Front riser turns...

[mountainman 0]

Hey all!!
I have read A LOT lately about front riser turns on current mains before you think about downsizing. I have a question about this. In 1.5 weeks, I'll be using a different, maybe smaller main that I use now.
My real question here is, is it easier or harder to do a front riser turn on a Raider 220 than on something smaller?? Also, how do you do it on something like this? Do you just grab some riser and pull??
Thank you all for some advice! I want to try some of these this weekend at the DZ. --------------
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[PhreeZone 20]

It really helps if dive loops are on the front risers. If there are no dive loops the yes.... just grab and pull a few inches. Riser pressure is going to be fairly heavy on a Raider since they were not designed for high proformance flying. Riser pressure on something smaller depends on the type of canopy.... A Stiletto has moderate pressure while a Spectre is a bit heavier then a Stiletto. The more radical the taper of the canopy the lighter the riser pressures involved.(In Theory) A Safire requires less riser strenght then a Raider if thats what you were wondering. Plus odds are that they have dive loops on those rigs.
Do I HAVE to do another raft dive???

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[mountainman 0]

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Plus odds are that they have dive loops on those rigs.

Do most canopies that aren't designed for students have dive loops?? For instance Triathlons, Hornets, and yes, Safires. Don't start worrying though! I won't be entering any Pro Challenge Swoop Contests...yet. --------------
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[PhreeZone 20]

Its not the canopies ...... its the containers. Most modern factory risers have dive loops. Most student gear does not have dive loops. You can order risers with or with out dive loops. Then there are differnet kinds of loops. CReW, speed, etc.... differtent risers for different purposes.
Do I HAVE to do another raft dive???

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[weid14 0]

dive loops are part of the risers, and as such come from the container manufacturer. typically they are not found on student rigs. They are standard from some manufacturers. If you don't have dive loops grab above the riser connection to the lines. Talk to your jumpmasters about riser turns and ask their advice. Riser pressure depends on how the canopy is trimmed and where the suspended weight is centered and wing loading.

[mountainman 0]

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You can order risers with or with out dive loops. Then there are differnet kinds of loops. CReW, speed, etc.... differtent risers for different purposes.

Decisions, desicions...*sigh*

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Talk to your jumpmasters about riser turns and ask their advice.

I think I'll do that this weekend. I'm sure it's easier to explain in person than on a post. heh heh heh.......thanks!!
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[prost 0]

Find someone who is very knowledgeable in high speed approaches and ask them how to get into it safely. (by knowledgeable I mean someone with several thousand high speed approaches). To often it seems people are intimidated to ask those most experienced for advice. I seem to get a lot of questions from local jumpers about front riser turns and I do not feel even close to being qualified to teach on the subject. Jumpers are just more likely to ask someone in the 500-1000 jump range for advice because they fell less intimidated. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is always be ready to take a different approach if your high speed one is not realistic, and force yourself to error on the safe side. If you cannot change approaches at any point in your set up you do not have the skills necessary to perform hook turns.

[freeflir29 0]

Even after lengthening my brakes about 2-3 inches I still cant use my dive loops. My brakes are still a little short and will "drag". They are fine if I grab hold at the connector links. Just something to think about. I know....I should let my brakes out more. It was just such a pain the first time I dont want to mess with it again!
"Gonna need...some cream for ya ass"-Chef/South Park
Clay

[weid14 0]

what canopy are you jumping? what type of line? how many jumps on those lines (it may be way out of trim)

[freeflir29 0]

Weid14- It's a PD 190 9 cell, Dacron lines, with 100 jumps or less. Loaded 1.28. I dont know who the hell set the brakes but that canopy was almost dangerous when I first started jumping it. The brakes were so short that any pilot input just caused it to fall out of the air. Not much fun on no wind days.I'm sure it was probably in a bow tie when I landed it. It flies very nicely since I added several inches to the brakes.
"Don't give a F$#ck if I'm comin or leavin"-Pappa Roach
Clay

[freeflyguy 0]

Don't let touching the front risers scare you. Grab a handful and pull. Just do it up high. Play with it, and see what it will do for you. It is very safe, and your canopy won't get whacko because of it. If you don't have dive loops, grab some, and then rotate your wrist with it. It will tend to slip less
If you are talking about landing, or building speed with risers, that is a different ball game. If you are at the point where you are thinking of doing that, of course talk to some folks, but there are also some very good high performance flight manuals out there. One is the Australian parachute foundation, or something. It explains a lot about what a parachute is doing and how to land it safely. As well as a progression to learning riser turn landings. One thing I like is they say, 'We don't reccomend or endorse high speed landings, but if you are going to do it, this is how you should learn...'
People are going to do it, so learn to do it right, or don't.
Never get complacent and think you have everything covered either. That will hurt, in time. We all know that.

[Iflyme 0]

There are some great safety articles, particularly on canopy skills, here:
http://www.afn.org/skydive/sta/