DocPop

So now you've added mind-reading to your list of skills? And you think I am arrogant. just because the numbers don't stack up in your mind, does not mean you have the right to brand me as dangerous. You know what they say about assumption..... I am not breaking any rules. If and when they become implemented I will do what it takes to adhere to them. Until that point I take it upon my self to seek professional canopy coaching every year which is far beyond what most fun jumpers do. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Thanks for your experiences. That is useful information. What are you loading your two canopies at? I did wonder if I was just not loading mine enough (1.5) to avoid end cell closure, but unless you're a pretty big lad your probably not loading your 170 more. We are having yet another weather day today (what an awful spring for jumping), so I may get my canopy out and do a complete inspection with a rigger - line trim and all. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

[My bolding] But you are not disregarding what I fly. You are making it the entire focus of these tirades. You have repeatedly told me that you don't agree with my canopy choice. Duly noted. But you cannot tell me I am part of the dangerous flying problem because you have not ONCE seen me fly. You made you point, Dave, as you have the right to. Now get off my back. Now it's Personal Attacks and name-calling? Get a grip on yourself and wind your fucking neck in. You're being counter-productive. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

In the spirit of learning I will respond to this. What skills do I not have? And I want specific answers, not "you don't have the jump numbers" or "you don't know what you don't know". I want you to name the canopy control skills that I don't have. That will be very useful in terms of what I focus on in my continued learning. I am not going to drag other people's names onto dz.com so they can be flamed. Several of them have said that this site is worthless for anything other than gear sales. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

What problem am I perpetuating? I'm not dead. I have not hit anyone under canopy nor have I cut anyone off. You are right that I am well above recommendations, but that doesn't make my opinion any less valid than anyone elses. Are you really trying to curtail my freedom of speech? You're part of the problem here, too, to according to the crowd that want HP canopies and swooping banned. You often provide abrasive, confrontational feedback here which I think could be phrased much better, but I don't pop up and tell you to zip the lip. You and others have posted about my choices. I understand that you think I am out of control. I disagree, and until someone challenges me for flying in a dangerous way I will continue to use the equipment I am on now. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Deaths due to low turns are always going to be a part of swooping. That's the nature of the discipline. Just as deaths will always be present in other skydiving disciplines - including deaths under good canopies. Just because you don't accept the risk does not mean that swoopers should be ostracized unless they are killing others. I get a sub-text from you of "it wasn't like this in my day so it must be wrong". The fatalities per thousand jumpers have come down drastically since "your day". By all means find we should find ways to reduce deaths, but let's do it in a way that lets the sport exist. The argument of "it's killing too many people - we should ban it" is not going to get you very far. How many is too many? Do you want zero deaths? In that case skydiving itself needs to be banned. I've said it before - we need solutions that are achievable and realistic. Many of them have been brought up and yet you continue to beat this extremist drum if banning swooping/hook turns/small canopies. Let's work together on this. The last thing we need is to set factions of our small community against each other. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

The issue is not just canopy collisions. Read the subject line. Sparky You are right - I got my threads mixed up. But even so, exit order is going to do even less to stop people hooking themselves in! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Oh for fuck's sake just top yourself. You're not happy. You're not making anyone else happy. Just fucking end it you whining fuck. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

There is no need for anyone to pull someone else's reserve handle. Ground them or ban them from the dropzone that achieves the safety goal. What's the point of fucking with their kit? That's just inflammatory and frankly turns the person in the right into someone in the wrong. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

We are being distracted from the real issue here, which is not canopy collisions at opening altitudes but CCs in the pattern. If there really is a big WL difference and they are opening at around the same altitude then there is plenty of time to CREATE separation before landing IF people think about it. i.e hotshots get down first and leave the old farts to land later while grumbling how things were not like this in their day. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I think you're getting your demographics wrong. It is the higher jump number pilots that are involved in a lot of these incidents. However, I do agree with the statement that education alone is not the answer - it must be coupled with enforcement. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

....or bigger! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I'm happier with this. Why punish the rigger? Surely popping reserves willy-nilly is giving the rigger work? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

That's why I don't use packers! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I would think given your previous posts that you have a HP canopy coach or mentor? If so why are you not asking them, you trust them to help keep yourself alive while learning HP canopy flight. If you dont have a coach/mentor. Good luck with not hurting yourself. Well pardon me for having the audacity to ask a question here. That's my whole point. You have put yourself at the Sharp end of the wedge, the single last place you should be seeking guidance is on the Net. You should have a mentor/coach who you trust, on site, this is the person who knows you, your flying style, and all other pertinent info about trying to keep you alive unharmed whilst you repeatedly disregard standard saftey guidelines regarding canopy selection and flight. Thank you. I have two mentors at the DZ. One of which is the S&TA and both swoop Velocities. I don't see that asking here for a wider opinion on packing techniques is irresponsible. I think you're just looking for a reason to have a pop at me. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

That makes perfect sense and it's so obvious I don't know why I didn't think of it. I will take snivelly openings over slammers any day. Thank you. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Thanks AggieDave. Interesting reading, but not really applicable to me now (but you knew that!). I did learn some stuff from your post though. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I would think given your previous posts that you have a HP canopy coach or mentor? If so why are you not asking them, you trust them to help keep yourself alive while learning HP canopy flight. If you dont have a coach/mentor. Good luck with not hurting yourself. Well pardon me for having the audacity to ask a question here. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I am not aware of any specific recommendations. Just wondering if there is something that people (CRWdogs? Pro-swoopers?) do to speed up the openings. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Yep. Because physics still dictates that no matter size of parachute, type of turn, or level of experience, the low man ALWAYS has right of way. Which is why (presumably in addition to the desire to avoid instant death) the swooper did the right thing and aborted his swoop. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Or just don't mention it. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Does anyone change how they pack for sub-terminal openings? I know about putting the risers over the riser covers or leaving them open, but anyone else have any other tricks? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

+1...outstanding post. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

That's strange. I didn't think having a dedicated swoop pond/student area/experienced jumpers/round/balloon/pink colored canopy landing area superceeded low man right of way. Are you saying that swooper couldnt see perfectly and clear his airspace? Interesting... Low man always has the right of way - but that does mean he is right to be there. And if he is in the wrong then some action needs to be taken. It is lack of action and enforcement that has lead to some of these terrible incidents we have seen recently. I thought most of us had agreed that swoopers (or indeed anyone) cannot be 100% reliable in clearing air space... ...hence the need for a separate area where non-swoopers don't go. Thankfully in this case the experienced jumper had the skills and awareness to avoid the mobile roadblock in his path. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

So, even with a dedicated swoop pond, you are laying the blame on the swooper who was in the right place vs the non-swooper who wasn't? I support separate landing areas but that has to mean that others DO NOT use that airspace. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA