CanuckInUSA

Sometime maybe in the fall or next winter (when I have 300-400 jumps) I would very much like to demo a crossfire2. But it's my understanding that this is not the sort of canopy to be using when people are still learning canopy flight. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I had about 90 jumps on my Sabre2 190. And I liked it so much I sold it and picked up a Sabre2 170 which I've now jumped over 30 times. It's the best canopy I've ever flown, but then again I don't have that many jumps. Now I'm not so sure if this will be my last Sabre2 (if I downsize once more I'm at the absolute max weight limit that PD recommends for the Sabre2). But I'll be jumping this canopy all summer long and for the next 100-200 jumps at the very least. I find the sniveling openings to be good, but I often find myself in a diving turn once the canopy fully opens and one has to wonder how much of that is my body position and how much is just a characteristic of the canopy. Also, the canopy has lots of lift, but I wish it could hold it's flare (ie: swoop) a tad longer than what it does. But some of this may also be myself not squeezing out every last ounce of lift. But I was very happy with a swoop landing I did the other day (it had to be something close to 100 feet, or maybe even more. I'm not the best judge of feet being the metric trained Canuck that I am). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

During my water training I was taught to loosen up the container leg straps and undo the chest strap just prior to landing in the water. Then once you're in the water, you swim out of the container (and we did all of this in a swimming pool which was easy to do). Of course I don't have any real life water landings to compare the training with. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Log books can be forged. Until licensed, be ready to do a check-out or recurrency dive at each new drop zone that you visit. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

It seems that here in CO we've bypassed spring and went from winter right into summer. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Well I'm sure your family and a certain Monkey are happy that you're not in harms way. And I am looking forward to seeing you at Eloy with your Monkey later on this year. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Had I know ahead of time that I owed $$$, I wouldn't have been in shock. But since I waited until the last minute (my fault), it was a bit of a surprise. I was actually kind of hoping that I would have owed virtually nothing and been owed virtually nothing (like previous years). Now I do have the $1000, but it's money that was supposed to stay in my bank account instead of going to pay Uncle Sam. But I guess Uncle Sam has a war to pay for, so I better cut him a check tonight. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm kind of surprised to see that very little has been mentioned concerning this all important hated topic. But for those living and working in the USA, our tax returns are due tomorrow. I just completed my Federal tax return and discovered that I was under paying through my employer all year long and now owe the IRS $1000. Oh well, I still pay less tax here in the USA than I did in Canada. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Congrats on passing your AFF and now this is when the fun starts.

0:5:1 As usual, no such luck in that all important first category. Of course breaking up with the whuffo ex-girlfriend a few weeks back sure doesn't help. Five jumps today (on Sunday). The weather was perfect all weekend here in Colorado but I didn't jump on Saturday for three reasons. First off, I shouldn't have been jumping period as I'm still recovering from a minor foot injury. Secondly I was up was too late partying on Friday which made Saturday a wasted day. And finally, I was watching the Avs NHL playoff hockey game on Saturday afternoon. Beer is owed (but not paid yet) for my first helicopter jump today. It sure was a different feeling from what I'm used to. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I've been reluctant to install a ring sight on my freefly helmet for this very reason. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

As a freeflier, I started flying a side mounted Sony mini-dv camera a couple of months ago. I was originally intending to start flying mine once I approached the mythical 200 jump mark. But another (more experienced) guy I occasionally jump with and who knows my current abilities convinced me otherwise. Basically I said "man I really want to start flying this camera" and his response was "so why don't you". So now I have about 56 camera jumps under my belt and while I do acknowledge that there are certain added risks involved,I'm also happy to report that I have had no issues with it (yet). No riser strikes, no problems with the helmet on my landings (I standup virtually 95-98% of my landings) and to tell you the truth, I usually don't notice the extra weight of the helmet while in free fall nor under canopy (but I do have strong neck muscles). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I use a Cypres because I can afford to. But I'm sure I'd still be jumping without a Cypres if I had to. Of course I rest easy at night knowing it's there (plus it helps convince the whuffo family members that skydiving isn't as dangerous as they think it is once I explain to them what a Cypres is and that I use one). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Congrats on the great accomplishment. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Michele ... a carved turn can still be done with a square pattern in mind. But also try this (at altitude once you've cleared your airspace) ... fly straight and notice what altitude you are at. Then pull down on one of your front risers enough that it starts carving a turn for 180 degrees. Then immediately look at how much altitude you've lost (giving you an idea as to what altitude not to do this sort of maneuver from). Front riser carved turns are not something to be afraid of as long as you have enough altitude to recover from. You'll likely generate some extra forward speed, but the speed will be lost come flare time if you're off the front risers high enough for your comfort levels. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Didn't you mean to say, let's go Avs? But the Avalanche don't play until tomorrow night dude (and I'll be there at the Pepsi Can). I hate the Flyers. But not as much as I hate the Wings. Then again I'm not exactly a Leafs fan either. So I'm torn (then again do I really care) who wins the Leafs/Flyers series. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Wendy has already touched on how two canopies loaded the same will not perform the same (ie: the smaller canopy being zippier than the larger), but here's a good article from PD http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/wingload.pdf that you should read. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

In time you will figure out your niches (do you want to do RW, be a vRW, CReW, hop n' pops or all of the above) and it's ok right now for you to feel the way you do. I know when I first started, I said to myself that I was happy just doing solos. But some of the real joys we take from this sport is flying relative to others whether that be on your belly or on your head (I prefer the flying headdown part, but that's just me). But don't ever be pressured into jumping with others when you want to go solo. There's a time and a place for solos (like when you're working on a new skill and don't want the distractions of others). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Yup, an open face sure would help. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Being kissed in freefall. Sunshine gave me my first kiss pass at the Eloy holiday boogie this year. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

When I was flying my Sabre2 190 (loaded a tad over 1.2:1) I was able to carve turns with my front risers and believe it or not, I got semi-swoop landings out of it. And I liked the Sabre2 so much, that I got myself a Sabre2 170 (which is plenty small and fast enough for me at this stage of my skydiving career). So I'm sure you'll like a Sabre2 190. It's got a flatter glide angle than any F-111 and/or 7 cell canopy you've likely used and it's a good canopy to be learning with. But be warned, if new, expect a super slippier-than-owls-shit canopy fabric which can be an adventure to pack. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

he ... he ... he ... so does that mean I can put a 150 Crossfire2 in my current container? Cool ... of course not to worry about me downsizing anytime soon as I'm only 26 jumps into my new Sabre2 and it has a lot of zip left in it for me to be learning on (especially since we've yet to experience the high density altitude conditions during the hot summer months). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

LOL ... I stand corrected. How could a classy person do such a thing. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Please take what I'm about to say with a huge bolder of salt (after all to some people I don't know very much about this sport), but you should be able to fit a 190 in a container sized for a 170. But get yourself a used 190 that's not super slippery. I am packing a new slippier-than-owls-shit Sabre2 170 with only 26 jumps on it (in a container sized for a 170 and/or a very tight 190) and while I do have a packing technique which works for me, it is troublesome and challenging at times. And as someone still relatively new to the sport, you want to experience successes much more than failures and frustrations. And as far as fitting a 150 in a container sized for a 170, I would think that as long as your closing loop is short enough and your rigger inspects and okays the main tray and dbag. You might be good to go. I know I will be in the same boat with my current setup if/when I decide to downsize to a 150. But only after my rigger (currently Hooknswoop) says it's safe. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hmmm ... I seem to remember sunshine abandoning my (southpark) Kenny jacket at Eloy once she got a tad tipsy as well. By the way, what's sunshine's monkey name? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over