SPAWNmaster

One very personal aspect of the sport is the risk-reward ratio...I see no reason why he shouldn't want to be more informed so as to make a better decision about skydiving.

Thank you for all the responses! Actually, Minneapolis was kind of in the back of my mind, I've read and heard a lot of good things about it...I will start looking at it for sure. Grad school is not really something I'm thinking about at the moment. I'm REALLY sick of school and the Communications field makes experience more valuable than education (unless you want to be a professor then a master's or Ph.D is necessary). And Nelson, thank you for your comment as well- I am interested and sent you a facebook message. Olympia thank you for offer, I'm sending a PM your way. Thanks guys!

Thanks Simon, I will bring this up later and we'll look into it...I know she DOES NOT like hot weather at all though so...might be an iffy suggestion. The other thing is we are either trying to be close to Vancouver for when our work permits finally do go through we can just move there OR be close to where we are in the northeast already to reduce our costs. So I don't know that the South will fly. But it's an idea! And to the other guy, my fiancee and I both pretty much grew up around NYC and it is a disgusting city and people are assholes. Nothing for us there besides through-the-roof cost of living. Good luck to you with that.

looks like a 3-rings to me

Hey guys. I would appreciate some life feedback from some of you. Let me preface by saying I'm an 09 college graduate with a B.S. in Communications, Management & Design living in upstate New York currently. I had plans to move to Vancouver with my fiancee, but work permits and visa issues have changed those plans. We considered just moving to Seattle and waiting till the paperwork finally goes through and THEN moving to Vancouver, but feel like saving money might be a better thing and moving to a closer city instead. We are looking at the following places and are open-minded: -chicago -boston -portland -seattle I am looking for a PR/Marketing type of job or IT type stuff. I have a pretty diverse skill set. Now...that said.... Does anyone have any advice on what are good cities or places to be for recent college graduates in my field? Any places with a decent job market in related fields? The bottom line is that we do NOT want to stay where we are so we are determined to move, it's just a question of where at the moment. Out west has it's pros and cons- likewise, staying in this region has its pros and cons but are looking for advice and/or wisdom about where opportunity is and how to start off or where to go. Any advice? For what it's worth I've attached my resume in case that gives you a better idea of what I can do. I'm not asking for favors just advice on what places are hot for jobs/recent grads these days. Note that I've already tapped resources at my college and am just trying to get a wider opinion from people. Thanks for your input :D A52605 edit to add: NYC is completely out of the question

I haven't even cut away a llama...never gives me any mals: (see attached)

Yep! Probably the first 20 jumps I put on this canopy were all double fronts. Perhaps this is not "enough" practice but I'd like to put out the idea that I didn't just start yanking a riser one day and call myself a swooper - this video and everything I do in the sky is as calculated as I can be (I'm the limiting factor, of course, because I'm human). I think there's a general impression from people in this thread (because obviously they don't know me in the real world) that I've just started swooping without any research/courses/thought/etc. which is unfounded. My S&TA and the experienced guys all look out for me and are not afraid to speak their mind. For what it's worth EVERY skydive I have been on has had an emphasis on canopy control. Anyways, thank you for your post and opinion. I posted a question out there with video to give a context and have had a wide variety of opinions from all kinds of jumpers here with insight that I was looking for as well as insight I wasn't looking for and am grateful for. BSBD

Depends what you're trying to do. I have a 201 and it's sick for tracking and wingsuiting. There is software for Mac that can interface with the 201 btw. I'm not sure about the eTrex but the wintec fits in my audible pocket in my helmet. The tracking and functionality of it is easy and accurate.

Dharma and Cash, thanks for your comments. I appreciate your advice and will try and do things "the right way". I suppose I may have to put HP canopy flight on hold until I get settled financially so I can stay current enough to progress (and buy a new canopy...). Again thanks for the posts. BSBD

Very good point, you are probably right about that! Thanks.

For what it's worth I will heed the consensus here. You make sense. I guess it'll be interesting explaining to my S&TA and instructors why I'm getting yet another canopy... As far as that's concerned, would something like a similar sized jedei do for me? The problem is money...I will be jobless in about 3 weeks, am moving internationally, planning/paying for my upcoming wedding and simply cannot afford a Sabre2 or Safire2 (even used they run upwards of 1k which is way out of my limit). Note that I have jumped safire2's before and think they are pretty rad, would definitely get one if I could afford it. I'm not looking for a shortcut, but at least for now would be unable to pay for those canopies. Used jedeis seem to run cheaper and from what I understand have a good amount of dive which seems to be the idea behind me getting a more "swoop orientated" canopy. Am I off target still? What other canopies within the 400-900 (used) price range would suit me?

Will do, frost. Thank you.

I'm not sure why this has become so heated, I had no intention of pissing everyone off. Please don't make any assumptions about my attitude in real life because of what I am replying here...I try not to post shit on DZ.com because most experienced guys find a way to flame everyone who is not as high and mighty. I just figured I could get some advice and I did, and I appreciate the entire range of advice given not just the stuff you may be thinking I wanted to hear or whatever. Derrick I'll go ahead and answer your questions- 1) I have practiced as many combination of input techniques as possible. Up high and down low, ranging from no brakes sharp riser turn to wide and slower carves gaining speed...using harness, toggles, risers, etc. 2) I am not landing on rears yet, I have heard in person and read a lot of mixed opinions about this and am not quite comfortable with it yet in the context of swooping. I could've landed them no problem on my previous canopy and this is something I intend to have completely dialled before changing canopy or downsizing again. 3) 9/10 times my accuracy is exactly where I want it to be. Obviously this is not perfection but something I am still striving for and intend to have nailed before changing canopy or downsizing again. I am mostly hitting the gates where and how I want it to be but something I am currently working on, of course. The main issue I am seeing is that the recovery arc of the stiletto is quite quick (as mentioned by someone else I think) so I find myself planing out higher in some cases (which is better than too low, obviously). I'd rather start too high and try and juice as much dive possible to get where I want rather than start the swoop too low and relying on the canopy plane me out on time or have to dig out of the corner, etc. 4) All of my high altitude openings are solos so I have the whole sky for myself in those cases. Also, when I'm doing any swooping or canopy practicing in general I always wait for the rest of traffic to be ON THE GROUND. I think this is kind of a no brainer...but you don't know unless you ask I suppose. 5) Regarding your answer about my flaring, having thought about it before posting the ground speed issue was what I figured. I understood this component of downwind landing in general (canopy 101) but since there are a lot of variables involved in swooping, figured I'd get some clarity from the pros. Thanks for confirming. And I guess although you didn't ask about this I'll just put this out to everyone involved in this thread: My overall "strategy" in progressing is to master the entire range of my canopy's performance at every level, so part of that for me is being able to swoop downwind and know the performance of my canopy in the 90 degree config before going to 180. I'm not sure what part of getting a more wholesome perspective on canopy flight is "retarded" as someone put it but that's what I'm trying to do. I'd appreciate if those who are giving more heated responses kind of cool off, no reason to get pissy, I'm trying to appreciate your advices and heed the wisdom here but it's harder to when you cram it down my throat. I get it, your saving my life. Now get off your high horse.

Well, dude. I'd like to explain a couple of the points you've hit on to defend myself but I don't feel like perpetuating an argument here. I've simply asked for advice and now I have it. Thank you for your input.

Thank you very much for your advice, that's a lot for me to start thinking about and working on and I appreciate it. Every jump I'm learning new things and this will give me some more stuff to work on. To NWFlyer: I hang out high till everyone's on the ground before setting up my swoops. Thanks guys! Perhaps the Sabre2 is a better canopy for me...I'm going to get a demo some time and see what I think.

You make it sound like I've never done this before? I only have 200 jumps but a large portion of these are hop 'n pops and high up jumps soley for canopy flight. I've taken canopy courses and am constantly getting video and help and advice from other jumpers. I had my standard 90 dialed in so I'm taking it downwind to get used to the speed before moving on to 180s. I MAXED out my previous canopy and an instructor advised me to downsize and move to a more tapered canopy since I knew I was going to focus on this discipline already. Please don't be a dick I've asked for constructive criticism. I'm conscious of the fact that I'm doing downwinders on a Stiletto with a camera, that's my choice and my risk. edit to add: So far no one has really addressed my question about my flare or anything.

Hey there...looking to tap into the collective wisdom here- Looking for some advice, or constructive criticism rather, on my 90 downwind swoop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ANMJY5inhk Stiletto 135 loaded 1.19 starting the 90 at 300ft. I'm in half brakes and let the canopy dive for 1 or 2 seconds, get on double fronts for a couple of seconds and give a combination of harness and riser input for a slow 90 carve. In the video there are some obvious things like I overshot the setup a bit so I carved wider and had to give some harness at the end to avoid the bushes. I think I am approaching things the right way here and have some guidance, have taken canopy courses, etc. One thing I'd like advice about specifically: towards the end there I feel like I lost a little power in the flare...could it be that I finished the flare a little late which caused me to "drop out"? Also, the riser pressure and recovery arc on the stiletto are a little annoying...any advice on how to deal with this? (perhaps I should just suck it up and learn to hang on double fronts more?) I guess that's two separate issues but whatever. Any responses are greatly appreciated!

there are plenty of manufacturers to choose from but since people are mentioning, I will have to say I have heard nothing but good things about Liquid Sky but I personally have a DeepSeed I can vouch for. Cheap, amazing quality, suit flies sick, awesome options and palette, etc. Oh and customer service was above and beyond at every step. Just my 2cts

I am not a TI nor am I an instructor of any kind but I do have an opinion. Here are some observations- The very head-up attitude on exit seems to be extremely effective for this tandem couple. With more weight on the front, in a dead air exit it's more important to leave with a head-high attitude to avoid pitching down. Too high will result in a sit or on your back. With no or very little airspeed I think that a drogue would be less efficient and possibly a hazard without a small delay (perhaps around 2 seconds?). Altitude and spot will also need more consideration given the nature of balloon jumps and the specialty of a tandem from this aircraft as well. I hope there is some video of this if/when you do it! :D

Thank you for following up, however I think it would be helpful for jumpers considering their canopy progression to hear about your experience and impressions rather than just "i love the openings".

I'm not trying to give advice or cure your problem but here is a recommendation: Up high make sure you are in a clear airspace. Close your eyes and do slow and smooth flares and feel how the wind and lift change. You should feel more connected with the canopy and will get a better feel with what is happening with the canopy. Try and find that "sweet spot" where you know you are maintaining a low vertical speed but can still feel some forward glide. Again doing all this with closed eyes can really help you get a feel for it. Just an exercise that could help.

So far I think Anne-Laure and Roy from Skydive Southwest Florida offer the best package deals: http://www.para-service.com/

If you have 26 jumps, that's most likely cut away time, but this is a pretty hard question to say one way or another on. Personally, I'd find the most experienced jumper on the DZ and ask him, then ask the next person down. Then ask 5 other people. Holy cow that's the scariest scenario I've heard of. Is there even a situation where a canopy couldn't be controlled without cutting a line? (not counting a situation like an auto-turning canopy with the breaks stowed). I mean, surely you could steer with the risers and that'd be by far the best option on a reserve? Personally I think I'd be considering letting the reserve just fly straight and hope I land somewhere soft if I couldn't steer at all before I cut a line do what you gotta do to save your life...

it seems that that's what's going on in the base community. you'll find new gear thats super marked up to make up for the R&D and production costs of the very specific canopy types. not to mention that rigs are given hefty price tags because of bells and whistles.

Besides the planform and overall build of your canopy and other factors, the perceived amount of flare a canopy has is related to how much speed you have. The more speed your wing has, the more lift it will generate (aerodynamics 101). Note that technically your canopy will always "flare" the same way but the perceived effects will be different because of wind and other variability. If you are coming in hot under a zippy small elliptical, the speed will give you a noticeable "popup" when flaring...whereas a much larger and slower flying f111 7-cell (for example) might not result in such a popup. the idea of flaring is about managing the amount of lift you have available to you. regarding your question: the short answer is it depends. talk to your instructors about this around the bonfire!