Mike Gruwell

ChutingStar's Rigger Closing Hook is a unique parachute rigging tool used for closing reserve containers.

Those who have attended a ChutingStar Rigger School Course or one of our Parachute Industry Association Symposium Seminars, have seen up close how the tool is used.  But if you haven't, the tool isn't exactly self-explainable.

So here's a short video on how it's attached to the pullup cord and how a parachute rigger uses it for closing the reserve container.

How To Use The ChutingStar Rigger Pullup Hook from ChutingStar.

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Advanced Aerospace Designs released a new service bulletin on April 19, 2018, for all sport versions of the Vigil II and 2+ with firmware versions 05.05, 05.05, 06.01 and 06.02.

This does not affect any of the current model Vigil Cuatro or Military Vigil units.

According to the bulletin, the affected units will enter a CTRL-ERR mode if the air pressure is less than 300 hPa, which is at approximately 30,000 feet.

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Icarus World applauds those that have made skydiving their life by working to teach, mentor and coach other skydivers. In return for their service in the sport, Icarus is offering a discount program on its main canopies as well as the Nano reserve. To apply, you just need to submit a reference letter from your DZO with your order to ChutingStar. Once approved, you'll receive the discounts noted below. You also have the option for the Icarus Logo on your canopy at no extra charge through this program. Continue reading →

The Fusion helmet is the latest skydiving and wind tunnel helmet from USA helmet manufacturer, Bonehead Composites.

Bonehead's Fusion is exactly that...a fusion of their Aero, Rev2 and and REvolve helmets.

Check out these features:

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Our ChutingStar Crew gets tons of questions on the different options and setups for Tonfly Helmets. With 6 different helmet types and numerous available configurations it's easy to get overwhelmed on where to start. ChutingStar's Henry Kochen took some time to explain the most popular configurations in this new video shot inside the Marietta GA ChutingStar Skydiving Gear SuperStore. Ordering Custom Tonfly Helmets from ChutingStar. Continue reading →

Submitting an order for complete skydiving rig has changed dramatically over the past 20 years, and while online technology has made the orders more accurate, it's not an exactly straight forward process for those ordering their first rig. So in this article, we'll break down the process and make it a bit easier to know you're on the right path to jumping out of a plane with your own rig! The process is summarized in these 8 steps:

• Choosing the Container, Canopies & AAD
• Finding the price for the complete skydiving rig gear package
• Submitting the manufacturer container order form
• Submitting the manufacturer canopy order forms
• Submitting the complete skydiving rig package order
• Confirming the details
• Waiting for the rig to be manufactured and rigged
• Receiving the rig and jumping it!

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ChutingStar receives daily emails, phone calls and social media messages on skydiving gear pricing, mostly related to complete gear packages as they'll see new advertisements, supposed "special offers" or web listings that claim to have the "best" price. It's difficult sometimes to cut through all of those claims because of how the pricing is bundled together and/or final pricing add-ons for options, shipping, rigging and the like. But we're going to try to make sense of it all for you to give you peace of mind that you're not getting ripped off. First off, all skydiving gear dealers are skydivers like you. We're out jumping, rigging or flying in a wind tunnel every week using the gear we purchased from the same manufacturers that also sell us the gear you're buying from us. We've all been in your shoes buying that first piece of skydiving gear, our first rig or the latest new gadget to make skydiving, rigging or wind tunnel flying even more enjoyable than it already is. We all started selling and/or servicing skydiving gear to fill a need of skydivers needing gear advice, and because of the great service we provided ended up growing a small service into a full-time job...usually with the help of a drop zone, manufacturers and other gear shops. It's a small industry, and almost everyone knows everyone.  Continue reading →

ChutingStar has been blessed with abundant business over the past 20 years and most of our donations to those in need are done in private. But this year we're asking our customers to join in with a drive to donate socks and water to the homeless in our area. In Marietta GA, where ChutingStar is located, there is a homeless shelter less than a mile away and homeless people are frequently seen along the main roads. According to a 2015 Georgia Department of Community Affairs Report, there is estimated to be 14,000 homeless in Georgia. Owners Mike & Stephanie Gruwell have pledged to give away 1 pair of socks and 1 bottle of water to the homeless for every order placed online from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day.  Continue reading →

Over the years, ChutingStar Parachute Riggers have used a wide variety of seal presses. Some of these were commonly available and others were obtained with long searching, persistent inquiries and the utmost patience (it took one year to get a unique press from Germany).

ChutingStar started selling Parachute Rigging Seal Presses to our rigging students, and then later, to riggers worldwide once we found a quality press and engraver. It must be a tough business as over the past 20 years, we've seen a few seal press manufacturers come and go. 

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In a sea of photographers, Adrian Fuentes quickly stands out as a true artist. His photos of local skaters show off their talents while blowing your mind with the overall shot framing as well as the coloring through an infrared process. Continue reading →