mrkeske

How is it compared to other canopies on the market, like Stiletos, Katana, Crossfire, etc.?

Hello, I was participating on a Big-Way camp some weeks ago and everything very fine except for one thing. As we needed to pull below 3500 feet, some times even below 3000 feet. Visualy checking my altimeter between the time I released the pilot chute from my hand until my canopy was 100% flying it always took around 1000 feet to open. That means that I was with my canopy between 1700-2500 feet. This generated a big risk if I had to do emergency procedures, so I was a little worried. And no matter how me or my packer packed the canopy, it was consistently taking 1000 feet to open. I currently fly a Sabre2 170 loaded at 1.4, my exit weight is around 240 pounds. Because of that I'm conseidering maybe to change my main canopy or even buying a second canopy for situations where a shorter snivel would be very good ("Having the right tool for right job."). So what I would like to know, is there any canopy in tha market that has shorter snivels? And by how much? I'm not looking only for the advertised snivel, but the actual experience of other skydivers regarding opening of their canopies.

Hello, I just bought a Vector V3 size V348 for my Sabre2 170 and my Optimum 176. I was wondering how much would I be really able to downsize in this container? Specifically, would I be able to downsize eventually to a Sabre2 135/Katana 135 some day? I know it's not on UPT's sizing chart, I would actually know if it is possible and/or if anybody has already done it or does it!!!

AADs are mandatory at most DZs and I think ANY risk that an AAD carries for the skydiver outweighs the security it gives for any unplanned problema in the skydive. As for RSL/MARDS I have the exact same opinion. But in a few cases I woul not want to have it "armed" in you container (canopy formation, water landing, for example). Personnaly, I think that it should be mandatory to have an RSL or a MARD. It's a backup device that in most cases it is needed it will save you. Personally, I think this devices shoul be mandatory the same AADs are! I do not understand how so many 1000+ J jumps skydivers still insist on using any of theese devices

Well, my logic, if eventually I downsize to a canopy that will require a smaller container, I certainly am going to see that I'm still able to pack my Optimum 176 (WL ~1.4 for me) in it, regardless if my smaller main will be a Crossfire-139 or a Velo-97. It's just good sense giving more importance to your security when you need a reserve than to your "looks" or how "fat" your container is. If your unconscious and the AAD fires (several examples here: http://www.dropzone.com/safety/General_Safety/Implications_of_Recent_Tracking_Tracing_and_Wingsuit_Incidents_938.html) you will be glad that the reserve was large enough for you no to die, or get maimed on a ground impact!

My opinion, rent until you downsize to a canopy small enough that you will need at least 100+ jumps to downsize again. Get a container that will let you downsize within that same container. Don't forget to have an RSL, unless you are going to do CReW, get an RSL/MARD (Skyhook). This should be you first equipment, in my opinion. That is what I did!!! Also take into account if you jump only one DZ or many. Before I bought my first rig I jumped 4 different DZs, and every DZ has different equipments in different states, that adds some extra risk to your skydiving (always renting a different rig)

I think that the reserve should always be the biggest possible, keep always the smallest W/L possible. Where you are going to need it, something already screwed up, so your judgment will be altered after it's used. Why do the reserve and main always have to be about the same size anyway? Wouldn't it just be good sense always have a 200 sq. ft. reserve, regardless of the size of the main?

Here in Brazil they just dropped camera usage from C License (250 jumps) to B license (50 jumps) to fun jumpers (but still is C License for "professional" camera flyers). As a fairly novice jumper that already go some bumps on the road I feel I can give some opinions. When you have a small camera, you should put it where it is least risky to entagle with the lines and risers. I jump with my camera just above my eyes, in a front mount. I do not feel safe when it is on top of my helmet just like an unicorn horn. I would feel safer if I had something that woul be flatter that would have less risk of entangelment with the screw of my camera. One thing I noticed jumping here in Brazil, is that skydivers film one another to debrief themselves after a jump, some times even with the help of more experienced jumpers that were not on the jump. I know it's not the same as getting some coaching, but when you have to pay 300 BRL to do a coach jump (aprox. 120 USD) it really stings to the vast majority of brazilians (consider that the averege income in Brazil is lower that in the US/Europe). Not denying that it's not wotth it(the coaching), but... For entaglement issues, I see that most skydivers are not prepared for something like that (regardless if you have 50 jumps or 5000 jumps). I saw myself a skydiver with about 2000 jumps saying that if he got an entaglment, he didn't knew what to do and that he'd be screwed if somethign like that happened. As for distractions, different jumpers are going to have different perceptions on having a camera with them. If you act as "turn it on and forget about it until after you land", the main distraction you have is turning it on just before getting out of the door. Today, this is very commonplace in the DZs i've jumped here in Brazil. Focus on the jump after switching the camera on, just that. When you jump with your camera on a fun jump and want to get "the right angle", turn it off with an open canopy to save battery or memmory space and stuff like that, don't jump with it, it is dirtracting you in ways it should not, and that really makes the jump more dangerous. As for coaches with camera, I already gave the camera more importance that it need. Good coaches do not need a camera to train you, that's for sure. But the camera is a very valuable tool for any coach, no human beeing is able to rembember every single detail about the jump. And as a student, any student, specially the more novice we are, we are going to appreciate to see ourselves getting better on video.

When you deploy your canopy, you are thought that you need to see your canopy deploying an see it if it's square, slider down, etc. But over time, you start doing other things, like looking at surrounding and seeing if there is anyone near you, or even starting a rear riser turn toward the the landing area, etc. And as times goes, I've seen that many skydivers have different procedures, some feel the canopy opening and look where their headinng. Others always look at canopy until they are at full flight and the pilot released the brakes. I've seen that many different skydivers have different opinions and procedures and preferences as they are getting (or already are) more experienced. I personally, see where I am heading, while "feeling" the opening of the canopy, after it's open I head twoards the landing area with rear risers and then colpase slider widden chest straps and pull the toggles. What I would like to see, is many opinions/prefrences/thoughts on this subject, what do you do between pulling the hackey and unstowing your breaks?

I already learned from some mistakes I made, fortunatly, no serius injuries. Still a relatively newbie on the sport At about 20 jumps, still a student, I forgot my wristaltimeter. I had an audible and deployed at 5000 feet when it beeped. Happened to me a second time 1 day later and that time an instructor lent me his for the jump. Lesson learned: check your gear At about 40 jumps I was entering an airplane wiht my chest straps untight. Got yelled at and the I fastened them. Lesson learned: CHECK YOU FUCKING GEAR At about 120 jumps forgot to put on my goggles on a solo jump. First jump without helmet, so I could put on the goggle during freefal and everything went OK. Lesson learned: take extra care when you do something different (in any way). I was excited to do a jump withou a helmet and simply forgot to put on the goggles At around 170 jumps I made a 180 degree turn to close to the ground to fly into the wind (no HP landing), flared to agressively and my canopy got too much lift and flew some feet upwards before falling to the ground. No injuries, but a serius blow to my confidence in flying my canopy. Lesson learned: better to land downwind than trying to get into the wind At around 210 jumps (about three weeks ago) I jumped with a jumper with 30 jumps and I was supposed to film him oppening his parachute at 5000 feet and then track away. Unfortunatly, the jumper lost altitude awareness and dia a backloop at about 4000 feet, and deployed at about 3200. So to avoid a collision I tracked away and deployed at about 2000 feet. Fortunatly an unaventful opening and I landed safely. Talked to the jumper afterwards. Lessons learned: If you brief something and It doesen't go as planned (his deplyment at 5000 feet) abandon the dive and go away Get a rig with a RSL/MARD (i have one without). When you for some reason have to pull lower to avoid other hazards, it will make any emergency procedure safer - below 1500 feet I feel that that 1 second you take from cutting your main and going to your reserve can make the difference, and also because you can get distracted because of the "shit that just happened" and take longer for a procedure if you need it. Always take extra care when you jump with someone you never jumped before and they have less jumps than you (especially when you both have less than 500 jumps)

I felt very fortunate to start skydiving with them. Professional personel, especially for tandems and students.