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Okay so here's my question. For the most part many people off student status base their main on being 1:1 WL minus of course smaller people that going below 150 is riskier due to being under HP canopies. Now once I was off student status I wanted to be VERY conservative, so I purchased a Pilot 188, with my gear on that puts me at a WL of .93. (with gear I am approx flux between 170-175 depending on how much junk food or beer I consume). However, I have been really working on my canopy skills and notice I can do absolutely nothing with my front risers due to the pressure, even attempting to place both hands in one loop and pulling diagonally across my body is near impossible, it about gives me a hernia in the attempt. I jumped a friend's Pilot 168 and found that while it is still a little difficult (need to get to the gym and work on those muscle groups) I have greater success, so I am contemplating downsizing to the 168 which would bring me to 1.04 WL. If I downsize I confident that unless I lost a lot of weight I don't see me going any lower. Background: I've jumped just a hair less than 200 jumps under my current 188 with decent landings most of the time; I slide on occasion, but for the past year or so I've had controlled landings and have take 2 canopy courses; 1 each year the past couple years. So long story long, would any of you ever recommending "downsizing" in order to gain additional control factors for the canopy? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

When learning any new skill consistency is a tremendous asset. It would be recommended for you to complete your training at one DZ so that you and your instructors can gain familiarity with one another to assist training you most efficiently. Also learning at one DZ will help you with your landing pattern techniques and required adjustments based on wind and obstacles, in order to keep yourself and fellow skydivers safe. Not including the familiarity you will gain to the gear in which you will be using so that you can expeditiously perform EP's, when they are needed. Additionally, if you move from DZ to DZ then you will probably need to be retrained in many of the areas and repeat jumps so that instructors have a good assessment of what you have learned before moving you to the next skill set, which increases costs to you. When I did my training I did the beginning portion at one DZ then started to "float" around in order to try to expedite my training and looking back I really wish I would have taken vacation and get it all knocked out at once to assist building on skills more quickly. You will notice if you jump a second jump the same day, you really can apply the lessons learned from the previous jump more readily. After you are licensed then tour the world; in my opinion you'll have much more fun that way jumping with a vast array of people. Good luck in your training! Hope to see you in the sky soon! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Additionally, I purchased mine new with those specs. Because I was a newbie the main appeared tight at first but when others packed it they showed me it was just me and not a volume issue So you might check the serial number to check to see if its really an I5 or if it is an I4. I have a friend that has an I4 with a smart 160 reserve that was trying to fit a pilot 188 zpx and just couldnt get it in the bag. Even seasoned packers were having problems until it got several jumps on it. Good luck to ya! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I have the pilot 188 zpx and smart 175 reserve in the I5 and everything fits well. I have over 150 jumps on this gear and still love it!!! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Yep renting a car. I have a work thing the following week, so company footing that bill. But I have to pay for the hotel stays for the fun stuff prior to the work stuff, plus there are 4 of us coming down, so splitting a fairly reasonably priced hotel shouldn't be too bad. The other 3 are leaving that Monday. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Nope cant camp on this trip; flying down, hard to transport the esssentials (tent, COOLER, bedding, rig etc) on a plane I checked the mircotel and the Quality inn both are sold out; I've been told there's a car show during that weekend as well. Leaning on the Magnuson?? Unless someone has a better idea. Anyone know anything about the Clyde's Cottage, by mileage looks to be the closest, but i cant find any reviews online, which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. thanks for all the info thus far! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Heading down to Z-hills 23-27 Feb and need a place to stay. I called about the trailers and it looks like they are booked up. I went on their website and saw some hotels, but I dont know the quality versus the price, so looking for some advice from others that have travelled down there as to where to stay that isnt a roach motel and reasonable priced. We have 4 of us coming down. Thoughts? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

+1 THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I dont know when we all learned to use adult words particularly when we are angry or hurt but damn sounds a lot more powerful than darn; dunno why. I think you handled it appropriately, we all just got to be a little more careful in our speech nowadays in this PC sensitve world, not that we dont see sex and hear choice words on TV during daytime TV :0) I got a call one morning from my teenage daughter's teacher saying that she had to change shirts cause hers said "I ride the short bus" and it had a picture of a bus on the front. Note: we live in an area that out in the county there are several non handicap children that ride the short bus because of the tight winding roads. I just told her not to wear it to school again, but didnt ban her from wearing it at all..am I bad parent? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

+1 THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I'm a little young in the sport for that, but definately sounds like something to evolve to eventually...i say another 4-500 jumps from now! hehe!! I do love watching demo night jumps, i bet it is one heck of a rush and being a rock star for a crowd would be the cherry on top of the ice cream (i dont like cake) THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Did my first night jumps last night. Night jumps had never really intrigued me, but for some odd reason I decided what the hell. It was the right conditions, experienced instructors at my home dropzone. And man oh man am I glad I did. I've flown commercially at night and always admired the city lights as we came in to land, but holy cow under canopy it was truly undescribably beautiful and quiet!!! Just taking it all in was truly a sensory overload!! First jump was a solo at 6k in order to orient myself, the second was 2 separate 2 ways from 10k ; 1 2 way from 10-7 and the other from 6500-4. Good times were had by all!!! This sport has really given me an opportunity to really appreciate God's gifts in such a different prospective!! Sometimes I feel like the luckiest girl alive!!

+1 THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Joint for household expenses with our paychecks going to separate accounts are the best way to go! Joint account- both of us put the same amount in the account each month to cover household expenses; any extra cash at the end of the year goes towards vacations. Our pay checks go into our separate banking accounts so there is never any bickering about buying new skydiving gear, buying cat toys or whatever silly things each of us choose to buy. Also, helps during holidays so you dont know what your gifts costs or them knowing what you spent. NOTE: We do have each other's names on our separate accounts in case of an emergency and not to have the money frozen in case of death. Been together for 11 years and it is the best!! Previous marriage I had a joint and it was crazy how much we argued about spending money on X, Y and Z. Additionally, this method avoids one of the main causes of divorce. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

You Must have been at the canopy course this past weekend! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

I'm in as well. Only 23 days until Work Stinks!! Attendees: our group "the Bardstown Gang" would love to have a theme night of 70's TV Shows!!!! We would love if everyone wanted to participate and dress up. Pick your favorite character from 1970's TV shows and let's get our groove on! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

well i like to be balanced :0D THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

You should call a local t-shirt printing company. I just bought some from my local place for $8.00 a shirt and i had custom printed stuff on back and front of the T-shirts. All I had to do was order at least 12 shirts and the more you buy the cheaper they go. Good luck!! btw: cafe press wanted $15 for the same shirts. THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Note to self..be an asshole! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

we work on Saturday's but I will be out there as quickly as possible upon my arrival. So very looking forward to meeting you all!!! THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Looks like my work has been postponed til early August, but definately will bring my gear with me. I should be there for 3 weeks, so I now know what I will be doing on Sat evening and Sunday! C-ya soon!!

i have some work coming up in VA in a couple months and I was looking up DZ's close by for weekend time. Skydive Orange is the closest to where I'll be and their website is really overwhelming (very wordy). the other VA DZ's and NC DZ's are over 4 hrs away from where I'll be. So I came to DZ.com search to see what up jumpers thought and all I can find is old stuff from 2004 or tandem comments, so trying to get licensed jumpers opinions of the place. So anyone jump there? Landing area? big or small? Surrounding area- got outs or hazards nearby? Whats the vibe? THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Caravan broken audio panel, may arrive on Sunday, but currently not at skydiveKY. Check here or skydiveky website for further updates THRIVING IN MY DASH!!

Skydive KY in Elizabethtown has a caravan this weekend!! Come join the fun!! ATTENTION: BYOB!! Hardin County is a DRY County!! * Caravan weekend boogie. * Friday 27-May-11 through Monday 30-May-11. * Band "Vynal" playing Saturday Evening. * Wingsuit organizing by Mark Duber "BIRDDOC" * Freefly organizing by Scott Graham www.vinalmusic.com * "Wingsuit Flock Day" Monday (Memorial day) by Mark Duber THRIVING IN MY DASH!!