Whats the best advice you have ever received regarding Canopy Control.

[trigger 0]

For me it was simply "Love your canopy"
I took the above statement to mean..Whatever you jump, respect it and learn to fly it to your full potential, don't just treat it as a means of getting to the ground.

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[DanDanInc 5]

Flying my canopy is the one part of this sport that frightens me. This thread will hopefully be very helpful. Thanks!

Sincerely, Daniel (not as fat as he thinks he is) Adams
http://www.skyjump.com
http://www.vimeo.com/dandaninc
http://www.youtube.com/dandaninc

[DocPop 1]

Have a canopy flight plan and use it.

Before boarding the plane you should know your pattern, checkpoints, altitudes, landing direction, outs and desired landing point.

Part of the plan is also having an idea of where you fit into the landing order - heavier loaded canopies first, light later.

Many people don't do this and they make up their canopy flight "on the fly". That does not help improve skills or accuracy.

Leading on from having a plan, is to discuss it with others on the load so that you don't find yourself landing against the traffic or trying to beat a Velo 90 down on your Pulse 170 etc.

"The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls."

~ CanuckInUSA

[piisfish 140]

walking 200yards is easier than crawling 20

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[trigger 0]

Nice one..sort of goes hand in hand with the have a plan summerised by Doc.

I call this "Land alone" which is a big part of the plan especially if the plan is going to rats due to unforseen circumstances

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[linebckr83 3]

After a normal skydive deploying at +/-3k, how much time do you have before you are entering the pattern to land? Not much right? The best advice I got was to go do high altitude hop n' pops to really learn the wing. It's amazing how much more "in sync" you feel with your parachute after 4 or 5 of those jumps. Confidence rises, so does comfort and enjoyment and safety.

"Are you coming to the party?
Oh I'm coming, but I won't be there!"
Flying Hellfish #828
Dudist #52

[linebckr83 3]

Quote

Flying my canopy is the one part of this sport that frightens me. This thread will hopefully be very helpful. Thanks!

Dan being frightening isn't such a bad thing. But I would try to gear that fear towards respect and caution more than "just scared." As you are aware, a lot of people die under their parachutes but take the time to learn to control and fly a parachute in your skill range. Especially defensive skills. Your chances of having a safe skydiving career will increase exponentially.

"Are you coming to the party?
Oh I'm coming, but I won't be there!"
Flying Hellfish #828
Dudist #52

[DocPop 1]

Quote

Flying my canopy is the one part of this sport that frightens me.

Other people being under their canopy frightens me!

I have twice had people spiral down at me without looking while I was in the pattern (I was at 800' the first time and 650' the second!).

Which brings me to another couple of good pieces of advice:

- no radical/unpredictable moves in the pattern (e.g.. s-turns or spirals)
- LOOK-LEAN-TURN (and by LOOK I mean in the direction you will go which is not just left or right, but left or right and down for most turns)

"The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls."

~ CanuckInUSA

[IMGR2 0]

Best advice I ever got was...

Before you ever downsize make sure you have mastered EVERYTHING on your current canopy.
Can you land with only rear risers, can you land downwind, can you land a short final, can you set up using a flat turn, at altitude stall your canopy and recover, study where your stall is with both toggles and rear risers.

Ever since I broke my femur, I live by this code.

[Pablo.Moreno 0]

Well I am guessing this only relates to strict canopy control, I think the best advice I have heard is...

Even if you aren't thinking on being a HP canopy pilot, you should still learn these skills. Because, even if it is unintentional, a low turn can happen on any jump, so you are better off at least practicing these skills before hand rather than finding yourself in need of those skills when you don't have them.

Now that's pretty general and it doesn't apply to learn how to do a 450+ front riser dive, or knowing when to transition form rears to toggles, but knowing how your wing react to different turns, and knowing how to have a fast recovery from this turns, is essential so you feel more comfortable whatever canopy you fly.

Make sure to talk with an experience canopy pilot or take a canopy course. Do the drills up high and have fun, IMO is always good to have working plan, even on a high altitude HnP, rather than just dump high, stay under canopy for 5 minutes and land.

[wildcard451 0]

Power First
Control Second
Safety Third
ALWAYS trust your rears
NEVER, EVER give up the gates.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

[craigbey 0]

Hook it high and let it fly.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

Power First
Control Second
Safety Third
ALWAYS trust your rears
NEVER, EVER give up the gates.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

Besides that, the best advice I ever had was to never attempt to save a swoop. If you botch the approach, let it go, land and try again. Trying to save a swoop will kill you.

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

[ianmdrennan 2]

"You'll learn a lot about a canopy in the first 500 jumps on it, you'll learn what you can really do on it for the next 500"

Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[IMGR2 0]

Quote

"You'll learn a lot about a canopy in the first 500 jumps on it, you'll learn what you can really do on it for the next 500"

Ian

Holy cow, swear I heard those exact words from Beezy like 12 years ago.. I miss him.

[ianmdrennan 2]

I can't remember who said it but it may have been beezy. Yeah he was a good guy....definitely not the same without him.

Blues,
Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[DanDanInc 5]

Quote

Quote

Flying my canopy is the one part of this sport that frightens me.

Other people being under their canopy frightens me!

I have twice had people spiral down at me without looking while I was in the pattern (I was at 800' the first time and 650' the second!).

Which brings me to another couple of good pieces of advice:

- no radical/unpredictable moves in the pattern (e.g.. s-turns or spirals)
- LOOK-LEAN-TURN (and by LOOK I mean in the direction you will go which is not just left or right, but left or right and down for most turns)

Thank you! I will definitely be looking where I am going.

Quote

Dan being frightening isn't such a bad thing. But I would try to gear that fear towards respect and caution more than "just scared." As you are aware, a lot of people die under their parachutes but take the time to learn to control and fly a parachute in your skill range. Especially defensive skills. Your chances of having a safe skydiving career will increase exponentially.

Yes I am picking up Brian Germain's book on Fear to try and cope with the heights fear I have. I have been under my own canopy twice now and landed safely so I'm not too worried. I'm just more concerned with what the canopy can really do and the only way I can learn it is by being under canopy.

Can't wait until the spring...

Thank you!

Sincerely, Daniel (not as fat as he thinks he is) Adams
http://www.skyjump.com
http://www.vimeo.com/dandaninc
http://www.youtube.com/dandaninc

[trigger 0]

The learn to love your canopy is kind of what got me interested in canopy control.
Thers's so much to learn no just from the swooping community but from the classic accuracy and CRW crowds as well, it's all very relevent and the more you learn the more you realise it's not the canopy but the person flying it that counts.

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[frost 1]

"Exaggerate and trust yourself!" - Jay Mo.

I believe that was the foundation of our guiding principles at SoFPiDaRF!

[DanDanInc 5]

Quote

The learn to love your canopy is kind of what got me interested in canopy control.
Thers's so much to learn no just from the swooping community but from the classic accuracy and CRW crowds as well, it's all very relevent and the more you learn the more you realise it's not the canopy but the person flying it that counts.

I completely agree with you and I want to learn to love mine as well. I want to be able to land exactly where I want to and I want to know exactly what to do during any situation. I might be afraid of heights but knowing what my canopy can do will definitely make it easier to deal with the fear and hopefully cure me of that stupid fear.

P.S. I highly doubt swooping with EVER be a part of my skydiving repertoire. hahahahaha

Sincerely, Daniel (not as fat as he thinks he is) Adams
http://www.skyjump.com
http://www.vimeo.com/dandaninc
http://www.youtube.com/dandaninc

[stayhigh 2]

look where you are going, fold the landing gears(leg) all the way up.

Bernie Sanders for President 2016

[slotperfect 7]

The value of coaching . . . I got some this week, and I'm getting two days worth this weekend.

Arrive Safely

John

[hparrish 0]

Know when to bail. You don't HAVE to swoop on every landing.

Another good one is - understand the difference between being in the corner and how to avoid it in the first place.

[andymarch 0]

Quote

Power First
Control Second
Safety Third
ALWAYS trust your rears
NEVER, EVER give up the gates.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

And whatever you do - keep the camera rolling! If it's not on GoPro - it's a PLF.

For me the best one is: get coaching. Since I've just started and didn't have coaching (hopefully, Spring), I have yet to learn how good this advice is.

[IJskonijn 45]

Quote

walking 200yards is easier than crawling 20

And always better than being carried for 2 yards.

Also, the low turns. I've had quite a few times where I needed a 90 degree low turn (~200ft) to avoid a ditch or tree or stuff. It was my fault for getting into that situation in the first place, but the skill to get out is indispensable! I'm glad I learned that during my first canopy control class (and re-iterating the value of coaching).