Dec 9, 2001, 1:04 PM
Post #1 of 9
(1515 views)
Shortcut
Shifting body position
Can't Post
Here's a question for the esteemed Swooping Moderator - Chuck (yep I can suck up with the best of them! ):
Watching some experienced canopy pilots doing a carving front riser turn, I have noticed that they raise the opposite leg when initiating the turn. I presume this is to put more body weight on the side of the harness that they are risering (ie raise right leg if hanging on left riser). Does this really make any difference to how the canopy dives (ie translating into more forward speed?)?
[looks around, doesnt see any canopy nazi's in this banned land] pssst, kid! I've got something sweeeeet for ya... all the cool kids are jumpin 'em now..... first jump is free..... and dont listen to you so called friends that say 2.8 is a high wing load....
Remi Muff 914
PhreeZone (D License)
Moderator
Dec 10, 2001, 8:48 AM
Post #3 of 9
(1412 views)
Shortcut
Shifting the weight can allow for the turn to be completed faster. A faster, sharper turn can result in higher speed on the landings, but it can also cause your body to swing out more and allow for a faster sink rate in the turn. If you not expecting the difference, you can easly find your self low in the corner.
I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique
On the higher loaded canoies, a harness turn will cause a very fast rate turn.
I opened at 9k on that Xaos Friday and just played with some things.. (it is loaded at 2.1). A pure harness turn with no riser input will gradually increase speed until you are smoking. If I took it to 360 degrees, it would lose about 750 feet, and by the end have good speed. Not as much as a riser turn though.
I have seen Andy do a pure harness turn on a canopy loaded at around 2.9 and it results in a fast turn and swoop.
I think the advantage of a harness turn is it does not mis-shape the canopy, like a front riser. But it is not as easy to fine tune as having both risers in your hands. The speed gain is limited too. After a 360 on mine, the pressure builds so much, it won't really keep getting faster. You can only apply so much pressure with your harness.
Try it. The lower the wing loading, the less you will get, but just about any canopy will get some harness turn.
Like Dan already answered (beat me to the punch!), leaning in one direction or another does wonders to your control. Watch some video of people carving over a pond and see which foot they are dragging. If turning left and dragging their left foot, their end cell is likely closer to the water and their turn will be tighter (and thus slightly harder to recover from). If they are turning left and dragging their right foot, then their canopy will be higher over their head at the same toggle input and their carve will generally have more distance and a longer arc. They will also have a bit easier time getting their main back over their head prior to final touchdown. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule and watching some people will only confuse you as to how they get away with it.
Anyway, like Dan said, most people with high wingloads do a lot of their steering with the harness, at least while they are doing their pre-swoop prep: slider stow, chest strap, undoing brakes, picking your nose, etc.
): 
