darkwing

Remember that reserves don't have the aerodynamics that mains do, so bigger reserve is often needed for some extra cushion on landing. Also, many people have few or none jumps on their reserve, so they need something fairly forgiving. Finally, remember that your reserve should be survivable if you land unconscious. Want to try that on a main loaded at 2.2? -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I've got a few on my page. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Very nice dive. Congratulations on the record. Excellent editing too. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

spectra is thinner for the same strength. Dacron lasts longer. Most modern canopies use spectra. Higher performance ones use yet other kinds. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

there are several anti-fog agents. Maybe check with some camera flyers. Ours use some stuff called "cat crap". I have some stuff provided by my helmet manufacturer (Bonehead). -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I'm sure everyone's natural question is "what DZ are you talking about." Anyway, maybe you should consider a longer drive to a DZ that is more appealing to you. Some jumpers are essentially boogie-only jumpers, which means fewer weekends at the DZ, but a pretty active scene when you go. Unfortunately, you need to have a group to connect with to have the best time at a boogie. Bottom line: give it another try. Don't let others dictate your fun, or lack thereof. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

People say such horrible things about canopies being exposed to salt water, which has always puzzled me regarding the sweat issue. It isn't a surprise that the center cell tends to be the one that goes bad on an old canopy, maybe largely due to that. Conventional wisdom for a salt water soaked canopy is immediate rinse in fresh water. You'd think that occasional rinse to remove sweat (and hair gel, and deodorant and....) MIGHT be a good idea. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Go read the "First Rig FAQ" at the top of this forum. There are at least a dozen rigs that would meet your needs. Several mains and reserves also. If 50 people each answer your question you will have no answer at all, just 50 different views. Talk with your instructors too. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I'm with Terry. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

You won't automatically have a "better" experience at either a big or a small DZ. Feel free to check them out ahead of time and then make a decision. To progress in jumping, generally speaking more is better. There are limits though. I wouldn't recommend a student make more than 3 jumps in a day, and for most, two would be fine during the training process. There is a lot to think about and to assimilate. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

ProTrack. Great customer service (many, many cases of free replacements, for situations clearly not related to product quality--i.e., mine got crushed by riser slap). It works now, no need to hope for the next update. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

While I have never done it, I have been close to those who performed the "dishonour" you describe and close to those who have been "dishonoured." I disagree with your interpretation of the act. At least in the cases with which I am familiar, I believe that the deceased would have smiled at the act. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Good job. I caution you (and others) that if you had your hand on the cutaway handle, please inspect the cables through the 3-ring immediately (under canopy) to make sure you didn't partially pull them. And make sure the handle is fixed to the velcro. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I have often described a funnel in skydiving as "being flushed down a toilet with your friends." -- Jeff My Skydiving History

How about this clicky -- Jeff My Skydiving History

There is another problem here. I think the pilot chute needs replacing if merely double wrapping the stows results in a bag lock. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I want the universe to scream at me when it is time to stop skydiving. I have two audibles and one wrist-mount altimeter. I have been around long enough to believe that anyone who thinks they are immune to "lost track of time and altitude" is self deluding. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Check out this thread -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Oddly enough, the one I remember most often is one I wasn't on. At the 1979 Nationals, the team that was right there with my team jumped after us in the final round of 4-way. So I sat in the video tent and watched their jump, counting points. I remember it so clearly, and how I felt worse for them when they came up short, than I felt good for us, when we won. I'm weird though. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

The EFS phrase was certainly in widespread usage by the late 1970's. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Jump it. Your reserve has been packed longer, right? A few years ago we put out a canopy which had been packed and sealed for 50 years. It worked just fine. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

There have been many different "fillers" for a pea pit. Pope Valley, CA in the 70's had some very light and porous volcanic stone that would float if put in water. It was nice, but not really any nicer than a more traditional stone-filled pea pit. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

It is a big circle filled with smallish rounded stones, so that it absorbs impact energy gradually. If you are going to hit hard, it is definitely the place to do it. Accuracy jumpers liked it because you could concentrate more on hitting the target and less on breaking your legs. I think originally they were sand/sawdust filled maybe. Probably related to high jump and pole vault pits from track and field. edit--> "pea" comes from the term "pea gravel" which is what you ordered a truck load of. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Do you stuff the nose when you pro-pack? If so, I'd recommend leaving it out. That is, when you release it from between your knees do nothing to it. Just wrap the tail around and continue. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I still suck. -- Jeff My Skydiving History