jacketsdb23

I think there is a fundamental difference between not packing because it sucks and not packing because you CAN'T pack. If it took me say 45 minutes ( I know..an absurd time period - just making my point) to pack my canopy, I think I would be really concerned. I would keep packing until I was confident and could do it in a reasonable time period (highly subjective). I can't speak for everyone, but for me, the parachute opening is high on the list of priorities. I really think that it is a skill that is overlooked by a lot of new jumpers who don't want to take the time to learn it well. Once I'm a rigger and pack my own reserve, then maybe I'd consider helping the local DZ economy Something about going 14K feet in the air and jumping out of a plane with two parachutes packed by others doesn't appeal to me. At least give me the first shot and the guy who know's what he's doing can have the second chance. Side note: Started packing my fathers rig at about age of 12. ( he was a rigger and packed his own reserve - luckily, for me, he never needed it) So I had a little head start. Maybe that makes me biased as packing doesn't seem like that big a deal to me (except when i'm sweating so bad from the heat I can't see). K, i'm done ranting......Next. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Quote1) Practice Bailing Out. In other words, if you are going to pick a fight, learn how to dodge a punch before learning to throw a punch. You will never be perfect, and the learned instinct to perform the correct save yourself maneuver without thinking is crucial for your survival. Practice up high, practice a lot. Quote What are the actual maneuvers to practice up high? Going into riser turns and braking out early? Or is it really a matter of just knowing how much altitude you lose in a given dive? In reading your piece on stalls I read that its nice to have someone up high with you to give you a reference point. Would the same problem exist when practicing riser turns/bail outs up high? It seems a reference point would be nice to have but not sure quite how to accomplish that. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Thanks for all the input. I feel you all with the heat issue. It was over 100 the other day in Byron and packing was a pain. You guys/girls in AZ probably deal with that on a daily basis. Doing that everyday might make me change my mind about packing for myself Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I am truly amazed to see how many people pay someone to pack for them. I understand in a business you need people to pack tandem/student rigs. But for up-jumpers why do so many people pay for this? NOTE: I have packed for $$ and have benefited from this. I am not knocking it, just trying to see the reasons for having someone pack. I know in some instances, instructors are teaching students, or team members are debriefing jumps and don't have the time/make the time to pack for themselves. However, i've also seen plenty of jumpers with obviously lots of extra $ and just don't like packing. Again, I am not knocking this, its completely up to the individual jumper who packs their rig and whether they want to jump it. I know for me personally, several reasons why I pack for myself: 1) ACCOUNTABILITY: I have 100% accountability for the pack job. 2) KNOWLEDGE: I learn about the canopy by doing some minor changes in the pack job if i'm unhappy with the openings. 3) INSPECTION: I tend to think I would look over my gear a little more thorough than someone else. ( This could be BS - just my thoughts) 4) Every 4 packs jobs is a jump ticket for myself! Your thoughts/opinions? Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Hey guys...what in your opinion are the 5 (for a lack of a better number) basic steps in starting to swoop? I know ultimately I will work closely with the people that know my canopy skills and see me on a daily basis, but i'm interested in a pool of thoughts to compare with. Thanks for any tips! Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Stevie, There are plenty of friendly jumpers that drive out to Byron every weekend. We drive right by the dublin/pleasanton BART stop. A few of us probably live fairly close to you. I for one go out to Byron almost every weekend. Let me know if your interested in getting out there. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Thanks everyone for the information. Here is a FYI from PD themselves concerning the evolving (or apparently non evolving) reserve canopies: Thanks for contacting us. There have been no changes to the design of the PD reserve since it first came out - we are very proud that our designed has really stood the test of time and we have had 0 recalls on over 40,000 reserves out there. Do have your rigger inspect though because proper storage would be important during that length of time. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. Thanks for choosing PD! Blue Skies!! Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Hey guys, especially you riggers out there.... Would you have any issues with putting a used (1 ride, a few repacks) PD reserve manufactured in 1992 into a new container? With careful inspection and the all clear from my rigger - is there any technological advances made with PD reserves since 1992 that would make this an unsafe reserve? To my knowledge this canopy has been properly stored for about 10 years. Any hesitations? Thanks for your input. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I think time around the sport counts for a lot. When you are 10 years old and can teach the first jump course, eventually when you start jumping you retain much of that knowledge. I think it puts you head over heels above someone who gets into AFF the weekend after their first tandem and has only known about the sport for two weeks. I have ten years listed in my profile and have only been jumping regularly since February ($$ issue for me as well). I've been around the sport since I was born but really only count the years of 8-18 as experience. I have a gap of 6-8 years that I'm trying to fill in now. The sport has evolved and so must I. As a side note, I've seen some packers who don't have a lot of jumps but could talk circles around some jumpers when it comes to canopy knowledge. Very interesting thread. marcel Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Be careful here....I think experience is relative. Its nice to say you have 10,000 jumps, but if they are all solo's out of a cessna 182 what does it really mean? (just trying to make a point here...I know it doesn't happen) Myself, i'm just over 90 jumps and have a ton to learn. Some of the best things I have learned thus far have been through observation and hanging out at the DZ after the sunset load. I've also learned a ton growing up on the DZ watching my father jump. Although jump numbers usually do show quite a bit in terms of experience, I believe there is a whole lot more to "experience" than just the number of jumps you have. Anyway, next time you are at the DZ just sitting around waiting for your load , go camp out next to the landing area and just watch a few loads. I promise you'll take something in. That all adds up. Also, the one thing I was taught very early that always stuck with me was "there are no dumb questions". If you have questions ask. Experience comes from the combination of knowing what is correct or how to do something and the jumps behind it to practice it. Blue skies! Marcel Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.