veazer

Personally, I like the mojo mard more than the skyhook, so that would get my vote. That's the biggest difference between them in my opinion, but I also got a mirage because I like their mard the best of the bunch.

Assuming the two sliders are roughly the same size, is there any reason you couldn't swap a slider from 1 canopy to another? I've got an extra pilot 188 slider and a friend needs a new sabre 2 210 slider, specifically. All the sabre 2's above 170 use the same slider, and I can't find an aerodyne slider size chart anywhere. What would be the risk in doing this? From measurements the pilot slider seems to be 2" bigger across the long measurement, and the same across the short measurement (may be more domed). Would a larger slider cause slower openings or would it let the lines separate 2 more inches coming out of the bag and allow it to open faster?

Go to insuremytrip dot com and find something with a hazardous sports rider or whatever it's called. Make sure it specifically includes coverage for parachuting, (do not assume a policy includes it if it's not mentioned) and I personally look for at least 500K in medical and medical evac coverage whenever I travel. It's usually only $5 extra for the additional coverage.

No

This is the automatically I was referring to. It then goes on to say, "or, in the case of an object, is activated automatically." While I agree that a free fall jump is anything other than static line / iad, it doesn't seem clearly defined in the SIM/Far.

The "or automatically" makes me think static line would potentially count.

For an A license, what specifically counts as a "freefall jump" to count towards the 25? I'm assuming any static line jumps are out, but what about hop and pops? If you jump at 5500 ft, how long do you have to wait or how low do you have to pull to have it count?

Yeah I tried searching for my google search terms as well as the thread title itself, both searches returned 0 results. Google searches were better on the old DZ.com site search too, so if it's just a "google needs to re-index dz.com" then I guess it's not a bug but a waiting game.

Google searches are getting redirected to the main forum rather than the actual thread result. Just like on every other website, dropzone.com's search function will never be as good as google's... Not sure if it's a "google needs to re-index dz.com," or if it's something on this site. As an example if I google "HMA vs Vectran Pilot" one of the dropzone results is a thread from 2008 called "Pilot HMA Lineset" but when I click the link address of http://www.dropzone.com/forum/Skydiving_C1/Gear_and_Rigging_F6/Pilot_HMA_lineset_P3240125/, it takes me to https://www.dropzone.com/forums

I weighed 220 when I started, and jumped a Nav 280, then a 260, 240, then a sabre 2 230 and/or nav 220 all within my first ~30 jumps. By jump 40 I was down to 205 lbs jumping a sabre 2 210 (exit weight probably 235-240). I wanted an LPV 190 sized reserve, figuring I would eventually downsize the main further but not wanting to downsize on my first reserve ride. I wound up with a pilot 188 and an optimum 193, loading around 1.2-1.3 around jump 50... I wouldn't recommend going that route unless you're actively losing weight and unless you're aware of the risk you're taking on by going to that high a wingloading. That said, I would talk to your instructors about trying to start downsizing towards a 1:1 wingloading (i.e. a nav 260 then 240), and then move on to a non-navigator 230 (sabre 2, pilot, silhouette, something relatively docile) for a while. Then buy your first used rig with a 210 or a 230 in it and use it for a few hundred jumps. I would try to get off rental gear once you get to a 230 and definitely once you're on a 210. Keep in mind at a higher weight/size, the difference will be less than a 130 lb student working their way to a 1:1. I noticed almost nothing different about a nav 260 compared to a 280. Even the 240 was about the same. Buying a used rig in the ~$4K neighborhood will also allow you to stop throwing money at rentals, and you could probably sell it for at least 3500 within ~2 years after. The important thing is to talk to some instructors and/or riggers that know you and have seen your landings. Nobody on the internet knows how sketchy your landings may or may not be, but riggers and instructors should be more helpful than us, or random fun jumpers that don't know what altitude their AAD fires at or what the differences are between a 7 and 9-cell canopy. Also, once you've done your hop and pops you can take a b-license canopy course. The course instructor should be helpful with figuring out what your first rig size should be and a safe way to get there. You're probably still (and should be) paying for coaches through jump 25, might as well knock out a canopy course as part of that.

This is huge to keep in mind. Spend 5K on a used PD/vector setup, and chances are you can sell it for 4500+ 2-3 years later. Not sure if you'll be able to do that with the Vortex setup. Only time will really tell.

I managed to find my 6'1" self a 5 year old mirage rig with no mard, but with everything else you'd want, an optimum 193 (9 packs, no rides), a pilot 188, and a cpress2 (5 years old, just serviced). Brand new that would be ~$7630 according to chutingstar. Bought it a month ago from the classifieds for $4100. Matches my jumpsuit and everything. Needs a new lineset but so does almost every used canopy. Keep an eye out and keep an open mind towards more brands (Not talking argus, but if you're on a budget you've got to be okay with a V/C/Smart. Beggars can't be choosers). Also, keep in mind most people SUCK at valuing their used gear. Most people will ask far too much. Some people will post no pictures but might have great equipment. Feel free to offer people something fair and most people will immediately balk, but a month later you'll see them post the same rig far cheaper or come back and counter-offer when nobody else has replied. Dropzone solutions on here and on FB usually posts gear on the high end of fair, but beyond that there's not really anyone that does enough used gear trading to know what anything is actually worth. I would say you should expect to pay ~4.5-6+K for a full rig made after ~2013, 4-4.5+K for 2008-13ish, and 3-4+K for anything 2000-2008. I didn't look for anything older than that. Also keep in mind there are budget systems like the vortex deal that could get you a complete new rig for ~5500. I'd rather buy used, but this is skydiving, make your own decisions. At the end of the day, gear is worth what people are willing to pay for it. All we can see is what people are trying to sell it for. Negotiate with anyone and everyone, and be as much of a hard-ass as you want, worst that will happen is they say no. Just be careful about the actual transaction itself. Use some form of escrow if at all possible.

From one newb to another: Cock the pilot chute. Don't tie the bridle in a knot while folding it up. (probably won't matter though) Cock the pilot chute. Fold or roll the pilot chute somehow, don't just shove all the bridle in and then shove the pilot chute in and hope that mess comes out nicely. (probably won't matter, but I wouldn't do this) Cock the pilot chute. Close the way the manufacturer says to (flap order, bridle routing, pin positioning). Cock the pilot chute. Replace your closing loop before it looks sketchy AF. Cock the pilot chute. But in all seriousness, cock your pilot chute and route your bridle correctly. Everything else is gravy for preventing PCIT. And even an uncocked pilot chute may still cause enough drag to open the container, but don't count on it and cock your pilot chute. Also prevent horseshoes by maintaining your closing loop.

Per the SIM in the US: Tandem demo jumps are fine as long as you don't do it into a stadium. Looks like level 2 landing areas are limited as well.

Read the SIM a time or two, but don't be "that guy" when you go to your first jump course. Shut up and listen. There's more than one way to skin a cat, so when in doubt, go with what your instructors tell you and once you're off student status you can start to form your own opinions about things you may have read differently in the SIM. Go to the tunnel for 10-15 minutes, and tell them you're going to do AFF soon. They'll start you on the net and do more drills than just "fly flat as fuck and we'll do a high flight." I would not do any more tunnel time than that. Save your money for jumping. Do not practice anything on your own. Don't practice arch, don't practice PLF, don't practice pull, don't practice EP's until you're taught them. Bad habits are a bitch to break, and you have no idea what you're doing wrong until you actually start jumping. I would recommend watching "Cutaway!" the video series from the Australian version of the USPA. Don't look at their EP portion, let an instructor teach you that on the gear at the DZ, but know the different malfunctions so you can recognize them if/when you see them. Have fun, crush it, and whatever you're planning on spending on skydiving next year, double it.

Would utilizing a pilot chute controlled reefing system (pilot chute attaches through the canopy to the slider to help slow/control its descent down the lines) potentially help with this? No idea what potential issues those have but I'm sure someone's tried it before, right?

Obviously I'm new here, but would it not be possible to put some sort of replaceable, bungee-like material in/at the riser area, that could absorb opening shock, but be bypassed with some sort of clip or hook of some kind once the canopy is open that would shorten/stiffen the risers back to normal if desired?