Why would a skydiver not pack his own rig?

[JoeyRamone 0]

it must really suck for you when there are no packers available or you go to a new DZ and dont know any of the packers.
***

I live 20 miles from SDC, as of now, this is the only place i jump.

[flyangel2 2]

There is one funny thing about this whole thread. Ask yourself when was the last time you saw/heard of a BASE jumper paying someone else to pack his/her rig. Makes you go Hummmmm! Wonder why?

I pack for myself except at WFFC. I know my packer and trust them. I'm just too busy working and it's too hot for me to pack.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[Jeth 0]

I agree with this. It is a license requirement, and I can't believe how many people do it the one time for their license, and then never again. I REALLY want to learn how to pack. I was informally taught and have observed lots and can't wait for my official packing class. I think to pack for myself will give me more confidence, as well as allow me the time to better inspect my gear.
As a matter of fact, I am bummed that I will have to keep renting gear and therefore won't be able to pack it. I wish I had my own gear so I could practice, practice, practice. I'm sure it will be hard/frustrating at first, but with practice I will figure it out so then in the future I will be able to jump anywhere and will be more confident about my gear.

JMHO.

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Agreed. It's really no different than not knowing how to change oil on my car.

Not sure about that. You don't need to know how to change your oil to get your drivers licence but you should know how to pack a parachute before you obtain your skydive licence. You are putting your cars life in the mechanics hands to a certain degree when you allow them to change the oil for you. You are putting your life in the packers hands to a certain degree when you allow them to pack for you.

Most importantly, if the oil change sucked and your car pisses out it's crude on the highway, you get a warning light and you pull over... no such luck with the packers mistakes... you gotsta deal with 'em in real time.

Not critisising those that use packers (I pack for myself), but peeps with many jumps that don't know how to pack... laughable.

"At 13,000 feet nothing else matters."
PFRX!!!!!
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[chachi 0]

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There is one funny thing about this whole thread. Ask yourself when was the last time you saw/heard of a BASE jumper paying someone else to pack his/her rig. Makes you go Hummmmm! Wonder why?

Why are you trying to compare apples to oranges. These are not comparible topics. First ,BASE and skydiving have a parachute in common and that is about it. Second, some BASE jumpers do pay for packs, their skydiving reserves. That's who would be qualified to (maybe) pack a BASE canopy. Third, when it is your one and only option you probably don't want to pay someone that works on volume. As I said though, completely uncomparable.

~Chachi

[flyangel2 2]

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Why are you trying to compare apples to oranges. These are not comparible topics. First ,BASE and skydiving have a parachute in common and that is about it. Second, some BASE jumpers do pay for packs, their skydiving reserves. That's who would be qualified to (maybe) pack a BASE canopy. Third, when it is your one and only option you probably don't want to pay someone that works on volume. As I said though, completely uncomparable.

I'm lost on that statement. You said skydiving. Are they skydiving or not?

I'm not comparing BASE with skydiving, I just brought up what I have observed with BASE jumpers.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[chachi 0]

My point was to illustrate that we as BASE jumpers do sometimes trust people to pack our last saving device, but only in our skydiving containers where we are required to have a rigger pack it.

My original point was still clear, why bring BASE into this topic of discussion, there is no coralation. We are talking about paying someone to pack your primary canopy in the skydiving world and you are talking about why people that only have one parachute in a totally different sport wouldn't pay a packer $5.00 to save themselves a little time.

~Chachi

[MikeJD 0]

One thing I don't think has been mentioned so far - although it can be a bit of a chore, it's also satisfying packing your own canopy and jumping your own pack job. It's a self-reliance thing. You pack, you jump, you open. You just saved your own life again!

[pajarito 0]

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I think your jealous you don't pay have the $$ to just include packer in the cost of your jumps.

I think critisizing people choice to pack themselves or not is weak, lame, or any other word you want to call it. FYI I pack for myself usually but who are we to call someones choice weak. Their money, their choice.

~Chachi

Unless you gross over $200,000/year, you don’t have me beat. I have money to pay for a packer. I choose not to for lots of reasons. I’m not putting down those who can but choose not to for whatever reason. I’m just saying that it is very…very pathetic that a licensed skydiver can’t pack his/her own main parachute. I don’t care how many jumps you’ve got. That’s a serious credibility issue, IMO, if you don’t know how to pack. Makes me wonder what else you skipped and were too lazy to learn in the rest of your training.

[WrongWay 0]

1. I'm lazy.
2. I just happen to have five bucks in my pocket.

Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.