kwmontreal

Hi Brian, Welcome to the forums. I was really hopeing you would come into this thread, as my tech knowledge on the issue is lacking to say the least. Thanks for bringing things back into prospective. jump Safe Kent

I agree with Lisa. Flyte suit makes an excellent (under appreciated) robust suit. Jump Safe Kent

Which direction you go after opening depends on the prevailing wind direction and speed....... and the spot. This is a judgement call that will come fairly easily for most people. Heads up for traffic in your vicinity!! Its not hard to lose track of others while trying to stow your slider....... especially when your just starting out. Jump Safe Kent

Well I'll be.......... Paul and John agreeing!! Jump Safe Kent

AWESOME !!!! I AM STILL SMILING AND MY LITTLE BOY IS ALMOST 8 MONTHS!!! PERMA GRIN!! ;-)) Jump Safe!! Kent

Theres always the weekend they are both at skydive New England!!

DEMO !!!!

I jumped a friends Stilletto 150 (wing loading of 1.45) last year. It was really fun up high, but, the landing was way to fast for me. I had about 130 jumps. I jumped my new Saber 170 yesterday for the first time. I know I made the right decision!! Just a "little" difference in flare from my tired old PD 190!! Jump Safe Kent

Without looking overly hard, you can find a new one for $840.00. One thing I have learned over time is to buy local and get some after sales service. If you can get something for significantly less (like a Cypres for $600.00) then it might be worth it. I like to know that if I run into some problem that I will have the backup of someone local!! Thats my .02 Jump Safe Kent

850.00 EURO is $746.00 US dollars!! Not bad except for the hassel of getting it. I would still buy local. JUMP SAFE KW

That is one tired c-182!! Should be about 20 min. to 10,000!!

Congrats!!!! Hanging in is really worth the price !!! Jump Safe Kent

YES!! Even if they don't start to use it for a couple of jumps it is there. They will pick up the habit of using it soon enough. If I were visiting a DZ where they didn't equipment them with altis, they would sure as hell hear about it from me, and I would make it a point to tell the students my reasoning before leaving what I would consider an unsafe dropzone. My .02. Jump safe Kent

Well.... like many other questions, it comes down to opinions and $$. I was on a real thin budget and went the used route. I put togather a rig (vector,pd main/swift reserve) for under $1000. After jumping 3 different canopies in almost 4 years, I have new gear. The container I have purchased will be great for me until it wears out, because I can't forsee jumping a canopy so small that it would not be wise to pack it in this container. Besides that, I have gained so much knowledge in the 4 years, I have found out a lot about equipment and my personal likes and dislikes (if you find some new friends at your DZ ,they may let you demo their personal gear if its within your skill level) and I feel I've made some smart decisions about what I have purchased. It worked really well for me!! Jump safe Kent

Bill, Are the MZ's that much harder to pack? I just purchased one to go into a new Mirage M3 (medium fit according to Mirage). I just want to be prepaired for my riggers comments. Jump Safe KW

Without a doubt, get some help via radio commands. Landing is a funny thing in that judgement is for a lot of people must be learded. People with prior flying of gliding experence tend to need very little help (over all). Other people need radio and some extra help from the Dz instructors for many jumps. Its is this reason I prefer teaching women to men. Women work on technique while (in general) men forgo technique for other macho things (swoops, cranking fast turns, downsizing to early.....ect.). Bring your video cam and have a friend film a couple of landings (next to the instructor so you can get his voice commands). Video is a great help as you can see whats happening from another prospective.Your on the right track, in this sport, "slow is fast". Jump safe KW

For myself I much prefer the analogue alti. At the speeds that we are dealing with (especially FF) I just want to ball park estimate where I am. This can be easily achieved at a glance, no need to stare it down to read digits!! My .02 ! Jump Safe KW

I just had a thought (yes every now and then, even if it hurts!). I am a Canadian who calls a USA DZ home. Can I get away with the 6 month (180 day) repack cycle. More info for your input. I am a USPA member and rating holder, and I am not a CSPA member. 90% of my jumps are done in the USA. Don't get me wrong, I am not cheap, and am not knocking the CSPA. I just wondered if there was a loophole there?? Jump Safe KW

Ditto to Rem's post. Can you Iimagine..." sh*t I can't clear this..... what 900ft already!!". Jump Safe KW

The advise you have recrieved so far is sound. If you are considering buying equipment, I think that doing alot of talking to the instructors at your DZ would be a good first start. If he is anything like our riggers, he will explain to you the differences between RW (relative work), and FF (freeflying). He should also show you some (if not ....ask) different container systems and the differences between them (ie: why this one is FF friendly and the next one is not). Needless to say that you have a bunch of jumps to do prior to getting your A lic.., and your knowledge in the sport will grow exponentially. Heres my .02. Find a rigger or instructor who will help you with your equipment. Don't be in an all out rush to buy it next week. You are going to be sucking in a lot of info in the next few months, don't rush into something you will only have to change next month because its not the gear for you!! Jump safe KW

I am down sizing this season also. Going from a PD190 to a saber 170. I demoed a Stilletto 150. It was WAY out of my league!! I wanted to get a Stilletto170, but fell into a good deal on the saber. So I guess I jump this for a couple of hundred and learn to fly the snot out of it. I'll go epliticle (sp) next time around!! First jump on the Saber will be next weekend. Jump safe! KW

Nice mixing job, smooth transitions. NICE!!!

Pointe-Claire to Malone is 117km. Let me know when your down via my e-mail ([email protected]). I would be happy to take you down for a day, or you can follow me down. Jump Safe!! KW

Ops.... ;-)

Thanks Eric, my mistake. I keep learning every day!!! Great info from all over this forum. KW