DocPop

Are you having to run out the landings? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I also use this technique - here is what I do: Cocoon the canopy and lay it down. Next adopt a position where I am kneeling down but sitting on my right foot. I have the sole of my foot against my ass and the top of my foot against the floor (try it - it's not as weird as it sounds!). I sit like this with my back to the container and the top of my right foot applying pressure where the tail wraps around the lines (to stop it unrolling) and the rest of the cocoon between my legs. I can then make the S-fold in the d-bag end of the cocoon and place it between my knees to control the width. Place this end in the bag and then move the right foot off the lines and grasp this end of the canopy with one hand. At this point I usually make a final check that the slider is still against the stops and then put it in the bag. I hope that all makes sense - it is hard to describe in words! Good luck. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Does the BPA fully recognize USPA licenses? In other words, if I move the UK, will the BPA match my current USPA license level, or does it not even matter? Thanks! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Dude - only a couple of weeks ago you started a thread called "Do experienced jumpers hate new jumpers?". Things are starting to add up. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I am planning to do an intentional cutaway because my friend has a Velocity 96 that is at the end of it's life and I want to fly it (but have nowhere near the experience to land it!). I am going to be wearing an old harness with the container cut off underneath my own rig and the plan is to do a direct bag deployment from full altitude. I can't wait! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Why does proximity to a rib matter? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

It's a very important point that you raise. The pattern is there for a reason. It is true that at some DZs it is regularly ignored - but that doesn't make it right. Here is something you might find useful: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1724110;search_string=landing%20pattern;#1724110 PS - Thanks Ian! "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

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

Assuming that you are using specific altitudes for entering the pattern and turning points (eg. 1000', 500' and 300') what needs to change as the wind changes is WHERE over the ground you hit these points. In higher winds, your downwind leg will be fast (groundspeed) and you will cover more distance before your turn to the base leg. This means you should move your entry point in to the pattern further upwind to allow for this. Also in higher winds, your final (upwind) leg will be slow over the ground and you will not cover as much ground from the base leg to landing. this means that your base leg should not happen too far downwind of the target. You may need to fly the base leg itself by crabbing which means that the base leg may also be shorter than in lower winds. In short, the time it takes you to fly between the points of the pattern will be the same in all winds, but the ground you cover during that time may vary greatly. This is because your canopy's airspeed does not change. There is really no better way to learn this than to practice. Have a plan before you get in the plane for where your pattern is going to be (including landmarks) and try to fly that pattern. If you do not land where you want, adjust your pattern to use different landmarks to get you closer. Experienced jumpers at your DZ will be able to help you with some starting points, eg. "at 1000' try to be over the blue hangar". I hope this helps. You could also print off some aerial photos of the DZ (Google maps etc) and use them to sit down with some experienced jumpers and actually draw on your patterns and discuss different scenarios. Good luck. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I agree. I have had a Sabre2 150 (@ 1.3) since about 60 jumps and am enjoying it but never found it too much to handle. Just my experience/opinion. Your mileage may vary. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

If you read his profile, it does say he has only been in the sport for 2 years, so that implies 73 jumps in that timeframe. Only a Nav 280? Not a Manta 288, or something else? Do you have to adjust the way you sit on your harness to compensate for the weight of that chip on your shoulder? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Do you have a reason for thinking that, or is it a guess? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

The difference in ground speed between a upwind and downwind landing in a 5mph wind is 10mph regardless of canopy, assuming the same approach (eg full flight, straight in) for both. E.g. Canopy with 25 mph airspeed Upwind ground speed = 20 mph Downwind ground speed = 30mph Canopy with 45 mph airspeed Upwind ground speed = 40 mph Downwind ground speed = 50mph "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

All I know is that it worked for me and that my physical therapist told me that is the type pro basketball players use, and obviously they need to be able to lift their arms over their heads. Have said that, your option is gonna be a helluva lot cheaper, so if it works then why not? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

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

Think about it this way - when you pull down on a riser (front or rear), you are actually taking weight OFF the 3-ring release (by supporting some of your weight on your arm), so you really are not going to pull the riser off the harness. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I use a Bauerfeind OmoTrain and I personally think it helps a huge amount. I once forgot to wear the brace (after 60-70 incident free jumps) and my shoulder dislocated when I brought my arms forward at the end of the track. http://shop.bauerfeindusa.com/cgi-bin/cart.pl?Dynamic+products.txt+OMOTRAIN+template.html+3 "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Cool - I understand what you mean. Thanks for your help. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Thanks for that, Canuck. I understand the whole internet coaching thing. I have paid for canopy coaching every season in addition to 'informal' coaching from a couple of swoopers at the DZ and dedicated canopy jumps. No ego, just hoping for tips to help me improve. I am completely willing to accept it if folks don't feel comfortable to give CP tips on the internet. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Stu - that is really what I am asking. What are the right tools for someone like me who tends to plane out high, but does NOT want to take my start altitude down? The following do seem to help, but I want to know if there might be more things to add in: - start from brakes, then go to double fronts before starting the turn. - make the turn a slow carve rather than a snap - use harness input to assist with the turn "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

I had the same experience (got my initiation alt pushed up on my most recent canopy course). What was the 'secret' to being able to make this higher altitude work without being overcome by the riser pressure? (FYI - I am already starting in fairly deep brakes as this was what my canopy coach recommended) "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Thanks Dave - that answers my question perfectly. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Now you have reclassified the Katana as "almost cross-braced", it makes me wonder if it really is the next logical progression after a Sabre2, as I have heard/read elsewhere. Would it be better for someone to put in an extra step in their canopy progression to include, say, a Crossfire2 between the Sabre2 and Katana? I guess in short I am saying is there too much of a gap in performance between a Sabre2 and a Katana for the change to be made without an intermediate step? "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

Thanks Peter - lots of info in that post. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA

In other words, if person A calls person B else a Skygod, person B may have done something to give that impression. On the other hand, if person B tells person A that they are at increased danger of becoming a statistic, person A may have said/done something to give that impression. In either case, the person about whom the impression has been formed would be better off thinking about why that impression arose, rather than ignoring it. "The ground does not care who you are. It will always be tougher than the human behind the controls." ~ CanuckInUSA