hokierower

It has already been said, but running a league is a massive undertaking and the cost to install and maintain a swoop pond is pretty big as well. We were pretty lucky with CK in that the pond already exists.

I don't think you'll have too much luck starting a third league (there's a new one that just started in the Midwest) when FLCPA dominates most of the time and money that swoopers have because it traditionally leads up to Nationals. This year is the exception because nats is in September.

The rest of the CP community routinely does everything you mentioned to fly to Zhills/Raeford to compete. There are even quite a few people from Hawaii who have done it the last couple of years.

I'd recommend you come to CK for one of the two NECPL comps this year and talk things through with Brad.

Kurbe105

90 deg turns not being my normal approach(270s are my comfort zone)

...what?!?! You can't revert back to a straight forward 90 for one jump???

To stay on topic...no, never got a finger caught in a steering line guide ring, but then again I grip my rears high up at the slink.

jakee

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I'll go back to the real world now. One more failed attempt at having an online discussion.

Let's try a real discussion Two questions (both of which have already been mentioned)

1) Why were you using heavy toggle input directly after letting go the front risers, and what effect do you think this had on your recovery arc?

2) What benefit do you gain from loosening the chest strap if you haven't lowered your slider?

I'm gonna add to this...

1. Please don't initiate a surge/bump/depressurizing move (toggle flare and release) at that low of an altitude. While the chances are low, the possibility still remains of you encountering an outside force that could cause the canopy to collapse and you are so low that there is no way you can recover in time to save yourself.

2. Blis is right re: the chest strap. Even if you pull the slider down, loosening it isn't going to affect the canopy directly as your slider is still restricting how far your MLW can spread. It will make you more comfortable. That said, pulling the slider down will allow the risers to "fan out" more and flatten out the canopy.

3. I'm not sure what your "turn" consists of. You do a quick surge, grab the fronts, quickly rotate, and then begin a flare which you stop with about 1/3 to 1/2 input. What's your thought process behind it?

Gonna +1 what Dan said. I started learning to swoop on a Sabre2 150 @ 1.4 and progressed from there. Learning on a "larger" canopy is good for the exact reasons Dan mentioned and the sight picture is much more important at this stage of the game. Listen to your coaches and ask them about your progression. The Safire2/Sabre2 will frustrate you at times because any mistake you make during the turn will seem to cause the canopy to "auto-recover", but it's a wing/progression that shouldn't be tossed aside for convenience's sake.

Don't skimp on coaching. Even the pros get it.

I wish it was just stinky feet.

Once again I've reached the point where my swoop shoes are making me gag from their smell and they maintain a permanent residence outside. I'm looking for a replacement shoe and while my default is the DC Pure because of comfort, flat sole, and cushioning, they are not designed to dry easily. So what alternatives are out there that are tried and true?

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I didn't think that the roll rate was the issue for me, but it depends on how you're doing your turn, right? I feel like the roll rate increase from these wings will not only bring you around faster but also increase your dive angle, no? I guess if you're maximizing your dive angle then it's not as much of a change but I know I'm not thanks to the flysight.

Absolutely! On my 270 I had a slow "roll-in" transition to start my turn off. If you do it to fast, you get vertical too soon, and the canopy would start to recover since you don't have the rotation to keep it in a dive. You'd then plane out higher since the turn was quick and didn't burn off the altitude that the slower turn would.

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HA HA HA, so true. I'd suggest avoiding that with the Helix but, you're a grown ass man...

I'm really stoked to have the chance to jump all these wings in the same sizes to see what they're like and I think my experience is useful for people who aren't CP focussed but much less so for people who are. It comes down the the Helix openings and required precision and, the Leia's lack of stopping power. I can say confidently that the VK is a better wing for me and why but that may not be true for others.

Got the email from Helix today! 79 is shipping tomorrow so I'll have all this weekend to play with it...almost tempted to try it at the NECPL comp but I need to make up for a dismal Comp 2 performance.

What you said jives with the two demo jumps I did on the Helix 90. I started my 270 at the same altitude as I did on my VC84 but managed to come out high twice. I attributed it to the canopy being more receptive to the roll input of the harness and therefore me fighting to slow down the turn, but I'll definitely pay more attention when I get it.

I'll definitely chime in once I've gotten it. I'm hoping to put at least 10-15 jumps on it, if not more depending on how long they let me keep it. The ability to "trash pack" would be nice. I've gotten used to having to treat my VC84 like it's a live bomb while packing it for terminal. It was a relief last weekend when I put my stock 90 on and got "normal" openings.

That said, I won't be able to compare it to the other two as I haven't jumped either of them. I spent the first part of the year working on the 84 and the time since CP Nats to work on the 450 (stupid bump up to open class). Not enough time in the day and not enough money in the bank unfortunately.

How would you compare the recovery arc to a Comp Velo? I'm waiting to hear from Scott on my 79 demo, looking forward to it.

Awesome. Definitely looking forward to flying it.

Thanks for the insight. I've got a Helix 79 demo coming in two weeks and am really looking forward to playing with it. I got to make a few jumps on one of the prototype 90s after FLCPA Comp 3 and it was a blast.

I prefer the Fluidwings RDS. I've got a stock VE90 with one of Scott's removable sliders so that may be why. Feels like less of a PITA trying to pull it off the rings.

I hear you on the Comp openings with an RDS. Man they take delicate packing. Can't say they don't open quickly though.

The "Velocity 2" already exists as the Comp Velocity (VC). The introduction of the VK in no way diminishes the effectiveness of the VC nor does it eliminate it's role in the development of future canopy pilots. The "future" is that the standard Velocity slowly becomes replaced by the Comp Velocity. My Comp 84 at a 2.6 WL is still a boatload of fun doing 270s and as I'm moving into 450s it's getting even better. My flysight data is showing me hitting mid-80mph in the peak of my dive and coming through the gates at 65-70mph. The VC is still a swoop machine, it's just unfortunate that people are starting to look past it.

As far as more "swoop capable" canopies at lighter wing loadings, have you ever swooped at a Sabre2 @ 1.8? At that WL it's a great canopy to learn to swoop. Yes, it's a little unnerving because you have to start lower (not that much though), but it's a great "training canopy" because it requires solid skills to actually get a solid swoop out of it vs. a velo where you can throw a shitty turn and still get a "swoop". The Sabre2 almost forces you to learn technique first so you can swoop it properly.

Thanks Marcel. You planning on coming to any of the NECPL comps or Sunpath?

After comp 4 at Raeford I did three freefly jumps on my newly relined (500 Vectran) Comp 84 @ 2.6. Three slammer openings and two of them went right into line twists which I was able to kick out of with altitude to spare. Any pointers for packing a Comp for terminal?

DiverDave

FYI, they stated during the board of supervisors hearing that they intend to open in November 2015... That would be a fast build.

It would be, but those structures are pretty easy to put up, especially with skilled trades workers. A lot of concrete and steel, but primarily open spaces.

Can't wait for this to open. It's been almost 4 months since my last jaunt up at iFly Toronto and I'm going through some major withdrawal.

jacketsdb23

I wonder why vigil and cypres dont offer the shut down/disarm option after open canopy like the Argus swoop mode? Is this to protect for no pull after cutaway Or is the algorithm too challenging?

I suppose the market is probably limited as well, but id buy it if cypres offered it.

Just my $0.02, but I would think that they're trying to make a product that's as black and white as possible vs. one that has shifting parameters that could possibly backfire. I dunno, I'm not a manufacturer.

I started my progression on a Sabre2 150. Just make sure you get the right coaching.

Try watching this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JiAegc8EOw

It's a Sabre2 260. I've referenced PD's packing videos all the time. I pack my Velo the way Jess showed in her video. Worked thus far (knock on wood).

That said, take a look at this video as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i16HryVyRaI

It was done on Stiletto 150 and shows that people have packed canopies extremely strangely and they've opened.

Just read the USPA update email and it states that CP nationals in 2016 will be held APRIL 7-10 at Zhills. That's a full two months earlier than this year. What gives?

Get a pair of stock FF pants from ChutingStar (https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/pittz-freefly-pants) and then have someone cut them to size and add an RDS pocket (if you need one). Cheap(ish) and simple solution.

Carolinafest is held annually at Skydive Carolina in Chester, SC. It's a great boogie to attend and has a lot of awesome skydivers present.

tred

not to hijack the thread but I am saving up for a new custom container and trying to decide what to go with. with wings, javelin, vector it is easy to find pictures of rigs to get an idea of what they look like. with the curv it is not so easy. I have only seen one at the dz and the orange and grey one they use for advertising. can any one post a pic of theres... thanks

I was having the same issues when I was trying to figure out my color scheme. I called RI up and talked to Angela and explained my issue. She asked me what colors I was looking at and then my address. RI express shipped all the colors I was interested in plus others I had just mentioned. If that isn't customer service, I don't know what is.

I love my Vc1. It's extremely comfortable on the ground and in the air. The way it feels like it's a part of my body vs. hanging on my back is awesome. Under canopy it's extremely comfortable and very responsive to harness input.

All in all, it's a great rig and when I need to downsize in the future, I'll be sure to call RI for another one.

jacketsdb23

Last year registration was Wednesday and the comp was over by Friday evening.

The way its scheduled out this year, competitors can't plan to fly out of town until Monday at the earliest. Which is another day off of work.

I already took my time off, its just a pain the ass that the CP schedule changed for Nats from the beginning of the week to the end. Knowing that we are all in town for the FLCPA it would seem to make sense to have our discipline earlier in the week, not later.

Whoops, I was looking at Sport Acc. vs. CP. Maybe it'll flex a bit?

Talking to several friends who attended Comp 5 & Nats last year I thought it was the same deal down at Zhills. From what I've heard, we'll still be able to practice those "down" days between Comp 4 and the first day of CP.

Pretty sure this was covered in depth on another thread here. I think I remember Ian Drennan saying that he'd jumped different riser lengths on the same canopy and couldn't noticeably tell the difference.

I could be wrong though...