sparkie

Hi, I'm currently a HD wannabe. Ive had some HD coaching using the second method, and am now fumbling around some on my own on some dives. coming season I want to invest some more in coaching, but I wonder what kind of training will get me there fastest.

Most new sitfliers think they can sit when they are actually in the position in his avatar. the pooping position. I was also very pleased with myself when I was at that stage ;P I'm now trying HD, sometimes it works but most times I just zoom forward or backwards. HD @ 70 jumps only happens at night, when you dream..

I've always found the web a great source of background information, think of the huge amount of experience there is among these forums. I think of it as something good when i can get info from s/o half the globe away. But then again, maybe we would all have been better off if fire too was never invented to begin with Im sure no one in his/her right mind will just blindly follow advice given in here.

I think it does help. Ive been a gliderpilot for a very long time before i went to skydiving. Landing patterns, landing into the wind, understanding lift/drag etc is all natural from the get go. I've always felt that once under canopy it was just like flying a really bad performance glider. I tried to thermal once.. that didnt work under a canopy , im still bummed by that

i sure hope you're just lazy in keeping your jump # accurate in your profile and that is nog your actual jump # 100 jumps & Safire 2 149 ft² (1.54 lbs/ft²)

Man this guy cracks me up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8r4Gtc6aCM

Hi there, Im almost the same weight as you, I went from a 210 (pilot) to the 168 (pilot). In between I tried a pilot 190 in no wind conditions. I felt that i got more flare with the 190 and even more with the 168. It does go down a lot faster ofcourse, but I dont think the pilot is an extreme canopy. (not that i can compare but given the cat. it fall in...) A side effect I noticed was the very different traffic you get in on a smaller canopy, before i was one of the last to land, now its busy in the pattern. Made me realise that there's more to consider and be ware of than just WL. hth

Yeah, thats what I told myself too when I had 13 jumps Now I just follow the chart (mandatory here) downsizing to what I am allowed and feel comfortable under. Downsizing isnt a must, but saying you will never downsize at jump 13, when the thrill of just jumping and surviving it is about 90% of the total experience, is a bit premature imo. I had a blast going from student mains 280 or so to my 1st own canopy, a pilot 210 @ 1.1. It felt like a sportscar. On another related note, not so much directed at yoy, but more in general.. @ 13 jumps I also told myself i'd never downsize...@ 30 jumps i had my 210 and now i have a 168 (pilot wl 1.3).. Why? well I now know more and have experienced more than back then @ 13 jumps and can make other descisions. @ Chris ottowa (pay attention ;PP) Would someone with say..1000 jumps be able to offer me some advice based on experiences I have yet to encounter? And would he in turn be able to get some useful advice from someone with over 2000 jumps and longer in the sport? just my 2ct

I'm waiting on Cani to send me the VX39, myself.... VX39 thats old school, ive just ordered a JVX1 soon ppl will start landing wingsuits and this whole need for a canopy nonsense will be done with

Cobalts, stiletto's? I jump in holland and im not even allowed on those canopies yet. (have 200 jumps atm). I jump a 168 pilot @ 1,3 and that was challenging enough, next upgrade will be around >400 jumps. I'd stuff the cobalt in a closet for a while. This is what it says on the manufacturers website: "Ultra high performance canopy designed specifically for competition swooping. The high efficiency wing is optimized for extreme distance. For experienced pilots only. The superior alternative to the Icarus VX and PD Velocity canopies." Hope you stay safe...

what is psycho packing anyway? Does it involve using your feet or something? ;P I pack my pilot 168 like the way in your pictures, now that it has some jumps on it i'm starting the regular pro pack again. never had any problems but i do think that with the reverse s packing method you have to take a bit more care on the slider side, so that it doesnt come off its stops. I also think the lines are a little bit more messy with the reserve s method. had major problems getting my new 168 in the bag at first. Now I think that had much more to do with my packing skill at that time, than the packing method. It's all about keeping the canopy smothered with knee/hands at all times. Just take it easy, dont rush and it will go in... eventually ;P

Anvil "MacGuyver" Brother?

it's tuesday, not monday. That bad a mood belongs to a monday.

I get annoyed when "possible newcomers" start talking and asking about accidents right off the bat. Is that just me? Asking about some incident in detail comes across as weird to me at that point of one's possible skydiving career. Like asking what will happen if both parachutes fail....you die..duhh If you have a healthy interest in the sport you might not want to dwell on incidents that lead to serious injury or death?! Go visit a hospital or cemetary if these things hold your interest. just my opinion. (like poopholes ya know)

yep, and also make breakoff arrangements, who goes where etc. And dont track in the line of flight of the plane. with 85 jumps you should be able to track, so its not that hard. Yes it's good fun.

Why dont you guys just ask me? I know just about everything there is to know in life PS couldnt resist, this was getting waay too serious and OT.

Aerodyne Pilot 210 for about 120 jumps WL 1.05 Aerodyne Pilot 168 today (180 jumps) WL 1.3

Is it the flaring itself or are you maybe reaching for the ground with one leg? I did that at first and had some landings that could have been better. It was standing up but ouchie on the ankle. When reaching for the ground, one tends to also lift the shoulders and hands = toggles a bit, increasing descent rate. I wasnt even aware of it until an instructor pointed it out to me when he saw me landing. hth btw dont be too hard on yourself @ 5 jumps

if they equip students with booties then yes it is

tight ass Imho a dvd/cd doesnt provide more info than hanging around in the packing area and asking guys/girls for advice. I fumbled around with my zp canopy at first. Took me about 3 hours and kicking it several times along with some sweat and profanities. I thought i'd never ever get it in the bag, like almost everyone that is learning to pack. But eventually (it wont take years ;)) you will get it right. First time jumping your own packjob is fun too , hoping the crap you stuffed in will get out ok. have fun

dont insult my ass I know that recent studies show that US residents are getting smaller but over here in Europe weighing 90 kg @ 1m 90cm isnt that bigg ass ;P I have several out landings and managed to put it into small fields that i picked out. I'm not saying he has to go ahead and go too small, just maybe small enough for his competence level. One side effect I noticed after going smaller, and people should also consider beforehand, is that usually you have to deal with more traffic in the landing pattern/area, since you will be coming down a lot faster.

Im 220 exit and i went from a 210 to a 168 (both pilot's) with a 190 for 1 jump in between. I have had no problems, because i dont do landings beyond my capabilities yet. (i have also been a gliderpilot for 14 years, im not sure if that has helped me or not...) You have to consider that making turns on a smaller canopy thats loaded higher burns a LOT MORE alti than on your huge student canopy. So yanking a toggle on final in a reaction to someone entering your airspace could be ouchie. A safe canopy is one that fits your capabilities, no one here can give you an answer in sizes. Maybe you can fly a 170, but maybe you break your bones trying to land it. Take the advice of people that know your skills and have the best in mind for you, or go your own way. hth

dont buy a packing video/dvd for "learning to pack purposes". Its a waste of money imo. You only learn by doing it, period. Packing vids are made by ppl that want to make you pay for their jumps ;P

Why for gods sake?

c208 Teuge (netherlands) ;P $34 usd 12k ft (farts included for the same price)