jumpjunkie2004 0 #1 September 18, 2005 I hope someone is around this morning... Yesterday, I went to my DZ and spent 4 hours waiting for rental gear. I finally gave up and left. I've got 14 jumps on an assortment of 230's - Sabre 2, Sihlouette, and Spectre. Since I don't know what I will encounter today, a friend offered to let me borrow her Triathalon 190 - it would put my wingloading right at 1:1. At my DZ, they recommend downsizing slowly. I completely understand exercising caution and I'm in no hurry to downsize. However, my friend keeps assuring me that her 190 is more like a 210 because the Triathalon is such a puffy canopy. If anyone is around this morning and can respond before 10:30 am, please advise regarding your thoughts. My other option would be to go to the dz and rent a 260.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #2 September 18, 2005 Triathlons are generally docile canopies at low loadings. I don't think you will have a problem going to 1:1 on a Triathlon. I would have a problem if the canopy was a Stiletto or some other elliptical canopy (high performance). Give the Triathlon a try. You may like it."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #3 September 18, 2005 Thanks Billy. I can always do a PLF if I have to. I'm going to check the weather and if we have some wind - I'm going to give it a try.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EvilLurker 2 #4 September 18, 2005 Have your friend demonstrate the landing flare they use, that's the biggest difference I noticed when I bought my Triathlon. I had only jumped 9-cell F-111s before that, though. A Triathlon likes a deep flare stroke to bleed off speed and the glide angle is steeper than the Silhouette, for example. Good luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeNReN 0 #5 September 18, 2005 Your instructors are the one who should give you the go-ahead to try the Tri 190 not us... That said.....1st look at my jump numbers....I am still very much a student and know squat. I just purchased my 1st canopy this summer...a Tri 175....I was wanting to get a sabre 2 170 or a pilot 168...my instructors had issuses with those choices because of a substantial 1st downsize...they were pointing me towards the 190 range untill I mentioned the Tri 175...that was a fine choice in there oppion.... I load my new Tri at 1.1:1.....maybe a tad more depending on my activity level .....sofar I absoulty love it and have managed to stand up all 16 landings on it in stiff wind to no wind to cross wind....the canopy is forgiving enough to allow me to recover from mistimed flares and other boo boo's sofar....but i am also well aware that I can hurt myself on this canopy if I screw up too much... Again only your instructors can give the go-ahead to try it or not...if they do...well....jump it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ragnarok 0 #6 September 19, 2005 I already bought my first rig, a Triathalon 190. I will load it to 1:1, give or take .001 or so. I have not yet have anyone tell me I should have bought another canopy - and before I bought it, everyone I asked (instructors, mind you) said it was a good choice. Look up Triathalon (Areodyne makes them, along with the Pilot). I am impressed by your discipline to take downsizing seriously. I have just 18 jumps - not even an A license yet - so take what I say with a grain or two. DenRen , that is an awesome canopy and an even cooler pic! I need to get something like that of me for my desktop pic!_________________________________________ Twin Otter N203-Echo,29 July 2006 Cessna P206 N2537X, 19 April 2008 Blue Skies Forever Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrianM 1 #7 September 19, 2005 QuoteDenRen , that is an awesome canopy and an even cooler pic! Yeah, whoever took that photo must be really cool!!! "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DancingFlame 0 #8 September 19, 2005 I went from Student 235 sqft canopy to the Sabre1-170 (at about ~1.03). That was THE ride... and my first tiny swoop Try it out, you will enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #9 September 19, 2005 I did it! The landings weren't pretty, but I managed to land safely. Hope everyone had a great weekend.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #10 September 19, 2005 Gotta say that I just love my Tri190 loaded at 1.05:1. I went from a 230 Manta during AFF to this Tri190 immediately after (with the suggestion and approval of ALL of our instructors at the time) 1. Very adjustable at packing for opening speed (slider in/out - I like it out for soft, snivelly openings) 2. Very smooth flaring, wide range input-response. (unlike HP canopies with small input, large response) 3. Handles tubulence well. 4. A sedan, not a hot-rod and not a truck. 5. I have yet to seriously botch a landing. Tip-toes, 1- or 2-steps, easy slide-ins....all because the canopy works with me, not against me. Accuracy is extremely easy with this canopy - I'm not going to hit 0.00s everytime like a big floater could but I can put it easily into a backyard between the doghouse and the fence if need be. But, I am an old fart and I have a severe aversion to pain and running it out so I will probably not downsize any further - my testosterone levels are pretty low. *G*My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EvilLurker 2 #11 September 19, 2005 Quote I did it! The landings weren't pretty, but I managed to land safely. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Hey, congrats! What did you notice different about the landing flare, just for my curisosity? How much wind did you have? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EvilLurker 2 #12 September 19, 2005 QuoteBut, I am an old fart and I have a severe aversion to pain and running it out so I will probably not downsize any further - my testosterone levels are pretty low. You and me both. I traded my Triathlon for a PD Silhouette after a couple of years, though, and I have to say I prefer the Silhouette (same W/L). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #13 September 19, 2005 Thanks for asking. Well... My decision to jump the 190 became a decision between jumping the 190 or not jumping. The DZ I went to did not have any rental gear for me I was looking for a 230 or a 210. They had one 240 that was being rented by a student. So, I talked to the instructors there and decided to go ahead and jump the 190 which belongs to a friend of mine. Unfortunately, there was very little wind. I only got to jump twice. I flared a little high on one of my jumps because one of the old timers told me that I needed to do that with the Triathalon. I discovered that I really should have just flared when I normally flare. I got my feet on the ground both times, but I ended up doing a butt slide both times. Everyone else was running out the landings. Now the tough decision, do I go back to renting a 230 or ask them if I can rent a 210.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EvilLurker 2 #14 September 19, 2005 QuoteUnfortunately, there was very little wind. I wouldn't say that, a no-wind landing is the worst-case. Quote Now the tough decision, do I go back to renting a 230 or ask them if I can rent a 210. If the landing approach speed didn't bother you on that 190, you should be ready for a 210, I think, as long as it's not a ragged-out piece of junk. 230 to 210 is a pretty mild downsize. Hey, good luck and thanks for the feedback. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #15 September 19, 2005 QuoteI wouldn't say that, a no-wind landing is the worst-case. I'm assuming the comma is a typo, cuz with it there it sounds like you're saying that a no-wind landing is a worst case scenario. If it is a typo then I agree. If it's not, I disagree. Everybody should be able to land safely in no wind conditions (note that I did not say standing up, I said safely - ie without injury). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EvilLurker 2 #16 September 19, 2005 It's not a typo. I was saying, if you can downsize and land the 190 with no wind, you' have a better idea than if you had tried it on a windy day. A no-wind landing IS the worst scenario, if you don't include a down-wind landing. I guess I don't see what you're getting at. If you landed a freshly downsized canopy down-wind, you would come away from it still not knowing where you stood (unless you always land down-wind, which I don't know anyone that does)). Conversely, landing into a good breeze, you might conclude you could land it fine and get cocky (until the first no-wind day). I guess I'm missing your point. Sorry. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #17 September 20, 2005 QuoteI guess I'm missing your point. Sorry. I think we're both missing each other's points, or maybe we're coming at it from different angles and confusing each other. I don't consider a no wind landing to be a worst case scenario - no wind is normal at many dropzones. So I agree that landing a new-to-you sized canopy in no wind should be done prior to deciding that size canopy is the right size for you, I just wouldn't call it worst case. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeNReN 0 #18 September 20, 2005 QuoteDenRen , that is an awesome canopy and an even cooler pic! I need to get something like that of me for my desktop pic! TY...Just ask ppl to take pic's of you...helps if you will also take pic's of them....sometimes even rank amatures like BrianM can get a cool shot..but that of course depends on the coolness of there target Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #19 September 20, 2005 2324 picture - nice! I hope someone will take some cool photos of me someday Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrianM 1 #20 September 20, 2005 QuoteI hope someone will take some cool photos of me someday Try asking someone to take some! If you can't get someone with a camera to do it, then bring your own camera and hand it to someone just before boarding the plane. Oh, and don't be disappointed if you don't get great results. The trick to getting good photos is taking lots of photos, so just keep at it. In other words, you'll get lots of photos like DenRen's, but eventually you'll get some like mine, too. Edit: My only claim to being on topic is that all but one of these photos contain Triathlon's... "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #21 September 22, 2005 QuoteEdit: My only claim to being on topic is that all but one of these photos contain Triathlon's... Ok, me too... PS I love my Tri. Have not seen her in 5 months, but that's changing on Sunday! ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #22 September 22, 2005 great photos! After seeing these, I now understand the terms "puffy" and "fluffy". I had two different people try to explain why a Tri 190 was slower than some other 190's.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #23 September 22, 2005 Quotegreat photos! After seeing these, I now understand the terms "puffy" and "fluffy". I had two different people try to explain why a Tri 190 was slower than some other 190's. Yeah, they catch more air and sink faster than your average Sabre. But Tris are great canopies for accuracy or demos. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2cmyzx 0 #24 September 22, 2005 Here is the Tri 190 I had last year. It was my first canopy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #25 September 22, 2005 QuoteHere is the Tri 190 I had last year. It was my first canopy! That kicks ass! Did you sell it? Cuz if not, I want!"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
