Quagmirian

It is perfectly possible to cut the offending line in this circumstance and land on rears, especially if you have the altitude, but it's really going to depend on how familiar you are with your canopy's characteristics. I can totally understand not wanting to try it at a high loading.

Don't know where you are exactly but another option is Cark in the Lake District. That or Peterlee are nice DZs.

I have to agree it's a pretty dumb arse way to assess whether someone is ready for freefall or not. My first freefall was a piece of piss compared to all the dummy pulls I was made to do.

It's not an expensive job to turn round a BOC. I'd do it for about $30-$40. The bridle protection, however, will be an easier job on some rigs than others.

Could you ask a more simple question, like 'what's the meaning of life?' There are so many factors that go into how a canopy opens that it's really difficult to compare like for like and just pluck out a factor like size.

A favourite of mine that was taught to me by an Australian jumper and just refuses to get old: 'I hope you go in, cunt'.

After you roll the tail, keep one hand on the roll under the canopy, and the other near the slider grommets.You can then put the canopy on the floor while holding tension on it.

Ask Gary Peek. This is his area https://www.pcprg.com/

Keep the post up, because someone might come along on the future and search for the same thing as you.

Your pilot chute doesn't look completely collapsed. Not a clue if that has anything to do with your problem though.

Over the last year I've barely jumped, and I've been involved in different adventure sports, sea kayaking and paragliding. One thing I've noticed is that the attitude I've picked up from skydiving has served me really well in the activities, and what's more they both have this idea of airmanship/seamanship. I've wanted to put my finger on this for years and it's only recently that I've come up with the word for what a lot of skydivers lack. In the UK, there's generally this idea that if you have a certain licence, then you're performing at a certain level etc, whereas someone's skills, knowledge and approach to the sport can differ wildly from the next. Looking at injuries/fatalities, so many of them could be avoided if there was a greater sense of being part of a bigger picture. Here are some areas I mean: Environment (weather, airspace, PLA etc) Equipment (packing, rigging, wingsuits etc) Dealing with emergencies (not just mals) Human factors Depth of knowledge A few others I can't think of right now Most instructors looking at this will go, 'yeah, I know all that', but what I don't understand is why this has to be just for them, why shouldn't every skydiver have a basic set of skills to get them along? My friend suggested that the system is the way it is because it works, but it clearly isn't, people are still getting seriously injured or killed. I've sort of rambled and really struggled to make my point but hopefully someone will understand and phrase it a bit better. Discuss

You've done the correct thing by choosing your main and reserve first, and then finding a container to fit. Don't worry about downsizing for now.

They won't say who they supply oddly. I did ask and they said they won't give out customer details. I know they supply Paratec though.

Just to check that the slink is actually done up properly.

We're lucky that in the UK you don't have to follow the manual anyway. Unpicking and then retacking a slink on very packjob is going to do more harm than good, fight me.

William Reed do roll ends at about 50m in whatever colours they have, but dirt cheap.

I do not tack reserve slinks for the reasons mentioned above. I set them by pulling and then just let them sit nicely in the pocket created in riser.

Basik

William Reed in the UK makes a PN4 fabric, and it's very un-slippery. However, the feel of it seems to vary depending on the batch, the last lot was almost like sail material and packed really big. Soarcoat is probably just the most consistent quality, and that's why most manufacturers use it.

It requires 2 closing loops of exactly the same length, out of something slightly thinner than standard Cypres cord. Both also have to be threaded through the AAD cutter. It's a pain in the arse, and having a Collins lanyard or just building your risers properly are better and more modern solutions.

Which ones do you want? I have a pretty big collection

It packs the same size because it is the same size. The 170 might actually be smaller than the 143

A nice selection of half-arsed pulls there. I see a lot of people who need to work on their EPs. Funny how they can actually do it when they try. smh. As for the pin issue he makes a good point but I don't think it's as big a deal as he's making out.

There's a guy in Newcastle but I can't remember his name. Someone on Facebook might be able to help you.

I've spoken to all the chief instructors of the DZs that I frequent, and at this point, with my rigger rating and years of experience I actually have a pretty good image in the sport. However, a lot of the CIs are still in the mindset of "I'd rather you did that somewhere else", or "ooh, I'd like to get someone else to sign you off to do that". Shoutout to Rich at Langar for just being really chill and mellow and letting me get on with things. I think the real problem is that there has never really been a BPA system in place for odd cases like me, and I thought becoming a rigger would fix it. As for the sport, I was never that interested in it that much. I think my mistake was to fall in love with the idea of jumping rather than jumping itself. I think I've seen and done enough to get a fair view of it. Never say never though, I can always come back. I haven't even sold my rig yet. However, I have to realistic about the number of jumps I can do and the level of skill I can ever attain on my budget. I promised myself I wouldn't bitch about skydiving here. I don't work at the moment. I was looking at getting into rigging full time but who knows now. Maybe a sailmaker or a kayaking/paragliding instructor.