weight restrictions for skydiving

[AceJoca 0]

i tried looking for a post about this but couldnt find it. I am looking to get certified as a skydiver. I want to take the AFF course. I did a tandem about 2 years ago and loved it. that was when i was a little thinner. Now i have a little more cash then back then and wanna go skydiving again. I am 6'1 and 260lbs and am working on losing weight now. any body have suggestions on what weight i should get to before i attempt more jumps. i see that some parachutes can support to like 300lbs so i was figuring maybe i just need to get into better shape before i consider the weight thing since maybe thats what really matters. im not sure. can anyone give me some reccomedations? thanks a lot.

[Tink1717 2]

The weight limits are 230 for a tandem and 240 for AFF. Drop the extra 30 lbs and you'll be golden.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[Reginald 0]

Many DZ's have a max weight of 220.

Honestly, hiting the max weight only allows you to jump. It won't let you jump well. Heavy skydivers find the sport difficult for a number of reasons.

"We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

[bazelos 0]

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Many DZ's have a max weight of 220.

Honestly, hiting the max weight only allows you to jump. It won't let you jump well. Heavy skydivers find the sport difficult for a number of reasons.

I am 190 and I am skinny, surely that won't affect me too?

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

[moonglo 0]

My DZ has a posted weight limit for AFF of 240lbs, but have a converted Racer Tandem rig they'll let "big boys" jump up to about 260lbs. Those few students usually spend a lot more time on the ground waiting for the few instructors who can safely jump with you at meat missile speeds. Just because someone is within the weight limit doesn't mean they can safely skydive, they have to be athletic and flexible too. That also goes for tandem students; they won't let someone who's under the 225lb weight limit jump if they're not in good enough shape to lift their legs and hold them up for landing.

[bob.dino 1]

You'll be fine.

[grue 1]

In my experience, the weight limit isn't necessarily written in stone. I know when I started jumping, I was actually 6'3 and about 235, and my dz's limit is 230. However, when I spoke on the phone to someone at the DZ, they said that the weight limit is more in place for someone out of shape than someone in shape and just has a mutant genetic makeup, like mine . I was playing college soccer at the time, and they said if I were a 235lb couch potato, it'd be more of an issue.

That having been said, I was still plenty light enough for the gigantic Skymaster 290s and Raven IVs I 'grew up' on, but I was definitely too tall for the Dolphin containers

cavete terrae.

[BIGUN 1,314]

Fill out your profile so depending on where you live, we can point you to an "Anvil Brother" Dropzone.

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

[Anvilbrother 0]

You can jump. Find the right dropzone, and do it right with a big enough canopy. There are plenty of us out there that have been in your shoes. Like Bigun said fill out your profile with your location, and we can better help you.

Postes r made from an iPad or iPhone. Spelling and gramhair mistakes guaranteed move along,

[wimdevos 0]

If you start jumping
Take a Tandem Vector:

Tandem Vector Conversion for Solo Student

>>The following information describes how to transform a Vector Tandem
System into an AFF/Solo student system. This modification may be useful to
you if have a student, enrolled in an AFF Course of instruction, that
exceeds the 250 + lb. weight limit. Basically, the drogue is removed and
replaced with a spring-loaded pilot chute and bridle. By doing this, the
emergency procedures once again replicate that of a standard student system.
Here's all you have to do to accomplish the modification:

>Tandem Vector Conversion for Solo Student Use

>1) Detach the entire drogue assembly from the top of the canopy. The
PD-360, PD-421, EZ-384, EZ-425, and Pioneer Hi-Lifter canopies have all been
used as main canopies for solo students weighing anywhere from 250 - 350
pounds. These canopies are all rated up to 500 lbs.

>2) In place of the drogue, attach a regular 8 foot bridle and a Vector II
spring-loaded pilot chute. Most standard hand-deploy bridles work just fine
if that's all you have on hand.

>3) Now you need to attach a ripcord channel to guide the main ripcord. You
can make this from a variety of materials. Either metalflex housings or soft
channels can be temporally or permanently attached. A soft channel (Type IV
- 1" square weave) can easily be attached using a single-needle machine,
sewing it across the bottom of the right main side flap. Affixing a hard
metalflex housing by hand-tacking both ends and several locations along its
length is easy to accomplish.

>4) We also require you to use our standard, orange tubular handle with the
black Lolon cable ripcord for closing the container. (Never use a yellow
cable drogue release handle for closing a main container. The yellow cable
is too soft and pliable and may be pulled into the grommet causing a
difficult or impossible pull if too much loop tension is present.)

>5) Position the main ripcord in a place compatible with your other student
gear or what's best for this "giant of a student!"

>6) Keep in mind, both emergency handles are mounted outboard of the main
lift web, so train your student accordingly. The double sandwich of Velcro
makes it extremely difficult to pull handles when done incorrectly. We
recommend neutralizing some of the Velcro by installing strips (of Velcro)
intermittently along the length to weaken its overall hold. Test it yourself
versus a standard cutaway pull on a sport rig and try to match it. The
strength of your student is the final test.

>7) Make sure the student can easily pull the handles before you commence
with the jump. Don't forget to peel up, and then pull down to activate these
handles.

>8) Follow the general rigging rule of making sure your work is FUNCTIONAL,
COMPATIBLE, AND STRUCTURAL.

>9) Having done the above, and the work approved by a certified rigger, the
Relative Workshop would approve such an assembly to be used as a
solo-student training system.

>Important

>The drogue should never be used for solo-student training due to the
complex emergency procedures related to drogue use.

>You should know that for years, Relative Workshop has built custom rigs for
the "big guys" by utilizing technology originally developed for the
military. So when your student graduates off student status, he will have a
source for his own gear. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to
call or write Relative Workshop

[riggerrob 643]

It really depends upon your muscle to fat ratio.

For example, my biggest tandem student was a 6'1", 285 pound retired rugby player. He had thighs on him like tree trunks.
On the other had, I have refused to jump with 190 girls because they were solid flab.

Skydiving is a physically demanding sport. The more strength, flexibility and lung power you bring to the DZ, the quicker you will learn and the better you will skydive.

[phoenixlpr 0]

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I have refused to jump with 190 girls because they were solid flab.

LOL. I was told that being a tandem master/pilot is a job to do.

[sd-slider 0]

Quote

You'll be fine.

DITTO

"Anvil Brother #69"

Anvil Brother #69

Sidelined with a 5mm C5-C6 herniated disk...
Back2Back slammers and 40yr old fat guys don't mix!