CanuckInUSA

Don't confuse yourself with some of the things we do in our after opening routines. We actually do pop our brakes pretty soon after opening and we too need to determine if we have a fully controllable canopy just as you need to do the same. Here's my after opening sequence (assuming I do not need to worry about colliding with another canopy): 1) I turn my canopy (using my rear risers) so that I'm flying towards the LZ. 2) I loosen my chest strap all the way (my canopy flies better this way). 3) I collapse my slider and tuck it behind my neck (don't need the extra drag). 4) Then I pop my brakes and do a controllability check. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I don't think it is possible for a guy to fake it. Once we've cummed, we're pretty useless for a little while until we can recover. As for women, well I wouldn't know what you girls go through. But it is my understanding that many women have faked it one time or another. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey Lindell I first started swooping on a Sabre2 190, but it was my old Sabre2 170 that I really learned on and set the foundation of where I am today (and I'm still learning and evolving as a swooper). Plus I too am in my 40s (41) so I can appreciate your age comments. As long as you are physically able to jump, there is no reason why some of us old farts can show up some of those younger ... punks (I really do look and act younger than my true age). Learning to swoop takes hundreds and hundreds of jumps on each canopy we jump before we downsize to the next smaller canopy size and you must remember to start over from scratch every time you start jumping a new canopy. It's not something which is going to happen overnite. But it's also important to play with your canopy up high in order to learn the performance characteristics and learn things up high before you ever bring them down close to the ground. Now Brian Germaine's book has been brought up and this book does have some excellent information in it (any serious canopy control pilot should read it). But at some point in time you're going to need to seek some canopy control coaching and hopefully in this coaching you will receive the instruction you need to learn more about swooping. I have taken canopy coaching on 4 different occasions now and the instruction I received was worth it's weight in gold. Anyway one of the things you are going to need to learn is the performance envelope of your canopy. And keep in mind that the performance envelope will change once you change canopies, change your wing loading and/or change where you jump (ie: jumping at altitude here in Colorado is different than jumping at sea level). Plus also remember that with a larger wing, the front riser pressure will be more noticible than on a smaller canopy. Anyway, while playing up high enter into a front riser dive and try to hold it for as long as you can possibly hold it (it's hard to describe the turn rate you need to use here on the net, but maybe try to emulate the turn rate that you see of good swoopers in person or of swoopers on video). Sooner or later, the canopy is going to load up to a point where you can no longer hold it and you'll let the riser up. Let the canopy recover by itself and try to determine not only how much altitude did you lose in these front riser turns, but also try to determine how much time it took (it should take about 6-8 seconds to load up to where you can't hold it any more). Continue to do this drill time and time again (up high) keeping the turn rate constant until you gather good reliable and consistent data as to how much altitude your canopy loses and what is the time period. You will then be armed with the appropriate performance characteristics of your canopy and you will no longer be playing that guessing game while trying to learn to swoop. Of couse this is the internet and I may not be explaining myself in the best way for you to comprehend. So when possible seek coaching from a reputable canopy control instructor. It's amazing what some of those guys can teach us. Good luck, be smart and seek coaching. It's worth it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

So are going to let us all in on what you have planned (and what weekend we should be there), or were you just getting lonely up there in Potatoville. You know Jamie is around and Ray should be setting up shop there soon as well. But I guess Meghan is leaving for the summer? I still haven't asked the whuffo boss yet if I get time off of work, but the US Canopy Grand Prix (more can be read about it here) is slated to be held from April 20th-28th and I am qualified to compete in the blade running event. So if the boss gives me the two thumbs up for taking time off, I will be there. But if not, I hope to be playing with all the other peeps at the Perrine this weekend(s) you speak of. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey Keely ... we like you and all that. But that is one pretty messed up dream. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Oh ... Drunk Dialed ... now I get it. You've got to forgive me if I don't remember too much from that boogie. I was drunk. But I have seen pics of you in the past and you are a cutie. How's that for flurting? Or do I need to work harder at it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I did what to you? DD? I'm confused. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Was I in your dreams? No? Bummer ... now I'm all depressed. Well maybe not depressed, but ... I better shut up while I'm ahead because I can see my foot and it's headed towards my mouth. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I can't remember (and I'm too lazy to check a map). It was on the interstate highway that takes you from Boise towards Seattle. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

LOL ... I got a speeding ticket the only time I passed through Oregon. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm sure some of us Denver peeps will be out again like we were just this last weekend. 10+ Hours for us to TF (9.5 if you speed). But I've done the trip 8-9 times since last Memorial Day. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Has it happened to me? Hmmm ... maybe ... maybe not. But I do know that it's happened to you. I remember during this year's Eloy holiday boogie I was telling you about an A I just jumped and you looked at me with this confused "who is this guy and why is he telling me all this" look even though we did meet at the Perrine earlier in the year. It's all good though. GFD would not be GFD without her antics. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I do a lot of high pulls not only to wring out my canopy in order to learn it but it's also fun to sneak up on tandems and other big canopies (not to mention preplanned high pulls with other fun jumpers). Plus I'm not up there that long when I'm under the Velo. So I don't worry too much about getting cold. Pulling high is a great way to become a better canopy pilot. I highly recommend doing it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

What the heck. I'll add myself to the list as well. What do I have to lose? The list: Amanduh marks SkiD_PL8 GiaKrembs RevJim chaoskitty VanillaSkyGirl Amazon GogglesnTeeth NWFlyer livendive DaGimp diablopilot Smeger weegegirl dan_iv OrangeJumper prepheckt kelel01 Sheenster303 Ron missg8tordivr boinky joesheezammit ladyskydiver freeflynNicki CanuckInUSA Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

No I tossed the left one before going to the rears. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Once I realized that I had lost my right control line, I didn't waste anytime getting rid of the other one and I immediately started flying my rears towards the beech. As far as flaring, well I'm not sure if there was very much of that going on, but I did level out the canopy and let the airspeed bleed off until the canopy stalled and I touched down. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Cool ... we've got extra rigs and we need more BASE babes in the sport. PS: I won't be deleting this post ... or will I? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

How high is it? How wide is it? Is it jumpable? Too late. 3..2..1..cya!!! Hmmm ... maybe I should delete this post just to annoy Slappie. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm not talking about using your rear risers for off heading openings. This is being taught in the FJCs and in some cases being discussed in the FJC but instead of using them toggles are being taught. No I am talking about flying your canopy to an intended landing area using your rears and being able to land your canopy using your rears. Maybe it's just something that is in my head, but I can swear on a number of occasions I have heard people cringe at the thought of flying their rears because they think they will automatically stall their canopy or that they will lose all this altitude. I don't know. Flame away ... it is the internet after all. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I don't know very much about Paragliding. But it is my understanding that they have four risers (one for each line group) instead of the two that BASE and skydiving canopies use. Of course they are under a different wing and it's not known how much transferable experience they have in controlling one of their risers as opposed to controlling the risers we use. But just so that there is no confusion here. I do think experienced PG pilots do have transferable skills. It was my thinking about a lot of skydivers and some BASE jumpers in their unfamiliarity of flying their rears which got me motivated to start this poll. The paragliders were just what started me thinking about it. So some of us are in agreement that our rears are nothing to be afraid of. And lets also not forget that a wing can stall at any airspeed and at any attitude. If people can get this through into their heads then they will take that ever so important steep towards understanding flight and how we get away with what we do up their in the skies under canopy. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

The following was take from a post I made yesterday here. I made a packing error by setting my brakes on my brand new gear wrong (gear which I was not familar with). Anyway I lost my entire right control line on a slider down opening. Yes you can flame me all you want for this packing error. I was in the wrong and yes this is the internet where flaming others seems to be the hip thing to do. But the bottom line is that it wasn't my confidence which saved my ass. It was my experience flying BASE and skydiving parachutes and more importantly my experience flying my rear risers and knowing what and what not to do under canopy. Oh and I stood my up rear riser landing in no winds on the beach. It's not something I'd like to get into the habit of doing, but something which can be done nonetheless. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I was thinking about what happened to me last Saturday (surviving my 1st BASE malfunction) and was also reading the "FJC for PGs" thread. Anyway it all got me thinking about one area where PG pilots may not have a lot of experience in (of course I could very well be out to lunch as maybe PG pilots have plenty of experience here). But then I started thinking, well this isn't just a PG issue. There are many BASE jumpers and Skydivers who also lack experience in this form of canopy control. It still baffles me when I hear many BASE jumpers (and skydivers) say "don't touch your rear risers as you're going to stall the canopy and die a black death". It blows me away. Why do some people feel that your rears are nothing but black death? Why do some people know so little about how to fly their canopies? Yes one shouldn't pull down abruptly on your rears and yes you WILL stall at higher air speed even when you fly your rears the way they can be flown. But your rears are nothing to be afraid of. Not only will knowing how to fly them potentially save your ass one day (like it did mine on Saturday), but they can also be used to increase your glide and well they are just fun to fly. I fly my rears on virtually every skydive that I am on and have even flown my rears on BASE jumps at a certain remote location of Moab where the impact to the talus may only be 400 feet, but the landing area is about 1000 feet vertical from the exit point giving me plenty of time to play. Plus I've used my rears to see how far I can glide towards the parking lot at the most popular exit point in Moab. So what do you guys (and gals) think? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

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

It takes more that confidence to BASE jump successfully time and time again. But confidence is obviously something you're not short on. You can tell us that you come from an extreme sports background and that your experiences in other sports can be transfered over (and yes past experiences in other sports is not a bad thing). But confidence and experience in other sports is no substitute for experience in this sport. I am no BASE authority, but I did survive my 1st BASE malfunction this last weekend up at the span in Potatoville. I made a packing error by setting my brakes on my brand new gear wrong (gear which I was not familar with). Anyway I lost my right toggle and entire control line on a slider down opening. Yes you can flame me all you want for this packing error. I was in the wrong and yes this is the internet where flaming others seems to be the hip thing to do. But the bottom line is that it wasn't my confidence which saved my ass. It was my experience flying BASE and skydiving parachutes and more importantly my experience flying my rear risers and knowing what and what not to do under canopy. Oh and I stood my up rear riser landing in no winds on the beach. It's not something I'd like to get into the habit of doing, but something which can be done nonetheless. So you can go about chasing your BASE jumping goals in one of two ways here (and there is nothing wrong with chasing your BASE jumping goals). You can listen to the people here when they tell you to gain more experience in the safer confines of skydiving. Or you can say, #### it, I'm full of confidence and I'll show those guys. It's your choice and your ass. BASE jumping is not safe. But it sure can be as dangerous as you want to make it. Now if you're offended by this message, then good. Hopefully you'll understand one day why some people say the things that they do. And if you're not offended, then maybe you've got the right mindset and realize that BASE jumping is not something to take lightly just because you have confidence in the things you have done in the past. Good luck with which ever route you take. BASE jumping is fun. But it's not safe. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Many of the pro swoopers jump with intruments these days to help them with their setup for their swoop. If an instrument is good enough for them, then it's good enough for me (and yes my swoops have gotten better because of it). I currently use a Suunto mounted on a belt secured around my waist. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over