Chris-Ottawa

Hey, I've done a few and they can be alot of fun, so long as you put some though into what you're about to do. Basically, cover yous A$$. Talk to manifest, the pilots, other jumpers. Let everyone know what's going on. And as already mentioned...know how to spot because, odds are you are the only one getting out that far from the DZ. I want to do a bunch more this summer because the ones I did last summer didn't last long. Spiralling under a Spectre 135 burns up altitude pretty damn quick. Have fun! PS: Its also a great time for pictures! (But be safe and always keep an eye on what's going on around you) - See attached Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

This is fantastic. Someone needed to make a move and take a position on the issue, and who better to do it than the owner or one of the largest DZ's in the world. The only thing I see that is odd is that 180's are still allowed. This makes swoops more predictable, but that means swoops are still in the pattern. I jump at a Cessna DZ and traffic isn't particularly a huge issue and we only have a couple swoopers, but it can still happen. This makes me happy, since I would love to visit some of the bigger DZ's and still feel safe. Thanks Larry! Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, I jump an OJK with a Spectre 135 and it's pretty tight. I'd honestly be hard pressed to get a 150 in there on a regular basis. According to Sunpath, the OJK has the same size main compartment as the TJNK. The reserve compartment is larger in the OJK. In y opinion, I don't think I could get a ZP 150 in there, maybe an F111. I know this doesn't help your exact scenario, but it gives you a frame of reference. Later Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey Steve, Depending on what you weigh will also determine how fast you can downsize. A 150 seems about average size, but if you weigh 200lbs, a 150 is going to scream and you'll likely kill yourself. If you're like me though, I weigh 115lbs and jump a Spectre 135. It's plenty of fun but honestly it's a bit agressive. I could really suffice with getting a 150. So if you weigh anything more that I do, anything below a 150 is better put on a wish list titled: When I have 500 jumps, I want: 1 x Super fast deadly canopy 1 x Snazzy container etc etc etc.... What do you weigh naked? Later Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, Thanks for the great info, this is did not know. I'm sorry I miscounted cells. Obviously since you're perfect you might also be able to tell me more about the canopy? Your post was useless, I made a mistake, big deal. As for the other 6 cells I counted....well, ummm, yeah, can't explain. I guess I just counted fast and miscounted then rounded up? I don't know. I have no excuses. My bad... Still curious about the canopy though... Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Yeah, I'm hooked too, -24 Celsius and I can't wait either...... I need to move to keep up on my hobby... "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey Dan, So, it looks like a 27 cell crossbraced canopy..... What other specs/info do ya got to share????? Huh Huh, Come on!!! (I'll probably never jump one anytime soon, but I'm still curious) Thanks Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Major difference.... 201 allows you to download the log to the computer, 101, nada. Don't quote me on this, but I'm about 98% positive. I almost bought one for running and wated to get it for skydiving as well. I bought a Neptune Instead. Next investment is a 305 with heart rate monitor as well. Anyone ever monitored their heartrat on a skydive and found out where the peaks were? Mine would peak at "DOOR", I'm sure of it. Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, Actually, I was really glad for the experience. During opening it dove left and was turning during the whole opening. I thought it was just opening off heading. At one point...I though hmmm, never seen it turn that much before. Still wasn't worried. Once it was fully inflated it had a slow left turn. I was loading the canopy at about .9. I saw the end cell was closed so I did my checks and did what I was told to do to get rid of end cell closure...flare. Bad idea...The second I released the toggles....spineroo! It started spinning pretty good, I pulled the right toggle to my hip and the spin was mostly stopped. I took the time to jerk the risers and brakes. Both toggles were released but after multiple attempts I couldn't get it undone. I took a deep breath, pulled the right toggle to slow the spin, released it, chop, reserve. Kept both handles, in my hands, the whole way down. I laughed after I landed because I realized how long it took me to realize how to steer my reserve with handles in my hands. Needless to say, I used a thumb and pointer finger. As for what caused it...can't say for sure, most likely packing error as it was a brand new PD canopy (20 jumps) and I was fairly inexperienced, but it could also be attributed to pure "luck". The reason I was glad it happened that way is because it wasn't a violent mal, I pulled with plenty of altitude, and surprisingly I wasn't scared. I was doing something stupid, but I considered landing the canopy in that configuration. It was a borrowed canopy and I felt like crap for chopping it. It probably would have gotten me to the ground without chopping, but I also probably would have broken both my legs on impact. I took the "safer" method. I was very calm. The fear struck me about an hour after the jump when the endorphines slowed... Maybe it hit me harder because my cameraman also broke his femur on the same jump... Either way, didn't deter me one bit, that was 25ish jumps ago. Later Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, Unfortunately I was not able to clear mine. I pulled high as it was a coach jump and I wanted the deployment on video. Dumped at 4k, open by 3400 under a Sabre2 150. The whole leftmost cell was collapsed under the second cell in. The difference was that my slider was down, my tension knot was right at the canopy. I saw the B or C line slider stop wrapped around the B line one cell in. I tried to get it out from 3400 to 2700 and decided to chop. Landed uneventful, everything was fine. "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, Looks a lot like my first mal...cept' mine was on the left hand side. This one appears to be with the A and/or B lines. I would guess mine was on the B and/or C lines. Question: Was this you, and if it was, did you chop it or were you able to recover? Also, what canopy/loading? Thanks Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hahah, Nice..... And this...I'm very proud to say...whether I have earned them or not, I have never "opted" to get these "temporary" tattoos. I'm happy to say I have never botched a landing...yet. (*Knock on wood) I fully understand what everyone is saying. I haven't committed to anything just yet. I also like the quote because it's not strictly skydiving. I'm not prepared to get a giant RW team across my back or anything. Honestly, I don't think I would ever do that because in 20 years when I may or may not be skydiving...I may feel embarassed about having it. Dave, I have actually heard that before. Some of the other threads discussed it, but there was no concrete evidence that it was or wasn't said by him. Either way, still such a great quote. I appreciate all input/criticism/advice...really! Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Go on?? I'm not sure if that's a joke or if you're trying to slam me? I am in Canada, I'm sure most of the stuff will be from Canada. I think I'm missing something here? Thanks "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, I respect that you think it takes time to "earn" a tattoo like this, but this isn't solely about skydiving for me. Aviation in general has been part of my life since I can remember. Yes, I may only have 2 years "skydiving" experience, but I have at least another 13 or so outside of skydiving. Ever since I was 5 years old, I have thought about flight. I jumped off tree stumps with garbage bags and bedsheets, jumping off the roof in winter doing flips into the snow etc... And...even if I do quit jumping, I will not be embarrassed about it one bit. Skydiving has only allowed me to experience what I've grown up dreaming of...flying. So if you think I don't deserve it, so be it. It's what matters to me..not anyone else, but I do respect your opinion at the same time. Thanks Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey everyone, I'm officially hooked on skydiving and figured I'd get something to signify my addiction. I want t get a tattoo and I've looked at the forums and saw a couple and messaged a few people about thiers as well. I was wondering, does anyone have pictures of their da Vinci quote tattoo? "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." Leonardo da Vinci I'm not sure I want to get such a big tattoo for my first tattoo, but that quote represents so much of my life now. I'm also toying with the idea of closing pins as the quotation marks for the quote, or just a pin above and below the quote. Any ideas, please share. Thank you Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, You have every right to be concerned, but I think the best advice has already been given...go to a DZ and just hang out. Skydivers love to have spectators and love telling stories about jumping...be prepared to get annoyed with skydivers though...we tend to talk about it a lot. On another note, I can't remember the last time I was involved in a high speed chase, or a shootout at the local bank branch. But it happens "ALL THE TIME" on TV. TV shows you what you want to see...danger and fear. It's all done for ratings. A skydiving fatality/accident seems to be a big event because it allows everyone who doesn't have a clue about it to say "See, i told you it was dangerous....look how dangerous it is". Make your own choice, start by going to the DZ, see how may people get hurt or die on a particular day and happy to say that I'm sure you'll be disappointed. Accidents do happen, but they also happen while you're driving, walking, running, biking, hang gliding, sailing, {Insert additional verb here}, {and here}, {and here}....see where this is going? Have fun on your jump (I know you will) Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, Just to don on personal experience. Before I had my own gear, I had read alot about the skyhook and I know how it works and how RSL's in general work. The day of my first cutaway, I was wearing a Vector3. I knew Vector3's had skyhooks. Anyways, I had a mal, a slow spinner from a tension knot, tried to save it and chopped at my decision altitude. Landed uneventful under my reserve. I found out about 2 hours after my chop that the rig did not have a Skyhook or RSL or anything. It did have a Cypres, but that's besides the fact. The fact that I didn't even consider whether I had a Skyhook or not was purely muscle memory from training. That reserve handle was "GONE" the split second the 3 rings released. Have fun..be safe! Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, I have jumped a Spectre 135 for the last 30 or so jumps. Not once have I done anything special. I used to stuff the nose in a bit when I pulled the tail around and that causes it to snivel to about 800ft or slightly more. All I do now is quarter the slider and pull the tail around with the cells still in between my knees. I release, roll the tail a bit to close it up and that's it. I get very consistent 600-800 ft openings. 90% on heading, the other 10% percent I attribute to packer interface error (IE: "ME"). I have never gotten more than a 90 degree off heading opening. It stays on heading for the whole snivel, but when the slider comes down is when it will tend to do a 90 degree turn the the right as it gets that final full inflation. It's either packing or body position. Either way, I loves ma Spectre! Hope you enjoy it too! Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, Just thought I'd add an update and some clarification. I was wearing gloves during this, otherwise I can almost guarantee that my hands would be sliced to shit. I was actually reverse launched the whole time. I knew this way I could see what my canopy was doing. I have since launched a few more times and also gone down a small sliding hill. I have kited a few more times in lesser winds and not so gusty. The 2 times i tried launching down a hill, I specifically chose a day where there was enough wind to inflate my canopy, but not much else. I also chose a hill that was about 150 feet long and had a pretty shallow slope, with no obstacles. My purpose in doing that was not actually to get airborne, but to fly my canopy while running and get used to it that way. I made about 15 runs the first time getting zero airtime. The second time I made about 10 runs and got a bit of air. A "bit" is equal to about 5 seconds without ground contact and maybe 4 feet off the ground. (All of this was done in fresh powdered snow..) Either way, it's getting much better and I'm still taking it very slow. I actually found that my Spectre is very sensitive to stall when on the rears rather than the toggles. I tried a few runs on each and got much better results on toggles than on risers. I'm sure on a bigger(steeper) hill, the rears would be better. Thanks Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, Basically what they were saying can happen is that the riser "housing" can release from the riser, slide down the cutaway cable towards the 3 rings and make it's way through the cutaway loop. So, when you pull the cutaway handle, it doesn't cutaway because you have the riser "housing" in the spot where the cutaway cable should be. Not a good situation to be in, especially if one riser has this problem and the other doesn't. Thats when you fire your reserve and ope for the best. "When once you have tasted flight..."

I knew UPS was going to rape me, but the only other option that the seller was willing to use was FED-EX. The whole values of the rig were marked on it, so I paid taxes on $2800 US. Then I sent the cypres away and paid taxes on the "serivce" Bah, it's here now, it's basically brand new, and I love it. "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey, Some canopies can definitely be more consistent if packed one way or another. At the same time, say for example a Sabre 1 is fairly known for hard openings. Most people roll the nose. This can be done either way of packing. In my opinion, any canopy can be packed either way with similar openings. This is true except once you get to smaller canopies. Apparently, from what I've been told, the smaller canopies tend to have more consistent openings from a propack. I mean canopies under 150-135. Sub 100...I have no idea, but I've only seen them propacked or psycho packed. I have pro packed my Spectre 135 since day 1. I personally find it easier, just makes more sense to me, and it uses less area on the packing mat. Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

All good man, Thanks for the info. If I had a contact to tell about the website, I definately would have. I'm glad you came across my question though. I shall call this afternoon. Actually I'll send a PM for ya instead. Thanks "When once you have tasted flight..."

Hey Mark, I realized it's not duty but taxes on the gear. I bought my rig from the US, 0 Duty, but $500 in taxes. Not happy. I just want to avoid all of that entirely. If I can get it in Canada, it will be much easier, unless the price just doesn't make sense. I wasn't away nouvelair had a gear store, anyone have a contact for them or shoud I just call nouvelair? Thanks Chris "When once you have tasted flight..."

That would make sense... Maybe they are Racer risers. I understand why that they were thought to be from Jumpshack. I'm just not totally convinced that my Spectre 135 loaded at about 1:1 could spin up that hard. I mean I'm sure it could spin up and put tension, but in comparison to me jumping a Velo loaded at 2.5 would be a different story. Nonetheless...I will be getting riser inserts installed, or just buy new risers. I feel much safer knowing that I can prevent something whether or not I think it can happen or not. Thanks "When once you have tasted flight..."