mdrejhon 8 #1 July 5, 2005 I got a rig now! Vector2 with a Sabre 170, a Raven reserve and a Cypres2. It's almost new looking with only 200 jumps on the rig with 175 jumps on the Sabre 170. Got it for what I thought was a pretty good price considering the great shape, and was able to test jump it first! Was gonna buy a new container with used canopies, but... A few dropzone regulars referred me to someone who had a rig for sale, and I decided to buy it during this weekend when someone very familiar to the dropzone staff, had a rig for sale that I could begin jumping right away. DZO approved it. A few riggers were very nice to check it on the spot for the sale. The only thing that really hurt was my wallet: The price of a nearly-new Cypres2 (ouch, that was nearly a third of the price), but the dropzone preferred me to jump with an AAD and I prefer that too generally, although I was willing to test-jump without it. But hey, at least I now have an AAD for the next 10 years that I can transfer to future rigs... So I'm now having lots of fun. I only put a few jumps on this new rig on the final day of the boogie weekend. (Between this rig and the rental rigs but I jumped 17 times all weekend long on this holiday boogie weekend..._ I noticed the landings on the new-looking Sabre (only 175 jumps and in really excellent condition according to the riggers) are more comfortable than the more rental Sabre's (even in zero wind). Gentler landings even when flare 1 feet too high, so this is good news to me even though this is a 170 instead of a 190. Can't wait to jump this rig again in two weekends! Should be well past 100 jumps very soon at this rate, now that I don't need to pay rental anymore... (Due to dropzone policy of not pack-training on rentals... Now that I have my rig, I finally can apply for my "A" and "B" soon after pack-training and tests. I've now completed all the "A" and "B" requirements except for the packing and written tests. Though there's somewhat of a technicality about the rule of needing 15 two-ways between the "A" and "B", according to CSPA rules, even though I already have done more than that already. May just have to do a bunch more 2-ways after I get my "A" if this is a rule...) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shall555 0 #2 July 5, 2005 Congratulations ! That's a great feeling, isn't it ? No more rental gear the size of small safe on your back. No more borrowing strange gear where the legstraps don't particularly fit right. Cheers ! shall Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #3 July 5, 2005 Very happy for ya, congrats! ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyboydan 0 #4 July 5, 2005 Cool! It's great having your own gear. Now every time you jump you will know exactly what to expect. And your landings will just get better and better now that you will not have to adjust for differnent chute sizes and makes. Have fun with your OWN gear!johnnyboy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #5 July 5, 2005 Actually, I was already off the student rigs. I've been jumping a rental Vector2 with a Sabre 190, so this gear is extremely familiar since it's pretty much the same brands. This rig is almost the same size, just slightly lighter. The difference is the condition -- it looks brand new, compared to the rental That one zero-wind landing I did was not intentional -- but the winds just died after I went up in the air. Man it turf surfs in a plain straight-in approach in zero winds. For zero-winds, I know I should have flared slightly lower, but I have developed a (nasty?) habit of preferring to err on the "slightly 1 or 2 feet too high side" than "flare way too low" because I've found it softer on my feet. I'll keep praticing, and tuning the flare altitudes for the wind conditions. Pratice, pratice, pratice, pratice... It flies more predictably than the rental, probably because of the excellent shape that the canopy is in. Much more on-heading openings too. I am going to jump this canopy for a few hundred jumps over the years... I promised myself I would stay at 190, but the rig available for sale was a 170 and my jump numbers was almost there anyway. I had reservations about that so the DZ had me test jump the 170 a few times first to see how my landings were (great standups on those initial tests even when I flared 1 or 2 feet too high sometimes)... Wind conditions early in the day was excellent for the trial. Then the wind died after I bought the rig. Go figure. Still did better than I did with zero or near-zero winds on the 190. I've got SO MUCH to learn from jumping this rig... Scott Miller's coming to the DZ and I'll at least be sitting in one of his classes (unfortunately, the class is full but I can at least sit-in). I may sign up for one-on-one tutoring by Scott at Deland when I go to Florida in October... [Edit: REMINDER: Buy beer for the dropzone. My FIRST rig.] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
packerboy 3 #6 July 7, 2005 Don't forget the rule about giving the first beer to the packer who packed all those rentals and student rigs for you and packed up the canopy you bought while you were test jumping it and introduced you to packing your own gear. That is a rule....... right??? Anyone? -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Designer 0 #7 July 7, 2005 Way to go!Use it wise and well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeth 0 #8 July 7, 2005 Congrats! Its so great to have your own! "At 13,000 feet nothing else matters." PFRX!!!!! Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109 My Jump Site Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #9 July 7, 2005 Hey Trevor, Thanks for the reminder. I'll be bringing beer on my next trip to the DZ. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
packerboy 3 #10 July 7, 2005 You'll have to hide one by my trailer because we are now on opposite weekends. I had taken holidays for this past weekend.... gl with the packing... You may want to check out the video Pack like a PRO. It'll be able to help you out. I believe you can buy it in a pack with some other videos "Fly like a Pro" being one of them, don't know what else. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
