have you been carrying more weight?

[superstu 0]

almost everyone has now heard of the extreme amount of weight most of the pro's have been carrying to go the extreme distances. but i'm kind of wondering how many of us non-pro's are experimenting/ training with 40, 50, even 60 pounds of lead?
I ask this out of concern, concern that many of us (99% of us) aren't at their level yet to be competitive and people will put themselves at greater risk by putting on 40+ pounds of lead because they see the 'pros' doing this.
so, i was just wondering who is loading up and would like to know their reasons for doing so?

i also would like to add one more thing, the pilot is the determining factor, if there was no added weight allowed the pilot and their technique would be the determining factor. this said working on ones technique without weight and not your survival with 40+ of crap hanging off of you will in the end benefit you more.

just my curiousity and my .02, please post your thoughts

Slip Stream Air Sports
Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

i'm kind of wondering how many of us non-pro's are experimenting/ training with 40, 50, even 60 pounds of lead?

How about 40, 50, even 60lbs of butt and ass?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[ianmdrennan 2]

Nope. I still only wear 10 pounds of weight. The original record was set like that, or similar, and I've seen Jay, etc all go extremely far before they started loading extremely.

Personally I believe the loading far to extreme for us 'regular jumpers' and borderline extreme for even the pros. 70 pounds of lead is no joke.

Blues,
Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I worn 20 lbs of weight during our last CPC comp. I didn't hurt me, but I don't think it really helped me that much either. Then days after our last CPC comp I read Kevin Gibson's article in this months parachutists about wearing weights and the last few weekends I've been jumping without the added led (and doing just fine). I likely will add the 20 lbs of weight back on in the not too distant future, but not until I start feeling like I've got my rear riser swoops really dialed in. I had a good weekend this week. I got 23 jumps in and several of those set new personal distance records (in the 350 foot range). I still have plenty of hard work to do, but I'm very happy with most of my swoops this weekend.

But 40-70 lbs seems very excessive. Then again most of you guys have no idea what it's like to be swooping at altitude here in Colorado. 40-70 lbs here is likely asking for it. But it sure would be nice to see the pros come here one day.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[GQ_jumper 4]

How about 40, 50, even 60lbs of butt and ass?

[Spizzzarko 0]

The extra weight I carry is in my onoin. The onion being my ASS, because it's so beautiful it makes you cry! hahaahahaaaaaa

For the Colorado CPC I wore 16lbs for the speed round. It brought my wing loading up to 2.35 on a velo 103. The next closest competitor was .5 seconds slower. I thought I needed the weight as many of the other competitors had smaller canopys. I didn't really bother trying to run it out though as there were no penalties for sliding in after you cleared the course.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

I am not about to start strapping a ton of lead on. I have worn as much as 20 pounds before for speed (it was windy and we were flying into the wind), but would never consider wearing any at all for distance. I will continue to be content with mid-pack Pro finishes and a reasonable wingload. Hitting the gates cleanly EVERY TIME will ensure better finishes than many, much-better pilots who blow the gates going for broke. If you are intent on taking home the money, then I guess you are going to do whatever it takes to keep up with the Joneses. But, seriously, you don't have any business strapping on a ton of lead if you are not in that smallest percentile of professional pilots who really do have everything else totally dialed, prove it on tour, and feel that they have the skills to beat the guys who are taking home the money. I consider myself a very, very good canopy pilot, but I know for a fact that I am never going to take home money in a PST meet. I will, therefore, not subject my body and gear to the punishment induced by sporting 50 pounds of lead. I will also not have to worry about sinking straight to the bottom of the pond should I pound in (which I have done, just like everyone else on tour). I have seen more than one person knocked clean unconscious from a pond strike. I would hate to run into a situation where a guy like that drowned because he had so much lead on that he went straight to the bottom.

Food for thought,

Chuck