betzilla

Personally, I'd stick with the one the manufacturer provides for use with the container. Other people have other opinions of course... You do mean MAIN d-bag, right? -B

Nope, it's true. I saw the article too (but it was in 98 or after, I think -- after I started jumping). The rigger in question had previously jumped at a DZ I used to jump at (I never met him), so it struck close to home for me. Now that I do reserves, I actually say "molar strap out" when I remove it, just for my own peace of mind.

Before I broke my leg, I really thought I was hard core. I thought I was one of those people who jumps again the first second they feel ready. But I have to be honest (this question made me think more about myself -- just what I need ). I really wait until the injury is 90-100%, before pushing the envelope. This was true with a minor knee injury, an ankle sprain, and my tib/fib (I thought that was as good as it would get when I started jumping on it again almost a year after I broke it. But it has still gotten much better since, and continues to improve, 2 years after the break). A good injury can really change your perspective on jumping -- I'm now really conscious of how the rest of my life is affected of I'm out of commission (I missed out on some really good non-skydiving opportunities when I was laid up). Skydiving itself is much more of a hobby for me now than it used to be, although I still work in the biz. You have to listen to your inner voice, to know when you're ready. Nobody else really knows how you're doing.

That's awesome! I'm continually surprised by the humber of jumpers who aren't even curious what the inside of their reserve container looks like. It's great that you inspect your own -- the more eyes on the canopy, the better the chances that if there's a problem (like the one that prompted this thread, or worse), it will be found. -B

They look about right to me -- they should be right at the level of the point of your hipbone (which in women is usually a bit lower than the visual top of the hip. The "junk squishing" isn't really an indication of improper fit (I have a ring harness that fits me like butter, and I get a little of that too); it's really just an unfortunate -- or fortunate, depending on your perspective -- consequence of a ringed harness. -B

I'm jealous. Mine (Icon, Smart, Vision) should be here within a couple weeks. Make sure when you're taking pictures, you get a nice one of you spooning with it .

Nope -- same price (for practical purposes). We build linesets out of both, and sell them for the same price. But the rest of your post is right on.

My understanding is that foreign nationals are subject to the rules which apply in their country, where their gear is concerned. For example, if the repack cycle in Mexico is 180 days, and a Mexican jumper arrives at a US DZ with a reserve that was packed 140 days ago by a certified Mexican rigger, he should be allowed to jump, according to the FARs. That also means, if no seal is required back home, no seal is required here, if the pack job originated in the jumper's home country. To clarify questions regarding the necessary (or unnecessary) presence of a seal, or whether the rigger in question need be an FAA designee, look at this: From Part 105, sec 105.49, (4)ii. The reserve parachute must be packed in accordance with the foreign parachutist's civil aviation authority requirements, by a certified parachute rigger, or any other person acceptable to the Administrator. Note that it says nothing about a seal, and it is implied in the words "...any other person acceptable to the Administrator," that the certified rigger may be from that jumper's home country. It is also implied that should that country not have a certification process, the administrator could even then allow use of the parachute assembly by its owner.

Wasn't that a joke? But we still have stuff in our computer relating to the "Ginsu," from when they were being test-jumped.

My first canopy was a Sabre 170, and I miss it! It was really good to me. So, yes, it's a great beginner canopy (mine was loaded just over 1:1 too). Mine didn't slam me too badly until I had it relined (I had bought it used, with 300 or so jumps on it -- apparently the trim change softened the openings). The rigger here has had some success softening Sabre openings with slightly larger sliders. But the problem can be largely solved through meticulous packing.

I hear ya. My first year at Quincy was the last year with the jet, and I was too broke to spend the money on an expensive ticket.

Don't know where Playa del Carmen is, but Skydive Chicago is running a tandem operation in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo until mid-March. There is also a boogie with RW big ways (two-plane shots) and freefly coaching there, from 1/31-2/8.

Try Eugene Roether, in Lake Geneva (used to work at SDC). PM me, if you need his number.

The mechanical disadvantage is to small as to be a non-issue, as long as the 3-ring geometry is all good. If it was really an issue, mini rings wouldn't be nearly as popular as they are.

I am the customer service person at an Icarus factory service center, and here's what we've done for hard openings: Slider pockets can work. But if you only do one pocket, it cause your slider to stand up on one edge during opening, thus come down even faster (one of our customers had this problem -- HARDER openings with a new pocket, until we added a second). Not common, but it does happen. So two pockets are better than one, for symmetry's sake. By far the option that makes people happiest, is a dome (you called it "balloon") slider. It is hardly more expensive than a dual-lipped slider, and is much more cosmetically pleasing. We've used them as a fix for Icarus canopies, PD canopies, Samurais... If it's opening hard, a dome slider can fix it. Feel free to PM me with questions -- I'm not the Icarus rigger, but I'll get you an answer.

once 'cause of crappy weather, and many times on back to back loads as a static line JM. I never really minded those, because the pilot always liked to show off on the descent with me in the plane. Or if I was really beat, he'd take it easy and I could catch a quick nap.

I bought a complete used rig with a Sabre 170 in it (WL 1:1). I loved it, jumped the heck out of it, relined it, improved it, loved it some more and then sold it to Skyrose7.

Yes, that's normal. It gives your handle a more secure pocket when the harness is flexing. When tension is put on the harness, the two pieces of webbing (and velcro) can pull apart. We have a customer who jumps a non-mirage container, with an extremely short harness. When she snugged down her leg straps, the webbing pieces would separate, opening the velcro and loosening her metal reserve handle. It freaked her out (rightly so), so Kirk fixed it by putting in some "floating" velcro, like on your Mirage. She hasn't had a problem like that since, and you won't either.

I heard the same thing -- from Bill Booth. He has the best stories. Ask him about Gatorade sometime. (sorry to get off the Tom Cruise subject )

definitely not. Although I might like to see that correct information was posted (if I knew the story), I would probably have trouble putting it all together well, if it was a close friend. I followed closely the threads relating to a friend's death this season, but I tried to avoid posting if my emotions were getting fired up. I have avoided posting about them, when I've been to close to the subject, didn't know anything about the incident, or just didn't have anything nice to say. My personal feeling is that the Incidents Forum should be for fatalities and serious injuries. Most other "incidents," like malfunctions and off site landings, can be covered in other forums.

I know a guy who had a particularly bad landing on a gravel road (I don't know why he landed on the road, and that's not the point anyway). He was wearing his brand new full-face helmet. When he got up and took his helmet off, he was shocked to see the front/side of it completely scratched up. With his helmet on, he barely noticed he'd hit the ground with his face. If he hadn't been wearing it, there would have been serious damage to his face -- think big ugly scars. Will a helmet protect you from impact with the ground at 120 mph? No. But it can help protect you from small mistakes -- the ones most skydivers make, but won't admit to.

The online customs forms can be really difficult to figure out. If you go to a shipping depot (fedex just merged with Kinko's, right? So you probably vould do it there), where an actual human being helps you with the forms, it's MUCH easier to deal with. That's one thing I LIKE about international shipping via the USPS, versus UPS or FedEx.

Our loft has three double needle machines, and I'm pretty sure Kirk bought them on Ebay (At least one of them came to us that way). He has a good working knowlege of sewing machines, and so was able to make the necessary repairs to incredibly low-cost machines, to get them humming. Otherwise, try "the John Belmont Company" in Chicago (also called "Gill & Gill"). We've gotten parts, tables and motors from them -- I believe they sell reconditioned machines too.

Here's the update: The company president spoke with me today, and said that he's not sure what happened to the helmet, but it isn't there. He's going to replace it for the customer at no charge.

The rules are -- people can and will pie you for pretty much any reason they want. And it may not be pie -- one guy here got hit with vegetable oil, cottage cheese, corn starch and down feathers. And that wasn't even for a skydive! I always thought pies were reserved for jumps ending in 3 zeros, but around here it's 2 zeros, or just "when we're in the mood." Congrats on your upcoming 100th. Rock on, girl!