Yoshi

the harness shift is what I feel works best for me. it keeps the speed rather than using it with the toggles/ rear risers. I can only get about 90 degrees, but I have seen people do 180s on the ground...pretty amazing, but nothing I would attempt yet. little too much of pushing the envalope that close to the ground:)......I have also seen 180s by a certain skygod777 when he wasnt meaning to do it he was ok...and made for geat video yoshi _________________________________________ this space for rent.

Personally I love the psyco pack.. I pack at my dz and when I ask people which way they usually like it the most common answer is the pro pack.. I also flat pack though.. I have about 250 jumps and I have psyco packed about 170 of them. like said before jsut make sure you pull the attachment point to the side before rolling to the blidle wont burn the fabric. as far as off heading openings most of the time the psyco pack opens predictably. of course with any method you will have off heading openings here and there. I love the way it opens with a psyco pack and after convincing a few others at my DZ many of the people there now psyco pack..( not only my convincing, but the trend did grow since my brother actually started to pack liek that) it also makes it so much easier to pack..especially with new ZP. just dont forget to flip the bag back over and it should be all good Im a nija _________________________________________ this space for rent.

I am looking to swoop longer.. I simply was stating I dont care if someone under a 1.4 load can out swoop me... its not a balls to the wall contest..I dont compete.. I also love the flight characteristics of the smaller canopy. not only the swoop....but from the opening to touchdown. and BTW the msw for a 119 is over what I load it. if I were to fly a 109 then I would be right at the maximum for the canopy (as far as the manufacturers recommondation)...and I have had several hours of conversation with Simon Mundell of icarus canopies (who has been in direct contact with one of the S&TA's at my DZ..who knows how I fly) like I said I am not an idiot, I am simply on a different curve than perhaps the majority?also when downsizing I do keep the reserve in mind...I fly with a 150 dash m right now, but when I get my next rig rather than going for the most asthetically pleasing rig (120 main 120 reserve) I am opting to get the voodoo that holds a 120 main and a 135 reserve. I think its the V-1. "The inspirations in life are derrived not only from the path which we take, but also the challenges in which we overcome." _________________________________________ this space for rent.

ok heres the deal.. only one of the people that has posted on here has actually seen me fly. I DO UNDERSTAND where you all are coming from and this is not some kind of pissing match. I could really give two shits about who flies a smaller canopy or who can get a longer swoop. when it comes to what I fly it is how comfortable I am with it and how I progress not about anyone else and their progression or mistakes on jumping on something too small for them. This is about me. I dont care that someone else waited until they had 5000 jumps until they hit 2.0 wing loading I dont care if someone else does it in 100 jumps. I do land crosswind occasionally just for fun..hell... on light wind days I even take it down wind (permitting everyone else has already landed and I wont be cutting anyone off) landing in a small area: this is something we do from time to time ass well "shoot the peas for a buck?" ok so this is what it boils down to. some people that some of us or all of us know have died because of certain mistakes under canopy. some of us have seen it within 10 feet..and someof us have simply read about it in the incident reports, but this does not mean that everyone who has a very fast learning curve (which is not what I intended this post to be about in the first place) (nor am I bragging or trying to say I have bigger ball because I can progress faster than some with more jumps) should stand back and not let themselves progress as they want to. The freedom of this sport is why i got into in the first place. There are so many genres to explore, so many things to learn and so many beautiful sites to see. not to mention some of the best friends that I have met at the DZ. please just get off my back about the canopy I choose to fly. it is my choice, and although others have said "I know what I am ready for, and I know what I can fly" once again it is not about them. the people who have seen me fly (including several s@ta's at my dz) are the ones that I really take strong advise from. they are the ones who have helped me to progress as fast as I have (as well as others at my dz) and I will continue to use them to help me hone my skills as a canopy pilot. I am not a blundering idiot...I am educated and I do understand the risks involved with flying a higher performance canopy. Its not like I was on a manta 288 and the next day I went to a 119 crossfire. I had a progression of canopies that I flew...I just went through the progression faster than most. ok so there it is and if you want to post more about how someone else made a mistake or how I shouldnt fly what I shoul then go for it, but ultimately it is not going to change anything. if you want to comment on the jediei or flying characteristics or style I am all ears. I am always interested in learning more, but the fact that this forum is turning into a beat down session on no other than myself is starting to piss me off.. I do appreciate the comments thus far though.. thanks kevin _________________________________________ this space for rent.

my bad make that 250 jumps currently.. not 150.. _________________________________________ this space for rent.

yeah its 250 I hit the wrong key.. also: the first time I jumped the 119 crossfire on a demo I did land off. skygod had a cutaway and I followed him down to make sure he was ok.. ( he was) and it is not hard at all to shut down a 119 within about 10-15 feet or so...simply pump the flare destroy the airfoil (which I have a habit of doing on swoops anywyas) and taadaaaa no swoop.. laters kevin _________________________________________ this space for rent.

I started to freefly in my coach dives. I did the static line progression and now out of 150 jumps I have about 10 belly jumps. it seems to have worked for me this way... i think either way you go is good.. if you learn to freefly first it will help you with belly and vise versa. but definately keep the groups to 2 or 3 people if you learn to freefly 1st. it will make the learning curve alot quicker, and it will be much safer until you lear to fly your body with more obsticles in the air. be safe and have fun! -yoshi _________________________________________ this space for rent.

just thought that I would add..I dont jsut go out and jump the 120's after a few weeks of no jumping.. I always jump my 149 first on the day that I demo something to see what is going on in the air..and I am pretty current with my jumps.. I dont take 3 weeks off then hop on a smaller canopy.. jsut thought I would add that for the CN's approval -yoshi _________________________________________ this space for rent.

geez..didnt think this would bring out all the CN's anyways like I sid before I know my limitations..I have biffed in on my 149 (and I am pretty lucky might I add that I walked away from that one) I know where the end of my limits are and I stay away from it. sure I like to swoop and occasionally I do get a little more radical in my turns, but I dont have to dig out and I know where everyone else is in the air and I have all of my outs scouted before hadn. if any of you have jumped at richmond,in you will understand unless you are trying to hit the hanger, power lines, or a car you have an out in every direction.. ond for the love of god dont think that on a 20 mile an hour day I am doing 90 270's just because its a smaller canopy. just because it is a smaller canopy doesnt mean I fly it nor try to fly it to its potential...I am simply building my skill under a faster beast. I know the complications..I know the dangers, but if the right steps are taken.....doing carvers on a smaller canopy is much better than hooking a larger one. regardless what is said on this forum is pertinent. there is that concern for people flying higher performance canopies. I think that is a good thing to keep most in check...but remember when jumping a square was considered too dangerous. times are moving on as well as pilots progressions with canopies..all we can do as askydivers is merge with the newer generations (including myself) and dont critisize poeple when they make their own choices, yet help them to learn on thier level.. -kevin _________________________________________ this space for rent.

actually I am not buying the jediei I was just having some fun flying it.. I am nost likely going to get a 119 crossfire...I flew the 120 cobalt and was not impressed. I tried the samuri last year at Richmond "THE" Boogie, but I havnt flew it enough to really decide if I like it. I have yet to fly the vengance, but I plan to soon.. as far as going down in size 10 ft or so...well its just not a big enough jump for me, but like I said before I do appreciate and understand your concern. anyways whatever I get I want to fly it at its optimal wing loading. and performance is the key... SWOOP! Im a Ninja _________________________________________ this space for rent.

this one did have a pocketed slider on it also, ohh well.. was definately fun to fly though. -yoshi _________________________________________ this space for rent.

well although it may be a pretty fast move for some..my first canopy was a 149 crossfire with exit weight at ~200. I do fly safe, but I also love the speed and the swoop. thank you for your concern, but I think it is not only the jump numbers, but the comfort level flying high performance canopies...by all means I dont think anyone with little experience should hop on a higher wingloaded high performance canopy, but that is what I learned on (after graduating of course)..the student gear were mantas and raiders, and I think there was a sharp shooter in there somewhere... but anyways my canopy now is a 149 crossfire (exit weight about 210-215) and after speaking with a few s&ta's at my dz (which have seen me fly and land) I am personally ready to move to something smaller. (like I said as my disclaimer) I am not by any means saying that anyone should progress as I do or that just anyone should fly high performance canopies even with 1000's of jumps...they aren't made for everyone, but they are made for me. ...ohh and no the numbers are close I am in the 250's with jumps... -yoshi jump barefoot...swoop long..swoop hard...leave a bloody trail _________________________________________ this space for rent.

I jumped the jediei this weekend...120 @ 1.85 wing load and it was sweet. riser pressure was a dream very very soft... the opening were not very desireable though.. (Im probably about 1/2 an inch shorter after 5 jumps...anyways the angle of attack was very steep, the turns were very fast, and it dove more than the crossfire... my brother (jaybird) packed once for me and it snivled very nicely...(of all people to pack a nice opening it was the guy with the broken back anyways just thought I would comment it flew like a dream (and swooped like a champ) but the openings were hard and unpredictable (could have been my packing though...) it also just had a new line set...I was told it opened much better once it was a little out of trim...anyways yoshi- _________________________________________ this space for rent.

7 people one tube.. 18 foot hand held:) of my own making.. woo hoo Im a ninja _________________________________________ this space for rent.

For those of you who were not able to make it...you missed a great time. Colon Berry and Jonny Stewart (who also had a birthday on sunday) organized and did coach jumps for people all weekend. It was a great learning experience, with jumps ranging from one on one coaches to 7 way tube dives.. if you missed it this go around make sure you dont miss "The" richmond boogie..august 27th thru monday sept 2nd....make sure youre there!! -kevin look..hook..flare _________________________________________ this space for rent.

For all thaat was not there it was a blast!... Colon and jonny (which it was his b-day on sunday) both did coach dives all weekend to make for a great learning experience for all. we managed to pull of several 2 ways that helped hone skills and up to 7 way tube dives!!! whoo hoo free fly! Look...Hook....Flare.... _________________________________________ this space for rent.

Considering that is my home Dz Ill be there!!! fun fun fun.. cant wait its always a blast! jump barefoot..swoop hard..swoop long...leave a bloody trail! _________________________________________ this space for rent.

yeah see ya there.. hopefully I will get a few jumps with ya. I would like to keep the size of jumps to a min this weekend. (just to hone on skills more. (of course with the exception of when we break out the tube! anyways Ill see you there.! Jump barefoot...swoop hard...swoop long...leave a bloody trail _________________________________________ this space for rent.

you better make it.. where there is a will there is a way. Jump barefoot...swoop long...swoop hard...leave a bloody trail _________________________________________ this space for rent.

no I didnt lengthen it. its just a little larger range (so i thought) for imput on the CF than the Cobalt. 1/2 of a line twist is good while spitting or pissing under canopy! _________________________________________ this space for rent.

sure we can lets get drunk and party down this weekend.. hey fallrate.. when you going to make it out to richmond again??? and did you get the pix of our last jump at the boogie last year?? kevin _________________________________________ this space for rent.

I jumped the samuri and liked it, but I didn't get enough jumps on it to really make a good impression. I guess I need to demo some more stuff before I decide, but going to the 119 at a wing loading of 1.85 the crossfire 2 is one of the few canopies that it is still within its max limits as reccomended by the manufacturer. the cobalt (for those of you who ask): I liked the openings...on heading mostly, but not really that slow. my crossfire snivels like a greased pig on a slip-n-slide. the openings on the cobalt were kind of like a stiff bump at first (which slowed me down significantly) then the second stage came in and finished off the rest of the speed. It wasnt a really hard opening, but definately stiffer than the crossfire..it didnt really snivel, but rather just slowed down in the two stages so you don't get the blast all at once. once open (under the 120 cobalt) the front riser pressure was a dream. I could hold 360's all day long and then go the opposite direction. but the 119 crossfire dove much better, and although the front riser pressure is stiffer on the crossfire (the 1 not the 2) it was still light enough to get full input. it is noticeably stiffer than the cobalts, but not that bad. the crossfire turned a little slower (but the dive made up for it) the crossfire had a little longer toggle stroke (which I like because its a little more forgiving) but seemed much much faster. the biggest decision factor was the flare though. the crossfire I am pretty tuned into and can get it to plane out pretty well with little toggle input. I only have about 25 jumps on the cobalt, but I needed to use more toggle to get it to plane out. and the flare on the cobalt couldnt hod a cows left nut to the crossfires. with the cobalt I couldnt surf as far, and at the end of the surf it had no pop. Someone said it may be because I was not loading it enough, but thats fine with me because I load my 149 crossfire alot lighter and it still pops. ohh well apples and oranges though.. like someone else said you either love it or hate it. and I guess I am a hater yoshi _________________________________________ this space for rent.

I currently jump a crossfire 149 and I am looking to downsize to the 120 range. I am still looking for my next canopy though. Any suggestions on a compareable high performance canopy that is non-crossbraced?..I wasn't too fond of the cobalt...perhaps it was the particular canopy, but the flight characteristics wre undesireable compared to my crossfire. Jump barefoot...swoop long...swoop hard...leave a bloody trail _________________________________________ this space for rent.

well all I have to say is regardless of his bird jump way to go on getting your speed slowed down on your track. most think distance is the only thing important, but slow speed=less altitude=more distance. _________________________________________ this space for rent.

Ohhhhhh yeah time to get some freefly coaching. Hey skygod...maybey he can teach you to stay on your head _________________________________________ this space for rent.