conor

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Everything posted by conor

  1. d123 I think I know just the coaches for you: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/sofpidarf/ Be sure to post your cool swooping pictures (I mean x-rays) Conor
  2. Thanks - yes I had seen that page but it didn't show a score for all rounds. I guess they only did 2 rounds of speed and distance.
  3. Are the final CP scores posted yet? I couldn't find them...
  4. I've got a Removable Deployment System (from PEA Engineering) and I'm trying to figure out how to attach the long lanyard (that connects to the pilot chute) to the two shorter lanyards (that connect to the pilot chute). The instructions say to use a "larks head knot" but the accompanying photo is not very clear. Can anyone confirm if my attachment method is correct - see attached photo (I've left the knot slack so you can see how it is made but obviously I would tighten it before use).
  5. I agree. Ok Airspeed, Fastrax, Golden Knights and Fury have good reasons for not attending the WC but what about the rest of you? Each country can send up to 4 teams to the World Cup. Did no one want to go? You guys missed out on a great event.
  6. A more general flight control that is often overlooked is BODY POSITION. Most people just hang under their canopies like a sack of potatoes. By getting big (stick legs and arms out, turning booties sideways, etc) we catch more air, increase drag and slow down the canopy's flight through the air. Similarly, by getting small, we penetrate the air better. These controls are more noticeable on the smaller canopies (where the jumper's drag is a significant component of the overall drag) and are useful if you are trying to fly in formation. As an input it may not feel significant but when you add up all the small insignificant inputs (collapse slider, open chest strap, collapsible pilot chute, etc) they can mean the difference in getting back from a long spot and not getting back.
  7. Hi Mike If you have the position on the ground and are just trying to replicate it in the sky, then all you need is practice. Obviously doing tunnel time or just doing loads of jumps will help but they are expensive so my advice to you is not underestimate the value of ground practice. You can develop your muscle memory without even jumping. Have a coach observe you (on the ground) practicing the position and once you know you're doing it right, just keep doing it (preferably with your eyes closed and imagining the sights and sounds and feeling of freefall). Rather than practicing on the floor or a creeper, get into a hanging harness (if available) or lie on a bed - they are more realistic. When you do actually do it in freefall, you may need to fine tune your position a bit but if you have developed the muscle memory then you're 90% there. By the way, if you are turning rather than sliding in the intended direction, then you are not giving enough leg input (you're upper body is moving faster than your lower body - resulting in a turn around your knees). Try giving less arm input. Anyway, enjoy this next stage of your skydiving progression and don't get frustrated. Never again in your skydiving career will you learn so much over such a short number of jumps. The finesse will come with jumps and practice. All the best Conor
  8. Hi People Will I fit my Velocity 90 into an RSK 0.5? I know the Sun Path website shows the suggested canopy size in the range 80 - 85, but I also know that Sun Path are traditionally conservative in their suggested sizing. (I've put a VE111 into an NJK, a ST150 into an OJ and my brother has a VE103 in a RSK1). Has anyone got experience/views on putting a VE90 into an RSK0.5? Cheers Conor
  9. conor

    Big-Way Records

    I'm just looking for some clarification on what criteria needs to be met for a big-way record to hold. As I understand things, the criteria are (or used to be): 1. Everybody must survive the jump. 2. The formation that is planned must be the formation that is built i.e. slot specific and grip specific (does the slot specific rule still apply?) 3. The formation must be stable. 4. The formation must be held for 3 seconds (does this still apply?). There are probably a few more technical rules I'm missing. Can anyone confirm the above, or add anything? Thanks! Conor
  10. Hi John I think Eoin has those Neuman tackified gloves if you wanted to try them. Regarding technique, I prefer to push out on the rears rather than pull down. I also find I get a better grip if I grab the riser at the top (up by the slink). If you are planning to use rears for your plane out, I would suggest you start flying your full canopy ride on rears (except for your final turn) on every jump until you get used to them. This will get you used to giving input with the rears, give you experience of how the canopy responds to rear riser input, and you will get more comfortable (and find a better grip position) as you increase your "exposure" to rear risers. You will also be able to find them easier when you do need them. Hope this helps. Conor
  11. Check out http://www.thepai.ie/PAI/index.html for centres affiliated to the PAI. The IPC is the biggest one, but GoSkydive and The National Parachute Centre (Falcons) may be closer to you. The Wild Geese is in Northern Ireland and would be quite a distance for you to travel.
  12. I'm interested in hearing the opinions of experienced canopy pilots on the best way to carve a canopy on landing. 1. Would you simply carry the turn from the dive into the carve or would you allow the canopy to level off first? 2. If you level off first, would you level off at your normal height, or slightly lower? 3. What is the best form of input to carve the canopy? 4. If you're doing it right, what distance should you cover, compared to a normal distance run? 5. Whatbank angle would you be at? 6. What are the main safety issues to watch out for? I would nomally level off first before starting the carve (but slightly lower than, say, if I was going for distance - which for me is about 4-5 seconds after completing my turn). I would give input on the rears and harness, switching to toggles to get the canopy back over my head. I might only cover about a third to half of the distance I would get on a normal distance run. This is carving about 45-90 degrees. I'm currently jumping a Velocity 90 loaded at about 1.95. Thanks Conor
  13. How did the canopy formation jump go? Are there any pictures?
  14. Well done Brian. You'll surely be in the top 10 at the next meet. And great news about Pablo! Please pass on my congratulations :-)
  15. Hi gingerjo I attended Brian's course twice. It is very thorough and well worth it. He is an excellent instructor and if you're having problems with your landings (or other elements of canopy flight) he'll be able to sort you out. Conor
  16. Some information on the swoop: Brian was jumping a VE96 with weight (about 6lbs) loaded up to about 2.1 if I remember correctly. The dropzone is >2000ft above sea level. The downwind component was not excessive (I landed straight after him) although I can't comment on the exact wind speed. Although it is difficult to extract any real detail from the mpg, if you slow-mo the original video on a large screen, you can see his shadow pass over the dirt at the far end of the pond when he has just levelled off. The pilot does acknowledge that it would not be an official world record since there were no entry gates or judges or whetever else it takes, but it was still a killer swoop and he knows he did it - which is all that counts.
  17. Asking skydivers to choose their favourite colors is like asking children to choose their favourite sweets - there will be many different suggestion, and some will be disgusting! I'm looking forward to seeing some of the suggestions put forward here just for the cringe factor :-) All I would suggest is that you go for something which will set it aside from the other canopies in its class. A different color scheme, dominated by colors not commonly used. My suggestion would be white top skin and bottom skin, with orange (flame?) diamonds, stabilisers, ribs and cross bracing. Kinda like a sandwich of orange between white top and bottom skins. Whatever it takes to look different and distinctive (but still cool). Now...what's my prize? A free canopy?
  18. Chris - you say that when I'm transitioning to toggles that I should be smooth also. If I go smoothly to toggles, won't the canopy surge forwards as I ease off on the risers and begin the toggle input? Most of the rear-risering I've seen has involved the jumper stabbing on the toggles -bringing them quickly down just far enough to maintain the same flat glide without interuption. The remainder of the toggle input would still be quite smooth. I presume when you talk about smooth transition to toggles, you mean smoothness of flight (although not necessarily smoothness of input) or am I missing something here?
  19. I am hoping to learn rear riser landing techniques but realise the necessity to practice at altitude first. However, when practicing up high, I find it difficult to gauge the right amount of rear riser input to give to level off the canopy. Because there are no references, it is difficult to tell if you have given too much input and caused the canopy to climb again, or not enough - and the canopy does not level off. Any tips on how to get a feel for it? All you can really go on is the "pull" effect in the harness since visual references do not help.
  20. I can't comment on the VX109 since I never owned one but I can tell you about my Javelin exeriences: A Stiletto 135 will fit easily into an OJ with a 143r reserve. If a VX109 is anything like the ST135, I would say you'll have an optimum fit. A Velocity 120 seems to pack bigger than the ST135 and was a bit tighter in the OJ. I now have a VE111 in an NJK (that's 2 sizes down from the OJ) and it fits but it's a bit tight (reserve is 113r). Also, take the manufacturers' canopy size recommendations with a pinch of salt. In my experience, you can always put a smaller container than they suggest (provided you are a good packer). I suppose they are just cautious because they don't want to sell a container to some dude who just wants the smallest rig he can get and then he can't squeeze his rig into it. Who wants an unhappy customer?
  21. Hi guys, Just to clarify my reason for seeking this information... I'm not looking for evidence that high performance landings are safe. I know they are extremely dangerous. However, I am trying to promote the concept of advanced canopy training. I would suggest that introducing training in this area will ultimately reduce injuries rather than increase them. Five years ago, canopy control classes were practically unheard of. Gradually the notion spread that these were a good idea. I'm just trying to spread them into my country. I would like to put forward the case that high performance landings can be done safely provided there has been adequate training and practice in a controlled environment. CK
  22. I am interested in learning of the injury record at the pro swoop meets. I would believe that injuries among the top competitors are relatively infrequent but have no data to back up this assertion. Does anyone know roughly how many injuries (if any) were at the IPC World Cup in Sept 2003, and the extent of those injuries (severe/minor?). The same for the PST meets. Anyone know off hand any such information, or where I could get it? (The information is needed for a presentation I have to make). Thanks, CK
  23. Mallin, I plan to stay as far away from you as possible! We get rid of you for 11 months of the year and thats not long enough :-) Conor
  24. I'm interested in getting involved in competitive swooping over the next year and would like to know of any good European dropzones that I could train at. Ideally the dropzone would have - good weather (at least most of the time) - good airlift potential (possible to do 8-10 jumps in a day) - reduced jump prices for those that don't go to full altitude (most training jumps would just be hop n pops) - easy to access (geographically) - good landing area - swoop pond (not essential) Does anyone know of such a paradise in Europe? Thanks, Conor
  25. Hey people, Anyone know if there is a canopy piloting WC planned for 2004 and if so what dates have been proposed? If nothing is in stone yet, approximately when (and where) will the event be held? Cheers, CK