DocPop

You should also consider a CBR600 (not the RR). Comfortable, bombproof torquey engine, full fairing, available at all sorts of prices depending on how new you buy. Good for a commuter bike as well as a weekend scratcher. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Got it. Love it. Faster and more stylish than the last one and the screen/video/camera is amazing. Processor is also much faster. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I have always been careful to use Brian Germain's "anti-horseshoe" method for the BOC which is a bit of a ball-ache, but gives me peace-of-mind. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Instructor, professional canopy coach and pro-swooper. I am getting some good swoops and the coach mentioned above indicated that a change to a Katana would enable me to continue learning at an optimal rate. Thanks - that's pretty much what I am doing. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

No, not just stuffing it in! The guys I pack for are jumping Velocities from 90 to 103 and are very particular about their pack-jobs. The method I have been taught involves 'inverting' the PC (as though it was collapsed by the kill line, although, of course it is NOT) and then just lying it in the pack tray in that configuration. S-fold the bridle and that's it. Much quicker than prepping a PC for a BOC in my opinion. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

For the past week I have been packing pull-outs for other people (in practice for when I get mine!) and I have to say that not having to fold up the pilot chute at the end of the pack-job is an added benefit which I had not thought of. I have started to hate that step when I pack my own throw-out system. Lazy, I know, but true nonetheless.... "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I know exactly how you feel. I am doing 90s on my Sabre2 (only loaded at about 1.3) and I struggle with front riser pressure quite a bit when I don't get my turn exactly right (ie. I am a little high). I am starting from 300' and going to double fronts for 2-3 seconds before doing a slow carve. I have been recommended to move to a Katana so I can increase my initiation altitude a bit and hold the dive easier. When everything is right (ie. pattern, set-up and turn) the swoops are OK on it, but if the winds are 15-20 mph or less I prefer to downwind them to enjoy the extra speed. I also agree about the coaches, every time I get coaching I improve in quite a big step. I would be interested to hear your comparison of the Sabre2 and the Pilot. Good luck and stay safe! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

1.5 WL at 500 jumps doesn't seem all that excessive to me (not that I am professing to be an expert in any way). I have heard numerous people say 0.1 increase in WL per 100 jumps is a reasonable way to go, so starting from 1.0 as a student this puts him right where he should be. I guess I just don't see how being under this canopy made him fly into an obstacle in an otherwise clear area. What makes you think that he would have not hit the spool under a more conservative wing? Please don't take this as me being antagonistic - they are genuine thoughts/questions but I know it can sound like smart-ass comments on t'internet. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Not really sure what some pics of a heli and a crowd are supposed to prove. I appreciate your intent, but I don't think this is going to change anyone's mind. I have seen far worse things at the DZ in my short time in the sport and I still jump. Only today I saw a guy with over 6,000 jumps taken out of action by a hard opening on a tandem. Shit happens. What was the gear? What injuries were received? Was the gear really at fault (as your post seems to imply)? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

That is an interesting choice of container size. If I may ask why so small on the reserve tray. I know you can get a PD Optima 143 in that tightly but with the main tray being so large why restrict the reserve size? My bad - it is an I-23SN. It is sized for a Optimum 143 and a 135 nine cell main. Is that such an odd combination? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Wow - so your argument for a Stiletto comes down to "I am too scared to jump a Sabre2, so I chose a Stiletto". That is some fucked up reasoning! A Sabre2 will fly very flat if you learn to use the appropriate inputs and develop a feel for how much brake you can use in a given situation. Have you considered how much altitude you lose under a spinning mal? That's really gonna shorten your canopy time, especially if you then transition to a steeply gliding reserve. Have you considered trying to learn to fly a non-HP canopy in all flight modes before you go to an HP one for only one of its flight characteristics? Your reasoning is all fucked up. Back to basics for you, boy. Get some canopy tuition. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Could you please let us know which canopy course this was? Who were the instructors? My guess is that if it was multiple instructors, it was probably Flight-1, am I right? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Thanks for the insights, guys. I chose a pull-out (on an Infinity I-24SN if it matters) for the following reasons: 1. The lower risk of a horseshoe (I realize this is a compromise as you exchange that risk for the risk of a pud-in-tow). 2. It appears to me, and this will probably cause debate, that it is a more secure and freefly friendly option (no bridle exposed, no risk of spandex becoming saggy and worn-out). 3. I think it has a neater appearance than a BOC. My friend and mentor has given me instruction on the differences and I have been practicing with his rig for both deployment and packing. i will NOT use packers. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Any particular reason? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

The guy at the place I ordered it from. I do not want to get into who it was as that is not really relevant. He did not succeed as I had already done my research and decided that's what I wanted. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I recently ordered a new container with a pull-out and they tried to talk me out of it saying it was old technology. Just wanted to get an idea of what you guys are using. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Not a dumb question and the answer is yes, sometimes swoopers (and wanna-be swoopers, like me!) will intentionally do down-winders for more ground speed. It can be quite a rush! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I am starting to wonder whether this guy actually does jump. He seems very secretive about which dropzone he is at - maybe there isn't one. Maybe he is an "armchair skydiver". "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

There are very few absolutes in our sport. What about the person who jumps without an RSL and who cuts away with the "two-hand method" only to find that they cannot find the reserve handle due to the release of the main? Posts along the lines of "It's my way or the highway" are very rarely likely to be correct in all circumstances, and show a degree of arrogance and stifle discussion. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Agreed. Flight-1 canopy courses teach participants to fly in full flight through turbulence. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Dude - what do you want people here to say? What would make you happy? You seem to disregard anyone's opinion on here and you have the support of your instructors. Why are you even posting here? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Here's what I have been told on the 4 canopy courses I have done (which, by the way, I recommend for everyone): - Plan your pattern to the exact altitude you want to be at each point (entry, turn to base and turn to final) and know EXACTLY where over the ground these points will be. - Use an altimeter (preferably a digital such as a Viso etc). If you do not, you will not know if you arrive at your entry point at 1100' instead of 1000' or your final at 320' instead of 300'. The human eye just can't distinguish between the two. - Fly your downwind and base legs in brakes - half-to-quarter brakes would be ideal. Why? Firstly it slows everything down and makes the process less rushed. Secondly, if you realize that you are going to hit the next point in the pattern too high - let up and let the canopy sink. If you are going to be thee too low - go to deeper brakes and "float" there. Again, you need a digital altimeter for all this. - Flat turns in the pattern are fine - in fact they are good practice. However, you must allow enough time after your turn to final for the canopy to recovery completely to full flight - usually 10 second with no toggle inputs is quoted. If you need to adjust your line on final slightly then lean in the harness which will slowly correct without robbing you of speed. As has been previously stated; speed=lift=flare power. Practicing the above on every jump will lead to a predictable pattern and to your canopy flying at it's most efficient when you need to flare. This is safer for you and for others. Good luck dude - glad you're back in the air! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I believe that if you are going to add mandatory training requirements to any license, then it should be based on a need. From the fatality reports, it is clear to me that the need is canopy control. This does not mean a "how to swoop" course, but it could just be a requirement to demonstrate some basics, such as fly a controlled pattern, flat turns, braked approach and landings etc. There are so many jumpers with 1,000 plus jumps who never practice any of those skills and for me as a low-time jumper that is a cause for concern. I am not talking about swoopers here, because those guys are to a large degree predictable. It's the old farts under Stilettos who think that once the RW is done, that's the end of the jump and they fly no predictable pattern with sashays and low toggle turns to land. I don't really see how making CRW/headdown/bigway/wingsuit training mandatory will help, but canopy control and canopy DISCIPLINE certainly would. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

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

Is the Katana really a comparable canopy to the Neos? I would have thought that the Neos would be closer to a Velocity. I am only basing this on the cross-bracing. I have not flown either wing, although I plan to move to a Katana after my Sabre2. I don't know very much about the Neos, but was wondering where it fits in. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA