vibeke

Hi all - again thank you for the additional advises given. I appreciate all the input I get. I also liked many of the suggestions given by you JohanW, but there is one thing I find a pretty weird suggestion. Getting to know my canopy; why would that involve doing CReW?! I like flying my canopy relatively close to other (skilled canopy pilots) but doing CReW is in my opinion not a common aspect of "getting to know your canopy". Its a discipline, and a rather extreme one. I would definitely not want anyone kicking their feet in my lines and fabric. Its not build for CReW and CReW has little to do with my canopy control skills, that focuses mainly on "playing around" up high and practicing my high speed approach landings or accuracy landings. But you said it like it was a very common thing - and a natural part of learning how to be a better canopy pilot. I was under the impression its a high risc, am I wrong? I certainly dont want a wrap! Do you (and other here on dz.com) recommend this often, to ppl with 300 jumps? I don't mean to sound skeptic, Im just really surprised.

The weather in Denmark is not that good, but besides from that - the DZ itself is really something. We have members from the whole country. Reason? Low prices, great facilities and lots of nice people. Nice social society with lots of activities. Located in nice landscaping on the west coast, close to the sea it offers a nice scenery. One of Denmark's best DZs - no doubt!

"I would suspect the originator of the thread would rather have a Sabre2 or something like it." Is there any canopy in the same class, other than the Sabre2 and the Spectre? Something semi-eliptical / slightly tapered? And thank you all for your feedback on the Spectre and Sabre2. Very usefull information, even if I buy a Spectre now, I can allways look out for a Sabre2 if its a better canopy. I belive experience can be gained from flying sevel designs anyway, so...

Hookit - I think you might have missed the point in my post. I was actually asking for advice - not your frustrations. I know im not an expert at 300 jumps. On the contariy I was seeking guidance from more experienced skydivers than my self, other than the people around me. Edited - you got my full reply! Im sure you reply was made for the right reasons, but be carefull not to generalize!

Skymonkey - theres is more to piloting skills than number of jumps! But I will take your advice, I want a couple of hundred more jumps before going there. Aggie - That was my first thought! A Sabre2. But I just havent gotten a decent offer on a 120sqf yet, and Im getting eager to buy a new. Figure the Spectre is in the same class as Sabre2. And have now more or less made arrangements to buy. Thank you for your input!!

Live in Denmark, not easy to demo lots of stuff.

Hi! Im having a lot of trouble choosing my next canopy! Im just about to buy a Spectre 120, but need some feedback from you! I load a 120 with 1.3. So I have got size figured out. 109 is good but I like to be on the safe side. Design: Done 40ish jumps on a Safire 109 and the landings on the were quite nice. That is - they felt good, but I saw a lot of video with my landings during that period, and visible on camera it dropped me in the middle of surfs more than once, for no good reason. The Safire also had a tendency not to respond as well as I would like it to, so quick small inputs, so that design is not interesting. I like the flare and the consistancy / predictability on PDs canopys, so Im leaning towards their designs. The Spectre was offered to me and its very tempting. I think I just might buy. But then again - will I be bored too soon? I want a canopy I can grow with and jump at least 200 jumps on. Friends I have consulted today seems to think that I should wait for a cheap Sabre2 or go eliptical. I only have 300 jumps - but my piloting skill are okay. I have high awareness and feel confident in the manuvers that I do. I have no problem (besides front riser pressure on some canopys) frontrisering, even though I prefeer soft carving turns instead. Nice landing downwinds and generally *knock on wood* allways controlled landings. I asked Brian Germain, on one of his weekend seminars, which canopy he would recomend for me. Having seen me land a few times , he said a Katana 120 or a Samurai 120 would be good choises. He was the one who talked me out of the Safire 109, by showing weird details of my landing on video. But I dont want to wait 100 jumps before getting a new canopy. I currently own a Sabre 135 but need to downsize for obvious reasons. And I want a different design as well! The Sabre is too slow in its responses and I cant build sufficient speed for great landing without very low toggle turns. I guess what Im asking is your feedback. You cant see me land, so you will have to go by what I have told you. (Have tried to give many details). I dont feel that Im ready to spite our national guidelines and buy an elitical before 400 jumps. I dont want the typical Stiletto, as I dont like how that design level off too fast. I have seen many hook it too low, to let good landings and I disapprove of a design encouraging that. Would the Spectre provide me with enough challanges and does it have other good characteristics than soft openings? I want a ressponsive canopy, able to swoop! Or do you have any other good suggestions? (Fast as Im in negotations on the Spectre). Sorry this post became so long. Hoping for your advice. Blue Ones Vibeke

Spoken like a true man of God! haha nice...

I own an original Sabre 135 (225 jumps on it), and I can tell who is did the last packing by the way it opens. Actually my Sabre flies great and opens softly - I pack soft openings. Point being: in my experience the problem with old Sabres can pretty much be avoided, by packing method. But not totally. All canopy-designs will once in a while give you less great openings than you wish for! I know of an old Sabre that opens hard every time... Some canopys are just plain better made than other of similar type. This will also be the case with the Sabre2. That said - I also suspect, that Sabre2 is unjustified accused, as many generalize and simply assume the Sabre2 is similar to the original Sabre. I belive the Sabre2 has been improved to open better!

Would this be a good place to post on sharing of tunnelhours? We have a camp between April the 16th and May the 2nd. We will be doing basic - but also a lot of 4 way, and will need to share some hours with others. Let me know if you are planning tunnel anywhere around those dates. We can book hours together.

There is a lot of ways to count. Timing is the main issue. If the timing is good, then the count-method is not important. The person with the shake (often the center-in) will need to work out a count that is good for everyone, and easy to make the same way each time. Maybe just shake (ready), nod (set), go! But then we are talking exits where every one can see, and thats often not the case. But general thoghts on the count: Count is both visual and a lot of "feeling". It needs to be firm and consistant, without any hesitation. Try to make it at a nice calm pace, giving everybody time to feel the shake, breathe, "set" and go. We jumped our count on the ground like 500 times or so! Still do it as part of our routine, if we have a new jumper on board or its been a while. A count can be dirtdived for free as many times as you like, but when in the aircraft it needs to be just right. If you are off timing, then you are off balance and the exit will suck, and you will end up wasting time. Even if the exit does not funnel. We do set up at the door in arranged order, no one taking their grips before they stand where they wish to. Then picking up grips we make eyecontact with the jumper with the count. After that we focus on our body position as we want it to be out of the door. (belly presented against the wind) When everyone is set up and have had eye contact with (or looked in the direction of, anyway) the counting person, the count goes like this: Shake-shake-shake (gently, everone passing it on) Small pause (2 seconds) Firm shake, one side to other and back, stop. (ready) Set at practiced timing thereafter - some going low (to dump even lower off, on go) other go slightly down, to launch off, to position themselves high or to an angle. Depending on the formation. During exit, ONLY the exit and our formations presentation matters. Not until clear of the door, we focus on our piece partner or last grip/key. (but I suppose as we get more experienced, this all becomes a natural flow) Edit: this was the method of my team from last year. We all did tunnel and had an average on 6,9 at our nationals - our first Advanced competition. But I expect my new team will count the same way - even though my new teammates are far more experienced skydivers than me.

Talk to your instructor about this. I would not recommend it to brand new jumpers. A fullface is primarily used for formation skydiving - Protection from your teammates knees! But I find that a fullface also has a calming effect. At least thats what I have noticed on many basic body flight students, who are at - or just slightly above - your current level. A fullface removes wind noise. And also you can breathe more freely as opening your mouth to laugh does not cause you to inhale more air than needed. A fullface will limit your vision, but not that radically. You will need to learn head-switching and methods for looking up and down anyway. If you plan on staying in this sport (you know you do!) and plan on remaining on your belly for most of your skydiving freefall time, then I´d say go ahead. Buy a fullface, you will end up needing it sooner or later. But do try several models before buying one! Blue Ones Vibeke

I thought they replaced several (and had a bunch of new and former formations and blocks lying in wait), but really all they do is fix problems in the dive pool? Then howcome some of the older formations and blocks were removed? I was under the impression, that they would return to the divepool at some point. I havent been skydiving long enough (got my licence and participated in my first Nationals last summer) to have experienced a change of the divepool, but have seen video with formations that are no longer in the divepool. So, in your opinion the changes will be: 12 fixed or replaced (perhaps an old satelite-satelite, does anyone have a link to a place where I can see the Inter?) 13 - only graphic (on paper instruction) changes?

I cant find this website - link appear to be broken. However others seem to find it with out trouble? Can anyone provide me with a throughout written link or perhaps an other link to the same presentation?! Thank you.

Its a great place, and you will be amazed how helpfull everyone (even world champions) are!! Inspiring enviroment. Coaching possibilties are very good. Aircrafts are good. Expensive but really nice resturant. Bad bunkhouse on DZ but nice bunkhouses at private locations.

They are still in working progress with their DZ facilities. Bath and toilets were still not acceptable, the last time I was there. Bunkhouse and restaurant could use some work too. But they are working on overall repairs of this charming old military DZ base! Besides from this, its a really great DZ. Great new video and team rooms. Good packing + creeper facilities. Very nice staff, efficient aircrafts (MI8 + AN28). Good prices. :)

Actually some booties are stronger than others. Getting your bootie caught on something isn't the most likely thing, but it does happen. During training in Russia just around the time for the Malewsky cup this year, our national team DaneZ where there, jumping with the norwegian national team Arcteryx. DaneZ is the last team out. But as they approaches the tailgate on the MI8 and takes a look down, to see Arcteryxs exit, they see a guy dangling by his bootie! It is caught on an iron ring right on the tailgate! Tuffe Øjving as the guy is called, couldent get free on his own. DaneZ had to lift him back up to reduce the weight pressure before being able to lift Tuffe off the ring and throw him after his teammates! He waved and smiled, they reported. Afterwards they all tried to MAKE their booties get stuck and analyze what happened. The caught bootie could not be reconstructed. (Thank god) But still, to answer your question: Some booties - under some circumstances, are pretty strong and will hold a persons weight! Edit: spelling

Very tempting to see the Perris tunnel as well as Eloy. Having heard and read about it. However, it would require substantial additional funds But thak you very much for your input! I will be sure to investigate the possibilities.

"In the ongoing battle between tunnel walls and man, walls has yet to loose" Point ? When you get inside the tunnel, you will instinctively know why you are not allowed to do the front/back loops in there. The purpose of the loop exercise if often discussed, but the main purpose remains only to effectively make you unstable, and for you to prove able to quickly return to stability. Dont think about comparing to the tunnel rats! They will do unbelievable things. In feburary I went to my first tunnelcamp.As we started, we wasn't even allowed to walk on the net or turn ourselves if we flipped over to our back. (yeah I admit it happened on a few ocations during the wrestling drills) Awkward situation waiting to be "turned over" by the tunnel rat... Eventually as you progress and become familiar with the tunnel, the tunnel rats will relax and let you do what you want in there. But the first few *hours* they really have to be on their toes and they WILL step into the tunnel and take charge when ever they feel, that the task you´ve put yourself up to, is too challenging for your current level. And a coach will NEVER ask of you, to perform a loop in the tunnel. Untill you have your skills tuned, the sky if the only proper place for loops. You will have all the space you may end up needing. No banging into the walls is a good thing!! Have fun in the tunnel!! You will love it!

Ok, sounds as if it could be possible to compete in the Shamrock Showdown. Ill send Kurt of skyleague a mail. We will probably take 14-16 days, as we are doing 12 hours and need a bit of real freefall as well to take what we have learned in the tunnel into practice in the air. And will probably want a few days off as well, to enjoy the weather in Florida. Didnt get to see Daytona Beach last time... Im not too worried on the coaches beeing pre occupied, we will plan around it. And maybe even bring our own coaches. Havent desided on that one yet. Thanks for your answers

Our 4way team is planning tunnelcamp and training in either feb. or marts. I got the idea, that it could be great fun to plan our camp while theres a competition, so that we could include this in our training. But is there open competitions at that time, in Florida?! We are training in Orlando´s Skyventure and on DeLand. Is there anything relatively close by? Can anyone tell me, if it is possible to participate if your a danish team? Can anyone tell me (given there is a competition near by, and we are allowed to participate) what the registration fee / participation costs might be? In advance thank you! Blue Ones ___________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Your success and happiness, is in direct proportions to your commitment to excellence, regardless of your chosen field of endeavour.

See in the Swooping and Canopy section of theese forums, Brian Germains schedule is posted there. We have had Brian Germain come to Denmark two times this year. I recommend him, as all issues of piloting your canopy are covered, in his two or three day course. Including design and psychology. Everybody gained from his shared knowledge and found things they wanted to practice... Beginners and Novices began to understand and play with their canopies. Swoopers became like little kids with new toys. Only they were pilots with higher understandings and new tools. However, this course is based primarily on theory. If you are searching for the jumping and videodebreifing, youd perhaps be better off by simply bringing a videocamera to your DZ, filming friends and asking them to do the same for you. Just watching your own - and others landings, can teach you LOTS! Be carefull to take advise from "just anybody" on your local DZ. Everybody has their own way of doing things and if your not a pro, explaining that "feeling" is difficult. Maybe find a skilled person you trust, and have that individual de-breif with you. At your level simply understanding the dynamics of your canopy will be of great value to you. ___________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Your success and happiness, is in direct proportions to your commitment to excellence, regardless of your chosen field of endeavour.

grlsgotalot2lrn Im not sure what your looking for, but if you where searching for a book on dealing with fear and other selfimposed limitations I can recommend a book Im reading right now. It directs the mental teqnique / concept Inner Game. The book itself is directed at Skiing. But nevertheless the issues are exactly the same!