Basejumper.com - archive

Hey guys, I'm a newly registered member, but have been doin' a little bit of lurking, trying to educate myself as much as possible.

Basically, I'd like to know what sort of canopy I should get to practice with while skydiving.
Ideally, I'd be heading to Bridge Day in a year or two, and really want to get some good canopy control skills down. I'd also like something that'll be useful if I go further into BASE.

And is buying second-hand usually okay? I'd probably bring a friend who knows his stuff to make sure, but I don't know how the market is.

Thanks.

7-cell canopy, learn to land on a dime in any condition especially deep brakes, learn to track.

new or used?
- used can be a cost effective option

drills?
- check out the articles section
- personally, I say learn how to play and trust your canopy

type of canopy?
- check with those teaching you how to skydive
- not sure it matters
- if you get a BASE (or pseudo-BASE) canopy, you risk boredom after a bit. the goal is to get comfortable with the equipment and learn as much about EVERYTHING that you can. if the parachute limits what you can do now, you might not jump as much and miss learning opportunities. don't underestimate the value of well rounded canopy knowledge.
(I've used techniques used in swooping for BASE, on my second BASE jump. it was needed to reach the landing zone.)

I'm not really one for screwing around with my chute. I do it for the freefall, so a BASE canopy probably wouldn't ruin my fun, and I could always rent out a skydiving canopy on occasion.
Thanks for the help, guys.

unfortunately, that is how you learn the most about your gear.

BASE involves forging your own path. to discover things on your own. to open new objects. to know how to do these things without dying.

do you want to wait until a real BASE jump to start these things?

your call.
your health is at risk, not mine.

I'll undoubtedly do it to learn, but it's not the reason I skydive. That's what I meant to say.

I'll definitely try to get as much canopy experience as I can before I get into BASE(If I do).

Also, did anybody here do their first jump on Bridge Day?
Would it be a reasonable place to do it? Is it a relatively forgiving spot?

http://bridgeday.info

seek information, and you will find it.

Don't worry, I've been there.
It sounds pretty convincing, but I was just hoping to get some opinions from those involved in BASE, rather than the organisers, etc.

I think it also depends on how you will be affected by the environment. Bridge day will be bustling with activity and have lots of people around watching (hopefully encouraging!) you. When I started, I went to a quiet (but tall enough) bridge in Europe with only my instructor and one other student; I wanted to do things in my own time, ask questions and not be part of some great carnival. Others may like the bustle that goes with Bridge Day.

It's down to how you feel... but in either case, don't believe that a couple of jumps off a tall bridge prepares you for BASE because that definitely isn't true - afterwards, you should continue to get advice before jumping any new object for a while.

Having taught students in both types of environments (the carnival and the quiet) I think that most students will do better in the quieter, slower paced environment. Knowledge retention is usually quite a bit better, too, especially because there is a lot more time for repetition.

I sat through an FJC at B-day as an experienced jumper with a buddy of mine and you do lose a little learning here because there are so many jumpers and so much going on. I think it's safe to say if you do take your FJC at B-day it is good to have a trust worthy, experienced, mentor afterwards to help with the one on one issues and thoughts you may have and not just someone to transition you to solid objects and show you around afterwards. Not that it's not a great first jump spot, but the commotion is a little distracting. Also how many jumps do you think you can do as a new jumper and packer if you don't soak your shit at b-day? I've been 4 years and the most I have pulled in a day is 5. Out west you can jump for days, pound them out, really feel your stuff out completely with little distraction and one on one input from each jump 10 times a day if you push it. You would be surprised how much you learn about jumping and gear being able to bang out 20 or 30 jumps in a week.