems so closely) will give a hand signal for each jumper or group and if you hang around you may well get a shove or at least a telling off later.

    I'm going to claim to be doing some tracking jumps so I get to be the last one out, then I can take at least 10-15s to have a look at the ground before the pilot starts banking to try and tip me out.

  24. I'm a <50 jumps beginner and I've taken 6-week breaks and not felt any problem. I didn't lose my nerve or get scared, and to be honest I was flying better than I could before. I wouldn't want to leave it longer than 6 weeks as I'd worry my instructors might start worrying about my currency, but personally I felt fine. I have other quite dangerous sports I do only once a year or so and I never forget what I'm doing. I don't get much better, but I don't get worse either.

    Stick to the advice a bit further above about being sensible in the air and not doing anything crazy. Which, if you're not jumping very often, will probably remain interesting and fun enough anyway.