Demoing my first elliptical - what am I doing wrong?

[CanEHdian 0]

In my quest to transition to an elliptical, I'm presently demoing a Samurai 150 - loading it at @1.5.

After several safe/docile straight in landings (getting no surfs) I'm now trying different approaches that (safely) induce speed... slow carves 90 & 180 and then double fronting once I'm square (still safely high) to my target, but at this point the riser pressure is quite difficult to hold (damn knees almost up in my chest) and the canopy is already trying to plane out too high, resulting in a slight overshoot and almost non-existing surf.

I was under the impression that these HP canopies could keep a dive, in fact, WOULD keep a dive until 'bumped' out of it with brakes, hence permitting higher (safer) approaches and still having the speed for the ground surf. This isn't happening for me... what am I doing wrong?

I'm also finding it difficult to 'shut down' the canopy at the end of the surf... hands down as low as possible, mushy feeling in toggles and unable to bleed the forward speed - having to run out even the last one that had somewhat some speed to it after my first/last 180 front riser hook approach (I know, I know... not planning on making it a habit).

Any/all input would be much appreciated at this point.

Thanks,
CanEHdian

Time's flying, and so am I...
(69-way, 108-way and 138/142-way Freefly World Records)

[rhino 0]

To hold a canopy in a dive you must have alot of upper body strength.. While in a dive I am basically hanging on the front risers until I can't anymore..

Or you can start off with a front riser and bury that leg in the harness doing a slow, diving carve..

Practice up high..

Be safe..

Rhino

[Samurai136 0]

I load my samurai at 1.4 I'm not very strong, tall and lean, to keep it diving I end up having the risers pulled down to my chin and hanging on them. That was the first jumps on the canopy hanging on double fronts from like 600'+ and putting them up below 20'agl. I did lots of silly things, ballooning the canopy etc...

Hopefully you've got a copy of Brian's owners manual. He explains it all in there. Basically the canopy's negative recovery arc is most noticable in a front riser turn, if you go back to double fronts for too long after the dive it's the same as only using double fronts.


I find I get the best swoop by:

1. Loosening the chest strap as far as it goes.
2. Initiate the turn to final high, w/ a harness turn(lift a leg)
3. as the canopy turns, use a bit of front riser increasing riser gradually, building speed.
4. as you approach final heading, bring the other riser down and cut off the harness turn(legs neutral)
5. for me about 20' agl I'll get off the risers, flare and swoop.

As far as shutting it down, it sounds to me like you turned too low, had to dig out of the corner w/ lots of toggle(?)still had speed and touched down to early.

The Samurai has excellent slow flight characteristics and can still get lift near the stall point. I often surf nearly on my ass, w/ knees curled up and when forward speed is nearly stopped, stab the toggles and stand up.

The 'bump technique' involves flaring right until slack is pulled out of the brake lines, you'll feel a bit of resistance in the stroke here. Bump it a bit further until you think the canopy is planed out and hold it there for the surf. As you bleed off speed and continue descending give it more toggle.


Keep working on it and start your turns high(600' agl) and give yourself lots of outs in all directions. When you hang on the front risers you should feel it in your chest, upper back, arms. Thing of doing a pull up and then hang there as long as you can.

Send me a PM if you've got any other Q's

Ken

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[dskydave 0]

I jump a 95 icarus loaded a little over 2. You have to realize that speed translates into lift exponentialy. The faster you go, the harder the wing is going to lift. The optimal swoop occurs when the natural recovery arc of the canopy planes out just above the ground, with little or no toggle input. If your approach is too low,,,and u stab,,,,you lose speed/lift, too high and the lift is burned up before you can shutdown.the 180 then 90 really isnt necessary and could be very dangerous.Start with 45's and increase it as your timing improves.Pull a front riser and hold it until your on track to your target,,or lack of altitude dictates letting up sooner. Release it slowly, Abrupt changes in airflow causes turbulence and drag actually slowing you down. Let the canopy recover on its own. When u feel the lift losing the battle against gravity, Shut it down with accelerated input,,ie slowly at first then increase stroke speed thruout input. Every canopy is different. Even the same size from the same company can have varying flight characteristics. so learn yours. If you input toggles to plane out your too low or"in the corner". and that is the #1 killer in our sport. And its counter productive to a long swoop.Smooth inputs and timing are the keys, not radical turns and breakneck speed. be safe my friend........dskydave@yahoo.com