gazoo

Personally, I find Pro-Packing simpler and easier. I think you'll find that, after you get used to the "different picture" that you get when pro-packing, you'll feel the same. I'm a very methodical person myself and had the same reservations when I started pro-packing, but I quickly got over it. Now, I find it difficult to flat-pack. At the end of the day, do what works for you. To quote an old friend: "The shit WANTS to open, all you got to do is not get in it's way" I'm sure you'll be fine packing your new parachute. My question is simply: At 32 jumps, cant you safely fly a Tri-175?

Don't forget about the Pilot. By all indications, all three conopies are very similar. I had a tough time chosing between them last year. I've yet to hear anything bad about any of them. I ended buying the Safire II, and I love it. However, be your own judge, try 'em out. Whatever choice you make, I guarantee you won't regret it. Good luck!

Again, define Intermediate. I got mine, loaded 1.41, at 173 jumps. I think I was a bit agressive, there. It took 20-30 jumps before I was super confident with the canopy. I hate to think what would have happened if I had of been cut-off on final during that time. That being said, it's a wonderfull canopy. Openings are a dream(bit slow on hop & pops), and flies stable in all flight modes. I'd recomend it to anybody. 200+/- jumps? Load it a bit lighter. BTW, the flare is HUGE. So what if it takes full arm extension to finish it? That's a flight characteristic, not a flaw. Besides, a large controll range will make the canopy easier to fly for a Novice-Intermediate jumper.(Less "twitch-y")

Yep, just let the nose hang, roll the shit out of the tail and pro-pack it. I tried psycho-packing mine and I found that it isn't any easier or faster, and my openings were usually 180deg off. And if you flip the bag back the wrong way, things get REALLY interesting! For me, Pro-packing gives much better openings. If you have trouble with it being too slippery, try S-folding it into the bag as opposed to trying to pull the bag over the completed folds.

My Sabre 190(1992) opened brisk, to say the least. It had a pocket slider, I don't know how much it helped, but I wouldn't want to try the original slider. Replacing the brake lines helped a bunch. The openings were at least managable after that. I tried every packing trick I know to slow it down, even Psycho-packed it a couple of times. No effect. I'm afraid that fast openings are just the nature of the beast. Whatever you do, DON'T roll and stuff the outer 4 into the center cell. They will tend to stay there and unless you can land a 1 cell, you've got a reserve ride. I was fortunate enough to discover this at 7000ft. It finally opened by 3500 as I was reaching for my handles. Best advice? Bigger slider, check the trim, pack carefully, and when you get the cash, buy a Safire.

I think one has to remember that the reserve(worst case scenario's) can be deployed from ANY body position from ANY speed(terminal head-down to sub-terminal belly), main attached OR cut-away. Reserve deployments are rarely textbook. Can anyone evaluate ALL the possible scenarios and dictate which configuration is best? No. It's beyond me as well. Reserve on top has worked well so far. Why mess with it?

I was thinking about silkscreening my nickname onto the bottom skin of my new canopy(Safire 2). Will this affect the strength of the fabric? Are there certian inks I should look at using? Any info would be appreciated.

I love my Sabre 190. Even at a relativly light wing load(1.1-1), the handling is crisp, with good penetration into high winds. I've wrung the s**t out of this canopy and it's forgiven me every time. Stable in deep brakes, excellent stall recovery, smooth and predictable on rizer inputs, and a huge flare, I'd recomend it to anyone looking for their first sport canopy. Openings were problematic at first, but a quick trip to my rigger(new brake lines) and some packing tips(roll, roll, roll the nose and pull slider forward all the way) got everything sorted out. Downsize? Naw, I'm still loving my Sabre.