Me + Skydiving = YAY!! Who knew?

[pogo80922 0]

Hey folks! I'm a newbie to the sport and completely in love. I've made one jump and I'm jonesin' for more already. I'm trying to get oriented, though, and was wondering if someone might be willing to explain gear to me. The straight dope, the lowdown as it were, on what gear is right for a starting point, what all the crazy acronyms on the classifieds mean, and just what gear is really most important to pick up first. Keep in mind that I'm in a parachuting club so I have access to the club's gear as far as the chute goes (read:big ticket items covered for now).
So who wants to tutor me in skydiving equipment??? I'd be most obliged!

Lauren "Pogo"
Newbie with HEART!!

[BIGUN 1,303]

Start Here

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[pogo80922 0]

Thanks !!

Lauren "Pogo"
Newbie with HEART!!

[pogo80922 0]

Lauren "Pogo"
Newbie with HEART!!

[paco1975 0]

POGO ITS PACO THE STICKER BANDITO. NOW THAT YOU HAVE A FEW MORE JUMPS UNDER YOUR BELT. kEEP IN MIND THAT YOU WEIGH PROBABLY BETWEEN 120-135 (ON THANKSGIVING). YOU HAVE BEEN JUMPING THE SMALLEST F-111 CANOPY THAT IS AVAILABLE PD-210 NINE CELL. HERE IN COLORADO WE ARE ALREADY AT ALTITUDE AND AIR DENSITY IS THIN, WE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO MORE FREQUENT WINDS (10-20). THIS BEING SAID THERE IS ALSO A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ZP (ZERO POROCITY) AND F-111 CANOPIEJS. AS I HAVE EXPLAIN TO UPJUMPERS FROM OUT OF STATE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS ARE DIFFERENT. I SUGGEST A ZP CANOPY FOR THIS REASON (FLARE POWER). NEXT CANOPY SIZE I WOULD SAY THAT DURING YOUR A LICENSE PROCESS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DROP TO A 170. THE MAIN THING IS TO MAKE SLOW PROGRESSIONS. I HAVE SEEN TOO MANY PEOPLE GET ADRENALINE HAPPY AND GO FROM A 220 TO A 135. IT IS BETTER TO BE IN A POSITION TO BE PUSHING YOURSELF TO YOUR EXPERIENCE LIMITS TO GET MAXIMUMPERFORMANCE OUT OF A CANOPY. I MEAN YOU DONT GIVE THE KEY'S TO AN INDY CAR LET ALONE A FERRARI TO A 16 YEAR OLD. ANYWAY... BY THE TIME YOU ARE AT LICENSE STATUS WHICH WILL BE VERY SOON I WOULD THEN THINK ABOUT WHAT IS IT ABOUT SKYDIVING YOU ARE MOST INTERESTED IN. RW WORK (2,3,4...WAYS), accuracy (canopy control), swooping, etc... first main is best as a "cross trainer". I would suggest something like a zp 150 pilot, sabre 2 or something comparable. you can get a lot out of a rough 1:1 wing load (canopy size / yourweight). THIS will allow you to grow in your abilities while maintaining good canopy control and landing. I agree with the previous posts. A suggestion would be to buy a new to newer container that fits well and is designed to hold a 150 main. I know wings gives a 50% discount for active duty military. Also an articulated harness make the comfort level better on rigs as well as making entry and exit easier from a C205. You are already profficeint in packing however zp is slippery snot as you have seen from some of us at the dropzone. If you downsize you should be able to go to a 125-130 main (depending on manufacturer) and this will make packing new slipery snot (zp) more easily. PLEASE KEEP YOUR RESERVE AROUND YOUR WEIGHT! SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY. For your first main I suggest looking at dropzone.com classifieds. You can generally get a used main (which will make pro-packing easier on a zp main) between $350 - $900. here is a link to one that would suit you well enough and is reasonable. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=59666;d=1

HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN IF YOU GO STRAIGHT UP NEW:

WINGS CONTAINER $1050 W/ DISCOUNT
VIGIL AAD $1200
PILOT MAIN $1200 W/ DISCOUNT
RESERVE $1000

TOTAL $4450

[pogo80922 0]

hey Bandito. Thanks for the detail that helps summarize a lot for me. You sure are a smart bugger.

Lauren "Pogo"
Newbie with HEART!!