Keithor

Members
  • Content

    59
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Feedback

    0%

Everything posted by Keithor

  1. Not to pick on you Croc. To the op, there3 are 3 different Storm canopy configurations. 1 Is the standard "freefall" version. #2 is the "hybrid" version, and the third is the "CRW" canopy. The most common is the "freefall" version which has different (mildly) characteristics than the other two. Going to the CRW forum and reading the landing the Storm article may not do the freefall version justice. Taking a canopy course and learning how canopies react to various inputs etc is amazing and every new canopy pilot (under 200 jumps) should take one. The most effective method I have been able to employ is the 2 stage flare. I have popped up on landings a couple times and with the Storm this is very easy to do, due to the incredible flare power it posses'. However after 2 or 3 times doing it you should be able to learn how to handle it, and utilize it to your advantage. Try not flaring so hard and the problem will be solves. The other great option is a 2 stage flare. *Question/Note(s) to Croc. Did you buy your canopy used? Reason I ask is that the Storm is know for having really long brake lines from the factory. Many people are concerned about this and freak out and have the brake lines shortened. This could cause the canopy to be overly responsive to landing flare. Both myself and the main packer at my dz were surprised at the amount of brakes that were there. It turns out that this is part of the design to not only tame, but to harness the flare power of the Storm. Just a thought. Check the lines on your canopy and see if they have the right amount of brakes or just the correct lines to begin with. Hope this helps
  2. I don't know your jump numbers as you have not listed them. I can tell you from my own experience that the Storm is a very forgiving canopy and can be pretty responsive when it is asked to. I have heard that it is very similar to the Spectre when flown gently but has the option of being sportier. I really love my Storm and am flying a 170. My exit weight was about 200 lbs. I started jumping it around jump #30. I had downsized with help from coaches and instructors to a 190 9 cell before moving to this. The flare power that the Storm has is amazing! It was much easier to land than many of the student canopies. Having said that, I have taken a canopy course and once I learned that I had 8 inputs instead of 4 the landings became much quicker for me. Ive thought a little about downsizing to a 150 Storm just because of how easy it has been to fly. ON THE OTHER HAND, Ive read far too many people getting hurt by rushing. I have a lot I can still learn on this one before I downsize. If you live in the USA I would suggest demo'ing a 170 from PD and see what you think. at 150 lbs, a 150 may work but talk to your coaches/instructors before you listen to posters about your safety.
  3. You said you were jumping with the military. I know Mirage has a military discount and so does Wings I believe. I don't know if retired counts ot if you need to be active but ask around it will probably be the best pricing you will get! I am currently jumping a Storm myself. It's a great canopy and I feel like it will always open for me. It has some great openings if packed right (like I'm sure most canopies will). It's pretty solid and flies well. The only other canopies I can compare it to are the student canopies I was jumping. I personally bought a Stock Wings container and I love it. No matter what you get, be sure to get the spacer foam leg pads. I jumped a few rigs with and without it and I would pay much more than any company charges for the upgrade. I hope that helps.
  4. Sorry you don't have wads of cash burt south Pacific is an option. I've travelled a little around the globe and my best advice is to look on lonelyplanet.com and check out the money and expenses page for each country on your list. The costs to Tahiti alone might be more than 1 week in central America or Spain for that matter, and that would include all you jumping. You should narrow it down to a couple places before asking people here about other dz's imo. Good luck to you
  5. Go to www.google.com Not trying to be a dick. But if you type your question in there you are 99% likely to get a youtube video of some guy showing you step by step how to do it. You may be wanting to use it for skydiving but there are many more uses for it than that. Your best chance of the answer you are looking for is the biggest audience Good luck!
  6. I appreciate the effort in getting things changed. I wasn't too offended, I've learned to ask a question before that happens. Thanks
  7. The riggerA course was posted in Nov. I ahve not done 10 supervised re-packs but meet the other CSPA requirements for the course. I have been in contact with the course director about what else I will need and am making every possible effort Including going to a forum to try to find someone to help me. I'm defending my actions because I somehow feel that you are displeased with the fact I am trying to take a course without "your" pre-requsites. The CSPA's own website says the 10 supervised re-pack can be done before, during, or after the course. The course director has asked for them to be completed prior to the course. If you comment was not directed at me I am sorry for taking it that way. Just an FYI I am now working with a rigger to get my supervised packs completed prior to the course. Who happens to live 2.5 hours away. I can certainly appreciate why the course director would want this done vefore hand as it took almost 3 hours to do the first re-pack. Not to mention half the reason I signed up for the course was to learn more about gear etc. It is a lot for a wuffo
  8. John I'm not just new to the sport I'm newer to rigging so forgive the question. I have a wings container and the rip cord is always. Showing the in the open part of the stainless handle. As a result I kept tucking it into the velcro (as we see so many people do regardless of manufacturer). My question is: is there any way that having the rip cord tucked into the velcro could effect the operation of your puller? With the right/wrong angle that the cord tucked in and fresh new velcro holding it in place could wind up pushing the pin in further instead of pulling the pin out? If there is a stop in place that is not attached to the cord I can see that the situation would be unlikely. I could see potentially that the stopper get blown out and the pin not move. *typed by thumb so don't mind the spelling*
  9. I'm wondering if there is a rigger that would be willing to supervise some or 10 reserve re-packs for me. I would really like to take the rigger A course being held in February and need to have the re-packs signed off before the course starts. I have at least 1 rig that I can bring to do a re-pack on and might have a second. I can also provide a space for the re-packs that is heated and in Whitby. I'd be willing to pay for the re-packs and someones time (or beer). Thanks, Keith
  10. congratulations. Did you make the first jump? How did it go? why not?
  11. Sounds like you are doing a good job to me. Not only that but you are exactly the type of person I would agree to jump with in the future. Too many people are too rushed to go out and get through it all for themselves as fast as possible, without any regard for the other people they are around. Like almost everyone else has said your instructors are the ones who have to feel confident jumping with you so if they are ready for the next level so are you. Tunnel time...... I failed my 3rd level PFF (in Canada we call it PFF not AFF). I did spend some time (16 minutes) in a tunnel and it helped me tremendously. Although this may not have been necessary it was a HUGE confidence booster and has made all the difference in the world to my skydiving experience. At repeat level 3 I could always get stable, and maintain a heading. At level four I was with a different instructor and he couldn't believe what I could do with 5 jumps (then I told him about the tunnel and he thanked me for going). Each "flight" was 2 minutes which on average if you jump at 10, 500 and pull at 5500 is four times the average PFF jump freefall time. It sounds expensive but when you cost 30 seconds of freefall x 120 jumps to equal an hour of freefall time its about $3600/hour up here. Tunnel time is about $600/hour with a rather large learning curve. You have to do what makes you comfortable but it sounds like you are doing great. Just relax and keep learning. The fun will come when you can actually look around for a few seconds and enjoy the view, instead of focusing on learning so much.
  12. Try to eliminate variables. Was it the exact same rig? Was it the same packer? Was it caught on video? (this way you can see if you have a body position issue) Hard to say for sure, but back to back hard opening is probably a result of a common factor. Just my opinion.
  13. Thanks for all the responses. I will look into them and find one I can attend. :)
  14. I just bought my first rig which I don't even have yet. I have read all kinds of articles about canopies. The more I read the more questions I had/have. Just wondering if anyone knows of a canopy control course being held in the Toronto or Montreal area. If not, would anyone else be interested in taking one? I am sure that if we had enough people we could get a local DZ to host one, and find an instructor to teach one. I'd be willing to do most of the work in trying to organize one if people are interested.
  15. The divorce afterwards, is a quick way to chapter 11 also. :p As far as the proposal goes...... If THEY are not skydivers, I wouldnt make it a jumping related event. Im sure he will have enough trouble later if she isn't really into it. The last thing he needs is the fact that it overshadows the whole relationship including the engagement. Re-enacting their first date and proposing at the same spot they became a couple? or proposing at the spot they first met? One of these worked for me 1 year after we started dating. I was 21, its been 13 years.
  16. I just laughed really really hard at this...... poor (former) couple
  17. This is EXACTLY why I chose to do butt landings few times when I flared too late for a standup landing. I thought "hey tandems must do it because it is the safest way to land". I am a little horrified about the consequences I have just read about. With SO much for an AFF/PFF student to deal with, learn, remember etc. it wasn't because Im an idiot, just never thought through that part of the landing. I also did mention to an instructor that I stuck my feet out in front of me because I flared late and not one tip about not doing it. A second time that I did this was because I had to land in some tall grass, and told the coach that because I couldn't judge depth because of the grass I kicked my feet up. He didn't seem bothered by the actions or offer any warnings.
  18. THIS. I used to get "door anxiety". Its weird that I miss it now. I probably really only lost it in the last 4 or 5 jumps. It is great that I am not so nervous and can focus on my jumps more, but part of the "fun" of skydiving was the nerves (still is, just not as much).
  19. Thanks or the advice and insight. Ill talk to the rigger at my DZ, and get his thoughts. Its a small community (like im sure most of the skydiving world is). He may very well know the rigger at the other DZ. Ill also find out what they say about this rig for me.
  20. para fab 911-190 reserve DOM 1992 Spectre 190 Main Container is June 1993 2008 Vigil AAD All the straps and fabric looks in really good shape around the container.
  21. ok. This probably wouldnt be a bad rig to put 50 jumps on to get down to the rig I will jump longer term then. It has a 5 year old Vigil AAD. A decent main and a bit of a dated Reserve. Worth the short term investment?
  22. Im thinking of buying a Vector V2-2 container that comes wtih a Spectre 190 Main. I was told it is a belly fly rig, but can have a small mod made to make it freefly friendly. Any tips? Is this true? Is it best to use a rigger? Am I nuts for thinking about this? I Am 1 jump from my A. I will start 2 ways with some friends soon to work towards my B. Thanks
  23. Get an 8' ladder and stand on the sixth step up looking out over your yard. Pick a spot about 20 or so feet away and try to get that perspective. I have worked in construction for a very long time and after my instructor told me to look out instead of down it changed everything. You might look a bit stupid staring at nothing while standing on a ladder in the yard but better than feeling shitty for breaking an ankle. Hope this helps
  24. This choked me up. Jump 3 was a brutal opening causing whiplash and putting me out of the sport and into Physiotherapy for a month. A hard opening is my second largest fear. My 12th jumps I had a VERY slow opening, to the point where I looked up wondering if the canopy would open (it felt like an eternity but I probably only looked at the canopy flutter for about 2 seconds). I run the scenario over and over in my head wondering why the HELL I didn't look at my altimeter while this was happening. All in all everything worked out just fine. This led to my biggest fear. WATCHING a mal to the ground. I can tell you if I was in your situation I HOPE I wouldn't hesitate to chop. Great job, and remember any landing we walk away from with or without a plane is a good one.
  25. I got whiplash after a brutal opning that kept me from jumping period for a month. I saw a physiotherapist and the help was AMAZING. It was so bad I couldn't lift my head off my pillow in the mornings. They not only helped me get back up again but they have also given me exercises to help strengthen my neck and back. It also was a big help that one of the owners is a jumper. We have since jumped together! I have had many work and play injuries over the years and doctors almost always refer you to physio once they know what's wrong if nothing is broken. I almost always go to these people first now. I hope this helps. Just to reiterate what someone else said. DO NOT FUCK WITH YOUR NECK. Just like your yes, you only have one set take a week or two to get better. The next hard open could keep you from sleeping properly for years.