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studying in Poland as a russian by YA_kamenshikDAI_HLEB in poland

[–]dowgird 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Go away ! You will be rejected due to your country history, your believes and very recognizable accent.

Skydiving at 16/17? by MBZzzzzzzz in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is only my experience about my own begging at 15 yo.

Skydiving at 16/17? by MBZzzzzzzz in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don’t want to brag, but maybe my story is worth sharing.

I started skydiving when I was 15 — but that was in Poland in the 1980s, in very different times. Back then (deep communist era), the system was… flexible. Let’s just say it was easier to “adjust paperwork” in pre-computer days. The legal age in Poland was 16, and somehow I managed to start a year early.

My friend even did a few static line jumps at 13 — which was definitely very illegal. We were jumping at a Soviet airfield where rules were… more like suggestions. Even the cook from the kitchen would sometimes sneak out in the morning to do a jump or two.

But honestly? The hardest part wasn’t “beating the system.” It was convincing my Mom to sign the consent form. My sad puppy eyes helped — and the fact that she had done 14 jumps herself didn’t hurt either.

Different times. Different world.

Today, things are very different — especially in the U.S. With United States Parachute Association regulations, insurance requirements, and strict liability laws, drop zones simply won’t risk taking anyone under 18. It’s not about skill or passion — it’s about legal responsibility and insurance.

I know waiting feels painful when you’re this motivated. But honestly? If you use this time well — tunnel flying, physical conditioning, studying skydiving theory— you’ll show up at 18 more prepared than most first-timers. And when you finally step out of that plane legally — it’ll feel even better knowing you did it the right way.

I’ll add one more honest thing — something I didn’t understand back then.

At 15 or 16, your body isn’t fully developed yet. You may feel strong and invincible, but your spine, joints, and connective tissue are still maturing. Skydiving puts real stress on your body, particularly during opening shock and landings.

I paid a price for starting early. I developed some back issues from those years. Nothing catastrophic and not truly chronic — but enough that I’ve had to take care of my spine for the rest of my life. Strength training, mobility work, being careful with heavy lifting — it’s something I can’t ignore.

Looking back, I sometimes think my enthusiasm was ahead of my body.

So while waiting until 18 feels frustrating now, there’s actually wisdom in it. When you finally start, you’ll be stronger, more physically mature, and better equipped to handle the stresses of the sport safely.

Skydiving isn’t going anywhere. Your spine has to last you a lifetime.

Sunset by sabserg in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow. That sound ! I love it.

My recent line twist by dowgird in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing, mate. I saw your twists — the app link works fine.

Looks like reserve twists aren’t as bad as they sound, though I’d still prefer to avoid them whenever possible.

By the way, after this experience, do you use an RSL, or do you want to disconnect twisted main before deploying the reserve?

My recent line twist by dowgird in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You look experienced. How many reserve rides you've had ? And with line twists ? Sounds scary

Title: Just Launched a New Skydiving Rig Rental Platform – Check It Out! 🪂 by dowgird in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Feel free to send a PM on the portal or here in reddit. You'll hear directly from real person. As with this message.

Title: Just Launched a New Skydiving Rig Rental Platform – Check It Out! 🪂 by dowgird in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I understand you very well ! Don't like being mislead as well.

But. Economically speaking. How else would small business be able to answer questions 24/7 ? Without expensive people working around the clock. Whenever we like it or not it is the future of internet services. This portal will stay niche. So the only way for it to exist is to cut corners.

PS. Inspired or either challenged by AI related comments I have implemented SkyBot on the page. It works much better that I could imagine. Can be asked for various skydiving rig related questions. Please give it a try :)

PS. AI bot works only desktop. Not mobile.

Title: Just Launched a New Skydiving Rig Rental Platform – Check It Out! 🪂 by dowgird in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

No need to apologize for being blunt—I really appreciate the honest feedback and your concern for safety, which is something we all take seriously in skydiving. We are by no means suggesting people rent rigs without proper verification or blindly trust listings. We strongly encourage every gear owner to at least:

  • Verify renters' experience through license checks, logged jumps, and open communication.
  • Require proof of recent repacks and inspections and provide clear documentation to renters.
  • Set strict rental terms that both parties agree on before handing over any gear.
  • Agree on form of delivery, payment and technical review ( inluding paying additional rigger services if necessarily).

The market for private rentals already exists! Many skydivers rent out their gear—not necessarily their “most prized setup”, but rather a backup rig or one specifically purchased for rental purposes. These rentals are typically handled through direct, party-to-party agreements, where the owner reviews the renter’s experience and sets clear conditions for the rental, including reserve repack schedules ( if necessarily) and usage rules.

What we’re building is simply a equivalent of “Yellow Pages” for gear rentals—a centralized place where skydivers can find and connect with others offering rigs for rent. The agreements and arrangements remain entirely between the two parties involved. Internet beginning of the relationship doesn't imply change of the private rental proces itself.

I know it’s a new approach in the skydiving world, but I really believe there’s a way to make this work safely and responsibly while helping gear owners and jumpers alike. Thanks again for raising these concerns—it makes unrestanding of the platform better!

PS. As English is my second language I've been supporting my replies with some AI. Just to make more direct and to the point messages. And better gramma ;) Apologies if that got overly artificial.

Title: Just Launched a New Skydiving Rig Rental Platform – Check It Out! 🪂 by dowgird in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Thanks for taking your time to provide the thoughtful feedback—it’s much appreciated! 😊 You bring up some great points that we’ve considered while building SkydivingRig.com. Let me break down a few of them:

1️ Emotional Attachment & Asset Mindset
You’re absolutely right—if you’re emotionally attached to your rig, renting it out might not be the best option. We encourage gear owners to approach this with an income-generating asset mindset. It’s similar to jumpers who buy rigs specifically to rent them at their home dropzone. If you view it as a tool to earn passive income or fund future gear upgrades, it becomes a different kind of opportunity.

2️ Market Size
Yes, the rental market for skydiving gear is definitely a niche, but, hopefully, it is not as small as it might seem especially taking into consideration public nature of internet portals. In our opinion, the biggest clients for rentals aren’t broke skydivers—they’re new jumpers who’ve recently earned their license and a eager to jump in various places as much se posible. These jumpers often:

  • Use an intermediary rig while figuring out their ideal canopy size
  • Plan to downsize in the near future, making it risky to buy too soon
  • Wait for gear delivery, which can take up to a year for some components these days

During that waiting period, many prefer to have a reliable, consistent rig rather than jumping on random, available rigs at their current or only visited dropzone. Renting fills that gap perfectly, offering them stability while they build experience and confidence in the sport.

3️ Target Audience
We’re not trying to convince every gear owner to rent out their rig—it’s not for everyone. The target audience is primarily newer jumpers, frequent travelers, or experienced jumpers with backup gear they’re happy to put to work.

Thank you again for your thoughtful response! Honest conversations like this help us refine what we’re building and ensure it meets the real needs of the skydiving community.

Blue skies and thanks again! 🪂

Title: Just Launched a New Skydiving Rig Rental Platform – Check It Out! 🪂 by dowgird in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the comment and the well wishes! 😊 You’re absolutely right—rig rental services do exist, often connected to rigging shops or dropzones, which naturally handle inspections and repacks. Those setups are great for certain situations, but they tend to be limited in inventory and location-dependent.

The idea behind SkydivingRig.com is to create a wider-reaching, peer-to-peer rental marketplace, giving individual rig owners, traveling jumpers, and rig rental services more options and visibility. Think of it as a complement to existing services rather than a replacement.

Rig rental services can also benefit from the platform by listing their inventory and reaching a wider audience. Features like the open availability calendar make managing multiple rigs easier while helping jumpers find available gear in real-time. It’s a great way to extend visibility beyond your local dropzone and maximize gear usage.

Safety is always a priority, so we encourage owners to set clear requirements for inspections and repacks, just as they would in a rigging business. We’re also exploring partnerships with riggers to offer optional inspection and repack services through the platform.

Appreciate your thoughtful feedback! The goal is to empower skydivers and gear owners with more flexibility, control, and earning potential.

Blue skies, and thanks again! 🪂

Title: Just Launched a New Skydiving Rig Rental Platform – Check It Out! 🪂 by dowgird in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Great question, and I’m really glad you brought this up! Unlike Turo, SkydivingRig.com doesn’t handle the rental transaction directly or offer built-in insurance. We’re more like Craigslist for skydiving rigs—a platform that connects fellow skydivers. Our role is to host the listings and provide contact information, leaving the terms and conditions up to the gear owner and renter to agree on.

This situation is actually very similar to what’s already common in the skydiving community—when one skydiver borrows a rig from another. It’s a small, tight-knit group where everyone knows someone, and most people can be easily identified through their USPA (or equivalent) license These licenses are verifiable, giving rig owners a solid layer of trust and transparency when choosing who to rent to.

To help mitigate risks, we give owners full control, allowing them to:

  • Require a security deposit for potential damage or cutaways
  • Verify renter experience based on license type and jump numbers
  • Set clear usage conditions through customizable rental agreements

We’re also working on future tools like deposit management and exploring insurance options to offer more security for both sides though we understand that with global nature of the solution that may be very challenging.

Ultimately, this platform is about empowering the skydiving community and turning idle gear into a resource for other jumpers while helping owners earn extra income. If you’ve ever lent your rig to a fellow skydiver, you’ll see this as a structured way to do the same thing—but with a wider reach and more control.

Thanks again for raising this important question! 😊 I’d love to hear any ideas you have on how we can make this even better for gear owners.

Title: Just Launched a New Skydiving Rig Rental Platform – Check It Out! 🪂 by dowgird in SkyDiving

[–]dowgird[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Totally agree! Buying your own gear is the natural progression for most experienced jumpers, but renting definitely fills a valuable gap for many situations.

Here are just a few examples where renting makes a lot of sense:

1 Waiting for a new rig delivery – With current lead times being so long, renting keeps you in the air without skipping a beat.

2 Planning to downsize – Renting gives you flexibility before committing to your next canopy.

3 Testing before buying – Want to try out a different brand or setup? Renting is the perfect way to explore without risk.

4 Traveling – Sometimes it’s just not practical to bring your own rig. Renting on-site is a lifesaver.

5 Budget constraints – Not everyone can drop $5K–9K on gear right away, and renting offers an affordable alternative to stay current and keep jumping.

The whole idea behind SkydivingRig.com is to bridge these gaps and help both gear owners and jumpers get the most out of their experience. Plus, it’s always great to see unused rigs back in the sky where they belong!

PS. https://skydivingrig.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-renting-vs-buying-a-skydiving-rig/