hybrid59

Give some consideration to how fast you fall. If you are a bit slow or a bit fast, the fabric choice and suit options can be used to adjust your fall speed. In my old (purchased used) suit I was very slow and would float high on a small group dive. I went all slick and tight on my new suit. Jumping in a similar situation I fell below the group. WOW, that had not happened to me before, as I am tall and a bit thin. The suit does make a difference. Talk to the suit maker about your needs. Thanks dthames, I never really thought too much about it. I guess at 5'8" and 200 lbs. I would probably be considered as having a drop rate of a bowling ball. I will definitely mention it.

One of my daughters and I did our first tandem together, then we did the AFF together a couple of years later. The two of us jumped this summer with my other daughter who did a tandem, we were all on the same load in sequence. Am I a bad parent..........

Thanks for all the advise all. Bev Competition Suit with booties sounds like it would all fit.

That is probably the best advice I have ever heard or seen on the internet or otherwise. That goes way beyond just skydiving, it goes for any dream anyone has. EFD4LIFE you are a wise person!

Thanks NWFlyer, can you stow booties when you dont want to use them?

I am new to the sport and would like to get started buying my own gear. I am in my 50's so dont plan to go to high performance rigs or swooping or anything sexy like that. I think longterm I am more interested in RW as opposed to FF, although would like to try some FF. I am leaning towards a BEV Competition suit without the booties. Can anybody give me any good reason to hold off till I get more jumps? I really would like to start getting helmets, altimeters etc. of my own. Thanks in advance for the input.

I guess some reasearch on my part is warranted, any related links on the subject would be appreciated. Scratch that obviously there is lots of information available on the subject.

*** We've had people cut away because they couldn't undo the toggles (they worked fine...), because they stuck their hands in toggles/brake line loops causing knots, not slowing down enough after freefly can cause opening issues, lines catching on camera equipment (often because people look up during deployment), handles getting dislodged during exit or freefall, holding on to the pilot chute for too long causing the bridle to wrap around their arm, spinning up the canopy by turning too fast or stalling it, dropping a shoulder during opening or opening head-low. These just all off the top off my head. There's probably more ways And none of the above are the packer's fault. Thanks for taking the time to explain that dragon2, I always assumed (apparently incorrectly) that the majority of malfunctions were rigging related. I guess some reasearch on my part is warranted, any related links on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks for your input too CSpenceFLY, I got suspicious after the 20+ pages of waivers that I signed before the AFF that perhaps there might be a bit of risk involved I do agree though that packing your own rig would remove any question as to who takes responsibilty of the rental rig belongs to.

Alright then, assuming the jumper is belly to earth and not turning during deployment. What could he do to induce a malfunction?Quote

I am new to the sport, but am actually totally shocked by the reaction of the veterans of this forum. I have been a commercial airplane and helicopter pilot for more time than I would like to admit. So I rent a rig from a said DZO and the packer didn't pack my rig properly, I cut away and am supposed to feel guilty for it. REALLY! I compare that to my said company appointed engineer F*****g up and be expected to to pick up the tab for the multi-milion dollar helicopter. Somebody please explain the logic behind this reasoning................. BTW. I have heard the monetary logic from more times than I care to remember. Seriously this just baffles me.Quote

Strangely enough, it actually looks pretty easy. I would think bungy jumping would be hairier. Of course you are teathered bungy jumping....................

My daughter and I did our AFF course at Sky-Dive Elsinore, my daughter completed her "A" license as well. I researched Sky-Dive Elsinore on DZ and by the positive reviews we decided to do our training there. We weren't disappointed as the reviews were very accurate. First and most importantly safety was the top priority there, all the instructors are highly qualified and monitor each students progress and have a good system to do just that. No student gets in the airplane unless they have a clear vision of what they will be doing on the jump, as well if they have a malfunction. Emergency procedures are practiced to the point where they would be automatic if they were to occur. They make it incredibly fun, you are treated the same whether you have 5 jumps or 5000 jumps. All the staff and all of the DZ's regular jumpers treat you equally and are like a big family. We were included in the Saturday night BBQ's and any other things going on at the DZ. For both of us it was without a doubt the most fun and exciting thing we have ever done, it is hard to imagine topping the AFF course. Many thanks to Karl, Lob, Matt, Lelo, Scott, Bob, Tickle, Danny, David, Andy, Misha, Spot, Damien, Travis, the girls in the office etc. etc. The Canadians