Reasonable downsize + model change?

[yeyo 1]

Time is coming up for a new to me canopy, and Im considering going 1 size smaller. My progression has been something like:

1000 jumps on Triathlon 150 @ 1.1 wl
200 jumps on Triathlon 135 @ 1.4 wl
500 jumps on Sabre1 135 @1.5 wl
Gained about 30lbs since jump 1 . Now Im about 200lbs out the door. Never been hurt and landed those canopies in every condition in all directions.

Thinking about demoing a Sabre2 135 for about 40-50 jumps, and then buying a Sabre2 120....or demoing the 120, or staying with the 135, or going straight to the 120. What you think its more reasonable/practical? Anything Im not looking at?

HISPA #93
DS #419.5

[wasatchrider 0]

do you swoop?
are you wanting to learn to swoop?
If you answer no to both of those questions why would you want a faster canopy anyways if yes to answer one go with the 120 if yes to answer two go with the 135

BASE 1519

[yoink 321]

The Sabre 2 will feel very different to the Sabre 1 - even in the same size. You might be surprised and not want to go smaller after the demo.

[hillson 0]

wasatchrider

do you swoop?
are you wanting to learn to swoop?
If you answer no to both of those questions why would you want a faster canopy anyways if yes to answer one go with the 120 if yes to answer two go with the 135

At a certain point, especially at the OPs jump numbers and history of not being a canopy whore, "I want a *slightly* smaller *slightly more aggressive canopy" is an acceptable response. He doesn't need the "swooping speech." It isn't a crime to desire a marginal increase in speed and or performance.

[keithbar 1]

Well you have jumped P. D. and Aerodyne canopies. without trying to start a brand war might I suggest a demo progression of Icarus cross fire 2 139 .129. 119 if and when you feel you're ready for it.

i have on occasion been accused of pulling low . My response. Naw I wasn't low I'm just such a big guy I look closer than I really am .

[allennicol 0]

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[Baksteen 84]

hillson

***do you swoop?
are you wanting to learn to swoop?
If you answer no to both of those questions why would you want a faster canopy anyways if yes to answer one go with the 120 if yes to answer two go with the 135

At a certain point, especially at the OPs jump numbers and history of not being a canopy whore, "I want a *slightly* smaller *slightly more aggressive canopy" is an acceptable response. He doesn't need the "swooping speech." It isn't a crime to desire a marginal increase in speed and or performance.


While you are absolutely right, I sometimes wonder why some experienced jumpers feel the need for speed... especially that specialised part of [insert favourite discipline]-oriented jumpers who consider their parachute nothing more than 'a necessity to survive the freefall' and who have no interest in building any canopy skills whatsoever. Yes, this is an extreme example, but to some extent it also applies to the student getting a Stiletto 150 as soon as they obtain their A-licence (not allowed in NL by the way), or the smaller, lighter type of jumper wanting a 120 where a suitable 150 such as the Sabre2 or Storm would do. And yes, it also applies to the CReW dog "needing" a L113 while their ordinary canopy is a 150.


I am not against downsizing in general, but very much against downsizing for the wrong reasons.

I heard/read the most... interesting, arguments about flying in high winds, "under-loading" a canopy and 'getting more flare power' out of a smaller canopy, or "having more control" - though happily, not as much as I used to when I was just starting. So perhaps we jumpers are learning something after all.


Obviously, none of this is directed at the OP, as I don't know them.

"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

[Joellercoaster 6]

Baksteen

While you are absolutely right, I sometimes wonder why some experienced jumpers feel the need for speed... especially that specialised part of [insert favourite discipline]-oriented jumpers who consider their parachute nothing more than 'a necessity to survive the freefall' and who have no interest in building any canopy skills whatsoever.

I'm not sure those groups overlap too much - someone who just deploys a canopy to end the freefall also wanting that canopy to go faster seems contradictory. wanting to go faster sounds a bit like caring about the flight! Wanting to go faster without wanting to bust a fat 270 is, we all seem to agree, not a contradiction.

There's a lot of stuff to learn about flying, a lot of skill to gain, without necessarily doing super high performance landings. Faster canopies are still fun for their own sake, assuming you like that kind of thing.

This is an interesting discussion from a personal standpoint. I've been idly thinking about something slightly faster for a while and so far not been bothered to actually do anything about it (and may not ever) - but I've been eating a lot, which ends up similar and is a lot less expensive

--
"I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan

"You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

[Di0 1]

Considering the OP extensive experience and very reasonable request, can we refrain from the usual "Noob-Swoop-Save-Yourself" preaches for once? I don't think it's one of *those* topics.

As for suggestions, I know a few jumpers that, coming from Sabre2s, enjoyed the idea of a xfire2 of similar size. It's a nice relatively elliptical canopy, it should be trimmed a little flatter than a Sabre2 and has slightly superior performances, at least it's advertised as such. It is a fun canopy to throw in there if you're in the market for something like that. I demoed 129 and 119, and they are really nice and fun to land, without being too crazy (they are responsive given the size but manageable), in fact I remember them giving me some of the best openings I've had, yeah, the openings are great. I've even had a toggle fire in a 129 and it was easily recoverable (I believe I am at about your same WL).

Just to prove that I put my money where my mouth is, I am attaching a xfire to my rig tonight.

I'm standing on the edge
With a vision in my head
My body screams release me
My dreams they must be fed... You're in flight.

[yeyo 1]

Thanks for your opinions/suggestions everybody.

My only reason for a new canopy is because this one is getting close to the end of his life, and I dont wanna wait until the center cell blows up on opening like I did with the 150! Im not a swooper, and I dont have a good reason to downsize. But I like to induce a little speed to make the landings fun (Im sure some will call that swooping)....and its 10x more fun when I can surf longer than some people flying xfires and katanas with my triathlon
Im 100% sure I can safely jump the 120, but probably a change in model is enough for now so Im gonna demo the Sabre2 135 and go from there.
Gracias.

HISPA #93
DS #419.5

[Joellercoaster 6]

Terribly unfashionable suggestion, but: Stiletto 135? Still made for a reason, and hella fun.

--
"I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan

"You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

[lyosha 48]

Joellercoaster

Still made for a reason

Yes, that reason being belly flyers that were around when it was first introduced (and broke DZ bums who can't afford anything more modern).

In all seriousness the OP says he likes wingsuitting. Consider picking up another Sabre1 135 on the cheap for the WS flights. You're entering wingloadings where Sabre2 openings become really interesting on WS flights.

[Joellercoaster 6]

lyosha

In all seriousness the OP says he likes wingsuitting.

That is an excellent point. It's a very awesome canopy, but I wouldn't be happy wingsuiting on it and am looking for something else for that too.

Interesting that you mention a loaded-up Sabre2 as a bad idea - annoyingly I have a spare one in the house that I'd be loading at 1.7+ and enjoy flying. The search continues (actually we have a Pilot 132 as well that might be better - does everyone else's house fill with canopies like this over the years?).

--
"I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan

"You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

[Skydivesg 6]

YEYO !! YaaaaayyyyyYo ...... daylight come and me want to go home.

If you recognize what I just wrote -- hit me up on facebook with a PM and we can chat.

Sandy

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[yeyo 1]

PM'ed you, mister!

HISPA #93
DS #419.5

[chemfx 0]

Knowing you have a repack soon, I have a crossfire 119 with out of trim lines you can demo.

[Pobrause 6]

chemfx

Knowing you have a repack soon, I have a crossfire 119 with out of trim lines you can demo.

How did you get those vectran lines out of trimm?

-------------------------------------------------------

To absent friends

[chemfx 0]

Ha

[Pobrause 6]

chemfx

Ha

did it hurt?

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To absent friends