rob223

I am wanting to get a new FS suit made up but am really having issues getting a design that Im happy with!! Too many choices and not much of a designer myself. Would be MOST grateful if anyone good at designing (or anyone who wants a go) could put one together using this click and drag suit designer... and then post the finished picture up in this thread. Winning suit design gets virtual beers now...and real beers if we ever meet http://www.symbiosis.suits.btinternet.co.uk/swf/sd_xl.swf Im wanting something that has darker colours (eg/ black or dark blue) as main body front and of course bright grips.. red, yellow etc but pretty much anything goes as long as it looks uber cool!! This will be most appreciated as my head is about to blow off in frustration!!

John, davelepka et all. Thanks for the tips That is some very useful advive there and I will indeed do some jumps testing and analysing the pull position. I hadnt really thought about easing off the pressure on my legs a little in the airflow and I can see how that would work... I will update this thread once Ive been to the DZ next Hopefully I will be solid as a rock and doing 360s with an arm behind my back using legs only... Thanks again. Appreciate the input

Richard Thanks for your advice. I fully realise it is nothing more than that..and I am only seeking 'thoughts' from people on the matter!! and dont worry, I wont be doing anything I dont think is safe or feel comfortable with. On reflection, I do indeed 'clockwatch' my alti for the last couple of thousand feet down to my pull height. IF I am on a solo, with others around I seem to be less focused on it (still altitude aware, just not clockwatching) as I am getting ready to track off . It makes concrete sense as well because when practising I am not studying the alti as well.... I think this may be giving me an slight twist somewhere instead of remanining symmetrical. Im going to work on it over the next few jumps but its great to have some input on what could be causing it because I had run out of ideas and it is starting to really annoy me! Any other tips appreciated from people

ok. I have recently got my license and am loving this sport truly... But the one 'weak' part of my game is a feeling of mild instability at pull time. To clarify, I am totally stable in the air with regards to frontloops,backloops, tracking, turns etc and have a good arch. but I always feel a bit of a rock forwards when I go to pull and altho I have been practising it on recent solos, I dont seem to be 'getting it' as much as I would like. Im in a stable belly to earth position for deployment (or I wouldnt have passed aff!) but I seem to rush the waveoff, and although I extend my left arm out in front when initiating the pull, I feel myself dip forwards a bit and tend to rush the pull so I can return to my comfortable stable arch with two arms out!! Instructors worked with me to iron out this problem and on checkout jumps since Ive been spot on, but on solos Im not sure if I am looking at the ground and thats causing it? (instructor would mean I am making eye contact with them and therefore head up) This is my theory about what Im doing, and I am hoping that someone can give me some info on what to try and practice to iron this out,. I was thinking of the wind tunnel but havent been yet as its a long way aways from me. - Looking down at the ground when going to deploy - Bringing legs in a bit (I can feel when I have done this and dont need video to know!) - Not relaxing like on the rest of the dive. - Dont know what else?!! Has anyone got any tips on things to practice? I have done several solos just working on doing relaxed practices all the way down, and some of them are perfect and feel really natural, but sometimes, when it comes to pull time for real It feels like I am going to 'fall' forwards when I go to one arm out and one arm behind... do I need to use more pressure onto the relative wind? two instructors told me different things... one said straight arm all the way out and look over my hand (seems to work when I get it right) the other said bent arm and press down the relative wind.. Any tips> How to practice being stable with both arms behind my back? Do I use my legs to stabilise myself? (bring them in a bit>?) Sorry for the small essay... but this is really bugging me and I want to feel as comfortable with one arm out (and one behind ) as I do in the standard boxman! Thanks for your time

Thanks. I am physically fit and do a lot of sport though Ive been a little lazy the past 12 months and have put about 8kg on. My flaring is decent and I have got the feel of when and how much etc. My point is all the other DZs that I know of would have me on a 280 from day 1. I also know several guys heavier (about 225lbs + kit) and who are pretty unfit who started out on 280s and were fine. I find it stupid as I already used the 280 for a jump early on and landed it fine but then he found out and said 'oh, you should be on the 320'!!

Thanks. Looks like I will have to keep on this militant diet for the next few weeks to get under the weight limit Sacrifices..sacrifices!

Why would they be? Well, because the containers will be the same or similiar size for AFF 280s and I cant see how there could be a huge variation in reserve sizes if the main containers are much the same size...the reserve ones wil be as well surely?!

My mistake! its a PD Navigator 280. I have spoken to one of the senior instructors at the DZ (not the top dog!) and he thinks it is to do with the reserve being 240sq ft.... But surely reserves are matched for these rigs pretty much the same for all DZs?

As above please: I am on AFF consols and have been previously been using a giant 320 canopy due to 'weigh limits' . I weigh 14st 12lbs fully clothed and the DZ weight limit for AFF students is 16 stone iirc. Im quite stocky build but only 6ft tall so dont have really long arms etc Basically all the DZs I know of (apart from mine) use navigator 288s and for all students around my weight. But, although I have stood up all of my landings (apart from 1 stumble early on) the DZO says its max weight is 14 stone? WTF? is this right as the 320 is a huge rig and i find it awkward to get to the BOC... the 288 is much comfier on me and Im not sure if I should go to another DZ to finish up or tough it out so to speak!(I do love my home DZ and would return there) I am not bothered about the smaller canopy for a higher WL (slightly higher) but purely want to 'downsize' because I find the big rig a bit offputting as have had trouble reaching the hackey on 2 occasions. (I did of course, but I find it awkward and it doesnt fill me with confidence!!) Any input appreciated //adddition// I am training hard to lose a stone in weight but it will take longer than I want

mnealtx/ Thanks for this input. Am I to understand that your AFF gear was very restrictive to your movement as well? How did you deal with it? ..just 'get on with it' seems to be a bit of a high risk strategy..which is why Im wanting advice. andyman thanks dude. Im at a large European dropzone that has allegedly got a reasonable gear stock. (but not for beefy students it seems..) They seem a decent outfit and Id rather not name them at this time because I dont want to cause any friction there. ...Ive paid all the money for the course upfront or I would 100% have gone elsewhere to be honest

sorry if this should be in the gear and rigging forum...Moderators please move it if you think it is best suited in that forum? thanks

Hey guys and gals Newbie AFF student here.(lvl4) Got a question regarding my AFF rig. Im a big build and am at the top of the weight range about 92kg. Im not fat (seriously) but have big shoulders and medium ish chest and am finding my AFF rig very restrictive and tight around my shoulders as a result. b4 you ask its the biggest rig they have and its on max adjustment :/ WTF, Im not THAT big.... Im almost certain its causing me to de arch and as a result not be as stable as I could be, because its literally pressing so tight on my shoulders to get it on, that I dont have much movement left, even with chest strap having a bit of slack left when its done up :/ I've tried arching on the ground with it on stood up and I can no way arch like I can without it on.. Ive got a great arch in the tunnel so the coach says(and am stable as hell) and Ive been told on the ground by several AFFis that Ive got a good arch on the practice bench thing...I KNOW I should be able to arch better in freefall... Ive mentioned my concern to an instructor but i got 'well, its on the biggest size it will go to'!!! wtf, I dont want to have to quit aff because they dont have a rig that fits me? What should I do and how tight are shoulder straps meant to be? I heard another affer getting kitted up and the AFFi said it should be 'comfortable' with some degree of movement for the shoulders? Ive got NONE. NADA. and Im really getting concerned about it.. all your advice is appreciated