baRRRpirate

And I just realized this thread was over a year old. I'm a dumbass.

Until it’s not just as good. Once again style trumps function. Sparky I use a Visio, with a Optima II and my Pathfinder as a backup…if all three batteries die, I have my good ol' eyeballs (which suck ass because I'm new) that will take me to the landing where I will inevitably fuck it up regardless of what I think or know my altitude is. Skydiving kicks ass… Seriously though, I think watches are a good idea for backups, and things with batteries aren't as scary as they seem. Its up to people to be big boys and girls and change the batteries when needed. If you can't do that, then I guess chalk it up to natural selection.

These are all great reasons. Frequently life issues distract from life enjoyment. I found myself smiling as I wrote why I like skydiving, then smiling even more as I read others. For me the finesse of building the skills keeps me jumping with a plan, but being immersed in the culture is what keeps me going until broke….and then some. Thanks for all the inputs, keep 'em coming

This was my exact question…nothing about what you tell whuffos….please re-read my last posts, its pretty clear: "Skydiving for me is like golf or surfing. It's incredibly difficult to excel in, it takes finesse, and you can never stop learning and getting better. Just wondering what drives others to continue on in this sport?" These are the answers to that question. again, I never queried whuffos. thanks for finally answering, its nice to see what people say from all experience levels.

I said it before and I'll say it again...i do it for the ladies; it makes for a great date conversation, the ladies get all intrigued and wow'ed, and all my whuffo friends think i'm such a badass. nice….I'm married so no more ladies and I'm no longer allowed to be a badass

You claim, "I fully understand what your saying". Then you know where I am trying to take this conversation. Most times it is more trouble than it is worth to have the skydiving conversation. After you have tried it about a billion times you realize that people will not change their opinion and you quit trying to have the conversation. As Andy pointed out, YOU are in charge if this conversation comes up. Unless you do something to bring it up, it will not come up. At some point most people quit bringing it up because the conversation goes almost on a script. You say "I have a whole lot of medals as well that I don't feel like explaining in great detail" Well after a while you will have a whole bunch of jumps that you don't feel like explaining in great detail. Eventually, you might have no desire to even talk about either your military medals or your skydiving. That is all I am "trying to take this conversation". After a while you might just avoid the topic because you know how it will play out. ***Maybe we should start a poll asking what skydivers do when asked about skydiving by non-skydivers. A great idea. First off, you sound a jaded I do fully understand your comment. When I asked where you were trying to take the conversation, that was more rhetorical, since it has nothing to do with my original post. I've was never asking what the sentiments of a skydiving conversation were, I am more curious about peoples different reasons for enjoying the sport. When I made the statement about conversations with my friends, that was more of an explanation as to what got me thinking about different reasons for skydiving. Sorry if that was interpreted otherwise (i am not a writer). So my conclusion from your post is: You either misunderstood my original post or you just wanted to point out how experienced you, and others are, so experienced in fact, that you don't want to talk about it. Or, I could be way off base with this whole thing…It is very late at night for me and I haven't slept for a while and I'm biased because I feel all too often people on this site over complicate simple questions, while answering with personal bravado.

That's it right there. If the conversation doesn't happen in the first place, you won't have to explain yourself to people who almost always won't understand anyway. As often as not, you're in control of that. I don't really mind explaining myself. I'm just curious to why other jumpers are excited about the sport. There are a lot of different reasons, none of which are because its cheap If you are like most jumpers... Wanting to talk about it is a phase you will get out off. Most of the people I work with have no idea. Some people know, only because it has come up one way or another (I have a medal from the Army that mentions freefall, I put the commendation in my office cause it is kinda neat). But explaining yourself over and over gets old for most people. Where are you trying to take this conversation? I fully understand what your saying….I have a whole lot of medals as well that I don't feel like explaining in great detail (including big gold wings). The point I was making is people are surprised to find out i am not an adrenaline junky. I compare skydiving to golf, which made me think, what intrigues others to skydiving… Maybe we should start a poll asking what skydivers do when asked about skydiving by non-skydivers.

Thats funny. When I'm in a bad mood my wife tells me to go jump, she says it helps my attitude. I purposely start fights now.

I can't think of a better activity to hyper focus on!

That's it right there. If the conversation doesn't happen in the first place, you won't have to explain yourself to people who almost always won't understand anyway. As often as not, you're in control of that. I don't really mind explaining myself. I'm just curious to why other jumpers are excited about the sport. There are a lot of different reasons, none of which are because its cheap

It's funny how that works….right from day 1

Whenever the topic of my skydiving comes up with my non skydiver friends, they always give me the look when I say I'm not an adrenaline junky. I don't skydive for reasons of adrenaline. Truth be told, I'm not all that crazy about heights in itself. Skydiving for me is like golf or surfing. It's incredibly difficult to excel in, it takes finesse, and you can never stop learning and getting better. Just wondering what drives others to continue on in this sport?

I went the other way. I gained 15 lbs in between skydives and now im hauling ass into my landings!!!! its awesome :p

So I already posted a couple things looking for info, but I haven't done a formal "hi I'm new here introduction". So here it is: Hi everybody, I'm Joey! Did my AFF (through MFF) about a year ago...Thank you very much Jay Stokes and Shane Hollar for all of the mentorship....It'll be nice to see you out at the DZ from time to time.. I love skydiving...not so much MFF side of the house but the civilian side for sure...those MT2-XX are like wearing a small midget trying to bring you down to earth. Beats office work though! Anyway, I'm stoked to have found a site that has so many people with a common love and desire...Its kinda like church! Sky church. Stay safe everyone and see you out there -Joey

point taken. I believe in this: Plan, execute, analize (how can I make this better) I feel I'm getting close to the Sabre2 210 I was asking about. I am not ready as of yet in my opinion, but I'm close enough to start to think about it. I like the comment you left in my other thread..."the simple fact is you only get 1 landing per jump." That is a very simple and smart way to look at it. Until I can control a canopy in any condition. Have it do what I want it to do, and if my 1 landing per jump happens to be downwind off site...can I control it. If the answer is no then stay with what you got. thanks again for the advice

I'm pretty pumped and ready to learn. I have a lot of good people around that have coached and mentored me. I'm now looking to branch out and expand my knowledge and skill. I want to become a good pilot and understand it takes TIME! Conditioned responses take 1000's of repetitions, I want to start my conditioning with no bad habits. Hence the desire for coaching. Thank you for the advice

N/A

is it common for sellers to allow the riggers at your DZ to act as a broker as well?

good advice...I agree, I am not trying to swoop nor do I desire to do so any time soon . However, I did like the instruction that I recieved through my licensing process, and wouldn't mind some follow on canopy instruction. I look at CRW and Swoopers as subject matter experts and would like to find courses or classes that can teach me how to become a better pilot.

Thank you everyone for the posts. I'm sure I will be hitting up these forums again to ellicit info on certain things so I would like to clear a couple things up to maintain good standing. I felt it was I was clear when I said I was new. I want to get better at piloting and I take all info, recommendations and coaching seriously. Apparently the idea of me saying that Brian Germain's downsizing chart was a generality struck a nerve with certain people. I understand that there are experienced jumpers that have either been on the recieving end of or had a friend pay for a bad dive so they look out for the new guys best interest with words of wisdom. I think that on this website and in the sport as a whole there is loss of tact in a lot of areas. By saying it was a generality, in my mind, im correct. The way I see it is if the chart says I need a hundred jumps to get where I need to be, thats general...what if I need two hundred. It could also work the other way (not quite that literal, but you get the point). I was pretty clear with saying I take all info into consideration. To me, there is no substitute on paper that will equate skill and on site coaching by instructors. What my intentions were with this post, was not to seem like I have "mad skillz" but to convey that I take this serious. I want to start on a rig that is slightly under what I'm jumping now and wanted insight. I am constantly talking with other jumpers who I jump with that are experienced but wanted to branch out for other opinions. I AM IN NO RUSH TO DO THIS. Thanks for the posts with valid info, I'll re-read through all of them periodically. Knowledge and practice will always yield high results.

oh i get it wendy. and if people would read my entire post and process it before asking me rhetorical questions like "are my physics different" i wouldn't have to write crap like that. all i want is advise not smartass judgement. in my response i even mention coach critiques and mentors. my original question was asking about the difference between sabre2 and a silhouette. also what are good indicators for being ready. people on this site seem to want to say how badass they are and how much of a rookie you are vice imparting wisdom and knowledge. thankfully certain individuals did answer my questions with articles and advise. not interested in swooping right now, just interested in fitting a 210 in my container and learning tricks and drills to tell when im ready to use it....i mean come on, im not trying to weigh out a huge wingload. it gets frustrating when you read posts for advise and you see so much condecending comments.

you dont get it. you want to stand on your high horse and think you know me. i have the book. i have the chart. i take all advise into consideration. there are a lot of "lines in the sand" that are created to teach the lowest common denominator, those are guides and recommendations. when i say i steer clear of the generalities its because i dont base my decision solely off of a piece of paper telling me where i should be. there are other factors to take into consideration. with the aid of the chart, the book, practice, coaching advise and critiques, i, as well as my mentors, will decide what is best for me and my advancement in this sport. its not "lip service"...its gathering info. your comment made you look like big mouthed cocky smartass that i have come to recognize are prevelant on this site. why post a comment if you dont have something respectful and relevant to say? im posting on here to get advise from friendly educated people, not to be an asshole. you should take some notes!

thats what i was thinking. thanks for confirming

I want to be awesome....er!!!! I know of flight 1 formal courses. Are there any more canopy courses out there that travel around....or is it better to pay an instructor at my home DZ (skydive san diego)? How can I get some great instruction so I can dominate this art? ps. I'm not trying to get all swoop happy with my limited experience. I would like however to learn some fundamentals that may set me up for that in the future.

Thank you very much for the article...I've seen the sizing chart before, however, I tend to take generalities into consideration but don't necissarily abide by them. I feel if certain skills are met or not met, that sizing chart can be shifted either way. The article however seems to have a lot of really good info. I will definitly read the entire thing. I have also been reading Canopy and Its Pilot by Brian Gervais