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Just bought a lightly used small Cookie G2 and it fits well except for the padding around the chin area. Is there any way to reduce the thickness of this padding?

Thanks, chaospilot!

What type of lines are on a Hurricane 135 made in 2013? Spectra or Vectran? The manufacturer (Parachute Systems) is out of business, I believe.

My wingloading is about 1.15 to 1.2.

Lee, I really appreciate the analysis. I was thinking about a Triathlon but wanted softer openings. Somebody told me that Tri's with the 5.0 mod open better. Is that true? Again, thanks for the info...and I will take all of this into consideration before switching canopies. Cheers!

Well...I'm not sure the Spectre 135 was the best choice for my old body. It is really ground hungry and requires a 2-stage flare, which I found out the hard way. Of course, my landing phobia has come back with a vengeance - I had a couple bad landings in the military which required surgery. Might have something to do with my age. I went many, many years without landing fear. Anyway, I might be putting an almost new Spectre 135 up for sale if it doesn't suit my needs after a few more jumps. Oh well, I have the off season to decide.

Thanks, Mark. Looks like I need to get them lengthened. Much appreciated!

Got a Spectre 135 but haven't jumped it yet. Is 17 and 1/2 inches long enough for the lower brake lines? I have short risers, so I'm hoping that will work.

Settled on a Spectre 135.

Gotta be the camera flyer's fault. Talk about no separation! TI is to be commended though. Kept his cool and did what he had to do.

Okay, I know I will get many opinions and that's what I'm looking for. Here's my situation. I am an older jumper with lots of jumps but my landings suck. One reason might be that I bought so many used canopies instead of saving my money and buying a new one. Another reason is a bit of anxiety about landings. I had a few bad ones when I was a jumper in the service and a couple surgeries to prove it. Looking back, maybe the best landings I've had were on a Sabre 135. But those openings are not good for a guy in his 60's. So, any advice and opinions will be greatly appreciated!

Good stuff, Annette!

Very nice article! We can never know/learn too much about our gear.

Glad nobody was hurt. Sorry it had to be the "Shark". Hope it won't cost too much to repair it.

I'm buying a used Dolphin Mini-D that has tuck tabs and is in great shape. My question is whether it will fit me. The seller sent me a photo of the mfg. label and it shows "Mini-D" and then "XS S XS". Does the "XS" refer to the reserve and container sizes and the "S" the harness size? I am 5' 3-1/2" tall and weigh 128 lbs. Thanks, -Ed

This is your wheelhouse, Annette - travel writing! I have to say I have not been overly impressed with your attempt at how-to articles but you have nailed the traveling boogie writer thing to a tee!

Article approved by Brian Germain - that says something. Good basic information, Corey. :)

Yep, Eric, that's the way I used to do it. Steered with my head and shoulders.

Good advice but I would have the moves worked out well ahead of time. Anything that isn't muscle memory once you're in the plane won't be easy to visualize. Yes, visualize the skydive... but don't over-rehearse. I like to visualize the dive after takeoff, once halfway up and a final time just before jump run. Any more than that and I confuse myself. Also don't wait until jump run to breathe and relax. Learn calming strategies and practice them on the way up.

I believe the team who won Intermediate at last year's USPA Nationals did an H exit for the entire competition. Of course, that's not gonna win in the Open class. See post 11. Yea, I forgot about that post. Haven't visited this tread for a while.

Yep, I wanted to do that with previous teams and believe it would have made the exit more solid, at least between OC and Point.

I believe the team who won Intermediate at last year's USPA Nationals did an H exit for the entire competition. Of course, that's not gonna win in the Open class.

Thunderbow, I like your post. Makes me feel pathetic whining about not getting to compete in 4-way. I'm 62 now and still able to do 4-way with just about any moderately experienced group. Glad you always put family first. I always have as well. Guess that's why I don't have any medals in my closet. Of course, there's a chance I could still win a medal in Intermediate but if I never do, it won't break my heart. Skydiving doesn't define me, it just adds something to my character. :) Yep, once a skydiver always a skydiver! Blue Skies Always! -Ed

Nice write-up. I quit for 15 years once because I just couldn't afford it anymore. I loved 4-way and 8-way and worked hard at it but I just couldn't afford to do teams like a lot of other jumpers could. It hurt to see them training so I quit. But that's just me. Other jumpers can take competition or leave it; I couldn't so I left the sport. When I came back 15 years later, it was basically more of the same. I tried to do teams but money was still an issue. I almost made it a couple times but somebody quit the team both times and we couldn't find a replacement. So here I am watching lots of friends train and compete and take tunnel trips and do big-ways while I sit here watching video and living my dreams vicariously. Part of me wants to quit and use my spare time to edit my wife's books and live life at a slower pace. The other part wants to mortgage everything I own to do another effin' team! This time I probably won't quit though. Instead, I'll jump just enough to still get on the good loads and I'll keep working on the sad-ass canopy skills a lot of us older jumpers brought with us. I'll probably jump less and less as I get older until I get so effin' old that I won't know the difference between how badly I suck and how good I used to be. I'll just think I'm turning lots of points and grin like a dumbass monkey. Jeez! I'm not unhappy...