Chubba

I could do with some input from canopy pilots around here. After trying a bunch of canopies, I have settled on the Sabre2, but the sizing/wingloading is the decision I need to make. I'm ~170lbs exit weight, I have 25 jumps/A lic and I'm currently jumping around between different canopies in the 190 range... I haven't actually been able to fly a Sabre2, but I have flown the Sabre1 and I love it and all the opinions seem to agree that the 2nd generation is superior so I'm assuming I won't be dissapointed... somebody pull me up here if my logic is flawed. I'm struggling on whether I should go for the 190 (0.8-0.9) or 170 (being 1.0). It seems like 1.0 wingloading is the "standard" for your first rig and I RARELY see people going under this, more often then not people are on 1.1-1.2 or so. I feel comfortable under the 190 @ 25 jumps yet still challenged that I have no desire to fly a 170 at the moment. I got a bad history of broken ankles and busted knee's and any landing that lets me walk away to jump another day is a good landing in my books. I can't stress this enough, my body is a piece of crap Ok, enough fluff... basically my question is... Will this canopy/wingloading allow me to improve my canopy skills over the next ~100-200? Or am I making the wrong decision by going larger/docile and sticking to the safeside? Is there only so much you can do with such a lightly loaded canopy? I am going to buy a nice rig, close to new/good quality so it's a serious investment in my skydiving future. With gear hire @ $40 a jump at my DZ it would cost an arm and a leg to possibly to get comfortable in the 170 range. I asked my instructors before anybody suggests it but they're biased, one flys a 190 and the other a 210... they see no problem with loading light. Second opinions don't hurt though. Bottom line, in my logic... if the 190 is boring as hell after a few jumps, at least I get cheap jumps and my landings will be nice and soft. The 170 if I CAN fly it, would be more fun and a better investment, that's IF I don't break myself. Thanks in advance guys!

Hey Ruub! As a newly licensed jumper, the past 15 jumps of mine have been solo's. Firstly be careful with backflying on student/rental gear, make sure the rigs are freefly friendly because ours were sure as hell not, I still haven't be (deliberately) on my back, waiting till I get my first rig. Have you done a tracking dive yet? Exiting and holding a track the entire dive? 60 seconds of tracking gives you lots of opportunity to try different body positions... rolling your shoulders, moving your legs in to different positions, dearching your body, moving your head to adjust the angle of attack... plus you can attempt a few barrel rolls if you're feeling gutsy

You got to be very careful with that, I don't want somebody dumping at 6k when they announced to everyone on the plane they're opening at 3k. Make sure you're not going to endanger yourself or others.

Same deal, I've been told specifically not to buy older Talons from my instructors. A rigger wanted to put together some gear for me and he said "It's a shame Talons only have 20 years, this container is perfect for you"

I lurked on this site for 12 months before I even did my first jump... it's just a great forum Make your next one AFF then you will be well and truly hooked.

Whats the requirements for a HALO jump? As in jump numbers/license or can a fresh A licensed jumper go straight up to 30k?

I'm still searching for my rig (container/canopies), but I've bought all my other gear so I'll comment on that. Altimeters: Anything is fine really, I think it's nice to have either a visual or audible that can record data... it's nice knowing your freefall speeds. I bought an alti-track (digital with analog face, but records data) for my visual so I ended up getting a simple audible (solo). If you get a standard altimeter that doesn't record your jumps, make sure your audible has the feature. Helemts: Spend a bit extra and get a nice quality one, it makes a big difference to comfort. Make sure you get one with a audible altimeter pocket. I bought a Cookie Rok (with the chincup), this helmet is absolutely orgasmic in terms of comfort... great for longer canopy flights. Jumpsuit: Buy brand new, get it custom made... don't skimp on this, a nice quality suit will last and is THAT much better then an ill fitting suit. I went for the bulk of the suit in black so it doesn't get too dirty (switching canopies/still downsizing)... careful putting down $$ for a white suit if you're still having trouble landing.

Definitely, I nearly had a heart attack on an AFF jump, massive student canopy with high winds. Setup my final earlier @ 600ft directly above the treeline. Dropped me directly down, landed probably ~15ft in front of the tree's.

Yep, once you're stable on your belly, just smile and relax... it's much easier to fly.

That's what I've been told too. I'm 170lbs exit weight so that would put me exactly at 1.0 which would be good for the first few hundred jumps. Check your local area for riggers, I found one that deals in gear too and at worst case he said I can stop in for a gear check before I buy anything else. If you have a big budget it seems pretty easy to get sweet gear.

Don't repeat it, trust your instructors. Here's my AFF4 (release dive) thread... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3163601;page=unread#unread my rig caught the door on exit, I span during the dive and I dislocated my shoulder on deployment. The instructor said I did great and passed me. Came back 1 month later for AFF5 / AFF6 and those 2 dives were perfect.

The Cookie factory is a few streets away from me. Awesome helmets.

This is my wings design, I think it's pretty swanky.

You look bloody young for 53 that's for sure.

If/when I get a custom rig, I am doing the red/black or blue/black design similar to what you have... IMO it looks MUCH better when all the trim is done in white. Here's a quick throw together V3 design, red/black with white trim (wouldn't let me colour in certain parts of the harness ).

Military also freefall and jump ram-air parachutes, not everyone static lines like suggested in your post

I've bunged both my ankles multiple times, from sprains to tears and the occasional snap, plenty of surgery (all prior to skydiving). You don't want to rush it. PLF or sliding it in is your friend, I got no problems rolling/sliding it in on even the nicest landings on large canopies, I probably do it on 75%+ of my landings (which a normal jumper would stand up 100% of the time, without a doubt). Sometimes you got to sacrifice your ego a bit when you got weak ankles... you would be suprised how easy they are to reinjure. You could wait multiple months and one day you will reach a foot out on landing and BAM! It's a sad fact, but once you've buggered it once, it's MUCH easier next time.

BAIT No you can't, you need to open your container by the set height for your license, stability isn't a priority. Sorry couldn't resist don't hurt me

Fingers crossed If I had the money I would buy one off Skyventure, you would make a killing.

I'll be a good boy from now on

Welcome to DZ.com, I'll try and answer some questions for you. It's very noisy, far more intense then it sounds on video. Freefall is very short it shouldn't bother you too much. Just dress for the occasion... at altitude it's a lot colder, but not for long because once you're out the door you warm up quickly.

From what I could tell, only half the canopy inflated and I was sent spinning. After 5-10 seconds of trying to do SOMETHING with the risers, I put my hands on my cutaway/reserve handles and it suddenly inflated fully/slider came down and flew straight Entirely self inflicted probably, due to my shitty body position trying to do a quick delay.

+1, I wouldn't mind knowing too. I swear I've seen A/B/C (and even a D) license jumper getting someone else to sign them off. I swear I saw a D license jumper get a B license jumper to sign his.

I pull at that height because it's where I feel most comfortable, I fly a very light wingloading and I'm fully open by on average ~2200ft. So if the minimum states I have to open at 3000ft for the next 15 jumps or so... I will obligued... but I do not feel any bit safer (quite the opposite) trying to do a 2 second delay poised exit. I was just doing what felt safe and comfortable So when I'm legally allowed to do it, of course I will go back to deploying at 2500ft. If that's ignorant, well I'm ignorant :(

Everyone has similar problems. I'm only 60kg (6 foot 2), but the student javelins felt like complete shit, EXTREMELY tight around the shoulders. Give it a couple of more jumps, once you get comfortable in freefall arching comes really easy, you don't have to try and break your back to fly stable.