ridestrong 1 #1 November 11, 2009 Should there be regulated requirements before downsizing canopies? What are the recommendations at your dz or by your instructors?*I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.---- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feuergnom 28 #2 November 11, 2009 you should have made a poll out of it options: yes no hell no i used TFSF and this is the nth time this has been asked The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle dudeist skydiver # 666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #3 November 11, 2009 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=47 its a pretty good judge of your ability to downsize, but if your friends, dzo, instructors are all telling you to get more time in the saddle even if you can complete the list, take the time - sometimes others can see things you cannot. RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ridestrong 1 #4 November 11, 2009 Very good forum. Thanks.*I am not afraid of dying... I am afraid of missing life.* ----Disclaimer: I don't know shit about skydiving.---- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #5 November 11, 2009 QuoteShould there be regulated requirements before downsizing canopies? What are the recommendations at your dz or by your instructors? Now you're asking the right questions in the right way. This subject has been beat to death in a slightly different form. The idea then was to have a WL chart (much like the one you've seen) that would have to be followed by everyone. The current chart is just a reccomendation. I'm sure it's not surprising to hear that the majority of older, more experienced jumpers (the kind that would not be effected by the chart) were behind the idea, and that the newer, less experienced jumpers (who would be effected by the chart) were opposed to it. The USPA was presented with this idea by several different people in several different ways, but chose not to implement such a chart as a rule, but included such a chart as a reccomandation (which means close to zero because each jumper is still free to do whatever they please). When it comes to DZ or instructor reccomendations, opinions vary widely from DZ to DZ, and from instructor to instructor. Under the current instructional rating system, a jumper with just a few years in the sport, and 500-ish jumps can earn an AFF I rating, which is essentially to top of the food chain in the ratings world. A new jumper such as yourself may come into contact with many different instructors. Let's say you have two that you work with, Jim and Tim. Jim is 23, has been jumping for 3 years, and has 609 jumps and a fresh AFF I rating. Tim is 52 and has been jumping for 25 years, instructing for 19 years, and has 3245 AFF jumps under his belt. On paper you can see that these two people are vastly different, have much different frames of reference, and are likely to give much different advice. Howver, to the student, Jim and Tim are just two instructors and they both seem like top notch professionals. If you happen to strike up a conversation with Jim about what canopies you should be looking at for your first rig, you're going to get a much different answer than if you asked Tim. To take it even one step further, if Jim happens to be a little more liberal, a little bit more of a risk taker than the average instructor, again, Jims advice is going to be less than idea, but to the student it appears to be right on the money. To go another step further, the coaches you have been working with can get the coach rating with something like 100 jumps, and a year in the sport. Again these people are presented to the students as rated skydiving professionals, but they are far from it. None the less, the student does not know this, and will take from them just the same. What's the solution? The solution is to educate yourself about skydiving equipment and equipment selection. There is a ton of good reading info on the net, and local riggers are always a good source of technical information. When it comes time to select main and reserve canopies, ask as many people as you can find. Look for every instructor, every swooper, and every guy that's been jumping for 10 years or more. Consult with the DZO, and the local S&TA. Post intelligent questions on DZ.com, listen to the answers, and take them all with a grain of salt. Somewhere in the middle of all that will be your answer. You're going to see a wide range of advice about different brands, models, and sizes, but certain names or sizes will come up in conversation more than others. This is the area you should be look at. In terms of your situation, you're pushing it. A 159 is a very aggressive choice for a first canopy, and the field elevation where you jump is a HUGE factor. I know you intend to crank out 100 jumps before the high and hot summer days roll around, but your good intentions do you little good under canopy, landing off on a hot, humid day. One of the worst things you can do is buy equipment that you're not ready for, but that you plan to loose weight for, or rack up jumps real quick to justify the purchase. Buy and jump what you are ready to jump and land today given the worst case scenario. A 170 is a much better bet, but still on the smaller side of what you should be looking at. If you do succeed in cranking out 100 jumps by next June, buy a smaller canopy then. Chances are, however, in addition to learning more about canopy control, you'll learn more about making good choices, and you'll choose not to downsize right before the hot season. Instead, you'll let the density altitude speed up your current canopy for the summer, you'll pound out another 50 jumps, and be even more ready for a downsize in the cooler fall weather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #6 November 14, 2009 Dave just gave you some very good advice. The only way to “pound out another 100 jumps” or any number of jumps is to stay alive. The number one criteria for a long jump career. Sparky Attached are the Dutch rules. And they are mandatory.My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLIDEANGLE 1 #7 November 14, 2009 These are strong recommendations that are available to guide canopy choices: http://www.uspa.org/SIM/Read/Section6/tabid/169/Default.aspx#1072 http://www.bigairsportz.com/pdf/bas-sizingchart.pdfThe choices we make have consequences, for us & for others! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyjumpenfool 2 #8 November 23, 2009 Just read the downsizing posts!!! If nothing else, it's good for a laugh...Birdshit & Fools Productions "Son, only two things fall from the sky." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
